By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Mayor Lucas Cleveland spoke out in favour of a request in advance of the 2024 budget consultation from the West Northumberland Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee for an increase in the town’s annual contribution.
The request was part of Monday’s council agenda, with an ask of $27,452 as Cobourg’s share – roughly $1.34 per resident.
“I know several members of the physician-recruitment committee were nervous about asking for this increase after several years of not having an increase,” Cleveland said.
“I personally can’t think of a better thing to spend taxpayer dollars on.
“Currently in Northumberland County, we are short of doctors. This is not an opinion, it is a statistical fact.
“The reality is, we are spending tens of thousands of dollars a year just trying to attract enough family doctors for our residents. We do need to take account of this,” the mayor said.
“There are over 4,000 individuals within the county – including Cobourg, of course – who do not have a personal physician,” Councillor Randy Barber agreed.
Barber noted that the committee plans a long-overdue increase in the funds they make available to assist a recruited physician’s relocation to Cobourg, doubling it to $20,000.
“You have to realize there are municipalities today who are offering physicians between $50,000 and $80,000 to come to their community,” he pointed out
