The meeting with Minister of Energy and Infrastructure George Smitherman comes as a result of Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh pushing the provincial government to take immediate action when it comes to hospital projects in Milton and Oakville.

Recently, Halton Healthcare Services learned that the Province is delaying the construction of the new Oakville hospital by 13 months.

Milton District Hospital (MDH) is also facing a capacity crisis and is waiting for provincial government approvals for its expansion.

Over the past few weeks, Chudleigh has been using Question Period to push the issue. During Thursday’s Question Period, he told Premier Dalton McGuinty that the health-care situation is Halton is dire.

“This problem is not going away. Milton and Oakville continue to grow. In fact, it’s getting worse,” he said. “Why are you treating the people of Halton like second-class citizens?”

McGuinty deferred to Smitherman to address the issue. The minister said it’s still the Liberal government’s plan to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the construction of the new Oakville hospital, but there’s just been a “short delay.”

“That project is still very much in our government’s sights,” he said. “We desire to make it happen with the good people of Halton as we recognize their needs must be met.”

Smitherman didn’t say anything about the Milton hospital in his statement.

Chudleigh went on to demand a meeting between the Province and the Region, and Smitherman said he’d be very happy to meet with the regional chair.

This came as welcome news to Carr.

“We’re pleased that he’ll be meeting with us,” he said. “I want to speak with him to tell him first hand about the challenges we have here.”

Carr said he wants to ask Smitherman why he expects the Region to pony up $2.5 billion for infrastructure within the next couple of years and $8.6 billion by 2021 at a time when the Province is pulling back on its spending.

“You expect us to do one thing when you’re doing a totally different thing at the Province?” he said.

The chair said Friday he’d like to wait to meet Smitherman until after the Province’s fall economic statement is delivered today to see what the financial state of the province is.

Carr recently tabled a motion that, if ultimately passed by council, could stop future development until the Province improves hospital capacity in Halton.

The motion was to be debated by the Region’s health and social services committee yesterday, but was deferred to November 13.

While Chudleigh said he’s also pleased the minister agreed to the meeting, he voiced disappointment with how it came about.

“I shouldn’t have to set up meetings during Question Period,” he said. “I shouldn’t have to stand here (in the Legislature) every day demanding adequate health care for the people of Halton.”

Chudleigh recently presented petitions to the Ontario legislature bearing thousands of signatures from Halton citizens who are calling for the immediate expansion of MDH and completion of the Oakville hospital.

The petitions can still be downloaded and signed at www.tedchudleigh.com .

“Until the Oakville hospital is complete and expansion in Milton has begun, I will not rest,” Chudleigh said. “Together with the Region, health-care organizations and the concerned citizens of Halton, we will show Premier McGuinty the meaning of the word tenacity.”

Melanie Hennessey can be reached at mhennessey@miltoncanadianchampion.com .