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wutn uurei '4 uancer Makeover is on hold, bid is for beds instead By IRENE GENTLE The Champion Halton will likely put a $7.5 mnillion make-over on hold while pursuing 68 new beds for Allendale's anti- quated Martin House, the Region's health and social services commnittee heard recently. The comnsittee voted to put the much-needed mod- emization project on the back bumner, allowing staff to prepare a bid for more fong-termi care beds at the Milton baaed home for the aged. At present, Martin House bas 100 beda. T'he matter will go to council for final approval. Halton was recently given eight years to bring Martin House back isp to snuff after it failed to live isp to provincial long-termn care standards. Though the building is structurally sound, it was considered outdated by thse Ministry of Health, sald Adelina Urbanski, Halton's health and social services commissioner. "It's not that thse building itself is falling apart, but it's outdated," she explained. A deartis of private roms and unreliable elevators are two reaaons thse facility got a poor rating, she said. Though the province haa agreed to provide $7.5 mil- lion over 20 years to help shore Up thse facility, Halton will likely pay for the improvemnents Up front once the bed issue is resolved. Persistent rumblinga that thse Ministry of HealtIs will be allocating more long termi care beds as early as Apnil have Halton hoping to be second time lucky. Martin House would mun more efficiently with more beds in it, said tIse Region's finance chief, Joe Rinaldo. "Having 168 beda is tIse moat cost effective way to mun that facility," he said. In a previous go-round, the Province distributed 6,700 beds acrosa the Ontario, with 650 going to Halton. Though Milton made the short list, ail the beds ended up going to Oakville, Burlington and Halton HuIis instead. "We were optimistic before and quite surprised we didn't get them"' said Ms Urbanski. "Staff were of the opinion that we should go back and give it another shot." After that round of allocations, Halton ended up with a total of 1,640 beds, broken down into 682 in Burlington, 505 in Oakville, 153 in Halton HuIs and 300 in Milton. Won't wait forever If the bid is rejected, upgrading will begin immedi- ately, said Ms Urbanski. 'This is just about aa long s we think we should wait gîven that we think an announcement of more beda is close at hand," she said. 'The building needs to be dealt with. We have to get on with it." Burlington Cowscillor Jack Dennison waa in favour of bringing more beds to Martin House but spoke againat delaying building improvements. 'Tmn surprised we're waiting to go ahead with the renovations. I think we should be proceeding witb that," he said. "We have a good, solid building and happy residents, but I recogroze the need to get out ot the 'D' category." Oakville Mayor Ann Mulvale noted that Milton didn't get beds last time because the need lies else- where in Halton. "I waa oeally intsigued that the Province didn't buy that these beds were needed in Milton," she said. "They were allocated on the basis of need." More beds in Milton would benefit Halton as a whole, said Ms Urbanski. "Haîf the residents in Martin House came from somewhere outside of Milton," she said. 'The issue is there's a real shortage across Halton." DRIVE CLEAN &PPROVETEST & REPAIR PPR E FAC-ILITY We are pleased to announce that Brian's Auto and our technicians have become a Drive Clean Accredited Test and Repair Facility. Ware proud to note that flot only did our technicians pass ail examinations but did so at the Top of The Glass! As always to best serve your needs we have installed the latest.. "STATE 0F THE ART" FLUSHMOUNT INGROUND DYNAMOMETER w/ No ramps or obstructions. /750 sq. ft. bay dedicated T