The Saskatchewan Hospital New Beginnings campaign took their fundraising efforts to Battleford Town Hall Monday.
But like a recent presentations in the city, it was rocky going for Prairie North CEO David Fan as he tried, and ultimately failed, to get a funding commitment out of town council.
He was there to make the presentation on behalf of the capital campaign aimed at raising $8 million to pay for furnishing and equipment for the hospital portion of the new facility being built.
Fan's presentation was similar to others he has made before the City of North Battleford, a noon-hour Battlefords Chamber of Commerce audience and before the RMs of Battle River and North Battleford.
He has been lobbying for $4 million in municipal contributions from North Battleford, the two surrounding RMs and the Town of Battleford. Fan has proposed a municipal Saskatchewan Hospital levy be brought in to raise that municipal contribution to the fundraising effort.
But that idea has encountered rough terrain. Several residents have questioned why the local municipalities should even be on the hook for a "provincial" psychiatric hospital.
Battleford councillors had similar thoughts on their minds as they peppered Fan with questions at Monday’s meeting.
Councillor David George asked how many patients at Saskatchewan Hospital came from the Battlefords area.
The Prairie North officials couldn’t give a specific answer beyond saying 27 per cent of the patients are from the northern half of the province.
That answer didn’t seem to satisfy George.
“Seventy-five per cent of the people are not from here,” asked George, who questioned why he would approve $800,000 as a councillor “to supply 75 per cent of the beds that are not residents and are not people that live here or are from here or from the area.”
Mayor Derek Mahon pointed out that people were wondering why the $8 million wasn’t included in the $407 million over 33 years handled through SaskBuilds.
“Why is there not room for another $8 million,” was the question people were asking, said Mahon. “That’s what’s out there, that’s what people are saying.”
While there were questions, the meeting was polite. Still, Mahon was very frank and said there was “no commitment whatsoever” for Saskatchewan Hospital fundraising. There was no money in the 2016 town budget for it at this point in time, he said.
“I might as well be honest with you,” said Mahon, who nevertheless wished Fan the best of luck with the fundraising.
