June 28, 2005 • Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller said he wholeheartedly supports an initiative to bring a women’s shelter to Huntsville.
June 28, 2005 • Huntsville Forester
By Tamara de la Vega
Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller said he wholeheartedly supports an initiative to bring a women’s shelter to Huntsville.
“I think it is a worthwhile project. I think it’s a very creative project the way they are combining 10 affordable housing units with the shelter,” said Miller, who also said he is impressed by the way the community is coming together to support the initiative.
Miller said he has no doubt that the fundraising for the capital project will be a success.
He also said he will do everything possible to work with executive director Joy McCormack of Interval House in Bracebridge to try and secure operating funds for the shelter here.
Miller said although he has not seen the actual business plan for the shelter, he likes the approach.
“It looks like it makes all the sense in the world, especially the way the services are being combined with Interval House in Bracebridge so that there will be savings there in terms of running a program.”
Miller said the question is whether the Province will be able to move quickly enough to recognize how worthwhile the project is.
“They are looking for approximately $270,000. The base funding would come from the Ministry of Community and Social Services, and I think that will be a challenge, getting government to move as fast as the community,” he said, adding that considering who the supporters, are like developer Claude Doughty and publisher Elizabeth Rice Aben, he is hopeful.
“I’m sure we’ll move when you have some of those key people involved in getting things going,” said Miller.
“I certainly support the project and will be happy to do whatever I can to make sure the current government is aware of it and do whatever I can to support it,” said Miller, adding that one of the complaints he has learned about is that funding and services for women are quite fractured “and that needs to be improved upon,” he concluded. |
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