Counties increase funding to long-term care facility in Clarence Creek

The United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) will provide additional funding to the Centre d’Accueil Roger-Séguin (CARS) long-term care facility in Clarence Creek.

CARS wants to redevelop its facility because the current 113-bed building is 50 years old. The completely francophone facility has a three-year waiting list for residents. CARS 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 region.

On November 26, UCPR Council adopted the motion to adjust a previous funding agreement reached in 2021 which provided $500,000 per year for 25 years. On September 24, representatives of CARS had formally requested council increase the amount to $750,000 per year for 25 years. If that amount was granted, it would total $18,750,000.

Under the amended funding agreement, the UCPR will provide a minimum yearly amount of $250,000 and a maximum yearly amount of $750,000 to CARS over a 25-year period. The yearly guaranteed amount will be determined by the UCPR based on the assessed operational needs of CARS. No further financial contributions for the CARS redevelopment project shall be requested from the UCPR, and the UCPR will not act as a guarantor for any loan secured by CARS for the project.

The total construction cost for the CARS redevelopment is estimated at $72,856,600. The request for increased UCPR funding was made due to anticipated losses for CARS 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. Post-pandemic inflation is also cited as the main contributing factor behind increased costs of the project.

Under the new funding agreement with the UCPR, a member of UCPR Council will also become a member of the CARS Board of Directors.

At the November 26 UCPR Council meeting, Clarence-Rockland Mayor Mario Zanth said CARS is very appreciative of UCPR’s attention to the matter.

The amended UCPR funding agreement for the Centre d’Accueil Roger-Séguin long-term care facility still needs to be finalized before it is officially adopted by UCPR Council.