LLRIB chief hopeful Liberals will fund wellness centre in coming weeks
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Twitter
- Copy Link
Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said she is hopeful the Liberals will provide $15.45 million in the next month to assist with constructing a wellness, healing and recovery centre on the reserve.
That’s what she told Air Ronge Council at a regular meeting Oct. 29 at the village office, where she led a delegation which presented information about what the facility would entail. Cook-Searson said the band already saved $2 million to build the centre, hired a project manager and began clearing land near the Jeannie Bird Clinic last week to make the location shovel ready. Aside from the funds the band requested from the federal government, she’s hopeful the province will provide an additional $2.5 million.
“I think we’re pretty close with the federal government giving us $15 million,” Cook-Searson said. “We’re just waiting for the commitment because we need it in writing. The province told us if the federal government puts in the capital, they will put in the $2.5 million we asked for.”
Both levels of government would also be asked to cover the operational and maintenance costs of running the facility, meaning Health Canada would pay for on-reserve residents seeking treatment and the province would pay for everyone else. Cook-Searson noted the centre would include 10 beds, provide in-patient and out-patient care, and include an Olympic-sized swimming pool for public use. She said the pool could be reduced to 25 meters instead of 50 meters if need be.
