Our community recently welcomed two new physicians, Dr. Melanie Halvorsen and Dr. Craig Holland. But with two others set to retire in the coming months, it’s clear doctor recruitment—and retention—continues to be a vital public issue here.
The key word being “public.”
Yet it seems local residents are being kept in the dark, or at least not getting the full story, when it comes to doctor recruitment—and that’s unacceptable given the importance of the matter and the fact taxpayers’ money is involved.
It’s known the town representatives on the doctor recruitment committee stepped down sometime over the summer. No one has said why publicly, though it’s suspected council and administration isn’t happy about having to help foot the bill to bring doctors to Rainy River District, rather than Fort Frances specifically, which certainly is understandable given the current strain on the Civic Centre’s coffers.
It also is known a closed-door meeting on the matter was held prior to a council meeting last month. There’s been no word, however, on what was discussed or what, if anything, was resolved.
Has the town agreed to return to the committee? If so, what conditions were met and at what cost? And if not, what is needed to get the town back at the table?
In essence, just what is up in all this?
With taxpayers’ health and money at stake, the public deserves answers to these questions—not have the matter shrouded in secrecy.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
