Owen Sound – OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is praising 13 past wardens of Grey County for writing an open letter slamming the “the veil of secrecy” surrounding the scheme to sell off Grey Gables.
“The wardens say ‘something smells’ and they’re right,” says Thomas. “It’s the stench of secrecy and unfairness that you always get with privatization.”
Despite widespread public opposition, a slim majority of current Grey County councillors voted last month in favour of a scheme to sell-off Grey Gables, the publicly managed long-term care home in Markdale, which will force seniors to move to a privately managed facility in Durham.
In their open letter, the former wardens question the decision to move more long-term care beds to Durham when a recent Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) report found there’s already an oversupply of beds in that area.
The past wardens also question the projected cost savings that have been presented.
“The wardens are right to question those supposed cost savings,” Thomas said. “The evidence clearly shows that people pushing privatization over-sell and under-deliver.
“These former wardens are acting in the best interest of the people of Grey County. It’s time for the current warden and councillors to follow their lead and abandon the scheme to privatize long-term care.”
For more information: Warren (Smokey) Thomas, 613-329-1931