Community meeting - April 14, 2026

I had the opportunity to attend the Arcadia sponsored community meeting last night in Cambridge- Narrows. The 30 or so folks presented their thoughts on what they would like to see in Arcadia.

Thank you to all that attended to express your thoughts.

Big on the list was improving existing medical services (getting doctors and nurse practitioners and exploring ancillary services. Our population is aging and might require geriatric services, podiatrist, physiotherapy, etc.

I think at this point the “push” should be getting a doctor/NP in the Gagetown clinic and further support for the Cambridge-Narrows clinic.

Would a collaborative care center be a “plus” in Arcadia? It would; however, there has been no commitment from the Province, even if there was a building, that they would consider establishing a center in Arcadia.

We have to continuing lobbying the Province that there is a need for such a center and as suggested by one of the candidates in Ward 2, folks who don’t have a doctor and want a doctor to register on NB Healthlink to demonstrate the need in Arcadia.

This isn’t a “today” or “tomorrow” project. It’s a multi-year project.

A building project has to come with guarantees, not absolute risk to the taxpayers. Private developers would jump all over a project of this sort. if the Province indicates an interest in establishing a new facility.

We cannot take the risk of funding a multimillion-dollar project and hope that they will come. If Horizon wants to come, they will seek “expressions of interest” to supply a building at which time, no doubt, developer will make proposals.

Let’s focus on the assets we have now, to enhance primary care now and explore other avenues for ancillary care for all the residents of Arcadia.

As always, thanks for listening.