MPP Arnott Announces Funding for Equipment in Hospitals
Grants a Result of Partial Recovery of Federal Health Cuts
March 16, 2001
Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott has announced that local hospitals are receiving funding from the province of Ontario to replace and upgrade medical diagnostic equipment.
The new money comes from a trust fund established in September 2000 when the federal government agreed to a partial restoration of the funding that they cut from the national program which provides support for health care in Ontario.
Ted Arnott initially raised the issue of the federal cuts to health care in the Ontario Legislature in December 1999. He tabled a resolution requesting that the Government of Canada fully restore the cuts, which at that time were as high as $2.8 billion annually. His resolution passed with support from all parties in the Legislature on April 13, 2000.
“I am pleased that Ontario's new Minister of Health Tony Clement has flowed this money for equipment to hospitals in Waterloo-Wellington including Palmerston and District Hospital and the Groves Memorial Hospital in Fergus,” said Mr. Arnott.
Palmerston and District Hospital is eligible to receive a grant of $181,986 and the Groves Memorial Hospital in Fergus has received a grant allocation of $217,091.
“I congratulate the board and health care staff of these hospitals for this opportunity to enhance the care that they provide to patients in Waterloo Wellington,” Mr. Arnott stated.
“Their daily efforts are an inspiration and significant part of why I worked with our previous Health Minister Elizabeth Witmer to help ensure that the Government of Canada take responsibility for their cut-backs. I give credit where it is due and appreciate that some of the money was restored shortly before the federal election. However, as outlined in my resolution, we are still pressing for a full restoration and for an escalator clause that will ensure that federal transfers will keep pace with increasing costs,” he added.
Other hospitals serving Waterloo-Wellington residents have received grant allocations including the Grand River Hospital in Kitchener, $2,150,592, St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener, $868,203, Guelph General Hospital, $631, 878, St. Joseph's Hospital and Home in Guelph, $481, 776 and Louise Marshall Hospital in Mount Forest, $179,850.
Mr. Arnott's provincial riding of Waterloo-Wellington includes all of Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich Townships, a southwestern part of the City of Kitchener, and much of Wellington County. |
