JARVIS—A long-discussed request for financial support of the proposed Norfolk Haldimand Community Hospice returned to Haldimand Council this week, with staff outlining both a recommended grant and ongoing financial concerns.
The update came before Council on April 7, 2026, with staff recommending that Council approve a one-time grant of $750,000 over two years for the proposed hospice development. The payment would be payable with $500,000 in 2026 and $250,000 in 2027.
Council supported the recommendation unanimously.
“The Norfolk Haldimand Community Hospice is something we desperately need for Haldimand and Norfolk,” said Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley. “I look forward to the shovels in the ground this summer.”
When built, the hospice will include caregiver space, healthcare professional offices, volunteer areas, and programming space. Staff said the facility is expected to accommodate more than 100 residents annually for hospice care, while also offering grief and bereavement programming to an estimated 200 people each year.
The building is being designed with the potential for future expansion.
Tuesday’s discussion marked the latest step in an issue that has already come before Council more than once.
Hospice representatives attended the August 26, 2025 Council-in-Committee meeting to provide an update on the project and request support related to a potable water extension and the waiving of development-related fees.
On November 18, Council directed staff to prepare a report examining the financial, legal, and operational implications of providing such assistance.
That report was presented to Council on March 3, 2026, recommending against providing financial support. Staff said there was no municipal mandate to fund residential hospice facilities, no dedicated County funding source for such a request, and a risk that approving funding could create a precedent for future requests from other charitable organizations.
Council later referred the matter back to staff for an updated report.
In the new report considered this week, staff maintained that they do not support waiving planning application fees, waiving development charges, or funding the cost of extending a waterline to the property.
Instead, staff said that if Council wished to provide financial assistance, the more appropriate option would be a one-time donation to the hospice as a registered charity. The recommended amount mirrors support already approved by Norfolk County.
Norfolk committed $750,000 over two years during its 2026 budget deliberations, similarly scheduling payments of $500,000 in 2026 and a further $250,000 proposed in 2027.
Haldimand staff said that, because the proposed hospice would serve residents beyond Haldimand County, any contribution from Haldimand should not exceed Norfolk’s commitment.
The report also highlighted the broader financial picture surrounding the request.
Staff said the hospice has publicly identified estimated capital costs of about $12.8 million, with a significant share dependent on fundraising and community support. For that reason, staff recommended that any County contribution be contingent on confirmation that full project funding has been secured and that construction of the hospice is underway.
At the same time, staff reiterated concerns about using municipal dollars for a service that falls under provincial healthcare responsibility. The report states that palliative care services in Ontario are not a municipal responsibility, and that Haldimand County has no dedicated funding source available for the request.
Now approved, the grant will have to come from the County’s operating contingency reserve.
Staff estimated that reserve currently sits at about $26 million, but noted it is intended to help fund emergency operating expenditures, one-time initiatives, cash flow pressures, and tax levy mitigation. The report cautioned that using those funds for non-municipal services would reduce the County’s financial flexibility and could create future budget pressures.
Staff also argued that approving support for the hospice could establish a precedent that the County would be unable to sustain, given the number of charitable and non-profit organizations serving Haldimand residents.
At the same time, the report acknowledged the significance of the project and presented the recommended grant as the clearest available option if Council wanted to move forward with financial support.
During discussion on April 7, councillors voiced broad support for the project and the revised recommendation.
Ward 1 Councillor Debera McKeen spoke in favour, saying she had heard support from residents across all six wards over the past two months. She said she was glad Council could come together to help fund the hospice and expressed hope that more people would be able to stay closer to family at their end of life.
Ward 2 Councillor John Metcalfe said he was satisfied with the report and pleased to support the one-time funding, while acknowledging the project is not strictly a County initiative. He also pointed to ongoing concerns about provincial healthcare funding and praised private donors for helping move the project forward.
Ward 3 Councillor Dan Lawrence said support for the hospice was “necessary,” adding that while the decision could open the door to other requests, he viewed the hospice as a unique case. He said the facility would help relieve pressure on palliative care services in Dunnville, Hagersville, and Norfolk hospitals.
“Today looks a lot brighter than it did last month so I appreciate that,” said Bentley, referencing the previous report against funding. “I can’t tell you, the letters I received in support, and the phone calls, to give them some funding.”
