MPP Arnott thanks Minister of Health for support for support for Georgetown Hospital
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2013
MPP Arnott thanks Minister of Health for support for
Georgetown Hospital
(Queen’s Park) – It was one of those rare moments of non-partisanship in the Ontario Legislature.
On October 29, Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott rose in the Legislature to update MPPs on
the progress at Georgetown Hospital and the opening of the new Emergency Department earlier this
month. He also thanked Health Minister Deb Matthews for her support of the project.
“As I said I would do, I want to thank the Minister of Health for her support of the Georgetown
Hospital project,” said Mr. Arnott. “And at this time, I want to extend a public invitation for her to visit
Georgetown again, when, working together, we officially open the new, renovated Georgetown
Hospital.”
After Mr. Arnott’s statement, the Minister crossed the floor of the Legislature to shake Mr. Arnott’s
hand and thank him for his remarks.
In his statement, Mr. Arnott also thanked the Hospital staff and volunteers, and the Town of Halton
Hills Mayor, Council, and staff for their efforts to make the project a reality.
Mr. Arnott has been a strong advocate for the Georgetown Hospital. Over many months, on multiple
occasions, he spoke to and wrote to the Minister of Health, gave numerous speeches in the
Legislature, and even initiated a debate and vote in the House to draw attention to the Georgetown
Hospital renovation project.
While Mr. Arnott is pleased with the progress being made at the Hospital, afterwards, he also noted
that fundraising efforts are ongoing.
“I want to express sincere thanks to everyone who has organized fundraising events, and everyone
who has generously donated to help the Hospital. While we’re all excited about the opening of the
new emergency room, the Hospital Foundation is still working hard to raise $700,000 to reach their
goal of $6.5 million,” Mr. Arnott said later.
For more information on how to support the Hospital project visit:
https://www.georgetownhospitalfoundation.ca/
(Attached: Hansard record of Mr. Arnott’s statement in the Ontario Legislature, October 29, 2013)
– 30 –
Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Ontario Hansard – 29-October 2013
GEORGETOWN HOSPITAL
Mr. Ted Arnott: I’m pleased that the Minister of Health is in the House to hear my statement today,
because a year ago this month I was pleased to update the House on the progress of the Georgetown
Hospital renovation project.
As you’ll recall, Mr. Speaker, just before the 2011 election, on August 31, the Minister of Health visited
Georgetown to announce a provincial grant of up to $2.6 million to support the building of a new
emergency department at our local hospital, coinciding with the installation of a new CT scanner. This
announcement followed many months of planning and effort on the part of hospital staff and volunteers,
the town of Halton Hills mayor, council and staff, as well as my own efforts and those of my staff, to
convince the government to support these needed hospital renovations to improve local health service in
our community.
Last week I was pleased to inform the minister that our new emergency department opened earlier this
month, on October 9. She’ll be pleased to know that the first patient was triaged and registered in the new
department at 7 a.m. sharp. I want to thank the hospital staff for all of their extra efforts to make the move
to the new emergency department go so smoothly.
I’m informed that the next major milestone in the project is the installation and start-up of the new CT
scanner. It is hoped that following the testing of the equipment and staff training, the hospital will be
ready to start scanning patients the first week of December. It is anticipated that the entire project will be
completed by the spring of 2014.
As I said I would do, I want to thank the Minister of Health for her support of the Georgetown Hospital
project. At this time, I want to extend to her a public invitation for her to visit Georgetown again, when,
working together, we officially open the new, renovated Georgetown Hospital.