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The Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit (SMART) wants support from
Huron-Kinloss to obtain funding through the Southwest Local Health
Integrated Network (LHIN), but the township wants to hear from the
company first.
Huron-Kinloss considered the request from SMART at the council meeting
Dec. 21. The company provides transportation services for the elderly,
frail and the disabled members for the participating municipalities of
Hanover, Brockton, West Grey and Arran-Elderslie, states a letter from
Robert Lohene. SMART has a fleet of 10 vans, mini-vans, bus and
mini-buses, making more than 20,000 trips each year and over 50 per cent
of the trips are for medical non-emergency purposes.
"This is an essential service that not only relieves the emergency
medical service of the extra cost and responsibility but also provides a
life-line for our seniors to encourage them to remain in their own homes
and maintain their independence," states the letter.
Given that over half of the trips are for medical services and medical
purposes, the company has applied to the Southwest LHIN to provide
relief funding for these health-related trips, Lohene writes. "As part
of their mandate and promise to streamline health care costs and ensure
adequate services for all residents in the region, we have offered to
assume the role of a regional broker who would then plan, monitor and
provide service for the entire region whether we currently serve the
area or not," he adds. "We have signed a memorandum of understanding
with the remaining two service providers who endorse our proposal of
creating a unified regional service to take care of the specialized
transit needs of all the citizens of this region."
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Lohene states that members of the Huron-Kinloss community
could also benefit from the specialized disability
transportation service which is why the company is
soliciting council's support to secure funding on behalf of
all.
Deputy mayor Wilfred Gamble told council that this service
would not affect the Wheels Away program already serving the
township. "There is a dispute over the South Bruce area,
that's all," he said.
"They're hoping to get money from the LHIN," said mayor
Mitch Twolan.
"That's a lot of hoping, folks," said councillor Jim Hanna.
Council agreed to have SMART come to a meeting and make a
presentation about the service it provides, before endorsing
the company's application.
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