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Attracting more doctors to Smiths Falls would take municipal involvement, according to the town’s three mayoral candidates, but their answers differed on financial incentives and how they would lead recruitment efforts.
Peter McKenna, Nate Morris and Chris Cummings discussed what the town could do beyond writing letters of support during the all-candidates meeting. Audio from that meeting has been provided to LanarkLeedsToday.ca by Your TV Smiths Falls.
McKenna said municipalities have limited authority over health care, but can contribute resources and bring people together. He pointed to his experience recruiting physicians and helping establish local community health and nurse practitioner services.
McKenna said he would consider asking council to increase that investment, but opposed offering large payouts to attract physicians.
He described meeting with local doctors who were tired and looking for help. He said he subsequently brought physicians, hospital leadership, clinic representatives and landlords together to discuss possible responses.
While pointing to anticipated provincial support, McKenna said the community needs measures to help in the meantime.
Morris argued that Smiths Falls needs competitive financial incentives because other municipalities are offering stronger recruitment packages.
He said he sought advice from people working on local physician recruitment and received a detailed response about what the town could do.
Morris said leaving residents without doctors creates other costs, including hospital visits and travel outside the community for care.
Although he supports spending restraint elsewhere, he argued that a more competitive recruitment effort would require additional money.
Cummings recalled proposing a physician recruitment task force during his first term on council.
He said his colleagues supported the initiative, which brought doctors and other health professionals into the discussion.
Cummings said six years on the board of a community health organization had strengthened his understanding of health care. However, he acknowledged that McKenna brought greater experience in the field, identifying that expertise as something he would draw on if elected.
