From the Constituency Office of Welland MPP Cindy Forster
Cindy Forster wants your thoughts on the future of hospitals in Welland and Port Colborne. The MPP for Welland expects constituents to have their say at two upcoming public meetings.
Welland Riding MPP Cindy Forster holding town halls for public on proposed hospital service changes for Nagara, Ontario
“We’ve been hearing a lot from the government-appointed Niagara Health System supervisor,” Forster said of Dr. Kevin Smith’s proposal to close all existing southern tier hospitals in favour of a single new facility. “It’s time we heard from the people who will be most affected by his recommendations.”
Forster is committed to ensuring the Liberal government knows exactly how people in Welland, Port Colborne and Wainfleet feel about the future of their hospitals.
The public meetings planned are as follows:
- Tuesday May 22 at 6.00pm in the Community Room at Welland Civic Square, 60 East Main Street, Welland.
- Wednesday May 23 at 6.00pm at the Guild Hall, 72 Charlotte Street, Port Colborne.
Niagara At Large 
What a Joke — How many times do the people need to tell Forster or McLiar
The NDP had a chance with the last budget to possibly dump McLiar and they chose instead to hang on to their position at the publicly funded feeding trough — as I continue to say — we keep electing these Idiots so who are the real Idiots
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A shame that Fort Erie will once again not be heard from,…but rest assured we have a lot to say given any opportunity.
1. Don’t waste our time and effort until there is a commitment from the Ministry for financing the proposal
2 Be aware that there is a community financial commitment to fundraise. After we were drained to finance the St Cath Hospital , how successful will a campaign be?
3 Will Smith sign in his blood that existing services will be maintained and improved while the dream is being chased?
4, The plan to relocate the Maternity to St Cath from NF held no merit as part of the HIP plan and makes even less sense on an interim basis. On behalf of Fort Erie future Moms we hope Mayor Diodati will fight to keep Maternity services in the Falls.
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@William. Get off the Andrea-bashing — it has nothing to do with the issue. The NDP chose not to force an election which would either end up with McLiar getting the majority he so badly wants (yes, a lot of Ontario STILL don’t get it) or Hudak becoming premier. That would suit you better, perhaps, but it would not be good for hospital services. Had the NDP forced an election, you would be the first to curse them for wasting millions of dollars on an election nobody wanted, in order to end up in the same mess.
@Sue. A commitment from Deb Matthews wouldn’t be worth the paper it’s printed on. The chances that this government will be around in six or more years are very very very slim. And residents should be aware that the fund-raising campaign is the least of their worries. Ask St. Catharines (and Thorold and NOTL) how it likes its property tax increase to pay for their new hospital. Promises? Debbie S. made a lot of those once too, remember? Just as Juanita made promises to the Grimsby residents.
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Fiona, you have it right in all regards. The NDP couldn’t make some people happy if they stood on their heads in a barrel of poop. Saving a costly election is wise when the results would likely be of little import.
The Hudak/Harris gang instituted the cutbacks and the McGuinty/Matthews gang have just continued with them so an election would likely be fruitless.
Sue, true NO promises are to be believed, we’ve learned that already ie “We are fully commited to keeping Fort Erie and Port Colborne full service hospitals”.
If such a miracle as a new hospital ever did come to fruitition all other facilities must NOT be closed until it is finished….like that will ever happen.
Meanwhile, while all of this is happening, where is our beloved and forceful mayor Doug Martin? He has been absolutely useless throughout this entire hospital debate from day one. What does he do besides photo ops? Where was he for the bus trips to Toronto to protest? I didn’t see him on the bus. We often hear Badaway speaking up but Martin has been AWOL. That is reprehensible. He’s too busy planning for condos on beaches and 1812 celebrations. You know, important stuff.
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Right On Fiona
@William it was only Andrea and her people along with MPP. Craitor who worked with the peoples, attending every rally, meeting and get together in support of the Citizens of the Niagara Region ….Were you ever at one of these or were you too busy slurring the people who attended including the NDP?
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To all who have been sniping back and forth here about the NDP/Liberals/Conservatives: Ontario does not stand a chance of moving forward until the Liberals AND the Conservatives come up with new leaders. McGuinty AND Hudak are, in the words of my favourite tv doctor (Gregory House of “House”) IDIOTS.
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Mrs. Forster as a Regional Councillor was strangely silent while the St. Catharines Hospital site selection controversy took place. I guess her day job was more important.
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Welland voters knew that Cindy Forster worked for the Ontario Nurses Association when they went to the polls in 2010, and they returned her to the position of Regional Councillor for the second time. Perhaps they respect somebody who is willing to work hard at two jobs, one of them in the healthcare field. In her position with ONA, Cindy was required to deal with the NHS on behalf of nurses. She declared a conflict of interest at Regional Council meetings when the NHS and the HIP were on the agenda for that reason. When it came to selling out this city at Regional Council regarding the new hospital and the HIP, you know where to look, John, and don’t pretend you don’t.
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Fiona, I am well aware of who the biggest culprit was in Welland. I publicly called a certain ex-Mayor “Quisling” for his pro-NHS, anti Welland, South Niagara stance.That said, Cindy is in the big leagues now and her actions prior to being elected MPP are legitimate questions to be raised in a public forum.
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Nevertheless, John, it has nothing to do with the subject of this article or the issue at hand, safeguarding hospital services in south Niagara. NOW. TODAY. Hope you’ll be at the meeting in PC tonight.
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I could not attend due to unforeseen circumstances. Without gong into detail, it concerned a family member who required emergency medical attention last night. The choices were Welland Hospital emergency or Port Colborne Urgent Care. The decision was made to go to PC Urgent Care where in a relatively short time, she was triaged and seen by a Doctor with follow-up diagnostics arranged for this morning -in Port Colborne. Now this wasn’t life threatening, but the thought of services being removed from PC is of huge concern. A trip to Welland ER would have been a much longer wait and far more stressful. Under the Smith proposal this circumstance would have required a trip to an ER located, probably with a more Niagara Falls bias. It is inconceivable that wait times would have been shorter and/or care better, given this new hospital is intended to serve a vast catchment area of about 207,000 people.
If Smith, the NHS, MOH and a host of local politicians deem a new central repository for the sick and dying a good idea, then at least they can have the decency to set up a M.A.S.H.tent in Knoll Park to provide a modicum of primary care.
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John, I hope that you will send your comments and concerns to Cindy — Mike Haines, constituency assistant, is collecting them for Cindy to present to Kevin Smith The concerns of Port Colborne and Wainfleet residents (and those in Fort Erie, of course) must not be overlooked.
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