Press Releases

Jim meets with Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

(November 26, 2019) Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson was pleased to meet with Anita Dubeau, Board Chair, and Ralph Cipolla, Vice Chair, from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.  One program discussed was Ontario's new free routine dental care program for low-income seniors. More information about this program can be found here, https://www.ontario.ca/page/dental-care-low-income-seniors .

Jim meets with Southbridge Care Homes

(November 26, 2019) Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson met with Richard Franzke from Southbridge Care Homes and His Worship Alar Soever, Mayor of the Town of The Blue Mountains, last week concerning a new long term care proposal for Thornbury. Long-term care is one of the biggest issues Wilson and his offices deal with and he is pleased this government is addressing the issue.

Jim meets with Vertex Pharmaceuticals for second time

(December 4, 2019) Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson was pleased to once again meet with Catherine Cunningham from Vertex Pharmaceuticals concerning funding for cystic fibrosis medications. 18 other countries provide public access to these gene modulating drugs. Wilson believes it's time Canada follows suit and creates a strategy to approve rare disease drugs.

Jim meets with Ontario Harness Horse Association

(December 4, 2019) Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson met with Jim Whelan and Brian Tropea from the Ontario Harness Horse Association. The end of the Slots at Racetracks Program had a devastating impact on the breeding and racing industries. The Ford Government has recognized the need to revive the program, but Wilson believes more needs to be done to ensure the program is benefiting horse people in our local communities.

Jim meets with TC Energy

(VIDEO) Wilson asks Ontario government to fund after-hours medical clinic in Wasaga Beach

(December 6, 2019) On Wednesday, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson questioned Health Minister Christine Elliott over funding for the after-hours medical clinic in Wasaga Beach that is due to close at the end of December.  Wilson is concerned that the closure, coupled with a shortage of family physicians in the area, will leave many residents with no options for care.

Minister Elliott explained that the government has initiatives in place designed to assist local communities recruit physicians and that the government’s overall transformation of health care and focus on Ontario Health Teams will eventually improve the coordination of every aspect of patient care. The Minister promised to work with Wilson and the community to find an immediate solution to the after-hours medical clinic’s closure until other arrangements are made for new physicians to come to the community.

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(VIDEO) Wilson asks government about funding for cystic fibrosis medication

(November 21, 2019) Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson continues to call on the government to fund life-saving medications for children with cystic fibrosis, including two young boys from Tottenham. Wilson raised the issue with the Health Minister in question period today.

“The ministry claims Ontario is providing coverage for Orkambi for pediatric cystic fibrosis patients on an exceptional case-by-case basis. Yet, not a single patient in Ontario has qualified for access,” said Wilson. “Will the minister adjust the prescribing criteria for these lifesaving drugs to allow doctors and not bureaucrats to allow access?”

The Health Minister, Christine Elliott, explained that the matter is a priority for her Ministry. She also noted that she is meeting with cystic fibrosis advocates next week and hoped to have a solution soon. Wilson and Elliott went through a similar battle for Beeton resident Madi Vanstone five years ago for the drug Kalydeco, which Wilson mentioned in the supplementary.

“As you know, Minister, when we were in opposition, some five years ago, we went through this very same process for the drug Kayldeco…I think what we’ve learned since then is the fundamental root of this problem was never addressed,” said Wilson. “…so I would encourage the Minister to keep this as a priority, to work as quickly as possible to help put Canada on the map, make Ontario a leader and provide these life saving drugs to cystic fibrosis patients.”

Elliott recognized the seriousness of the issue and explained that the Ministry is in conversations with Vertex, the drug’s manufacturer. She reiterated that she hoped to have a satisfactory solution soon for both Orkambi and other cystic fibrosis medications still to go through the process with Health Canada.

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(VIDEO) Wilson pleased local hospital redevelopments moving forward

(November 5, 2019) Yesterday, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson took to the Ontario Legislature to ask the Health Minister again about the status of the Collingwood General and Marine and Stevenson Memorial Hospitals redevelopments. Wilson was very pleased with the response he received.

“Minister, since I last asked you about the redevelopments of the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston, nothing much appears to have happened … will you please give that political direction today so that we can move forward with these redevelopments?” said Wilson.

The Minister spoke about the status of both projects. She explained that she hoped to have more news about the Collingwood Hospital’s Stage 1 submission shortly and that she expects to provide the Alliston Hospital with approval of their Stage 1 master plan in the coming days.

Wilson thought this was terrific news and went on to thank the Minister. He also asked if she would tour the facilities. To which the Health Minister agreed. 

You can read the full text of the question below:

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Mr. Jim Wilson: My question is for the Minister of Health. Minister, since I last asked you about the redevelopments of the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston, nothing much appears to have happened. The hospitals feel that they’re no further ahead than they were during the 15 years under the Liberals.

