Arnott demands answers on hospitals in Wellington-Halton Hills
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington – Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2011
Arnott demands answers on hospitals in Wellington-Halton Hills
(Queen’s Park) – Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott remains persistent in advocating for the
Georgetown Hospital and the Groves Memorial Community Hospital. Yesterday in Question Period,
he again demanded answers from the Minister of Health.
“The Council of the Town of Halton Hills needs an immediate answer on what support you’ll extend
for Georgetown Hospital,” Mr. Arnott asserted. “My Wellington county constituents are anticipating
an announcement on the Groves project. When will the government do the right thing and approve
our hospital projects, as my constituents deserve?”
Mr. Arnott is calling on the minister to announce a capital grant for the Georgetown Hospital
renovation project, as well as the planning grant and approval for the Groves Memorial Community
Hospital in Centre Wellington to move to the next stage of planning for its planned new facility.
“People are sick and tired of the Liberals’ repeated delays and excuses as to why the government
couldn’t make an immediate announcement,” Mr. Arnott said later. “They certainly could move
forward, but they’re choosing not to.”
Political considerations, Mr. Arnott suggested, could well be influencing that choice.
“I’ve said I didn’t believe that the Liberals would be so miserable as to punish our communities by
ignoring our hospital needs because of past voting patterns,” said Mr. Arnott in the Legislature. “I’m
beginning to wonder if I gave the Liberal Party too much credit.”
– 30 –
Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Ontario Hansard – 19-May2011
HOSPITAL FUNDING
Mr. Ted Arnott: My question is for the Minister of Health. The government’s budget papers indicate
that she plans to spend more than $2.5 billion on hospital infrastructure this year. My constituents in
Wellington-Halton Hills deserve their fair share. When will the minister announce the capital grant for
the Georgetown Hospital renovation project and when will she announce the planning grant and
approval for the Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Centre Wellington to move to the next
stage of planning for our new hospitals?
Hon. Deborah Matthews: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. I understand that
Georgetown Hospital has submitted a proposal to expand their emergency department. The Minister
of Infrastructure and my ministry and others are currently developing a 10-year plan so we can
continue with building the infrastructure in this province.
I do understand why the member opposite might be a little antsy about this because if, by any
chance, his government ends up in power after the next election, I think we’ll see a screeching halt
to any capital development whatsoever.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?
Mr. Ted Arnott: That is utter nonsense and the minister knows it. Excuses and political bafflegab-
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Stop the clock. Members will please come to order. Minister,
your seatmate wants to hear the question.
Continue.
Mr. Ted Arnott: We have made our case for these projects. I’ve raised our hospital issues time and
time again in this House, as members know. I’ve said I didn’t believe that the Liberals would be so
miserable as to punish our communities by ignoring our hospital needs because of past voting
patterns. I’m beginning to wonder if I gave the Liberal Party too much credit.
The council of the town of Halton Hills needs an immediate answer on what support you’ll extend for
Georgetown Hospital. My Wellington county constituents are anticipating an announcement on the
Groves project. When will the government do the right thing and approve our hospital projects, as
my constituents deserve?
Hon. Deborah Matthews: What I can tell you is that when we came to office in 2003, we inherited a
disgraceful deficit when it came to our health care infrastructure. You know that, Speaker. We are the party that, when we had the chance, started to build. We have built 18 brand new
hospitals across this province-18 brand new hospitals. You’re the party that closed hospitals. We
have 100 major capital projects across this province and we intend to keep on building.
I think what you have to think hard about is whether you really want to be part of a party that wants
to cut health care, because you cannot cut taxes without cutting health care. The first thing that will
go, once you fire the nurses, is that you will close the hospitals. It’s what you did before, and I would
love you to stand up and say, “Keep on going,” when it comes to building.