Provincial funding for Terrace Lodge announced

Elgin County Director of Seniors Services and Terrace Lodge Administrator Rhonda Duffy, left, introduced Terrace Lodge resident Marjorie Crawford who spoke on behalf of all of the other residents at the Aylmer area long-term care home after John Fraser, MPP Ottawa South and Parliamentary Assistant to Health and Long-Term Care Minister Eric Hoskins, announced Ontario government funding for the redevelopment of the 100-bed facility on Wednesday afternoon, July 27.  An exact dollar figure was not announced by Mr. Fraser since the Terrace Lodge replacement construction project will be funded over 25 years on a per diem or per bed basis. Elgin County will front the estimated $30-million cost of the project. Elgin County Chief Administrative Officer Mark McDonald said the Ontario government investment would be about $15-million but with the funding being financed over 25 years, it wouldn’t end up being half of the entire cost of the project when interest and other considerations over time are factored in.