A new deal for Group Health Centre

A new contract is expected to be finalized within weeks for the Group Health Centre (GHC), Sault MPP David Orazietti told City Council tonight.

"As I understand it, the ministry has finalized their portion of the agreement," Orazietti said during a Queen's Park Progress Report.

The GHC's provincial funding contract expired 4-1/2 years ago.

The new agreement, for the first time, will require ratification by both the GHC's board and its physician group.

"It should be some very good news," Orazietti told councillors.

Orazietti calls for Lottery Corp. merger

Orazietti also said he'd like to see a merger of the Toronto and Sault Ste. Marie operations of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., with the amalgamated entity based in Sault Ste. Marie.

"I'd like to see the growth of the gaming industry take place here in Sault Ste. Marie," he said.

183 new government jobs

The Sault MPP and former two-term City Councillor also announced tonight that 183.5 new provincial public-sector jobs have been created in the Sault since he was elected last October.

Here's where Orazietti says the new full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs have been created:

- 15.5 jobs at Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.

- 18 jobs at Algoma Community Care Access Centre

- 104 jobs at F.J. Davey Home

- 24 jobs at Algoma District School Board

- 10 jobs at Ministry of Natural Resources

- 4 jobs at Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services

- 1 job at Ministry of Health and Long Term Care

- 7 jobs at the Huron Superior Catholic District School Board

Private sector

Orazietti also talked about 1,185 new jobs created at two Sutherland Group facilities, and 25 jobs at Flakeboard Ltd.

Both companies took advantage of Northern Ontario Heritage Foundation monies to create the jobs, the MPP said.