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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, April 16, 2010 · 12 Hospital administration has not provided basic information I was in attendance at the public forum regarding the new hospital on April 8. I went to learn more about the reasons for the high cost for this proposed hospital directly from the representatives of Halton Healthcare Services (HHS), but they did not appear. I have felt frustrated by the lack of information forthcoming from the hospital administration and I was hoping they would show good faith to the Oakville taxpayers and come ready to explain their funding request. To my mind, their absence was a distinct disappointment. In their absence, however, I learned several alarming Letter to the editor facts about the relative cost of this new hospital versus other hospitals that have been built. In short, this is the most expensive undertaking in Ontario, by far. North Bay has built a complete hospital for the cost being allocated to the local share alone. I also learned that the $200 million that is the face amount of the request, will be more like $400 million when the Town pays for the financing costs to borrow the $200 million. It was also pointed out that the remaining local share of $270 million that the hospital is claiming it will raise from parking and gift shop sales, is even greater than the $200 million requested of the Town. There is concern as to how realistic the claims of the hospital to raise this amount of money through parking and gift shop sales can be. Apparently the hospital has provided verbal assurance that it will not charge residents to use one of the 80 per cent of rooms designated as private. This is difficult to believe. What will people without health coverage for private rooms do if there are no ward beds available? I had no idea parking and gift shops could be such lucrative enterprises. Finally, by effectively claiming that the existing hospital is physically deficient, they are throwing the baby out with the bath water. The reason the halls are crowded is due to lack of beds for patients needing alternate levels of care, not narrow halls. Hamilton has hospitals that are older than Oakville's and still in daily use. Hospital representatives have not provided the most basic information to taxpayers in this community as to why this hospital is so expensive or what exactly taxpayers will be getting in exchange for their money. D. GREEN, OAKVILLE European Engineering Combined With Traditional Workmanship Oakville Independent Schools Open House "Building on the Brightest Ideas Around Glass" Saturday, April 24 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find the right school for your child 905.849.0266 Carpet Cleaning Specialists Since 1952 Spot! WALL TO WALL FURNITURE & UPHOLSTERY AREA RUGS PERSIAN & ORIENTAL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Oakville is home to an impressive selection of independent preschools, elementary schools and high schools. Each school is committed to providing students with a unique and high quality education with a strong academic foundation, small class sizes and personal attention. Visit the schools and discover what each has to offer. Find out which one is right for your child. Truck Mount In-Plant Service Water Damage Restoration See the transformation of what we can do in relation to others! We Help Kids Overcome Learning Difficulties Chisholm Academy Grades 9 to 12 1484 Cornwall Road (905) 844-3240 fax: (905) 844-7321 www.chisholmcentre.com e-mail: info@chisholmcentre.com Dearcroft Montessori Preschool - Grade 8 1167 Lakeshore Road East (905) 844-2114 Celebrating 40+ Years in Oakville www.dearcroft.com email: dearcroft@primus.ca Now home to West Wind Montessori Junior High Program Fern Hill School Preschool - Grade 8 Oakville Campus 3300 Ninth Line Road (905) 257-0022 Burlington Campus 801 North Service Road (905) 634-8652 admissions@fernhillschool.com www.fernhillschool.com Drop-off Discount! 25% FREE 250 ml SPOTTING BOTTLE www.onthespotcleaning.ca Bronte Glenburnie School Preschool - Grade 8 2035 Upper Middle Road East (905) 338-6236 fax: (905) 338-2654 www.glenburnieschool.com e-mail: admin@ glenburnieschool.com 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oakville Christian School Est 1982 JK - Grade 8 112 Third Line (905) 825-1247 ext. 221 www.ocsonline.org e-mail: ocsadmissions @ocsonline.org Rotherglen School Primary Campus JK - Grade 1 2045 Sixth Line (905) 338-3528 Elementary Campus Grade 1 to Grade 8 2050 Neyagawa Blvd. (905) 849-1897 www.rotherglen.com 905-825-4256 1446 WALLACE RD. OAKVILLE, ON QEW W Speers Wallace allace