The hospitals were told by health ministry bureaucrats to keep planning for their redevelopments but at their own expense and with no approvals in sight. In fact, these same bureaucrats tell the hospitals that they are waiting for political direction. So, Minister, will you please give that political direction today so that we can move forward with these redevelopments?

Hon. Christine Elliott: I thank the member very much for the question.

We have been working both with respect to Stevenson and Collingwood at the Ministry of Health. With respect to Collingwood, we have been working closely with the Collingwood hospital team to review their proposed ...

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(Hon. Christine Elliott)

… and Collingwood at the Ministry of Health. With respect to Collingwood, we have been working closely with the Collingwood hospital team to review their proposed hospital redevelopment project. We are committed to making investments in this area because I know they’re very important to the people within your riding. The ministry has provided Collingwood with a $500,000 planning grant to support planning in 2018-19. We are continuing to work with the hospital on the stage one submission and hope to have some more particular news very shortly.

With respect to Stevenson, we are, again, working closely with Stevenson on their project as well. The project is going to expand the emergency department and make key updates to in-patient, surgical and diagnostic services. We expect to provide the hospital with approval of their stage one master plan in the coming days.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Mr. Jim Wilson: Back to the minister: That’s great news. Thank you, Minister, for the answer. I just want you to know that it pains me to ask these questions because I like you so much.

The last time I did ask in this House about the two hospitals, you also mentioned that perhaps you would like to tour or you might tour each of the hospitals. I was just wondering if that offer still stands. It would be great for morale and great to help move the redevelopments forward. Will you please tour the hospitals?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Yes, I would be very happy to. Thank you. I appreciate the offer. I know these hospitals are very important to you and to the people in your communities, and that they are anxious to see things move forward. I know for all of us, some of these projects seem to take a lot longer to get started than any of us would want, but that is the approval process that is in place within the ministry. That said, we do hope to be able to provide approvals to move forward very shortly in the coming days. I would like to give you a particular date, but I can say that that is coming very soon. I hope to be able to tour both hospitals with you very soon. Thank you.

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(VIDEO) Wilson asks government to fund cystic fibrosis medication

(November 1, 2019) Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson is calling on the Ontario government to fund life-saving medication for children with cystic fibrosis, including two young boys from Tottenham.

In the Ontario Legislature yesterday, Wilson read aloud a letter he received from the boys’ mother Sasha Haughian. He urged the government to act immediately to help children in need by approving lifesaving cystic fibrosis medications that are available and funded in most other parts of the world. 

Wilson also reminded the government that five years ago he raised the exact same issue on behalf of his constituent Madi Vanstone who at the time was 12-years-old. While the medication Madi needed was eventually funded for her, the root of the problem was never addressed.

Wilson says that in the long run the government needs to develop a rare drug strategy to fix the problem.

You can read the full text of Wilson’s statement below:

Ontario Hansard - 31-October2019

Mr. Jim Wilson: I’d like to read an important email I received this week from my constituent Sasha Haughian from Tottenham. I’ve been working with Sasha and her husband, Jamie Larocque, for over a year concerning coverage for cystic fibrosis medications for their two young sons.

Sasha’s letter reads:

“Hello again Jim,

“This was a big week for the CF community around the world.” But “unfortunately, we are getting left farther and farther behind.

“The FDA announced the approval of a new triple therapy gene modulator this week.... I can’t describe how left out so many of us Canadians feel, knowing we are still fighting for Orkambi, which is now becoming ancient to the rest of the world.

“As well, England (one of the countries the Ministry of Health always compares us to when defending their stance on Orkambi) just signed a deal with Vertex and are providing public access for all gene modulators as well as future therapies. We are now officially one of the only developed countries in the world to not provide these medications to our patients.

“Why our children are suffering when the rest of the world is celebrating is just incomprehensible, especially with a government that wants to end hallway medicine and save money. CF patients are literally taking up hospital beds and needing costly procedures when there is a medication that could prevent that.”

Mr. Speaker, as you know, this is the exact same issue I raised in this Legislature five years ago on behalf of another constituent, Madi Vanstone. While the medication Madi needed was eventually funded for her, the root of the problem was never addressed. Five years later, here we are again. Ontario needs to develop a rare drug strategy to fix this issue, and in the meantime Ontario needs to help those in need now by negotiating with drug companies like Vertex for these life-saving cystic fibrosis drugs.

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Jim meets with Catholic Family Services of Simcoe County

(October 24, 2019) Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson was pleased to meet with Michelle Bergin, Michele Lawson and Oliver Stone from Catholic Family Services of Simcoe County yesterday. The organization offers professional counselling, psychotherapy and education services to residents living or working in the Simcoe Muskoka region. Their walk-in counselling clinic provides free single session counselling for individuals, couples and families to help deal with a variety of issues including: depression, anxiety, couple conflict, family relationship issues, stress, anger management, alcohol and drug use and parenting. More information about their services can be found on their website www.cfssc.ca .