 In
a speech to 350 attendees at the Annual Brampton Board
of Trade Mayor’s Luncheon, Fennell criticized the province
for failing to meet its responsibilities for health care
in Brampton. She said the province is responsible for
legislating municipal growth and planning the capacity
to train skilled doctors, nurses and health technicians,
and it is responsible for health care planning and funding.
“The Province’s solution to Brampton’s ongoing under
funded and under resourced health care was to build
a new, one million two hundred thousand square foot
state of the art hospital, then only open half of it
and close Peel Memorial Hospital. The Provincial Government
opened the Brampton Civic Hospital without sufficient
beds or staff to operate at capacity”
“The citizens of Brampton are no further ahead when
it comes to health care in our city,” she said.
The mayor said Premier McGuinty promised in a letter
published in the Brampton Guardian in July that Peel
Memorial would not close. “Then, we were told it would
close for renovations. Now, we learn it may be torn
down, to be replaced with a facility yet to be planned.”
Fennell questioned how the province can mandate that
Brampton grow without having a plan to provide adequate
health care for citizens.
“Mr. Premier, Brampton clearly has our plans in order,
where are yours?”
Submissions before the Central West LHIN (Local Health
Integration Network) Task Force, reviewing Peel Memorial
Hospital, clearly indicate that the citizens of Brampton
care deeply about how health care services should be
provided, she said.
“Peel Memorial has provided compassionate care for
the citizens of Brampton for more than 80 years. Before
you closed it, Peel Memorial had been evaluated as having
one of the lowest mortality rates of any hospital in
this province and its staff continued to provide excellent
and compassionate care to the citizens of our city under
ever worsening conditions. It is part of the fabric
of our community and an essential part of providing
health care to our citizens.”
Fennell said the government ignored 13 studies “that
have consistently sounded alarm bells to you” on the
deterioration of “the most important piece of infrastructure
in our city and it is a disgrace that our LHIN must
now draw a conclusion that this neglect may result in
the demolition of this once fine hospital.”
The mayor said she expects the Province to commit to
a timeline for the renovation and reconstruction of
Peel Memorial Hospital. “I call upon you not demolish
the existing Peel Memorial Hospital, in whole or in
part, until your Government makes public a clear plan
to renovate or construct the facility that will replace
it, and return health care to the site.”
She said she wants the Peel Memorial Hospital name
retained, originally dedicated to the memory of the
veterans of Brampton and Peel Region who fought in the
World War I.
She challenged the Premier to meet the deadline he
promised. “And Premier McGuinty, the clock is ticking,”
she said.
 Neil
Davis Business Person of the Year
- Click
here to register for this event
Neil Davis is The Brampton Board of Trade’s 2007 Business
Person of the Year. This significant honour is awarded
to Brampton business people who have demonstrated leadership
in their profession and in
their community.
Neil has significant credentials in both professional
and community work and is part of a community legacy that
began with his grandfather
A.Grenville Davis, an eminent lawyer and crown attorney
for Peel County, and his father William Grenville Davis,
Premier of Ontario from 1971-85.
“Growing up in my family, you have an innate sense
of the need to give back. Even before I entered law
school I understood the expectation of service to the
community from the examples set by my grandfather and
father.”
Neil says the practice of law also leads to community
involvement. “It’s hard to ignore when you are working
with clients who are trying to make our community a
better place. As a lawyer, you hope to be able to persuade
and influence others and there is an exciting dynamic
when you know that there are benefits to the community.”
“Neil has demonstrated a commitment to his profession
and his community and we are extremely proud to be able
to recognize his contribution,” says BBOT President
Linda Ford. “Like his grandfather and father before
him, he has been a strong advocate for Brampton.”
“I am honoured to be recognized for this prestigious
award. It’s humbling to be part of such a stellar cast
of past recipients, who all have made significant contributions
in so many different ways to their profession and to
their community.”
Neil is a partner in Davis Webb LLP, a company founded
by his grandfather in 1916. The law firm, one of Brampton’s
oldest, specializes in municipal and planning law. Other
areas of the practice include environmental, commercial
real estate and corporate law. It is a full-service
law firm.
This is the first time Business Person of the Year
has been a lawyer.
“People tend to think of law as a profession, but today
it’s very much a business, rooted in the fundamentals
of good business practices – building relationships
and hopefully adding value for out clients. It’s a competitive
marketplace.”
The firm has had a Davis family member involved since
its inception. Bill Davis joined the firm in the mid
1950s. Ronald Webb Q.C. joined Bill and Grenville Davis
in the late 1950s and Neil joined in 1983. Other partners,
Christopher Moon, Ronald Sleightholm, Ellen Pefhany
and Barbara Skupien have many years of distinguished
service.
Neil has been a tireless promoter of Brampton and in
particular downtown Brampton.
He is passionate about building a city where its residents
want to live and their children choose to live and work.
“The real challenge we face around growth is the need
to attempt to shape our city in a way that just doesn’t
measure the number of housing permits issued, but rather
is a qualitative analysis and discussion around the
type of development we want to see in Brampton. Growth
alone is not a measure of success.”
He says the measure of success will come from developing
a small-town feel of community centered on a strong
downtown as Brampton matures into an urban place.
Neil has been a long-time volunteer working with Sheridan
College, the Brampton Board of Trade, Brampton Downtown
Development Corporation, Peel Memorial Hospital Corporate
Fundraising, Supportive Housing of Peel, Peel Safety
Children’s Village and the YMCA to name a few. He is
also an advisor to the Brampton and Area Community Foundation.
He is married to Ruth with two children, Kathleen and
Christine.
The Brampton Board of Trade is planning a celebration
and roast at Pearson Convention Center 2638 Steeles
Ave. E., at Airport Rd., on Thursday Feb. 21. Tickets
are available online.
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