Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott made a statement in the Ontario Legislature recently to advocate on behalf of Groves Memorial Community Hospital.
He called on the government to expedite approval for the new hospital for Centre Wellington.
“Once again, I rise in this house to call upon the Minister of Health [David Caplan] to expedite the approval for our new Groves Memorial Community Hospital in the Township of Centre Wellington,” he said.
“Last week, I spoke directly to the minister to follow up on the urgent letter I sent to him last month.
Arnott explained why he was seeking approval.
“On Sept. 11, I met with hospital representatives and ministry staff in the minister’s boardroom. We made a strong case for moving the Groves proposal to the next stage of planning, to get the project moving forward again. We are prepared to work in co-operation with the Waterloo-Wellington Local Health Integration Network.
“But the minister cannot use this as an excuse for further delay.”
Arnott explained, “Delays have plagued this project for far too long. We have been working on this proposal in the Township of Centre Wellington since 2001. Our communities are rightfully expecting progress – not new roadblocks. I think I can safely say that there is no hospital in Ontario that has stronger community support than Groves.”
The Groves project first started as a planned renovation to the current hospital in Fergus, but Groves board and officials are now planning to build a new hospital in Aboyne, near the Wellington County Museum.
Arnott said, “I urge the minister to acknowledge that community support, approve our proposal-business case submission, and move us forward to the functional program stage of planning for the new hospital – immediately.”
