Bayside expansion size under review

Although Shaun Hatfield says it’s good to finally see a new access road being built towards the facility and development underway, a proposal to downsize the community room as well as some of the hall spaces is upsetting.

“They are compromising the original concept design that they had pledged us,” said Hatfield.

Premier MacDonald and Health Minister Chris d'Entremont made the expansion announcement as part of the province's Continuing Care Strategy in February 2007. Design changes have delayed the development of the project to date.

“We need to work really hard as a community and as a committee to maintain the original concept design,” said Hatfield.

“This means the community room would be built for 60 residents. They are only adding 40 beds on, so what we need to know is that the community room is big enough for 60 residents, including the 20 that are already there.

“We’re not packaging sardines, we’re housing senior citizens,” he said.

“They deserve the best in quality space and living quarters.”

Health Minister Chris d’Entremont says the department is striving to set a standard across the province for square foot per resident.

“What Bayside is asking for is at this point is about 1,000 square feet more than any other facility in the province has asked for. What I’ve asked them to do is to give me some reasons why and then we’ll sit down with the building committee and figure out a compromise.

“But 1,000 feet… by the time you staff it, heat it, wash it, clean it, it’s a fair cost on a monthly basis,” he said.