Township welcomes area’s two newest doctors John Carter
John.carter@metroland.com
The Arnprior Physician Recruitment Committee efforts were key in recruiting them to Arnprior, the area’s two newest doctors told McNab-Braeside council last week. Dr. Hang Shi and Dr. Michael Fishman were welcomed to the area by council at its Sept. 20 meeting. Dr. Fishman, who grew up in Montreal, admitted he had never even heard of Arnprior before being recruited to set up an office in town. It’s not easy for small towns to recruit doctors, so there is great value in the township supporting the ongoing recruiting efforts, he said.
DR. HANG SHI
DR. MICHAEL FISHMAN
Dr. Shi, who grew up in Toronto, thanked the committee for alerting the new doctors to the opportunities in Arnprior
and making them welcome. McNab-Braeside mayor Tom Peckett welcomed the two doctors and noted that with their
backgrounds it must be a “cultural shock” for them to move out of the city. But it is a “great place to live and raise a family,” he said. “I hope you find the change of lifestyle to your liking.” Physician recruitment coordinator Laura Tromp said the committee is delighted it has been able to attract two new physicians in each of the last two years. It hopes to attract another two next year, she said. The committee is holding a Fashions for Physicians fashion show this Friday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 in the Nick Smith Centre with proceeds going to the effort to attract more doctors.
Early budget finalization planned McNab-Braeside council anticipates having the township’s 2017 budget finalized before year-end. Council has approved a schedule that sees staff make draft budget presentations on Nov. 21-22.
Council will then hold deliberations on Nov. 28 and Dec. 1 with a planned passing Dec. 20. Among items to be considered are requests for Celebrate M-B 2017, Logger’s Memory Project and FACT-MB.
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Cost exceeds $150,000 for McNab-Braeside Continued from front
Peckett said the process has already cost the township in the area of $164,000. He was responding to letters from FACT-MB supporters, including one on the council agenda by Elizabeth Dickson, urging council to help the residents group with its costs incurred in bringing in expert witnesses for the lengthy OMB hearing in March 2015. Council has indicated in the past that it wouldn’t decide whether to help FACT-MB with its OMB-related costs until the process had been finalized. The issue will be discussed again during township budget discussions this fall, Peckett said. In the meantime, people shouldn’t criticize council about not protecting local water sources before learning the facts, he added. “There seems to be a misconception about what the township has done,” he said. “I’m not sure where a lot of this information is coming from.” Noting that there has been several letters on the issue, he suggested “folks should check the facts before starting to relate things in the paper, especially if they are not true.” Lottery License #8142 • 50/50 Draw License #8164
Peckett pointed out that the OMB agreed with the township’s contentions to extend the buffer zone and reject a permanent asphalt plant, both of which protect the water table. He also said that the OMB has indicated there is no evidence the quarry operations are a cause of the low water table in the area or are affecting the wetlands. Even the FACT-MB expert agreed such conclusions would be premature, he said. Peckett noted that FACT-MB spokeswoman Norma Moore has publicly thanked council for its stand on the quarry, “so I’m confused why these letters keep cropping up in the paper.” With the issue going back to the courts, “I’m going to leave it at that,” he concluded. The recent loss of water by Arnprior for two days seems to have sparked a series of letters from residents expressing concerns that water in wells near the quarry could be compromised. Dickson urged council to put a plan in place in case the water in the area becomes undrinkable. In another letter, Usborne Street resident Trevor Turner asked council to start making payments to help reduce the debt FACT-MB incurred to hire experts for the last year’s hearing.
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Arnprior Chronicle-Guide - Thursday, September 29, 2016 5