But will it bring a provincial election?

Heather Wright/The Independent

Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey says 2025 will be the year Lambton’s withdrawal management centre will be completed. And he’s not ruling out the possibility of an election this year.

Bailey spoke to The Independent on New Years Day on what lay ahead for his riding.

One of the bright spots, he says, will be the construction of the long awaited centre at Bluewater Health.
Nearly two decades ago, Lambton County politicians began a campaign to build a detox centre in the community. The council of the day even put $200,000 aside for some of the capital costs. It’s been a tough slog.

Ten years into the push, Bluewater Health became the host for the project, taking away the potential conflict with neighbours if the center was built in a residential area.

But in 2014, councillors brought Bluewater Health officials to a meeting to figure out where the project stood. That’s been repeated a number of times, particularly as the opioid crisis claimed more lives in the community.

Bluewater Health did provide services. And it has set up Ryan’s House to help those after they’ve gone through withdrawal management. But the actual beds to provide that service have yet to be built.

Bailey is confident this will be the year.

“It’s with the ministry, the planning branch. And I just got a note the other day we’re gonna do it any day. I’m just kind of waiting,” Bailey said New Years Day.

He says Bluewater Health CEO Paula Reaume-Zimmer told him “They’re at the point now where they’re gonna start picking out their furniture there. It’s been approved. So they did everything, as I understand it, behind the walls that they could do to be ready to start building out that unit.”

So will the work start in 2025 then? “As far as I’m concerned, yeah, I’m just waiting for Bluewater Health to say…I’m sure they’re going to make an announcement about it.

Bailey says while the withdrawal management unit will be important in the community, other programs like the YWHO – Youth Wellness Health Hub, are making a difference.

Bailey says Reaume-Zimmer told him recently the unit which deals with youth addiction issues at Bluewater Health was empty for a day as young people realize they can get the help they need at the downtown YWHO building.

What else will 2025 bring? There has been speculation for months Premier Doug Ford plans an election in the spring.

“I’ll be honest, I think that ball is still up in the air,” says the PC MPP.

Bailey is sure Ford is looking at the uncertainty in federal politics and across the border asking “Okay, how is this all going to shake out?” before making a decision.

If Bailey had a say, he would “seriously consider” an election in 2025 to provide more certainty for the business community.

“I think people like certainty, you know, they want to know. And hey, at the end of the day, its the people that decide, right? You put it to the people, let them make the decision. And I think, personally, and this my right, I think we’ve done a great job…I mean, like my staff, myself, all my partners, we’ve done a great job here. And I, hope that kind of work will be returned to the polls.”

Bailey and his Lambton-Kent-Middlesex coworker, Steve Pinsonneault, have both been tapped to run for the PCs again. And, after being cleared from a recent cancer diagnosis, Bailey says he’s ready to run.

While he doesn’t want to talk much about his health issues, Bailey says it did give him a better insight into the province’s health care system.

“With all its faults, I’ve received great care here and in other hospitals that I went to… I can’t say enough about it.

“I know there’s problems with it. I know people have issues, but I received the best of care.”