I received a lengthy letter from two members of Seniors for Social Action Ontario. The main purpose of the letter was to urge candidates to explore ways in which we could improve the residential supports made available in our community for elders living with frailty and young individuals living with a disability. The asked us to review their material, and explore the many options provided by SSAO that could be considered.
Their concern was that we are all aging, and many of us will experience a disabling condition for which we require support to function. Everyone in these circumstances deserves the opportunity to have those needs met in ways that enable meaningful life-long involvement in our own communities. We all equally deserve the opportunity to not be forced into LTC institutions because no other alternatives exist for our support.
The following is my response to their letter:
Thank you for reaching out and for sharing this information with me. I appreciate you bringing the issue of aging in place and community-based supports to my attention.
I agree that as our population ages, we need to be thinking about a broader range of options for people whose needs increase as they age or who live with disabilities. People should have opportunities to remain connected to their communities for as long as possible, rather than having institutional long-term care be the only option when independent living is no longer possible.
I also think it is important to be realistic about what falls within the responsibilities of a Township Ward Councillor. Social housing, long-term care and many seniors’ services are Region of Durham responsibilities, and as Ward 2 Councillor, I would not have a seat at Regional Council or the authority to establish a supportive-housing or assisted-living program.
That does not mean there is no role for the Township. Local planning and development decisions can influence what types of housing and community facilities are possible, and Township Council can advocate to the Region and other levels of government. As your Ward 2 Councillor, I would also be able to work with our Mayor and Regional Councillor to ensure that local concerns and opportunities are being brought forward at the Regional level.
The examples you provided from Halton and Thunder Bay are interesting, although I would want to understand how models developed in much larger and more urban communities could be appropriately adapted to a rural municipality such as Scugog. I would also want to understand the financial, planning, and service-delivery requirements before supporting a particular model.
If elected, I would be willing to learn more about these approaches and support constructive efforts to explore whether similar opportunities could work in Scugog. I cannot promise to deliver a particular housing or care model from a Township council seat, but I can commit to advocating for solutions that give residents more options to remain connected to their communities as their needs change.
Thank you again for raising the issue. I appreciate residents bringing forward ideas and information that can help broaden the conversation about how we plan for Scugog’s future.