CENTRE WELLINGTON – After a debate which included considering the ethics of medical assistance in dying, some councillors felt put on the spot and eventually voted against sending a letter of support to the province for a planned rural hospice.
Retired Dr. Alan Simpson in a delegation to Centre Wellington council asked for help in securing some funding from the province through a letter of support or an equivalent for a hospice site in Wellington County.
In late May, the County of Wellington announced a commitment of two-acres of land at Aboyne’s Wellington Place campus for a six-bed hospice site. Simpson thanked the county for its donation and letter of support.
Simpson said these letters of support give “ammunition” to MPP Ted Arnott to bring to a conversation with the Ministry of Health as there is currently no formal application process for hospice funding in the province.
“Every few years they may come up with a decision to say there will be a hospice in ‘ABC’ but we have yet to have any formal application. It has to be a political process with the help of Ted and also support from our community,” Simpson said.
He highlighted Wellington Hospice in Guelph as a good facility but isn’t as capable of serving residents in Wellington County as well due to distance.
He also noted the facility does not provide MAID, which is something Simpson said those behind the rural hospice are looking to provide as an option.
Coun. Stephen Kitras asked Simpson if they are not collaborating with Wellington Hospice because of the medical assistance in dying (MAID) issue as he was under the impression that the group was looking to expand.
Simpson said the rural hospice advisory group was previously working with Wellington Hospice but stressed MAID was an issue for them but he did clarify MAID would simply be an option.
Kitras then spoke of multiple painful experiences he’s had watching relatives die including his parents, an in-law, his sister and his first wife.
“I understand the politics of death and dying in Canada very well, the experience of death and dying is the most profound experience of humanity,” Kitras said before stating his opposition to supporting the rural hospice site and MAID based on his principles as a Christian.
A motion was then put onto the floor by Coun. Neil Dunsmore to send a letter of support for the rural hospice site. Mayor Kelly Linton said because council received the correspondence from SImpson previously they could make a decision on it that day.
Kitras said he felt there should be a more fulsome discussion about this rather than a “sleight of hand slipped into the community at the final hours of council before it becomes lame duck.”
Dunsmore commented he too has watched people die without an option to end their life when they wanted to.
“I had to sit with them for 10 days while they struggled and that was the most inhumane thing I have ever watched,” Dunsmore said. “If this hospice is willing to give people a choice, in consultation with their doctors and their family, then choice is what we should give them.”
Coun. Bob Foster put forward a motion to defer as he wanted more time to consider and talk with constituents about this issue. That motion failed to the disdain of Coun. Kirk McElwain who said he mostly supported the motion but also was not ready to make a decision on it.
Coun. Ian MacRae also noted he was unprepared but ultimately was supportive as he felt patients should have a right to decide for themselves.
As the mayor called the matter to vote, Coun. Steven VanLeeuwen arrived at the meeting as he was late.
In a recorded vote, the motion to send a letter of support failed 4-3. Linton, MacRae and Dunsmore were in favour.
Kitras and McElwain voted against, although McElwain noted it was reluctant, while Foster and VanLeeuwen abstained which counts as a no.
