As the new year kicks off Quinte News is looking ahead to 2022 with local figures.
Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson said there’s plenty to get done in the year on top of a looming municipal election.
As the new year turns, the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t going anywhere.
Mayor Ferguson said that in the early goings of the new year they will continue to push on with vaccination efforts
“We are going to continue as we have to support the vaccination efforts of young people as well as the rollout of booster shots and third doses. Getting people vaccinated is absolutely vital in order to ensure we protect our healthcare resources and to limit the impact on our local economy.”
He said the last thing they want is for things to get out of control to the point of necessitating another provincial lockdown.
Another focus for 2022 in Prince Edward County is trying to fill empty physician slots.
Mayor Steve Ferguson says that the number of doctors retiring will leave the area, which is already in need of doctors, in bad shape.
“We’re going to be taking an extremely hard look at the shortage of doctors and how we resolve to attract people to our community to take over the practices of physicians who are retiring.”
In early December council heard a presentation from the Prince Edward County Family Health Team that painted a grim picture of what’s to come for physicians in the county.
With multiple physician retirements forecast for the coming years and a lack of ability to keep up with other municipalities in terms of attracting potential physicians, they urged council to act sooner rather than later.
Joining up with the Docs By The Bay recruitment team was mulled about as a possible solution.
Among other things Mayor Ferguson said that council will continue to work for affordable housing in the county in 2022.
