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Mayor hopes to have meeting with provincial health minister Bonnette said "they had been listening... they're not shutting the door." Bonnette said in an interview WednesThe Mayor likened his actions to recent day that to date he's had had two meetings municipal decisions when local groups like plus two conversations with key Ministry the Acton Soccer Club and the Georgetown of Health and Long-Term Care SloPitch brought $150,000 each staff members. While no date to the budget table to bring has yet been set to meet with their capital projects forward. the Minister Deb Matthews, "I think by showing some he said, "I hope to do so before dollars too it shows we're serilong." ous," said Bonnette. He noted In the meantime, he has it's expected the government been "doing his due diligence" will announce its capital budin trying to get an understandget later in March and is hoping of the healthcare situation ing that some announcement in Halton and the surrounding could be made at that time. areas. "I want all my ducks in HHS said its project could a row" before bringing Halton RICK suffer a seven to eight year delay Hills's argument forward to the BONNETTE if they had to wait for Ministry Minister, he said. approval of the project through Bonnette believes the the normal channels. A project, funded Georgetown Hospital has a "special case" through HHS, the Town, and community argument that includes an exploding fundraising could be ready to proceed as Brampton population with plans to place early as the Spring of 2012. If the Town 100,000 people on Halton Hills border-- contributed the whole of $4.564 million, it less than 10 minutes from the local hos- would mean approximately $23.56 a year pital-- plus the Province's own Places to over 10 years on household tax bills. Grow plan that will force the Town's popuThe project includes construction of a lation to grow by 20,000. 14,000 sq. ft. addition to the building for a "I know it is a long shot but it's worth a new emergency department and to house try on behalf of the community," said the the new CT scanner and 4,000 sq. ft. renmayor. ovation to the existing building to ensure It's Bonnette's intention not to ask the the diagnostic services are in all one place, Ministry for their usual 90 per cent share rather than scattered throughout the hosof the $12.1 million construction cost, but pital as they are now. Annually, about 1,500 only a portion. hospital patients (including 500 emergency "My position has not changed," said the patients) must be transferred to other hosMayor. "I am not asking the Province to pay pitals for a CT scan. for the whole ball of wax ... if I did, then I For more information on the hospital's think they would have ignored me." plans go to www.haltonhills.ca or www.halIn his conversations with the Province, tonhealthcare.com Continued from pg. 1 5 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday, February 22, 2011 SERVED THURSDAY & FRIDAY 11:30 am to 2:00 pm Featuring: -R Roast tB Beef f - Assorted Salads $ - Baked Ham - ???? - Dessert Table - Tea & Coffee Private Catering Available LUNCH BUFFET 11.50 HST INCLUDED ~ LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ~ Fri. & Sat. 9:30 pm - close Bad Boy 79 Main Street South, Georgetown 905-877-3388 Engaging Entertainment Dynamic Performances Vibrant Artists Water alternatives to be unveiled Thursday Halton Region will unveil its preliminary preferred alternatives for future water and wastewater servicing in Halton Hills at a public meeting on Thursday. The drop-in meeting will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Christ the King School (cafeteria). Alternatives for Georgetown water Store Hours Mon - Wed 10-6 Thurs - Fri 10 -8 Sat 10 - 5 servicing include expansion of the current groundwater well system or connection to lake-based systems (`Big Pipe' option) in south Halton or Peel. Alternatives for Acton water servicing also include expansion of the current groundwater well system or connection with the Georgetown or Wellington systems. Dance Cuba LITZ ALFONSO LEARN TO RUN & 10 KM CLINICS 2011 Wednesday, March 2, 2011 Hammerson Hall @ 8 pm $40 & up Wednesday, March 9, 2011 Hammerson Hall @ 8 pm $35 & up 2 Levels > Beginner and 10KM Clinics run for 10 weeks on Tuesday evenings beginning at 6:30 pm and include: Guest Speakers > Detailed Schedule > Technical Running Shirt > Store Discount Dates > Spring Clinic: March 8th Summer Clinic: June 7th Fall Clinic: September 6th Stop in or call to register today! www.livingartscentre.ca 905.306.6000 1.888.805.8888 4141 LIVING ARTS DRIVE, MISSISSAUGA, ON L5B 4B8 HWYS 403 & 10, WEST OF SQUARE ONE FREE UNDERGROUND PARKING