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More funding for hospitals needed
Wednesday July 9 2008
By Ted Arnott, MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills
 
The morning of Sunday, June 22nd was a perfect time for an outdoor stroll in Georgetown.  On that gorgeous first day of summer, my wife Lisa, our boys and I all participated in the “Walk for the Georgetown Hospital” to help raise money for the Georgetown Hospital Foundation.
We had a great time, and I was ecstatic to learn that over $30,000 was raised by the 180 participants. Hopefully next year we will have twice that many walkers, and double the proceeds! This event is tentatively planned for Sunday, June 21, 2009.
While we all have a reasonable expectation that the provincial government should adequately fund our public health care system, it is a fact that Ontario’s hospitals must raise funds to buy the new medical equipment they wish to install.
For example, we need a new CT scanner (computed tomography scanner) in Georgetown, and that essential diagnostic tool is expected to cost upwards of $3 million. Many people don’t realize that all of this money needs to be raised locally.
I want to express my sincere appreciation to Paul Armstrong for his superb leadership as Chair of the Hospital Foundation since 2005. His successor as Chair, Laurent Thibault, along with the rest of the Board and staff led by K.C. Carruthers, also deserve credit and the thanks of all of us.
Upcoming fundraising activities later on this year include the McNally Golf Classic, which will be held on July 28 at the North Halton Golf & Country Club.
We all need to dig deep to support all their upcoming fundraising events and activities, and help ensure that the hospital is equipped to meet the health care needs of all our residents.
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I recently sent an open letter to the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, voicing my views and concerns about the McGuinty Liberal government’s “Places to Grow” policy. The entire text of my letter will be posted on my website, but the following are excerpts of what I told the Minister:
“Local autonomy must be paramount when it comes to decisions about growth. Communities should be permitted to plan for their own futures and have the capability to do so without excessive or undue interference from the Province.  This has always been my position.
“It has also been my own personal view that moderate, controlled, reasonable growth is good for a community, and stagnation or even a declining population is not desirable. While I recognize that the government has intended Places to Grow to be an effort to encourage long-term thinking in planning decisions, local autonomy should, as a general rule, be respected.
“It is my understanding that you are compelling municipalities to revise their official plans to conform with Places to Grow population targets, and that this must be completed by this time next year. I would encourage you to be flexible and listen carefully to our municipalities in the coming year as these discussions continue.”
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Hope you and your family enjoy a fabulous summer! I can be reached at 1-800-265-2366, or by e-mail at ted.arnott@pc.ola.org.  My website is www.tedarnottmpp.com.

Ted Arnott is the MPP
for Wellington-Halton Hills