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Beaver THE OAKVILLE Voted Ontario's Top Newspaper Four Years in a Row - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Musicians inspired by Italy Artscene www. oakvillebeaver .com A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 48 No. 18 "USING COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES" WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2010 60 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Rings of hope NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER HERE AT HOME: Our Lady of Peace Catholic School students form the Olympic rings after their Olympic Games Day on Thursday afternoon. The school's Team France took gold in the games. New hospital stepping into the future By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF As the Town of Oakville ponders whether to contribute $200 million to the new Oakville hospital through property taxes, the Province is moving ahead with the hospital by paying $39.5 million for its planning and design. Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn was in town Friday to confirm that the Province is giving $39.5 million to Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) to pay for the plan and design of the hospital to be located at the corner of Third Line and Dundas Street - and said the announcement marks a point of no return. "You don't spend that sort of money unless you are going to build, it's that simple," said Flynn during the presentation at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital's (OTMH) Cafeteria. "This says very emphatically that the new hospital is being built and it's being built very, very soon and I can't tell you how happy I am to announce that." While the size of the contribution may have been surpris- ing, the fact that the provincial government would be paying it was not, as under the Province's funding formula for the hospital, Queen's Park required to cover 100 per cent of the planning and design costs associated with the hospital's construction. The Province will also cover 90 per cent of the eligible construction costs and 90 Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn per cent of the costs associated with building equipment (such as elevators and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems) and 30 years of building maintenance. "This investment by the Province in our local health care is going to be the largest investment by any level of government in Oakville's history," said Flynn. "I know the importance and I know the value that residents place on their local hospital and what OTMH means to the people of Oakville. Over the years, our government and previous governments have put money into this building and simply we can't do it anymore. Each and every one of you who do the wonderful things you do here, sometimes in very crowded facilities, knows that it is time to move on. Our community, and you, have earned the right to a brand new, state-of-the-art facility right here in this community because we know this building is simply not sustainable into the future and as much as we love it, it's time to leave it." The Province's formula that sees the Province cover 90 per cent of building, does leave HHS on the hook for the remainder of the hospital's cost -- estimated at $530 million. See New page 3 SERVING OAKVILLE FOR 26 YEARS! 175 Wyecroft Rd. Oakville 905.845.6653 Between Kerr & Dorval No Pay for 6 months and Huge Rebates PLUS ­ We guarantee your valuable Manufacturer and Government Rebates and take care of the Paperwork for you. For Deadlines and Complete Details call 905-844-2949 Ask about our excellent Financing and Great Terms. VISIT OUR ALL NEW WEBSITE YOUR FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS! www.lockwoodchrysler.com