MEMBER'S STATEMENT - Conestoga Dam
From Hansard
April 25, 2001
Mr Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): I rise on a crucially important issue in my riding of Waterloo-Wellington, and that is the need to repair the Conestogo dam.
Described by the Globe and Mail as one of Ontario's largest dams, Conestogo dam controls water flow for the Conestogo River and the Grand River, affecting the water supply for much of Waterloo region and the city of Brantford.
The gates on this dam, which normally control the flow of water, are broken, and it's estimated that it will cost between $1.2 million and $1.5 million to repair them. In the spring, without repairs, the dam could fail or collapse, resulting in a catastrophic flash flood in which lives most likely would be lost. In the summertime, when the river water flow is low, the dam gates are opened to raise the levels and cleanse the water downstream. If the gates aren't working properly, drinking water could become dangerous.
These are worst-case scenarios, but they're identified as realistic by the Grand River Conservation Authority. They believe the province must be a major partner in paying for the repairs to make absolutely certain that these worst-case scenarios never happen. I support this position.
I have raised this issue with the Premier in a private meeting earlier this year, with the government caucus, and I want to thank the Minister of Natural Resources for meeting with leaders of the Grand River Conservation Authority. The minister also attended the recent meeting that I arranged for GRCA officials with David Lindsay, president and CEO of the SuperBuild Corp. Yesterday, I had a chance to raise this issue with the Deputy Premier and the Minister of Finance.
My position on this matter is clear: the province of Ontario cannot abdicate its responsibility to assist conservation authorities in necessary flood control projects. I will continue to raise this issue until it's resolved. |
