Municipalities in the Smoky River region are continuing their efforts to sweeten the pot in an effort to attract more physicians to the region. Earlier this month, the Town of McLennan announced it is on board with a proposal by Falher town council which could see municipalities cost-share the purchase of a home in McLennan as an incentive to attract new medical staff (namely a physician) to the Smoky River region. “I think it’s in our best interest as a community and region to shoulder the responsibility of providing a house for accommodation purposes to help attract and retain another physician,” said Councillor Dwayne Stout at McLennan town council’s Oct. 14th meeting. The reactionary move by the town is in response to a resolution passed earlier this month by Falher town council supporting the purchase of a home in McLennan for a new physician. The municipality’s approval of the resolution includes one stipulation – that being the participation of all municipalities to subsidize the cost of the home on an equal basis. “A rental agreement could provide for subsidized living accommodations for a defined period (ie., six months) after which time the physician would be required to pay a reasonable monthly rental fee,” says Falher municipal administrator Gerard Nicolet in a Oct. 7 document which was forwarded to the M.D. of Smoky River, Town of McLennan and Villages of Girouxville and Donnelly for consideration. He added that continued ownership of the house by a municipal government would guarantee availability of a home for new arrival in the form of a physician. McLennan Coun. Robert Bisson says the basic concept behind the plan is one which holds a tremendous amount of merit. “Kudos to Falher and all of our communities for recognizing the growing need for physician housing in this region,” Bisson said. Two other councillors to comment on the subject were Catherine Dunne and Lawrence McNeil, both of whom suggested that the region approach Peace Country Health as a possible funding partner. Smoky River Family & Community Support Services director Penny Fox, who also sits on the Smoky River physician recruitment committee, says Peace Country Health currently offers an incentive where they will pay the first few months rent on a home as an incentive to help recruit and retain physicians. “For the short term and the long term, I don’t believe this housing situation is going to go away,” Fox explains. “With so many other communities taking it on and providing the housing, it puts us in a position where we have to start some serious conversations by coming up with a solution of our own.” Those sentiments were recently echoed in a letter from Barb Gardecki, chairperson for Falher & Area CAPS (Community Association for Professional Services) to the Smoky River regional committee consisting of representation from all municipalities. “As you are likely aware, recruitment of physicians to the Smoky River area is a difficult task,” she indicated in the letter to the committee. She goes on to say that competition for these professionals is very strong, adding it sometimes takes a little extra to make the community stand out to a prospective new physician. “It is important to not become complacent, recognizing that the recruitment initiatives for physicians must continue.” The overall plan to purchase one or more homes in McLennan as an incentive to attract physicians to the region would mirror a similar arrangement recently approved and implemented in High Prairie. That plan saw the municipality purchase one home and rent another to two physicians, both of whom were only responsible for paying utilities for the first six months. A third physician requested an apartment, which Peace Country Health assisted him with. McLennan town council endorsed a motion from Coun. Bisson to table the matter until further clarification is available regarding a funding breakdown from all partners.