March 29, 2005

Premier makes pitch for Shriners hospital

OTTAWA

Whether it’s auto plants or children’s hospitals, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says he’s ready to lobby for them to be located in his province.

McGuinty flew to Atlanta last week and spent two hours with the Shriners site selection committee in efforts to convince them their new $50-million pediatric-orthopedic facility should be built in London or Ottawa.

Montreal is also in the running. An aging 40-bed Shriners hospital there is slated to close.

“One of the things I’ve learned as premier is that if you really want something, you’d better get off ... you’d better get out of the office and you’d better go get it,’’ McGuinty said in Ottawa.

“That’s one of the reasons I think we’ve been so successful when it comes to landing new car investments in the province of Ontario.’’

McGuinty, an Ottawa native, wouldn’t say whether he favours London or his hometown for the Shriners facility.

“I think we have made the best pitch that we can make now as a province, as two communities,’’ he said.

The selection committee is assessing each city in terms of transportation, research and medical capabilities, government partnerships and proximity to other hospitals.

Once a city is recommended, it must still pass a vote at the Shriners convention this July in Baltimore.

“It’s not over yet,’’ said McGuinty. “But what I am confident of is that we made a very strong pitch on behalf of our province.’’

The Shriners fund 22 children’s hospitals across North America from an annual hospital budget of about $600 million.

The Canadian Press

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