Arnott continues push for new hospital

When it comes to advocating for a new Groves Memorial Community Hospital, Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott is ramp­ing up the pressure on the provincial government.

Last week, he introduced a private member’s resolution in the Ontario legislature. It calls on the government to allow the hospital to move forward to the next stage of approval.

“The hospital and the com­munity have already made the case for our new hospital,” said Arnott.

“But we’re still waiting for the Minister of Health to approve the planning grant we’ve requested. This is a cru­cial step, and we need the Minister of Health to make it her priority.”

Arnott requested the oppor­tunity to speak to the Groves board of directors at its Nov. 24 meeting. At that meeting, he discussed the need to keep the project on track.

“I will never, ever give up on this,” he said.

Arnott is hoping MPPs of all parties will support his resolution. Through letters, state­ments in the legislature and conversations with succes­sive Ministers of Health, he has repeatedly reminded the gov­ern­ment of the need for, as well as the strong community support of the new hos­pital.

He also reiterated his call for a firm date to begin con­struction.

“Our community needs to know when they can expect shovels in the ground,” he said. “People deserve the best pos­sible health care not just for today, but for tomorrow as well.”

His motion states “That, in the opinion of this house, the government of Ontario should acknowledge the strong and long­standing community sup­port for a new Groves Mem­orial Community Hospital ... and imme­diately provide ... its requested planning grant, and allow it to move for­ward to the next stage of ap­proval.”