With the Salvation Army, the owner of the historic Grace Health Centre at Toronto, deciding to pull itself out of the healthcare facility’s operations, the fate of the hospital apparently hanging in doldrums.

Since the provincial government wants that Grace, which provides palliative and complex care, should continue to remain in operation, it intends putting out a request for proposals for new owners and operators by February 9.

However, in the meantime, the board of the hospital, which became operational under the Salvation Army’s ownership in 1889, is trying to manage the requisite funds to purchase the land before the government’s announcement for a new owner.

Demanding reconsideration by the provincial government, about seeking proposals on short notice, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath said: “We’re being rushed through the process, not giving the board enough opportunity to put in place a plan to keep this hospital open. The government can intervene to elongate the process and ensure stability is maintained and that the beds are operating in this facility.”

Meanwhile, noting that Grace Health Centre has been a crucial component of Toronto’s integrated health care system, Health and Long Term Care Minister Deb Matthews has also asked the Local Health Integration Network to grant more time to the Grace board so that it can come up with a viable plan.