Latest news with #Vandenbeld
Ottawa Citizen
7 days ago
- Health
- Ottawa Citizen
Queensway Carleton Hospital interested in developing transitional housing on federal land, MP says
Article content Article content Kaite Burkholder Harris, the executive director of the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa, said there is obvious potential of such a housing project near an Ottawa hospital, and that the link between healthcare and housing is 'so clear.' Article content In 2022-2023, patients in Canadian hospitals, who were also experiencing homelessness, had an average stay of 15.4 days, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information. The national average was eight days. Article content Burkholder Harris pointed to Dunn House, a social medicine housing initiative in Toronto, as a potential model for the Ottawa project. The development is a four-storey modular building on land owned by the University Health Network. Article content It has 51 units for unhoused people who were frequently admitted to the hospital. Article content Burkholder Harris said there is a 'good opportunity' for the Queensway Carleton Hospital to follow the lead of Dunn House, which was the first facility of its kind in the country, according to the University Health Network. Article content Article content 'I think it's really demonstrated the value of being able to provide really deeply supportive housing, but with a healthcare lens, and if it's close to the hospital like that, it makes a huge difference too in terms of the access to services,' she said. Article content Cheryl Forchuk, a health researcher at Western University, said that those who experience homelessness age more rapidly and often accumulate chronic illnesses to the point that 'you would think I was talking to a geriatric population.' Article content Stress caused by a lack of secure housing leads to higher rates of arthritis, lung disease and even early onset dementia, Forchuk said. Article content It's why Forchuck has advocated for permanent housing solutions rather than mere transitional housing, which she says is a stop-gap measure. Article content 'Transitional housing is not a home, and so ultimately, people need homes,' said Forchuk, who studies the link between housing and homelessness. Article content Article content Vandenbeld said the hospital has begun developing its proposal, but it's unclear whether it has submitted it to the federal government. Article content Moving forward, Vandenbeld said she wants to ensure the land is transferred to the hospital, which will be the first domino to fall before the discussion can turn towards partnerships and funding for the project. Article content She added that the sooner the land is committed to the hospital, the easier it will be to string partnerships together for development. Article content 'It's very hard to get any funding to build when you don't actually have a commitment on the land, right?' Vandenbeld said. Article content There is also a second adjacent property in the federal land bank at 1730 Robertson Rd., which Vandenbeld said could be of interest to the hospital for another project later down the road. For, now her focus has been on bringing the first project to fruition. Article content 'It's going to be a challenge to find all the pieces and put them together,' Vandenbeld said. 'But looking at who is already committed on this, I'm very optimistic about it.'
Ottawa Citizen
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Anita Vandenbeld leading in Ottawa West-Nepean
Article content Vandenbeld's rivals included Telford, a single father of a teenage daughter whose career in the public service focused on national security. He did not participate in debates during the campaign, but promised to deal with the affordability crisis and stand up for the riding's Jewish population in combating antisemitism. Article content The NDP was represented by Josh Bizjak, a father of one and an NGO management professional who's knowledgeable on labour issues, public policy and trade relations. He pledged to better represent constituents while fighting for improved public services, affordability and economic measures to strengthen the country. Article content Computer scientist Prashanta Dhakal, a father of one who's married to a nurse, ran for the Green Party of Canada with a platform based on a broad view of sustainability that encompassed the economy, immigration and taxation systems, as well as the environment. His greatest moment during the campaign was a patient explanation of the impact of carbon dioxide to a climate skeptic during a candidates' forum. Article content Nepean Article content Ottawa West-Nepean Article content Kanata Article content Ottawa South Article content Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester Article content
CBC
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Ottawa West-Nepean re-elects Liberal Anita Vandenbeld
Ottawa West-Nepean voters are projected to re-elect Liberal MP Anita Vandenbeld. The riding has swung back and forth between Liberals and Conservatives in recent years. Vandenbeld has been its Liberal MP since 2015, getting about 45 per cent of the vote in 2019 and 2021. Vandenbeld previously worked internationally on democracy and getting women involved in politics. She also worked for the party. There were trade-offs with three neighbouring ridings around the edges of this suburban Ottawa riding under the latest redistribution. Six candidates ran this time.
