Here is the long awaited response from Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli via a letter to the editor in the Milton Canadian Champion.
As the readers of my website will know, I have been demanding answers from the provincial level of government in Ontario to find out when Milton District Hospital will be expanded. Over the last several years many groups of citizens, levels of government and Halton Healthcare services has been trying to convince the LHIN’s and the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Premier of Ontario that Milton needs to have a hospital expansion.
The statistics are endless in our arguement that something needs to have been done a long time ago and must happen now. Halton Healthcare Services has made many presentations to council over the last while outlining the drastic need for expansion in a hospital that is designed for a population of 30,000 while Milton now is approaching 100,000.
The Friends of Milton Hospital collected over 35,000 signatures on post cards a couple of years back and delivered them to the Health Ministers office. Recently the Grow Milton Hospital Campaign submitted a petition to Queens Park with over 6,000 signatures collected in a matter of weeks.
The Provincial government promised the over 95 plus municipalities who are in similar, if not worse situations that Milton is in a detailed 10 year capital project list after the budget this past spring. The list was “coming soon” and I along with other Miltonians received tweets from the Premier’s press secretary saying the LHIN”s and the Ministry were “working on it” and something would be coming soon.
At the end of June, after months of promises, the provincial government released the Building Together plan outlining their priorities. The problem is there was no detail included. The town of Milton, the Region of Halton and for that matter every municipality has to detail their capital plans, with lists of projects, time lines, prices and how we’re going to pay for it. Thats a requirement the Provincial Government has for municipalities. We didn’t get a plan. We got promises.
You cant blame myself and the other municipal leaders in this town for being disappointed and frustrated. This has been an ongoing issue for many years and I for one am puzzled at the lack of committment the Province has for healthcare in Ontario.
The people of Milton are frustrated. You only have to bring up the hospital in conversation and blood pressures around the room begin to rise. At last nights town hall meeting when we discussed the hospital expansion levy and the potential expansion of MDH, residents were confused as to why nothing was being done for so long and why we as a municipality can’t do anything to speed it up.
All we are looking for Minister Chiarelli, Minister Matthews & Premier McGuinty is the green light. We are ready to go with the plan that’s needed to help improve the delivery of health care services in Milton. The hospital and the doctors and nurses within are stretched to the limit and even though they haven’t hit the breaking point…its getting close. The Town of Milton would like to put a plan into place so that we can fund our portion of the hospital expansion. We’re ready to consult with them to find the best solution possible for that funding. We are at the starting line…waiting for the green light.
The Town of Milton along with the Region of Halton is trying to build a community where people can live, learn, work and play. We want families to chose Milton for its great amenities, the schools, the restaurants, the places to work and learn at our education village and to be able to have a medical facility that can handle the current and future health care needs of its residents.
The time is now! Grow Milton Hospital!
Ontario Government committed to Milton
Dear Editor:
Re: June 30 story entitled ‘Councillors disappointed with infrastructure plan.’
Milton councillors criticized Building Together, Ontario’s first ever long-term infrastructure plan, for a perceived lack of detail.
They’re correct to point out that our government must tackle the province’s infrastructure deficit. Over the last six years, the Ontario government has invested an average of $10 billion annually in infrastructure.
Our commitment to schools, hospitals and roads is clear in Halton and across Ontario. Ontario’s infrastructure investments since 2003 total $62 billion, creating 600,000 jobs — including 620 jobs in Milton. We have committed $35 billion for the first three years of Building Together to continue our work.
Needless to say, we mean business.
The Dalton McGuinty government’s record is the best indication of what we’ll do for Milton’s infrastructure. Milton is one of the fastest growing municipalities in the country. That’s why we have invested more than $34 million in dozens of infrastructure projects since 2003, including the Milton Centre for the Arts, Milton Sports Centre expansion and the widening of Tremaine Road.
We recognize the need to plan for future growth as well. That’s why we have provided more than $4 million in growth funding to Halton Healthcare Services, and a $1.5 million planning and design grant to Milton District Hospital to help further develop its expansion proposal.
The McGuinty government is also helping municipalities build their own infrastructure by uploading municipal services. When uploading is fully implemented in 2018, Halton Region will save an estimated $22.5 million per year.
Since 2004, the McGuinty government has also transferred $2.4 million to Milton for public transit funding (formerly known as gas tax revenue). We will continue to ensure Milton gets its fair share.
Through Premier McGuinty’s mandate, our government has built, expanded, and modernized hospitals, schools, community centres and public transit across the province — creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and making a positive difference for Ontarians. Building Together is a commitment and strategic plan to continue these investments in Milton and across Ontario.
Bob Chiarelli, Infrastructure Minister, Government of Ontario
How about another petition to Chiarelli/McGuinty? This time signed by the councils of the 95 municipalities that are waiting for answers.
