Kincardine council will form an Ad Hoc committee to help address challenges recruiting and retaining primary healthcare physicians.
This week, council received an update from CAO Jillene Bellchamber-Glazier, requesting that Council establish a Primary Healthcare Ad Hoc Committee to identify recommendations for the Physician Recruitment and Retention Program.
Staff noted there is more work to be done with physician recruitment in order to meet current and future population growth. There is also an immediate need to come to an agreement with the Society of United Professionals regarding the municipality providing financial support towards locum housing.
"They're looking for a response from the municipality in short order," Bellchamber-Glazier told council. "This is a group that is making an investment and contribution to our community and they're hoping for a response, pretty soon. I would suggest if it does stay a component of the Ad Hoc Committee, certainly that should be the first order of business."
The Society of United Professionals purchased two homes in Kincardine in 2014 for locum housing and leased them to the Municipality at no cost for a decade. That lease expired at the end of last year: one of those houses has since been sold, with the other currently listed. However, the society said it will continue supporting the Physician Recruitment and Retention Program with the purchase of two condominiums, once the sale of the houses is completed.
Other goals of the committee is to make recommendations regarding strategies for the municipally-operated medical clinic and recruitment of physicians, nurse practitioners and ER Physicians, including financial incentives.
The committee will consist of the Mayor and two members of council. At Wednesday's meeting, the Mayor Ken Craig delegated his authority to form the committee under the new Strong Mayor Powers back to council.
Councillor Rory Cavanagh was nominated, although there were concerns raised that conflicts of interest would arise due to his partner working in healthcare.
"I did reach out to our Integrity Commissioner and seek clearance before proceeding with this and accepting the nomination," Cavanagh told council. "Though I acknowledge there will be sections, such as the medical clinic, where I won't be able to provide any input, but for things that are more time sensitive like this locum house, I believe my information will be invaluable."
Councillor Stellina Williams was absent from the meeting, and she was the other member council sought to nominate to the committee. That resulted in a strange procedural moment, where council, unable to nominate a member who wasn't present, returned the authority to form the committee back to Mayor Craig, so he could appoint that councillor after reaching out to confirm their interest.
Craig confirmed on Thursday that Williams is going to be the other council member on the committee.