Bernard Richard slams choice of location for youth facility

Former child and youth advocate Bernard Richard says the decision to build a youth mental health facility in Campbellton is "the worst public policy decision" he's witnessed in a long time.

The new $12.6-million facility will be built in the same area as the Campbellton Regional Hospital, the province announced on Saturday. It will have 15 beds and offer outreach treatment to other areas in the province.

Richard has wanted to see a youth mental health facility established for close to a decade and was excited last year when the government announced it would build one.

But after learning the location would be in Campbellton, Richard says he was distraught because of its close proximity to Restigouche Hospital Centre, which is a psychiatric hospital.

It's probably the worst place due to the issues of stigmatization and institutionalization.- Bernard Richard, former child and youth advocate

"After the youth detention centre in Miramichi, it's probably the worst place due to the issues of stigmatization and institutionalization," says Richard.

In January, Richard and a colleague canvassed mental health professionals to see what they wanted for a new facility.

They made recommendations to the government to build the facility in Moncton where access to two hospitals, in both languages would be available.

They also argued that an urban location would have more luck producing specialized services and luring doctors.

Michael Murphy also chides choice

Former Liberal health minister Michael Murphy took to Twitter Monday to join those panning the choice of Campbellton.

"As a former minister of health I can tell you how hard it is to get specialists to go to our urban centres versus Toronto — let alone Campbellton," wrote Murphy in one of a series of tweets that suggested the Gallant government was putting "politics first, kids second" with the decision.

A mental health treatment centre for youth has been discussed in New Brunswick for more than a decade and in a rare Saturday news conference, the province announced the project would proceed adjacent to the Campbellton Regional Hospital.

After Richard went public with his concerns about the choice, Murphy joined in the chorus of opposition.

"Bernard Richard...appalled by location of new centre.  I agree," tweeted Murphy.

Murphy blamed the decision on Liberal party politics and pointed to his former cabinet colleague Donald Arseneault as the likely source of the decision. Arseneault is the current minister of energy and mines and represents the riding of Campbellton-Dalhousie in the legislature.

 Arseneault made the actual announcement in Campbellton on Saturday, rather than Health Minister Victor Boudreau.

"Power of Donald Arseneault is evident by this," tweeted Murphy. "The location away from family for most young patients may only aggravate the condition.  But this government is intensely political."

Donald Arseneault defends choice

Arseneault has vigorously defended the choice of Campbellton, calling criticisms an insult to mental health professionals already practising in the area.

Richard also says by having the location closer to where more youth live, it would reduce the amount of time they would be away from their families.

But Arseneault said he disagrees with Richard`s assessment.

Arseneault says the location was chosen due to Campbellton's proven track record with health care facilities like the psychiatric hospital and detox centre.

"In this area of the province, we've built up an expertise over the years. We've been referred many cases that dealt with children and youth to be dealt with here in Campbellton," says Arseneault.

"The only thing is, we never had the facility to do that."

Political reasons

The facility will employ about 35 professionals and Richard says providing jobs for an economically depressed region likely motivated the choice.

He's disrespecting the expertise that we've developed over the years.- Donald Arseneault, Campbellton-Dalhousie MLA

Richard says he can sympathize for the need of jobs in the north, "but not on the backs of the most vulnerable children in the province and their families."

Arseneault finds that assertion disappointing.

"You know, for him to be saying those kind of things, he's disrespecting the expertise that we've developed over the years" said Arseneault.

"It's a slap in the face of those professionals that have worked with people dealing with these situations."

Construction is slated to being in April 2016 and the facility is expected to open in the fall of 2016.