PC Leader John Tory

NO Reason to Delay Cornwall's Hospital Restructuring Project: TORY

By Kevin Lajoie
Cornwall Standard-Freeholder

January 5, 2006

Cornwall - There's no reason why construction of Cornwall's $60-million hospital restructuring project should be delayed until after the next provincial election, Ontario PC Leader John Tory believes.

What's more, the leader of the Official Opposition said local MPP Jim Brownell should be making "even more noise" to ensure the long-awaited project goes ahead sooner rather than later.

In Cornwall Thursday for a meeting with local business and political leaders, Tory suggested the local hospital project was one way the provincial government could assist the city in dealing with the current economic challenges facing it. "They (the McGuinty government) should advance that date (of construction)now and get that work underway," he said.

During a recent visit to Cornwall, Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman confirmed funding for construction projects at St. Joseph's Villa in Cornwall, the Winchester District Memorial Hospital and the Cornwall Community Hospital. However, construction at the CCH is now only earmarked for 2008.

Scotiabank manager and Team Cornwall member Connie Vardy told Tory the new timeline was discouraging to some, considering the work that's been done to raise nearly $10 million locally for the project to date. Construction of the hospital will create jobs attract health care professionals once completed, she said. "That would give the community hope," she told Tory. "It's not right when the money is there."

Tory was quick to respond, saying the community's share of the project may be there, but the real question is whether the province's share is in the bank.

Mayor Phil Poirier said he would have been pleased if the government had stuck to the original timeframe for the project, but he pointed out the province has many other health care commitments along with Cornwall.

On the bright side, Poirier said the $34-million for redevelopment of St.Joseph's Villa is set to begin any time now. "That's a lot of jobs, so that in itself is a positive thing," he said. Poirier said he has no reason to believe the project won't go ahead in two years time, and local officials will have to continue reminding the provincial government about the importance of the project.

Meanwhile, Brownell said he's been forceful and hard-hitting on the need for the hospital project to move ahead since being elected. Unlike the previous Conservative government, the McGuinty government has a plan for healthcare in Ontario, Brownell said. "We've got a five-year plan, and we (Cornwall) are well positioned in the five-year plan. I'm committed to making sure the best health care infrastructure is in place, and it's happening." Prior to construction, the CCH will benefit from a $7.5 million planning and design grant and a further $3.7 million project to consolidate the critical care, maternal and child and emergency departments at McConnell site of CCH within the next year, Brownell said.