Send a letter from Milton council to Chiarelli/McGuinty. Forward the same letter to the 95 other municipalities asking them to send a similar letter to the province. 95 municipalities probably equals 95 provincial ridings and 95 local newspapers.
Now that sounds like a great plan Garlis. There needs to be more pressure put on the Province to get the ball rolling and other municipalities need to let them know that “BUILDING TOGETHER” isnt sufficient for OUR long range planning. – Mike
Arg – Frustrating to have the Arts Center and Sports Center expansions thrown back in our faces when they know full well those we’d have preferred the hospital but that it didn’t meet the criteria for the Federal stimulus program where those did. The hospital expansion is a critical need, and we’re at the province’s mercy.
As one of the other posters mentioned, that funding came through the Canada Economic Action Plan which was a combination of federal, provincial and municipal dollars. Thats like comparing apples to oranges in this case. The CEAP was for shovel ready projects only, but if hospital infrastructure was on the table it would be an entirely different situation. The expansion of Milton District Hospital isnt shovel ready because the PROVINCE needs to green light Halton HealthCare Services in order for that to happen. – Mike
Thanks for pointing out the Arts Centre & Sports Centre which was FEDERAL, Provincial and Municiply funded, not just you.
Hospital expansion wasn’t available for the Canada Action Plan therefore your self professed kudos mean nothing. If the people in the Town of Milton had a choice, they would have gone with the hospital expansion 10 times out of 10.
Take ownership of the failure to the residents of Milton in ignoring their needs. If we are mandated to grow by the Province, the Province should step up to the plate and do the right thing…grow Milton Hospital!!
Exactly Chris! If there was a choice available back then with the Canada Economic Action Plan for hospital expansion in this or any other municipality, you KNOW what the choice would have been. Its time for the Province to stop blaming previous governments 8 YEARS ago and take ownership of today AND tomorrow. – Mike
Garlis – we’ve tried petitions and letters and it’s done no good. Why not get the other municipalities together and do what Halton Region did over up-front infrastructure money: refuse to sign off on any more development until the Province gives us a hard date for a green light? It sure scared the crap out of them last time.
I’m also still waiting to hear whether our MPP’s party is willing to make a firm commitment on this.
Jennifer…I am also waiting for that response. EVERY party leader has to have their feet held to the fire on this one. There’s also an AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) conference coming up in August of which I will be attending and believe me I will be in everyones face about this matter and seeing if we can get some consensus to pressure the province to move forward with these much needed projects, instead of just “planning” for them in the future. – Mike
Here is an interesting link I found.
http://www.hgh.ca/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?newsID=27
The MPP for the area is Liberal Jean-Marc Lalonde and he is the Parliamentary Assistant for the Minister of Health Promotion.
Here are some comments from the Health Minister/Infrastructure Minister regarding this hospital expansion for Hawksbury.
“I know how important this expansion is to the people of this community and I’m proud to see it move forward. For area residents, these new upgrades mean faster and easier access to high quality health care services much closer to home.”
– Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
“Our Building Together infrastructure plan is our road map to a stronger Ontario. We know that infrastructure, such as major hospital projects, are worth investing in and maintaining for the good of everyone.”
– Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure
Kevin Flynn of Oakville took credit for the Oakville hospital (Liberal) and now another Liberal MPP has his riding awarded with a hospital expansion and we get what? Promises.
Id say I was surprised but nothing McGuinty and this government do surprise me anymore.
Turf em!
I will soon be moving to Milton and I’m not so sure I made the right choice. My grand-daughters were born in the MDH 8 yrs ago and the services haven’t improved from what I can tell. Of course the population is exploding and there is no outstanding politician strong enough to make a case so the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Ivan,
Thats what Mike is trying to do now. There are too many quiet voices at the local level about the lack of news around the expansion.
Problem is all the “good news” hospital expansions are going to Liberal ridings, and the one in Hawksbury this week being announced is just another sign election goodies are on the way to those who are sticking around with Dalton.
Keep up the fight Mike! We’re behind you all the way.
The approval of these projects should be judged by merit. I am under no illusion that Milton is in the worst shape in the province. There are other areas in Ontario that are not being serviced at all because of economics and in one instance, the province shut down the emergency room. Milton however should be “up there” in the priority area to be expanded.
Mike, that’s my anger with the Hawksbury expansion annoucement. I’m sure it was needed as are many other projects. But, HHS is asking for is a timeline so they can make decisions going forward for short term as well as longer term as you well know. I’m sure the Hawksbury expansion was needed, but why, why, why could they not make an annoucement of the top 10, or who will be getting funded when over the next – I don’t know – 3 years? These singular annoucements are immensely frustrating for the rest of the municipalities waiting desperately for dates for funding and what services will be funded.