Health care victory: Georgetown Hospital funding approved
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington – Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2011
Health care victory: Georgetown Hospital funding approved
(Wellington-Halton Hills) – 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, and
I believe the Minister felt she had no choice but to respond with a cheque.”
th
Most recently, Mr. Arnott hand-delivered his August 16 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.
– 30 –
Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org