News flash! Late this morning, well after the front page of today’s edition of the Fort Frances Times had been “put to bed,” Rainycrest’s board of management emerged from a closed-door meeting to announce it had passed two resolutions.
The first one clarified the board’s previous resolution of Nov. 9, in which it agreed to proceed with negotiations with Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc. and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on a potential partnership/merger.
The second resolution called on the ministry to provide “immediate assistance” in the management of the home—effectively pushing the Extendicare option off the table for now.
Given the public outcry after a meeting a week ago Tuesday, it seems the board got the message that district municipalities, Rainycrest staff, and relatives of residents living there were leery about having a private corporation manage the home—even if it was just on an interim basis.
The Times first broke this story back in July, under a front-page headline reading “Rainycrest board looking to reduce costs,” in which the possibility of privatization was first broached. Since then, however, too much of the negotiations have taken place behind the scenes, which left the public in the dark over crucial details that could affect their loved ones or jobs.
Town council, for instance, last month dealt with the matter during an in-camera session. And this morning’s meeting of the Rainycrest board was declared off-limits to the public—and media—even though board chairman Dennis Brown had promised this newspaper just yesterday that it would be open to all.
“We have nothing to hide,” he had said.
So why all the secrecy? Why couldn’t people hear the discussion on why board members opted to clarify their intent when it comes to Riverside. What prompted members to suddenly turn to the ministry for help while abandoning Extendicare? And most important, what impacts do these decisions have on Rainycrest residents and staff—as well as the long-term future of the home here?
The Rainycrest board has sided with the majority who want to see a partnership with Riverside over one with a private corporation. But the process involved in reaching that decision leaves much to be desired.
The truth is, today’s decisions are only the next step in what is an evolving story. The board must be more open and transparent in the weeks and months ahead so as not to erode public trust any further.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
