David Orazietti does stuff

NEWS RELEASES

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

************************ Orazietti announces $3,651,400 in additional funding for Sault Area Hospital

$311,962,900 over three years for Sault Ste. Marie patient care

Queen’s Park – The McGuinty government is providing Sault Area Hospital with $3,651,400 in additional funding for this fiscal year in order to ensure the residents of Sault Ste. Marie have improved access to better hospital care, David Orazietti, MPP announced today.

This increased investment in SAH has helped to exceed 2005/2006 cumulative funding projections, originally estimated at $300,343,100 by more than $10 million.

"We are following through on our commitment to improve health care in Ontario by ensuring that patients receive the care they need and deserve," said Orazietti. "This stable, long-term funding commitment will give the Sault Area Hospital increased resources to continue to provide high quality care and services at the current facility and at our new hospital once its construction is completed."

For the second time in the province's history, every Ontario hospital will know how much it's getting over the next three years – instead of just one.

Sault Area Hospital will receive the following total funding:

- $102,278,100 in 2006/07

- $103,658,600 in 2007/08

- $106,026,200 in 2008/09

Hospitals in Ontario will receive $13.35 billion in operating funding this fiscal year, $13.9 billion in 2007/08, and $14.5 billion in 2008/09.

The funding for this year represents an increase of over $619 million – 4.9 per cent – from the previous year.

This is just the latest example of how the McGuinty government's commitment is improving hospital care for Ontario families.

Other new local initiatives include:

- $25.9 million for a new Group Health Centre Contract

- $2 million for a new CT Scanner at SAH

- $306,900 for a new Tele-Stroke site at SAH

- $4.7 million for home care

- $2.2 million for mental health services

- $744,500 for Vascular Research at GHC

- 48 new long-term care beds in Sault Ste Marie

Provincial funding to build new Sault Area Hospital

Other new provincial initiatives include:

- $95 million to build the Northern Ontario School of Medicine

- reducing wait times for five key health care services (hip and knee joint replacement, cataract surgeries, MRI exams, cancer surgeries and cardiac procedures) with a recent investment of $222.5 million - issuing Requests for Proposals for 11 new hospital projects in 2006/07 worth $2 billion

Today's initiative is part of the McGuinty government's plan for innovation in public health, building a system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

************************ Orazietti announces $2,449,750 in connecting link funding

Province continues to improve infrastructure in Sault Ste. Marie

Queen's Park — To support families and businesses in Sault Ste. Marie, the Ontario government is providing funding to improve Highway 17 connecting links, David Orazietti, MPP announced today.

"This is great news for Sault Ste. Marie and it reinforces our commitment to support shared infrastructure with municipalities," said Orazietti. "Connecting link funding for our city is tremendously important and it helps to ensure our roads are safe and properly maintained."

Construction work includes:

- $980,250 for partial reconstruction including mill, pave and curb and gutter replacement for 1.15 km along Trunk Rd (Highway 17) from Shannon Road to Boundary Road

- S169,500 for cold in place recycling along Trunk Road (Highway 17) from Black Road to Shannon Road

- $1.3 million in carry-over funding for the Truck Route connecting Second Line to the International Bridge

The Ontario government will contribute $2,449,750 towards the total cost of these projects.

"This government recognizes that local residents — especially in rural and northern areas — need safe and reliable roads," Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield said. "This investment will help keep our roads in good condition, improve road safety and promote economic activity for local businesses."

"Our government recognizes that good highways are vital to northern communities," Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci said. "Improving the Highway 17 connecting link will help build a strong community, boost the economy and improve the quality of life for residents in the area."

This funding is part of the Ontario government's $14.4-million 2006/07 Connecting Link Program which assists municipalities with construction projects for local roads that connect provincial highways.

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