THUNDER BAY — MPP Lise Vaugeois says it's time the Ontario government made a decision on the future of the former Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital.
"I would like to see basically a decision made first and foremost about what is happening with the building," the MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North said Monday.
"Is it going to be renovated and repurposed? And if not, is it going to be torn down?"
She was speaking in the wake of a recent fire in the interior of the LPH, the fourth in the abandoned facility so far this year.
"What we are seeing right now is that our services are being called on frequently because of fires or mischief, or other things going on in the building . . . If you think about the size of that property and the building, it's a tall order to keep it secure."
The New Democrat MPP said that, given the shortage of affordable housing in Thunder Bay, it's not surprising if people are breaking in to find shelter.
"We don't actually know for sure that's what is happening. But we have heard from the fire service that they don't know what's in the building . . . They actually don't know what risks they're facing. So I think that really creates pressure to make a decision, and to not delay any farther."
The former psychiatric hospital was designated surplus in 2018, but the Ministry of Infrastructure recently stated it is still studying potential uses for the 500,000-square-foot building and for the entire 144-acre property on which it sits.
Vaugeois said the safety of anyone who enters the building is being placed at risk.
"The longer it goes on, the more those risks will increase. The longer it goes on, the less likely it is to be able to actually renovate and repair. Between the need for housing and the safety risks, it's just really brought the issue to the fore in our community. And I think that makes it a critical issue . . . This needs to be moved to the front of the agenda."
The MPP believes that if the multi-winged building can't be rehabilitated, it should be taken down so the site can be put to good use.
"It's a huge place. How much housing could be put in that place, whether as part of the building or starting from scratch? The potential for housing is there as well as retaining the value of the green space. Both those things are compatible with the space as it already is."
Vaugeois plans to raise the issue in the legislature as soon as she can.
LPH presents 'unique hazards for firefighters, deputy fire chief says
Dave Tarini, deputy chief of Thunder Bay Fire Rescue, said the former hospital complex presents unique hazards because of its age and the purpose it was built for.
"It was designed to keep people in. It's difficult to get egress points or access points, with gated doors and boarded-up doors, fenced-in windows, limited access," he said.
"The building is of the vintage where there is a lot of asbestos content. Our staff only respond for emergency incidents, and always wear the proper respiratory protection, but certainly for members of the public it's not a safe building for that, among other reasons."
Tarini revealed that one firefighter was hurt while responding to the fire last week.
"It wasn't a relatively minor injury. It's an injury of concern, but we expect the individual to have a full recovery and look forward to getting them back to work."
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue will be meeting in the coming weeks with Infrastructure Ontario and the security company contracted to patrol the LPH.
Tarini said they will discuss "how they go about securing the building, how quickly they can secure it after people have gained entry, and perhaps posting security on-site around the clock. Those are the types of concerns we'll be bringing forward, and hopefully the type of things that will be getting addressed."
He added that the fire department administration "would like to see something happening quite soon, pretty much immediately."
In the meantime, the deputy chief said Thunder Bay Fire Rescue encourages members of the public to notify police right away if they notice anyone breaking into the building.