Introduction

Ted Arnott was 27 when he was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1990. He was re-elected in 1995, 1999 and, again, in 2003 to represent the riding of Waterloo-Wellington.

Ted serves as one of the Presiding Officers or Assistant Speakers in the Legislature. His Legislative roles also include being Critic for the Minister of Tourism, and he's a member of the Legislature's Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.

In Government from 1995 to 2003, Ted served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, the Minister of the Environment, and to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade. He had also served on the Policy Committees of Cabinet for Health and Social Services, and for Education, and he was the Chairman of the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly.

Ted has been instrumental in the advancement and resolution of many important issues in the communities he has represented, including support for volunteer fire fighters, the Waterloo-Wellington Transportation Action Plan, repairs to the Conestogo and Shand Dams, and capital funding for Conestoga College. He has worked hard to support improvements in health and education, economic development which creates jobs, and infrastructure projects to make the quality of life of his communities better.

Born in 1963, Ted Arnott was raised in Arthur. The only son of the late Warren Arnott and the late Jessie Arnott, he has four sisters.

In 1979, he was awarded a certificate of commendation from the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, for rendering assistance which was determined to be instrumental in saving the life of a drowning man at Rockwood Conservation Area. His action was recognized by OPP Commissioner Harold Graham at an OPP Awards Ceremony. He was 15 at the time of the rescue.

Ted is a graduate of Arthur District High School. He studied at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo where he obtained a B.A. in Political Science and a Diploma in Business Administration. In 2004, he was listed in Wilfrid Laurier's Annual Report as being one of the University's graduates who are “making a difference around the world.”

He is a former Big Brother and continues to serve the organization as an honourary member of the Board of the North Wellington Big Brothers. He attends St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Fergus. Mr. Arnott married Lisa McCabe on December 22, 1990. Mrs. Arnott is a part-time Core French teacher at James McQueen Public School in Fergus. They have three sons and live in the Fergus area.