| Waterloo-Wellington
Riding Office
Fergus, Ontario
January
28th, 2002
LETTER
TO THE EDITOR
Dear
Editor:
I
am writing to express my appreciation to the many people
who have contacted my office in recent days offering
their support for our local Victorian Order of Nurses
Branch.
Like
the constituents who have indicated their gratitude
for the VON and the support services their caring nurses
provide, I also have the deepest respect and appreciation
for
this
wonderful agency. I can remember well as a young boy
the support that our family received from the VON when
my mother was stricken with rheumatoid arthritis. For
this we will be eternally grateful. I know that there
are literally thousands of families in Waterloo-Wellington
who could relate similar sentiments.
When
I was initially contacted by our local VON officials
just before Christmas, I met with them immediately to
discuss their concern about the Request For Proposal
process administered by the Wellington-Dufferin Community
Care Access Centre. The very next day I wrote to Ms.
Mary Blackwell, Chair of the Board of Directors of our
CCAC to ensure that the VON’s request for an appeal
would be given all due consideration. I was advised
that as a result of my letter, a special Board meeting
of the CCAC was convened. I also sought the advice of
our provincial Integrity Commissioner, the Hon. Coulter
Osborne, and while I was told that it would be inappropriate
and wrong for me to directly interfere in the CCAC’s
Request For Proposal appeal process, my letter to the
CCAC did not violate the Member’s Integrity Act. I wanted
to do the right thing and help any way I could.
Early
in the New Year I met again with VON staff to discuss
this important issue and followed up in writing to the
Associate Minister of Health, the Hon. Helen Johns who
is responsible for home care services. I supported the
request of the VON for a meeting with Mrs. Johns to
discuss ways to improve and standardize the Request
For Proposal process throughout the Province. Although
the Minister was unfortunately unable to personally
meet with VON representatives, she assigned the Regional
Director of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Michael McEwen,
to hear their concerns and report back.
For
my part I would be delighted to continue to work with
the VON as their staff move forward to resolve the financial
difficulties of previous years and return to a strong
financial footing. From my meeting with the VON Branch’s
new President, Mr. Dennis Eaton, I am confident that
these problems can be overcome and the VON will continue
to play a significant role in the delivery of health
care in our area for many years to come.
Yours
truly,
Ted
Arnott, M.P.P.
Waterloo-Wellington
Encl.
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