Niagara This Week

With not much time to spare before Niagara Health System supervisor Dr. Kevin Smith sends his final report to health minister Deb Matthews, Welland riding MPP Cindy Forster is appealing to the public for their input.

Forster will be holding two public meetings next week to listen to the opinions of constituents in Welland, Port Colborne and Wainfleet. The meetings will be held to gauge the reaction of the residents, who could be drastically impacted if both hospital sites in Welland and Port Colborne close after a new south Niagara hospital is built, as Smith proposed in his interim report.

“We’ve been hearing a lot from the government-appointed Niagara Health System supervisor,” Forster said.

“It’s time we heard from the people who will be most affected by his recommendations.”

A meeting will be held next Tuesday, May 22, in the community room at the Welland Civic Square, 60 East Main St. in Welland, and next Wednesday, May 23, at the Guild Hall, 72 Charlotte St., in Port Colborne. Both meetings will begin at 6 p.m.