Dalton and Dave increase Northern Travel Grant

NEWS RELEASES

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

************************* Orazietti announces $8.6-million increase to Northern Health Travel Grant

McGuinty government investment improves access to health care for Northern residents

SAULT STE. MARIE - The McGuinty government is making it easier for Northerners to access health care by raising the reimbursement mileage rate and providing support for accommodation costs under the Northern Health Travel Grant (NHTG) Program David Orazietti, MPP announced today.

"As a Northern Ontario MPP I have worked closely with my regional colleagues, other members of the legislature and Ministry of Health officials to strongly advocate for a program that reduces barriers to health care services for Northern Ontarians," said Orazietti. "Today's improvement to the Northern Health Travel Grant will help ensure that residents of Sault Ste. Marie and other Northerners have greater access to medical care in the Province of Ontario when they need to travel for treatment."

On May 6, 2004, Orazietti received unanimous consent from the Ontario legislature on his resolution to review and improve the NHTG.

The NHTG program was created during the Peterson Liberal government to help reduce transportation costs to individuals who reside in Northern Ontario and must travel long distances within Ontario or to Manitoba to receive medically necessary insured specialty services that are not available in their local community.

"Everyone should have access to high-quality health care - no matter where they live in this province," said Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. "For Northerners, that can mean travelling away from home to access some procedures - it's only right that we provide fair compensation for the cost of receiving care in a timely manner."

This $8.6-million investment will increase the mileage rate from 34.25 cents per kilometre to 41 cents per kilometre starting July 1, 2007.

The funding will also help speed up the payment process by upgrading the processing system.

And for the first time, the government will provide financial support for an overnight accommodation allowance of up to $100 for each eligible trip a patient makes, beginning in October 2007.

"This investment means residents will get quicker payment for their travel expenses," said Minister of Health and Long-Term Care George Smitherman. "Today's announcement ensures Northern Ontario residents have the travel flexibility, as may be medically needed, to receive medical specialist care in the timeliest manner possible."

The NHTG Program helps defray the transportation costs for residents of Northern Ontario who travel long distances to access non-emergency, medical specialist services.

Northern Ontario residents file over 155,000 applications for travel assistance every year.

The program is part of the McGuinty government's wait-time strategy, which is designed to improve access to five key health procedures.

Improving the Northern Health Travel Grant is just one way the McGuinty government is working to provide greater health care resources for Northern Ontario residents.

Other investments that are helping to improve health care in Sault Ste. Marie include:

- 90 percent capital funding for construction of new SAH

- New $26-million contract for the Group Health Centre

- $6.6 million to reduce wait times for key medical procedures

- $4.8 million in new home care funding

- $3.7 million in new long-term care funding

- $3.7 million for new medical equipment

- $2.6 million in new mental health service funding

- $2 million for new CT Scanner

- $1.6 million for Group Health Centre expansion

- $306,900 for new Telestroke site.

"We're bringing down wait times, but numbers are just part of the story - what we're really talking about is care for people," said Premier McGuinty. "So we'll continue working with northerners and all Ontarians to make universal public health care stronger so that it meets the needs of Ontarians today and for generations to come."

************************* NDP health critic attempts to mislead Sault residents

McGuinty government on track to build new public hospital in Sault Ste. Marie

SAULT STE. MARIE - Sault MPP David Orazietti is demanding Shelley Martel retract comments made to a local news outlet, incorrectly attributing views to Orazietti that he does not hold.

"I have never and would never support a private hospital. Since the NDP Health Critic will not return my calls, I am forced to demand, through the media, that Martel rectify her latest bungling," said Orazietti. "Her party's campaign of fear and misinformation does a grave injustice to Sault residents."

Yesterday a letter appeared in the Sault Star by Martel, who is also MPP for the Nickel Belt Riding.

In it, she referenced a news article in the Sault Star that appeared on Tuesday, June 26. and attributed a comment to Orazietti, which he did not make.

Anyone who actually took the time to read the original story would know that the statement was in fact made by Folgo Della Vedova who was also interviewed by reporter Frank Dobrovnik.

It's not surprising that after five painful NDP years of government in the early 1990s, in which no new hospital was built and the number of doctors was reduced, the NDP would discredit a government that is delivering positive results for Sault Ste. Marie - something the NDP could not and would not do.

Playing political games with something as important to the people of Sault Ste. Marie as a new hospital is irresponsible.

Orazietti's position on the new public hospital remains unchanged.

The McGuinty government is constructing a publicly owned, publicly operated and publicly accountable state-of-the-art health care facility in Sault Ste. Marie.

In addition to ensuring that the new hospital is built on time and on budget, an on-going maintenance program for the life of the building will be implemented.

"Perhaps Martel should spend more time addressing issues in her own riding rather than misrepresenting the position of MPPs in other ridings," said Orazietti. "We can't afford to go back to the years of poor provincial NDP representation in our community."

Since late October 2003, the City of Sault Ste. Marie has experienced tremendous progress.

New provincial investments in health care, education and other important public services continue to improve the quality of life for everyone in the community.

*************************