United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) council has a $18,750,000 question to address during the preparation of the 2026 budget.
On Wednesday, September 24, the not-for-profit Centre d’accueil Roger-Séguin (CARS) long-term care facility in Clarence Creek formally requested the UCPR provide a grant of $750,000 per year for 25 years to assist with the planned redevelopment of the CARS facility. If that amount was granted, it would total $18,750,000.
In 2021, UCPR council had agreed to provide $500,000 per year for 25 years to CARS, which would total $12.5 million, and would only be granted if CARS reached a financing agreement with Infrastructure Ontario for the project. At that time, the total cost of the project was estimated at $24,200,000. According to the presentation delivered by CARS Director General Joanne Henrie and CARS Board Chair Roch Pilon, the total construction cost is now estimated at $72,856,600.
CARS wants to redevelop its facility because the current 113-bed building is 50 years old and there is a rising demand for long-term care beds. The completely francophone facility has a three-year waiting list for residents. CARS is a respected, not-for-profit facility which is popular with families in the western part of Prescott-Russell, while the Prescott and Russell Residence in Hawkesbury is more popular with residents of the eastern part of the counties.
CARS is anticipating losses totaling $2,143,100 during the first three years following the redevelopment project, and a construction shortfall of $12,659,000. CARS’ application to Infrastructure Ontario for financial assistance was rejected because it is considered that the gap between the market value of the new facility, which is assessed as lower because it is in a rural area, and CARS’ borrowing power is far too great.
Henrie and Pilon’s presentation indicated that the maximum amount in grant funding CARS may receive from the Ministry of Long-Term Care is $16,636,800. The City of Clarence-Rockland has already agreed to waive all permit and inspection fees associated with the CARS redevelopment.
Post-pandemic inflation is cited as the main contributing factor to the increased costs of the CARS project.
Pilon told council that CARS is going to reapproach the Minister of Long-Term Care about possibilities for increased grant funding.
Champlain Township Mayor Normand Riopel questioned if the UCPR could absorb the costs associated with the CARS redevelopment.
Pilon said CARS has a blueprint but wants to be realistic and is willing to work with whatever the UCPR thinks is possible. He noted that CARS also has a foundation in place as a fundraising mechanism for the facility.
“At the same time, we are conscious that people are not able to contribute a lot,” Pilon commented.
“We are very understanding of what people have given and how the City of Clarence-Rockland is helping us,” he added.
Clarence-Rockland Mayor Mario Zanth said there will always be a need for more long-term care beds.
“It’s an investment in all of our future homes,” he remarked.
Zanth continued, saying he had spoken with Minister of Long-Term Care Natalia Kusendova-Bashta. He quoted her directly, saying “I have discretionary on potential funding, but I need to make sure every other avenue has been exhausted.”
He said the project needs to advance and proposed the UCPR provide $150,000 per year to CARS for 25 years.
Casselman Mayor Geneviève Lajoie said she wants to support not-for-profit facilities but wants to make sure it is done with equity, and that the organizations requesting funds have done their due diligence before making the request.
The Nation Mayor Francis Brière asked if CARS had considered private sector investment in the facility.
Pilon said the private sector does not offer the same level of care as a not-for-profit long-term care facility.
“The level of care is not just the same,” Chief Administrative Officer Stéphane Parisien later commented.
Tarnowski proposed tabling the discussion of increased UCPR support for CARS to the 2026 budget preparations, which are about to begin in October.
“I fully support pushing this to budget,” Zanth said. He added that it is too close to that time of year to be able to make a separate decision.
He emphasized that he does not want to see a further loss of local long-term care beds.
“These are long-term care beds. They are medical,” Zanth said.
Council voted to table any decision on funding for the Centre d’accueil Roger-Séguin until the 2026 budget preparation process.
