For Immediate Release
March 31, 2006

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT STRENGHTENS LAND AMBULANCE SERVICES IN FRONTENAC, LENNOX AND ADDINGTON

KINGSTON – The McGuinty government is providing $1,902,065 to strengthen land ambulance services in the area as part of a plan to achieve 50:50 cost-sharing with municipalities by 2008, MPP John Gerretsen and Leona Dombrowsky announced today on behalf of Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman.

“In order for municipalities to deliver the highest quality ambulatory care we have to invest in the services, said Gerretsen “Today’s announcement demonstrates our government’s commitment to high standards in land ambulance services in our local communities.

“We have listened to the concerns of municipalities about land ambulance services and we have responded,” Dombrowsky said. “We will continue to work with municipalities to promote and enhance improvements in the delivery of ambulance services for the benefit of all Ontario residents.”

In February, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced the government will be spending $300 million over the next three years to achieve true 50-50 sharing of the cost of municipal land ambulance services by 2008. The breakdown is as follows:

These funds will bring the cost of ambulance service in the Counties of Lennox & Addington, Hastings and Frontenac which includes the City of Kingston to a 50-50 cost share between the province and the municipal government.

Today’s initiative is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to build a health care system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

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For more information contact:

John Gerretsen, MPP
Kingston and The Islands
(613) 547-2385

Leona Dombrowsky, MPP
Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington
(613) 354-6630