Submitted to NAL by the Office of Cindy Forster, Ontario Member of Parliament for the Welland Riding
WELLAND, February 1 – Welland MPP Cindy Forster met this January 31 with City Councillor Frank Campion to collect a petition signed by over 19,000 community residents objecting to important health care services being relocated to St. Catharines.
Welland city councillor Frank Campion presents ctiziens’ petitions on hospital services to Welland Riding MPP Cindy Forster.
“The people of Welland, and the Niagara-area, are speaking out and deserve to be heard,” said Forster. “Welland and Niagara Falls deserve better than to have their services ripped out from under them.”
NHS Supervisor Kevin Smith and Health Minister Deb Matthews have told residents that in-patient Pediatric, Obstetrical and Gynecological services will be moved from Welland Hospital and Greater Niagara General Hospital to a new hospital in St. Catharines. For many, this would mean an hour-long drive to access urgent medical care.
“This short sighted decision seriously endangers the health and safety of my constituents and neighbours,” said Forster. “Forcing them to drive to the far end of St. Catharines for services they currently get close to home is unreasonable. The services should stay where they are.”
Forster and Campion, who chairs Welland’s Health Care Committee, are hopeful that public pressure can convince the new Premier to reconsider the dangerous decision. With the NHS facing a $13 million deficit, it could be years before a new hospital is completed in the Niagara area.
“I hope the new Premier (Kathleen Wynne) won’t ignore the concerns of over 19,000 Ontarians who are worried about the future of their health care services,” said Forster. “I am eager to present the petition, and continue the fight, when the legislature resumes in late February.”
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Niagara At Large 
I am 77 years old and I won’t be driving there for Gynecological services. So pray tell how do I get there. Leave our hospitals alone and as they are. You have done enough damage already. What happens if a new mo to be is in Port Colborne and can’t make it that far. Why do you make it so hard for people. There will be more babies born in cars than hospital.
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When Fort Erie and Port Colborne were fighting to SAVE their HOSPITALS a petition was circulated and MANY, many Welland citizens signed…YET When Port Colborne;s Regional Councilor, Bob Saracino request permission to attend the Welland Council to THANK the Citizens of Welland HE WAS INITIALLY TURNED DOWN BY MAYOR GOULBORNE. GOULBORNE later changed his mind and permitted Councilor to appear but STRESSED that he had but 5 Minutes.
There was ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST EXPRESSED or SHOWN by the WELLAND COUNCIL’s “A” TEAM during the debacle that I refer to as “WELLANDGATE” In fact when pushed into a comment Goulborne stated he felt the :”NEW” hospital should be built at Brock University. BUT THAT”S AS FAR AS HE WENT ANSWERING A Question directed at him in council chambers during a Welland Town Hall Meeting.
NOW WELLAND IS THREATENED with losing their Hospital and the “B” TEAM had to push to set up a committee in an attempt to save the services in the Welland General.
Thank You Frank Campion and other members of Council who truly care and expressed their concern for the peoples of NOT only Welland but the entire Southern tier of Niagara. Certain members of Welland’s Council got up in council and spoke against Frank Campion’s Motion to set up this Health Committee BUT Thank God saner heads prevailed or maybe it was expedience on their parts. .
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