Miramichi residents raise concerns over private nursing home

Five provincial cabinet ministers faced tough questions over plans to build a privatelyrun nursing home inMiramichiat a packed meeting in the northern cityonThursdaynight.

Almost 400 people turned up at the government-organized event to discuss the nursing home proposal.

At times, the meeting got boisterous.

"You want us to ask questions, but they don't want to answer questions," resident AnthonyRussell shouted at Liberal MLA Lisa Harris, who was moderating the meeting.

Many of those in attendance were local residents or employees at thetwo existing nursing homes that will be closed after the new one opens.

Plans call for the new nursing home to be built as a private-public partnership, where a private sector company will build and operate the facility under a contract with the provincial government.

Lorenzo Doucet, a local resident,voiced the hot-button question about future jobs in the northern city at the meeting.

"How many of you are willing to raise your hand and say that you will not allow a contract to be written without job security for these fine people?"

Social Development Minister Cathy Rogers would not say if existing staff would all keep their jobs once the new facility opens and the existing nursing homes are shut down.

But Rogers did say the number of jobs at the 240-bedfacility will surpass the combined number at the existing nursing homes

"There's going to be employment opportunities that are even greater today," Rogers said.

"And if this isn't a sign of job security, with all of the other economic opportunities that [Economic Development] Minister [Rick]Doucet has present. I mean, really it's a great time to be in the Miramichi, I'd day."

Rogers said nothing will be decided until all the community's concerns have been heard.

Rogers answered most of the questionsfor government at the meeting, but cabinet ministers Doucet, Bill Fraser, Donald Arseneault and Denis Landrywere also on hand.

The provincial governmentsays three of the 65 nursing homes in New Brunswick are privately run.