The bill intends to improve the overall safety of Ontario's highways by reducing the prevalence of wrong-way driving incidents. Under the guidelines of this bill, signs and lights will be placed at the entrance to every entrance ramp to 400-series highways as to alert drivers who may be entering the highway heading in the wrong direction. These measures will decrease the number of drivers who unknowingly enter onto highways while travelling in the wrong direction, and will subsequently decrease the number of automobile accidents caused by wrong-way drivers.
This bill originated from my constituent, April Sobisch of Alliston, who wrote to me detailing a horrendous automobile accident that she and her young son Owen were the victims of in August of 2005.
While driving along Highway 400 on a sunny Tuesday morning, Sobisch's vehicle was struck head-on by a driver who was travelling in the wrong direction. Thankfully, she and Owen survived the accident; although, Sobisch suffered severe injuries and has had to undergo several surgeries. The man who caused the collision died immediately upon impact.
After raising the issue during question period last week, the Minister of Transportation stated that she would review the matter on my behalf and has agreed to follow up with both Sobisch and I to keep us up to date on her progress. I am very happy the minister saw merit in my Private Member's Bill -- this is the way the legislature should work -- the government didn't dismiss the idea just because it originated from a member of the opposition.
Finally, I would like to offer my appreciation to Sobisch for her determination and bravery in bringing forward her idea to make our highways safer. The OPP has stated that in the last six months alone, 259 wrong-way drivers have been caught in the province of Ontario, and that only covers the central Ontario region and in-and-around the GTA. In addition to that, since 2002, 14 people have been killed as a result of being hit head-on by wrong-way drivers, either driving down a ramp the wrong way or driving down the highway the wrong way.
The Ontario Historical Society announced that it is intending to sell the Sir Frederick Banting homestead to a developer. This disgraceful deal promises to preserve only four acres of the original homestead and provide minimal upkeep to the farm, buildings, and home. This, after rejecting an excellent offer from the Town of New Tecumseth to purchase the property for $1 million and to preserve 70 acres of the property for the creation of a diabetic camp for children and youth.
The McGuinty government could have saved the entire homestead with a mere stroke of a pen, without it costing a single penny of taxpayers' money, but he chose to remain silent. As you may know, the preservation of the Banting Homestead has been a major priority of mine for some time, and I have gone on record as saying how disgusted I am with the McGuinty government's lack of action.
The action continued, as I brought two issues to the government's attention during Question Period. First, I asked the Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities why he would not change their policies to allow for more electrician apprentices to enter the field, as currently our system restricts ready and willing apprentices from receiving proper training. This, when Ontario has lost over 100,000 manufacturing jobs in the past 18 months alone. I find this situation to be unacceptable, and I told the Minister so.
Finally, I asked the Minister of Health and Long Term Care about the disturbing announcement that was made regarding the possible closure of the maternity ward and birthing unit at the Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston. After December 15, Alliston residents will be forced to travel 45 minutes to Southlake Hospital in Newmarket. I informed Minister Smitherman that women from Alliston want to be able to give birth in Alliston, and after a tremendous amount of community pressure, a motion has been passed by the hospital board to try to keep the birthing unit at Stevenson Memorial open. I have also arranged a meeting between Ontario's Ministry of Health and the hospital committee in an attempt to rectify the situation.
As the elected representative of Simcoe-Grey, I take the issues that are important to my constituents very seriously, and will continue to fight on your behalf as long as I am here at Queen's Park. For more information about any of these issues please call my office at 1-800-268-7542. I can also be reached via my website at www.jimwilsonmpp.com.
