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www.independentfreepress.com Ted Brown............... 7 Calendar ............... 10 Sports..............24, 25 Directory..........30,31 Classified........32-34 50 Cents (+ GST) Circulation: 22,800 READERS AND WRITERS Halton Hills Public Library hands out awards for its summer programs PAGE 8 SOURCE OF THE SONG Trio of songwriters bring their talent to Glen Williams PAGE 12 56 Pages Halton Hills' award-winning newspaper THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS THURSDAY, October 28, 2010 Pumping pumpkins Ever bench press a pumpkin? Carrie Burrows (right) of Georgetown Fitness Boot Camp, is joined by Christina Ruso (left) and Shelly Butt, as they lift a few Jack-oLanterns in preparation for their upcoming `Pumpkin Boot Camp' Saturday at the Salvation Army Community Church on Mountainview Road S., from 9 to 10 a.m. Photo by Ted Brown Partisan vote foils MPP's effort to get cash for hospital By CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott was shot down last week by the Liberal government in his bid to get a funding commitment for Georgetown Hospital. Arnott had brought forward a private member's bill calling on the Minister of Health Deb Matthews to immediately approve a small project capital grant for Georgetown Hospital to proceed with its needed emergency room addition and diagnostic imaging renovation project. He also asked the minister to approve a planning grant for the Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Fergus. However, the Legislature voted 22-11 against the motion. "I am quite disappointed with the vote because I tried to work in non-partisan fashion," Arnott said in an interview this week. He vowed to keep up his lobby efforts on behalf of the local hospital. The Conservative MPP said he alerted the Minister of Health to his motion-- an action, he said is unprecedented. "I thought they (the Liberals) would work with me." But Arnott only had three Conservative colleagues in the Legislature to support his cause. Seven NDP members also allied with him. Conservative MPPs Ted Chudleigh of Halton and Joyce Savoline of Burlington were not there. Liberal Kevin Flynn, Oakville MPP, voted against the bill. Mayor Rick Bonnette was part of the Wellington-Halton Hills contingent that traveled to the Legislature to witness the event. "Ted Arnott spoke very well on behalf of Georgetown Hospital, however it begs the question of how few MPPs were present to get this bill through," he said, noting only four Conservatives were in the House. "A lot more Conservatives surely could have tipped the balance." Arnott said he had sent letters to all MPPs before the vote and spoke about it at a Conservative caucus meeting. Ultimately he said the MPPs decide when to be in the Legislature See ARNOTT, pg. 3 REFINANCING? PURCHASING? Decorate for a Cure W W W. B E R G S M A S . C A GEORGETOWN MARKETPLACE MALL 905-877-4193 5 YEAR FIXED. CALL FOR DETAILS. 3.49% Broker FSCO #10259 Division of 1490845 Ont. Ltd. BOB WOODS, (905) 877-1490 360 Guelph St., Georgetown