The provincial and federal governments are investing in long-term care in Manning.
Peace River MLA, Dan Williams, was joined by representatives from: the Town of Manning, and the County of Northern Lights to announce $8.2 Million in funding to expand the Del Air Lodge.
Williams says the investment also includes a contribution from the federal government through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
The funding will add 16 long-term care beds to the lodge, along with 37 lodging spaces.
The Del Air expansion was one of three projects announced by the province, with announcements for more beds in Spirit River, and Oyen.
“Seniors built our province and they should be able to age in their own communities. We are proud to invest in these important projects that will help more seniors stay together and remain in the communities they love as their care needs change,” says Minister of Seniors and Housing, Josephine Pon.
Ahmed Hussen is the Federal Minister responsible for the CMHC and says that everyone deserves to be closer to their families as they get older.
“Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. This investment for the construction of safe and affordable housing in Oyen, Spirit River and Manning is going to make a positive impact – we’re giving seniors the ability to age in place in their own communities and maintain important communion with close family and friends which is vital to improved long-term health and happiness,” States Hussen in an e-mailed statement.
Williams points out that keeping families together is of paramount importance to him and the provincial government.
“We are going to allow families to stay together,” mentions Williams. “To stay close to their elderly relatives, to those in care facilities, and to make sure that couple can stay together in the same facility.”
Manning Mayor, Greg Rycroft says this announcement has been in the works for quite some time.
“Many people have worked on this and it has all come together,” says Rycroft. “Within a couple of years, we will be putting our seniors into a higher level of care, right here in the Town of Manning.”
County of Northern Lights Reeve, Terry Ungarian says an announcement like this is not possible without various levels of government working together.
“The flavour of the day is collaboration between governments and this announcement is a very good example of that,” points out Ungarian. “We have the federally run CMHC, to our provincial government with two ministries involved as well as the municipal level as we are funders of the North Peace Housing Foundation.”
“There was advocacy from our citizens and our own MLA (Dan Williams) so it was a great team effort to get to this point.”
NPHS Executive Director, Tammy Menssa, was on hand for the announcement and told the Trending 55 Newsroom that planning for the expansion of Del Air Lodge will be in the near future.
– Kenny Trenton, Trending 55 Newsroom
