Our Hospitals

I Don't Have All the Answers, But I Will Fight for Us

When out talking to people around town, I have been asked what is happening with the new hospital.

Right now, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) has a massive, $1-billion plan to build two brand-new hospitals—one in Huntsville and one in Bracebridge. It is the biggest project our region has ever seen.

But let’s be entirely honest: a lot of you are worried, confused, and frustrated. And you have every right to be. Between the boardroom updates and the concerns from our local doctors and groups like the Save South Muskoka Hospital Committee (SSMHC), it is hard to know what to believe. We are looking at losing local birthing services in the south, while still arguing over hospital beds.

I will be the first candidate to tell you directly: I do not have all the answers yet.

The government planning process is complicated, and the plans are still being reviewed by the Ministry of Health. No politician can fix this overnight. But I refuse to give you generic, scripted talking points or pretend everything is fine when our community is divided.

If I have the honour to be elected to represent you, I promise to do the homework, dig past the spin, and fight for a fair deal for both towns.

Here is what I am committing to do:

• Keep Critical Services Local: We shouldn't have to sacrifice maternal care or settle for an unfair share of beds just to get modern buildings. Both Huntsville and Bracebridge must remain fully functional, safe, and balanced acute care hospitals.

• Back Our Local Doctors: Our physicians are on the front lines saving lives. If they say a care model is going to force patients into dangerous winter drives or drive doctors out of our area, we must listen to them.

• Demand Total Transparency for Our Money: The province expects our community to pitch in $225 million as our "local share." While local councils have pledged around $117 million of that through future taxes, everyday citizens are doing the heavy lifting—with the Huntsville Hospital Foundation's Raise Muskoka campaign already raising millions.

If taxpayers are putting up millions of dollars of their own hard-earned money, we deserve to know exactly how every single dollar is spent.

We don't need a northern town fighting a southern town. We need a united Muskoka with a healthcare system that protects every family, senior, and year-round resident. I am going to track down the facts and use my voice to make sure the government listens to us—not just the planners in Toronto.

What are your biggest questions about the hospital plan? Let me know in the comments, or message my campaign directly.

Let's build a healthier Muskoka, together.

-Leland Maw-