On June 25, 2009, Dr. Helena Jaczek, MPP for Oak Ridges-Markham, played host to Premier Dalton McGuinty.

The Premier and Dr. Jaczek kicked off the day at Markham Stouffville Hospital by announcing the Provincial Government’s commitment of $35.5 million for its’ expansion project. This investment will help better serve York Region by increasing the hospital’s capacity to more than 300 beds, 100,000 clinic visits and 67,000 emergency room visits.

Following the announcement, the Premier and Dr. Jaczek headed to Stouffville’s Main Street, where they met with by reporters and editors from York Region Media Group. This was a great opportunity for them to ask the Premier the hard questions important to riding residents.

Next, the Premier and Dr. Jaczek walked around Stouffville’s Famers’ Market. They visited market stands, purchased fresh local produce, while chatting with local farmers and residents. The Provincial government has recently committed $50 million to help encourage Ontarians to buy locally, with $4 million for the Farmers’ Market Initiative over a 4 year period.

Dr. Jaczek closed the day by hosting a reception in honour of the Strawberry Festival volunteers at the Lebovic Centre for Arts and Entertainment – Nineteen on the Park. The Premier enjoyed meeting community members, the Centre’s staff and Strawberry Festival volunteers. The Whitchurch-Stouffville Strawberry Festival recently received a grant of $155,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to help support expand and build the long-term sustainability of the festival.

“This has been a great day for Oak Ridges-Markham,” said Dr. Jaczek. “Not only did the Premier deliver important news for Markham Stouffville Hospital, he also got the chance to experience the many wonderful things Oak Ridges-Markham has to offer.”

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To watch the Premier’s interview with YRMG, please visit www.yrmg.com/streaming/news/0609McGuinty.html.