Construction is underway on a new long-term care facility in King Township on the Oak Ridges Moraine despite some residents' concerns about the environmental ramifications.
The province announced today that ground was breaking on the St. Rita at Marylake Long-Term Care Home. The new 160-bed home will be built on the 800-acre site of the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace owned by Augustinian Fathers (Ontario) Inc., currently housing a monastery.
The province praised the project and said it is a part of ensuring homes for seniors.
“Our government is fixing long-term care and ensuring we build homes for seniors in the communities they helped build,” Minister of Long-Term Care Stan Cho said in a news release. “Today marks a significant milestone for King City.”
The home, expected to open in 2025, will also offer enhanced chronic disease management and palliative care services.
Residents have raised concerns for the plan for the property on the environmentally protected Oak Ridge Moraine. The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan restricts development on the lands, but not when there is an existing use. While the monastery has maintained that long-term care has taken place on the property for many years, resident groups have challenged that.
The Concerned Citizens of King Township and Save The Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM) have threatened legal action on the matter. Mary Muter of the Kingscross Ratepayers Association said seeing the construction go-ahead is disappointing.
“This is the wrong place. It’s a mistake to build a long-term care facility on the Greenbelt and on the moraine outside of a settlement area,” she said. “It’s probably one of the most sensitive areas of the moraine.”
Although the groups revealed plans to challenge the matter in court Sept. 8, they have yet to file a motion. Muter said they are attempting to get further information on the development through freedom of information requests before proceeding, but that is taking time.
“We want to go to court and know we’re going to be asking the court for an injunction, and we want to know we’re going to be successful,” she said.
The municipality has previously responded, disagreeing with the position of the residents groups and stating that the proposal fits in with the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan.
"The Township of King is grateful for the support of the Government of Ontario and the Augustinian Fathers in making St. Rita at Marylake Long-Term Care Home a reality, which will bring 160 much needed beds to our community,” King Mayor Steve Pellegrini said in the provincial news release.
Augustinian Fathers board member Quinto Annibale expressed thanks to the government for an additional funding subsidy being allowed for the not-for-profit home.
“St. Rita at Marylake Long-Term Care Home will allow seniors in need of such care and services living in the Township of King, to remain in their community, close to their families and friends,” Annibale said.
Muter said the process for this long-term care home to go ahead has been undemocratic. She added it also goes against the province reversing an expansion of Greenbelt development.
“It’s on the moraine and it’s outside King City, so how is this allowed? We’re shocked and saddened.”
