For immediate release

December 17, 2009

RESULTS YOU CAN READ, PROGRESS YOU CAN SEE

MERLIN—The Ontario government has released its sixth annual report with results you can read and progress you can see, according to Chatham-Kent-Essex MPP Pat Hoy.

“There are economic and fiscal challenges, but as a government we have made progress on a number of fronts,” said Hoy. “Now we have to do more to make our province and our community even stronger. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still more to do.”

The report shows higher test scores in schools, shorter wait times in health care and steady improvement in our hospital, green energy and transportation infrastructure:

• Graduation rates have increased from 68 per cent in 2003–04 to 77 per cent in 2007–08.
• Wait times for cancer surgery have dropped by 16 days and 800,000 more Ontarians have access to a family doctor.
• A new MRI at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance with $800,000 in annual provincial operating funding, for about 3,100 scans annually.
• Four new Family Health Teams in Chatham (two), Tilbury and Leamington.
• $39.7 million in 2009 for infrastructure projects in Leamington and Chatham-Kent.
• And Ontario is now home to over 670 wind turbines and Canada’s largest solar farm.

“Working together, Ontarians improved our schools, hospitals and infrastructure before the global recession hit. That progress has helped us through the global recession. Now we have to do more to make our province even stronger," said Premier Dalton McGuinty.

· More than 900 nursing positions will be created in 2009–10.
· Since 2008, over 21,000 Ontarians have been approved and have begun training through Second Career.
· 90.3 per cent of primary classes had 20 students or less in 2008–09.
· See the 2009 Progress Report online at www.premier.gov.on.ca/progress.

- 30 -

Media Contact: Mike Ferguson, 519-351-0510