I thought I would use this column to update you on progress made on three topics featured in recent columns: my 2007 Calendar Contest, the importance of government support for small town Ontario and the Wait Times Registry for health procedures

Calendars Still Available

Over the last few weeks, I have had the enormous pleasure of visiting local elementary schools to recognize the winning young photographers in my annual Community Calendar Contest. Students had submitted photos of their pets or farm animals as part of the contest and the top photos are incorporated into the calendar. The photos not only decorate the months of the year but also fill pages entitled Top Dogs, Cool Cats and Crazy Critters.

To see the work of our talented young photographers, you can obtain a copy of the 2007 calendar by calling my office 1-800-665-3697, emailing timhudak@niagara.net or stopping by my Beamsville Office in the Commisso's Plaza.

Good News for Local Libraries

I would like to recognize the recent good news for the Caistorville and Wellandport libraries. Ontario's Minister of Culture, Caroline DiCocco, has granted the Township of West Lincoln $132,000 for improvements to the Caistorville and Wellandport branches. Local residents have shown incredible dedication and support for their community libraries. The extraordinary hard work and fundraising by Caistorville residents resulted in a new library and significant funds through the West Lincoln Council.

It is three key elements - local taxpayer support, the backing of the Mayor and Council and a hard working and respected library staff - that won the day for West Lincoln libraries.

While I have been a critic of the current government for putting the issues of small town Ontario on the backburner, I will give credit where credit is due. The $132,000 is taxpayer money very well invested. Congratulations to all those involved in this great news.

Health Care Wait Times

A few weeks ago, I wrote a column about the Province of Ontario's Wait Times Registry. The concept of the Registry is a good one: taxpayers could find out how long they should expect to wait for various procedures such as MRI scans or cancer surgery at Ontario hospitals. Unfortunately, the McGuinty Government was caught red handed manipulating the data on the Registry to make itself look good.

However, there is hope on the horizon. The PC and NDP opposition called for changes including asking an outside and trustworthy agency control the data rather than the government of the day. After initially resisting our suggestions, the Government relented and asked Senator Kirby to review the Registry.

Among other improvements, Senator Kirby called upon the Province to establish an independent office to calculate and present true wait times. Similarly, he suggested expanding the number of procedures measured. He also called upon wait times to be measured from the time a patient first sees a doctor until a procedure is completed by the specialist.

So far, the McGuinty Government has committed only to reviewing the Senator's Report. I hope that they will actually incorporate many of the Senator's ideas. If they do not, a future government should. Taxpayers deserve the truth about wait times, not something manipulated by government.

Contact:

Tim Hudak
416-325-8454