Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com PORT CARLING — The sixth — and maybe not the last — MAHC hospitals meeting drew another large crowd last night. MPP Graydon Smith, who spoke out the evening before in Bracebridge calling for calm in the debate, was not present. But Muskoka Lakes Mayor Peter Kelley, who has attended most […]

HUNTSVILLE — A pair of shoplifting complaints here have led to an additional charge of auto theft in York Region. Police say they arrested and charged two men after a report of a shoplifter February 6 at 9:20 a.m. Responding officers found the suspect at another local business where he was also suspected of shoplifting. […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — Ten minutes into the meeting MAHC laid its cards on the table when CEO and president Cheryl Harrison said the province told them “Muskoka was fortunate” a few years ago just to keep two hospitals. A-hundred-and-10 minutes later MPP Graydon Smith doubled down — braking his own cone of […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — The ‘Heart of Muskoka’ — and surrounding communities — are a suffering a heart attack. Blood pressures in south Muskoka are soaring over a proposal the see as a flip of the bird to the long-time seat of district and government services. But is life changing and growing as […]

LETTER TO EDITOR: To Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare. I attended the meeting in Gravenhurst last Tuesday night at The Terry Fox Auditorium regarding the plans for the new hospitals in Muskoka. My name is Tom Irvine and I am a retired family physician having worked in Gravenhurst from 1975 until I retired as a member of The […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — The issue of “one hospital” was put to bed almost a decade ago. Or so Muskokans thought in 2015. Now it seems to be back on the table thanks to MAHC’s new future hospitals model. Two retired doctors here think it’s maybe not a bad idea. Dr. Richard (Danny) […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — Some South Muskoka doctors have become more vocal after penning a letter of opposition to MAHC’s north-south hospitals divide. Even at SMMH physicians and nurses within aren’t holding back in discussing the issue when asked about it while taking care of patients. Others, too, aren’t hesitating to express their […]

Lois Cooper | MuskokaTODAY.com — OPINION We need two fully functioning hospitals in the Muskoka Algonquin area. The Province of Ontario does not agree and is pushing private health care. The Doug Ford Conservatives are slipping more private health care in to Muskoka Algonquin by taking away hospital beds. South Muskoka Memorial Hospital currently has […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com HUNTSVILLE — Bob Hutcheson, 97, has heard it all before. “We’ve done a lot planning and we’ve tried to get somewhere over the years with various forums and committees, all sorts of things around Muskoka. And this is the first time in 46 years that we’ve been offered an opportunity. And […]

Lois Cooper | MuskokaTODAY.com OPINION The Province of Ontario has been telling the people of Ontario for the past 50 years that the public health-care system is not sustainable. OPINION In 1974 the first cuts to hospital beds across the province took place by none other than Muskoka MPP and minister of health Frank Miller. It […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com HUNTSVILLE — Keep calm and carry on. That was Day 4 here for Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare tonight as the war of words over the new hospitals ended its first week of community engagements. With MPP Graydon Smith at his second MAHC meeting in as many nights, some 250+ people filled almost […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner will have his new deputy party leader, Matt Richter, with him Monday when he holds a Town Hall meeting here. The party says Richter, who nearly upset MPP Graydon Smith in the last provincial election, is  “pleased to announce that Matt Richter has been […]

LETTER TO EDITOR: Re: North-south hospital divide Here is what I see. Muskoka can’t afford more than a BILLION DOLLARS for new hospitals. The healthcare model is changing to a DISPERSED MODEL. Muskoka wants TWO EQUAL HOSPITALS in Bracebridge and Huntsville. Current hospitals are filled with NON-CRITICAL ALC PATIENTS. Solution is THREE TRANSITIONAL-CARE facilities — […]

Lois Cooper | MuskokaTODAY.com OPINION Wouldn’t you vote for a politician who says I will raise your taxes and you will get the health care you need and want? Our municipal and district property taxes rise each year. We don’t start shouting in the streets. We know that if we want the roads plowed, kept in […]

Lois Cooper | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — You can’t afford it! You can’t afford it! You can’t afford it! That is the mantra of the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare board to the people attending the “chat” in Gravenhurst on Tuesday night. Well, yes, we can afford it, I say! The “it” being great health care and two […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — A tough crowd on the verge of out of hand greeted the MAHC board tonight over the “lesser” of two new hospitals. It’s a good thing next week’s meeting in Bracebridge has been rescheduled to the Sportsplex community room. Because if this crowd is indicative of what awaits the […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com DWIGHT — Bruce Kruger is Bracebridge’s Town Crier. And did he have a cry for Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare last night in Dwight at a public meeting on the future of Muskoka’s two hospitals. He expressed what he and he says others in south Muskoka have said privately and online this week. […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — The divisive issue of how Muskoka’s hospitals will operate in a decade takes centre stage starting tonight in Dwight. After 41 doctors in south Muskoka overwhelmingly came out on the weekend — in strongly-worded letter criticizing a ‘Made-in-Muskoka’ “model of care” — Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare is preparing for a […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — A petition to dissolve the MAHC board of directors — ending its new hospitals plans — and to return independent public boards to the South Muskoka and Huntsville District hospitals began circulation this weekend in person and online. Former MPP Dan Waters who opposes the changes, says in a […]