Minister can broker ambulance deal: MPP Arnott
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington – Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2010
Minister can broker ambulance deal: MPP Arnott
(Queen’s Park) – The Minister of Health must intervene to ensure fairness and balance in the
provision of ambulance services in Wellington County, says Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.
Two months ago, the City of Guelph unilaterally disbanded the joint County/City Land Ambulance
Committee. As a result, the County is left without a voice on how ambulance services will be
managed within its boundaries.
“This has left County taxpayers unrepresented when it comes to the governance of this important local service,” said Mr. Arnott in the Ontario Legislature on April 1 . “The ambulance can literally mean the difference between life and death.”
The Minister of Health, he says, has it within her power to broker a solution to the ambulance
impasse between the County and the City of Guelph.
“If we are successful, we could use the resultant goodwill to restart discussions on the other
outstanding issues, and hopefully make progress on those as well,” he said.
Mr. Arnott urged the Minister to convene a meeting with County officials without delay.
In response to ambulance issues affecting Erin, Mr. Arnott wrote several letters earlier this year,
including an open letter to the Minister of Health. He also spoke about it in the Ontario Legislature,
including conversations with the Minister in February.
“In this case, I firmly believe a solution is possible,” he concluded.
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Attached: Mr. Arnott’s statement in the Ontario Legislature, April 1, 2010
Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Mr. Speaker:
Yesterday, I spoke with the Minister of Health, and asked her to meet with representatives of the
County of Wellington.
Here’s why: For years, the City of Guelph and the County of Wellington have worked in
partnership with a joint Land Ambulance Committee.
With the City as the designated “provider” of ambulance service, the County and City each have
had four members on this Committee, to represent the interests of their respective residents.
Unfortunately, the relationship of the City of Guelph and the County of Wellington has become
very strained in recent months.
Two months ago, in a move that can only be described as provocative, the City took the
extraordinary step of unilaterally disbanding the Land Ambulance Committee.
This has left County taxpayers unrepresented when it comes to the governance of this important
local service. The ambulance can literally mean the difference between life and death.
It is my hope that all areas of conflict between the City and the County can be resolved through
negotiation, because we all need to try to get along with our neighbours.
As the MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills, I side with my constituents. And I believe that the
Minister of Health has it within her power to broker a solution to the ambulance impasse.
The Warden of Wellington County, Joanne Ross-Zuj, puts it well: “Our request is simple: direct
the re-establishment of the Land Ambulance Committee, complete with equal representation by
Wellington County Councillors in the form which existed prior to January 26th.”
I urge the Minister to convene a meeting with the County without delay.