Cumberland NDP MLA said $2 million is earmarked for a new La Ronge long-term care facility in 2022-23 budget. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

budget day

Provincial budget sets aside more funds for future La Ronge long-term care facility

Mar 23, 2022 | 5:14 PM

More funds have been set aside for a future 80-bed long-term care home in La Ronge.

In the 2022-23 provincial budget released Wednesday, $5 million was confirmed for the continued progress on La Ronge and Grenfell long-term care facilities. That’s in addition to the $7.6 million set aside for the La Ronge project in last year’s provincial budget.

The construction of such a building could mark one of the largest infrastructure developments in the town’s history and the projected timeline for completion was last set at the end of 2023.

“This is great new for our region and the tri-communities, specifically, because obviously this is going to be a very expensive project,” La Ronge Mayor Colin Ratushniak said. “It’s nice to see the commitment is continuing and hopefully it will come in the years to come.”

The funds are part of $156 million to build needed hospitals and health care facilities in Saskatchewan.

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Ratushniak explained it has been some time now since the province has been in contact with town council about the project. He noted, however, there is a commitment from the municipality to give the land required. The new long-term care facility will be located adjacent to the La Ronge Health Centre.

In 2022-23, the provincial government will spend $62.7 million to build, operate and maintain the transportation system in northern Saskatchewan. In January 2022, Premier Scott Moe announced the province’s intention to complete the remaining nine kilometres on the Saskatchewan side of the border of the La Loche to Fort McMurray all-weather road (Garson Lake Road). The budget notes construction will begin in 2023, along with improvements to portions of Highway 155.

This year’s budget includes a $463 million deficit, a large drop from the $2.6 billion deficit forecasted in 2021-22. The budget is expected to return to balance by 2026-27.

“It’s nice to see those numbers are coming down and maybe that does mean we are seeing some recovery from COVID finally,” Ratushniak said. “If we can see a balanced budget as projected, then that is always good news.”

Cumberland NDP calls it ‘sad day’ for mental health funding

Doyle Vermette, the NDP MLA for Cumberland, was disappointed the budget didn’t provide more funding for mental health and addictions.

“I was hoping there would be much more and they would look at it as a crisis and say ‘we’re going to respond,’” he said. “Unfortunately, that’s not the case here.”

The budget calls for a total of $470 million to be invested in mental health and addictions, or 7.3 per cent of the total Ministry of Health budget. Of that, $403 million is directed to mental health and $67 million to addictions. Vermette believes funding for those two issues should be nine per cent of the total health budget.

“It feels like the government just missed it all together,” he said. “For those families struggling and for those with mental health, it’s a sad day.”

When it comes to the new long-term care facility in La Ronge, Vermette said he understands $2 million out of the $5 million will go to the La Ronge project. He noted he’ll be asking questions about how committed the province is to the facility and when can residents expect a building to go up.

“I give credit to everyone who continues bringing awareness and holding government accountable saying ‘you committed to this, now let’s get it done,’” Vermette said. “It’s good for the area. We need to get it finished.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno