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www.insidehalton.com |O AKVILLE BEA VER |Thursday, November 23, 2017 114 Is minister of health ignoring Halton's request for meeting? by Graeme Frisque M etroland M edia W est Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott says minister of health and long-term care, Dr. Eric Hoskins, is ignoring Halton Region' s requests for a sit down. Halton Region Chair, Gary Carr, first called for the meeting to address a number of longstanding issues surrounding the delivery of healthcare in the region in October. Chief among the concerns the region would like to address with the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (MOHLC), are an approximately $1 0 million per year shortfall in healthcare funding, as well as a proposed realignment of the provinces Local Integrated Health Networks (LHINs). While these issues have been a concern for some time, it was a recent report by an expert panel commissioned by the Minister of Health which brought the discussion bubbling back to the surface again. Halton's committee discussion "On Oct. 3, the health and social services committee discussed the expert panel' s findings on public health. The panel suggested condensing the existing 36 boards of health into 14, which would split the region into two different boards," said Arnott in a release. In February 20 1 7 , the region threatened to ignore provincially mandated growth targets if funding gaps were not addressed. Continued funding shortfalls "Halton Region continues to experience funding shortfalls in public health programs, including paramedic services. In total, this represents a funding shortfall of $ 9 .7 million in 2 0 1 7 ," said the region in a release in February. "Municipalities do not have the adequate revenue tools to satisfy the `growth pays for growth' principle. As a result of these limitations, there is an estimated funding gap of $14.1 million per year and combined, there exists a tax impact of 10 per cent on the Regional portion of property taxes to the residents of Halton," it added. According to Arnott, Carr' s October meeting request was ignored by Hoskins and the MOHLC. The inaction prompted Arnott to bring the request forward in the legislature at Queen' s Park on Nov. 15. He says he personally spoke to Hoskins again during an emergency sitting of the house on Saturday (Nov. 18) and reiterated see So on p.16 MODEL FC 2 E 5JE 2 0 1 8 CIVIClx 2 0 1 8 A C C O R D lx $ 8 2 / 3 .9 9 A % P FROM P R W EEKLY LEASE FO R 60 M O N TH S2 S SECURITY D EPO SIT D O W N PA YM EN T/OAC S from 2 0 1 8 C R - V lx $ 8 2 / 3 9 .9 % A -P FROM R W EEKLY LEASE FO R 60 M O N TH S2 S SECURITY D EPO SIT D O W N PA YM EN T/OAC 6 3 / 3 9 9 W EEKLY LEASE FO R 60 M O N TH S2 SECURITY D EPO SIT D O W N PA YM EN T/OAC all-new WB Wilson Blanchard Management MODEL CV1 E 1JE MODEL RW1 H3 JE S Condominium Management with Experience and Integrity Please call for your no-obligation complimentary proposal. T h e 2 0 1 8 s a r e h e re ! HondaOntario.com Ontario Honda Dealers LEASE PAYMENTS INCLUDE FREIGHT AND PDI. EXCLUDES LICENCE AND HST. DEALER ORDER/TRADE MAY BE NECESSARY H O N D A Limited time lease offers available through Honda Financial Services Inc. (HFS), to qualified retail customers on approved credit.Weeklypayments includefreight and PDI (ranges from $1,595 to $1,725 depending on model), tire & environmental fee ($17.50), A/C charge ($100), and OMVIC fee ($10). Taxes, licence, insurance and registration are extra. ^Representativeweekly lease example: 2018Accord LX-HS Sedan 6 Mt (Model CV1E1JE) // 2018 Civic LXSedan 6MT (Model FC2E5JE) // 2018 CR-V LX 2WD CVT (Model RW1H3JES) on a 60-month term with 260 weekly payments at 3.99% // 3.99% // 3.99% leaseAPR.Weekly payment is $81.91 // $62.82 // $81.91 with $0 down or equivalent trade-in and $100 // $240 // $85 total lease incentive included. Down payments, $0 security deposit and first weekly payments due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $21,296.98 // $16,333.61 // $21,296.57.120,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometres. PPSA lien registration fee of $45.93 and lien registering agent's fee of $5.65, due at time of delivery are not included. For all offers: licence, insurance, PPSA, other taxes (including HST) and excess wear and tear are extra. Taxes payable on full amount of purchase price. Offers only valid for Ontario residents at participating Ontario Honda Dealers. Dealer may lease for less. Dealer order/trade may be necessary. Colour availability may vary by dealer. Vehicles and accessories are for illustration purposes only. Offers, prices and features subject to change without notice. See your Ontario Honda Dealer or visit HondaOntario.com for full details.