Toronto Grace saved by partnership with ministry and Salvation Army

JUSTIN SKINNER

February 3, 2010

Reports of the potential demise of the Toronto Grace Health Centre were greatly exaggerated.

Over the past week, word spread that services provided at Toronto Grace might have to move to a new location after the Salvation Army expressed a desire to cease operations of the hospital.

Those fears were assuaged on Tuesday, Feb. 3 when the organization and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced a new partnership that will keep the Salvation Army in charge of the facility.

With the province promising funding for infrastructure and capital improvements to the site, the Salvation Army decided to retain ownership of Toronto Grace.

"It is a pleasure for the Salvation Army to confirm our commitment to own and operate the Salvation Army Toronto Grace Health Centre," said Commissioner William Francis of the Salvation Army. "Thanks to the commitment of Minister Matthews in announcing funding for the required infrastructure upgrades that are required for the safety and security of the patients, staff, volunteers at the Toronto Grace Health Centre."

Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews noted the past week has been "a bit of a whirlwind" after the Salvation Army first expressed a desire to pass along operations of the site.

Matthews said discussions between the Salvation Army and her staff, however, quickly showed cause for optimism.

"We discovered very quickly we all had the very same objective, and that was to keep the services right here," she said. "Once we landed on that, we figured out a solution and I am absolutely delighted that the Salvation Army took that conversation back to their governing council and made the decision to stay in the hospital business."

Matthews acknowledged Toronto Grace has had requests for infrastructure and capital improvement funding for years. While she said it was too early to put a dollar figure on the government's contributions, she said funding would be forthcoming once the site and the Salvation Army's requests are assessed and reviewed.

"A building this age needs a little bit of a face lift, a little bit of help, and that's what we're going to do," she said.

With a funding promise made, the Salvation Army has committed to operate Toronto Grace indefinitely.

Salvation Army spokesperson Captain John Murray said the building at Bloor and Church streets is in need of a large-scale retrofit, adding that the Toronto Central LHIN and the Salvation Army's national office will work together moving forward.

Murray had said earlier in the week the Salvation Army was leaving the health care business in general, having already ceded operations of a number of sites across Canada.

"That has been the strategy and will continue to be where there aren't doors and windows of opportunity," he said. "The infrastructure conversation that the Salvation Army has had ongoing with the Toronto Central LHIN and the Minister of Health for a number of years was certainly one of the key factors in the Salvation Army's decision here. In other locations, it has been philosophical issues - the regionalization of health care and things like that."