Cornwall Ontario – Cornwall’s City Council voted unanimously to support a task force that would examine the long-term health care needs of citizens in Cornwall and SDSG. Josh Welsh who is a member of the Citizen’s Coalition watched the meeting on Cogeco TV Monday night. In an online interview I got his reaction to Council’s decision.

Jason: What is your reaction to City Council supporting a task force to study long term health care in this region?

Josh: All in all, I’m very pleased with the decision that council has made this evening. I was very anxious for Councillor Rivette to make his presentation and I think he did very well in his proposal. At first, I wasn’t sure what the others around the table were thinking but when a majority of them (if not, all of them) said they supported it, a sigh of relief came over me.

Jason: What does this vote mean for our community?

Josh: I think this is one step forward into not only saving the Cornwall General Hospital Second Street Site, but also more research for Long Term Care. I commend all the Council members that were present at tonight’s meeting in their decision to support a Task Force for the Second Street Site.

Jason: How does this historic vote make you feel as a member of the Citizen’s Coalition?

Josh: I can honestly say that all members of the Concerned Citizens Coalition will be more than pleased with this decision.

Jason: What do you foresee as the next steps?

Josh: Now that we have council’s support, I believe that we should have a letter written to the Minister of Health, Hon. Deb Matthews in what took place at Council this evening to give her an update.

We should also create the Task Force that was to be made and decided at Council along with the recommended persons and departments within the City as soon as possible. I’m sure that we (the Concerned Citizens Coalition) will hold future meetings in regards to what next steps should be brought to the table. After this evening’s events, I believe that Council is bringing Cornwall and part of its history in the right direction.

Jason: Thank you Josh for your time.

Josh: Thank you Jason for this opportunity.

If you too would like to share your reactions to Monday nights decision to create a task force, you are welcome to comment below.