Georgetown Hospital funding approved

With just days before the provincial election begins, the government finally agreed to do its part for the planned renovations to Georgetown Hospital. That, says Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott, is a major victory for the community.

“We’ve pushed the government to become a funding partner for this needed project,” Mr. Arnott stated. “Hospital administration, staff and volunteers deserve our thanks and recognition, and so do the Hospital Board Foundation, the Volunteer Association, and generous contributors.

The Ministry of Health is promising provincial funding for the project, which is planned to include an emergency room addition and a diagnostic imaging renovation project.

Mr. Arnott also acknowledged Town Council for its support and the Government of Ontario for making the announcement.

“We’re fortunate to have such a great hospital in our community,” said Mr. Arnott. “I also want to thank the Minister of Health for recognizing the importance of this project to the future of health care in Halton Hills,” Mr. Arnott added.

Expecting the Liberal government to make hospital announcements in the weeks prior to the election, Mr. Arnott left no stone unturned. He has been repeatedly advocating for the hospital for over a year, raising it many times in the Ontario Legislature, writing numerous letters, arranging meetings, speaking directly with the Minister of Health and Ministry staff, and even initiating a debate in the Legislature to support the project.

“We made this a public issue,” he said. “I repeatedly called attention to the Georgetown project, an I believe the Minister felt she had no choice but to respond with a cheque.”

Most recently, Mr. Arnott hand-delivered his August 16th open letter to the office of the Minister of Health. He again reiterated his unqualified support for Town Council’s request that the province contribute its share toward the project.

The Georgetown announcement comes just days after the government finally agreed to approve a new facility for Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Wellington County. Since he was made aware of the Georgetown project request, Mr. Arnott has advocated equally for both the Groves and Georgetown projects.

John Wilkinson, the Liberal Minister of the Environment, praised Mr. Arnott’s work: “Ted has been relentless as your representative. It’s important that you have an MPP in your corner,” he said at the Groves announcement event on August 25. “Ted was able to get me as an ally to the cause.”

Elizabeth Witmer, Ontario’s former Minister of Health, also praised Mr. Arnott’s work on behalf of the Georgetown Hospital: “Ted is tenacious on issues like this, and he never gives up,” Mrs. Witmer said. “This announcement would never have happened without the work he did.”

On the very day after he was re-elected in 2007, Mr. Arnott wrote a letter to the Minister of Health to request expedited review of the pending Georgetown Hospital CT scanner application, which he had learned about during that election campaign.

Ted Arnott is the MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills and serves as Critic to the Minister of Culture, and Critic to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. He can be reached at his official website.

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