Ontario
Hansard
Session 38:1
14-October 2004
YORK
CENTRAL HOSPITAL
Mr Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): My question is to the Minister
of Health. Minister, the finance minister, who is also the member for
Vaughan-King-Aurora, and the member for Thornhill will be very interested
in your response to this question. Minister, I received a letter from
Dr Watson, who is an orthopaedic surgeon at the York Central Hospital.
He says, "Ten months have now passed since that announcement"
-- he's making reference to the announcement for a major needed expansion
at York Central Hospital -- "yet York Central Hospital remains at
a standstill." He goes on to say, "...what really is going on
here and why has YCH been blackballed...."
My
question to you is exactly that: Why has York Central Hospital not heard
from you with regard to an approval for such an important expansion? I
know the Minister of Finance and the member for Thornhill must have been
speaking to you about this as well. Can you tell this House why we have
not heard from you with regard to an absolutely important expansion for
this hospital while waiting lists continue to line up, while we have tremendous
pressures and while a crisis is developing at York Central Hospital? Why
have you not come forward with this project?
Hon George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care):
The member raises an excellent question, because York Central
stands with a very, very long list of hospitals in the province of Ontario
that had promises made by the previous government that were unfulfilled
financially. One of the realities --
Interjections.
Hon Mr Smitherman: There is absolutely no doubt that
that exceptional hospital in Richmond Hill, in an area of our province
which has seen a lot of growth, is under pressure. Nobody would doubt
that. But the reality we face is that, on a long list of hospitals that
were announced with no funding associated, there are also of course, once
built, significant operational obligations.
York
Central is not unique in the province. There is a significant number of
hospitals -- others were referenced in members' statements today -- that
are awaiting similar news. My ministry is working very hard with the Minister
of Public Infrastructure Renewal, and I send this message to the people
of York region: The local MPPs are advocating very effectively on their
behalf, and we expect to be in a position to make announcements shortly.
Interjection.
Mr Klees: Speaker, the Minister of Finance makes light
of this, because he said, "You know, you made a presentation on this,"
and --
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): Order. Minister of
Finance. OK. That's enough.
Mr Klees: As I said before, the Minister of Finance
makes light of this by saying that the cheque bounced. The approval that
was gone through the entire process was about a two-and-a-half-year period
of time. This project was a priority for the Ministry of Health. It was
approved. This Minister of Finance approved some $4 billion of new
spending on programs right across this province and didn't have the courage
to stand up for a hospital that is serving his constituents as a priority.
Minister
of Health, did this finance minister ever speak to you about the importance
of this project and ask you to fund it? Did he or did he not?
Hon Mr Smitherman: I think if the honourable member
reads back my first answer, he'll see that I acknowledge that York Central
is a priority project, but --
Mr Klees: Where's the money?
Hon Mr Smitherman: That is a very interesting question.
The member asks --
Interjections.
The Speaker: Order. I'm sure if a question is asked,
one would like to hear a response.
Interjections.
The Speaker: The member from Oak Ridges. I'm not quite
sure if you want a response. If you would just allow the minister to respond,
then he will. Minister.
Hon Mr Smitherman: Eight and a half years in government
and that member asks, "Where's the money?" What I'm sure the
people of York region are asking is, "Where was the money to back
up the fake cheque that the honourable member presented?"
Interjections.
The Speaker: Order.
Interjections.
Mr Klees: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.
Interjections.
The Speaker: I have to get order first before I can
entertain a point of order.
Mr Klees: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: The reality
is that the people of York region know precisely what --
Interjections.
The Speaker: Order.
Interjections.
The Speaker: The member from Oak Ridges. I may have to
warn this member, and I'm warning the member now, because you're not allowing
the question period to proceed and other members are being denied their
questions.
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