Supports Funding to fix Conestogo Dam, Asking Former Premier Bill Davis to Work out Compromise with Teachers
On April 23, 2001, Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott helped lead the opening debate in the Legislative Assembly of the 2nd Session of the 37th Parliament by seconding the motion to accept the Lieutenant Governor's Speech from the Throne.
The motion was made by Norm Miller the MPP who was elected recently in a by-election to represent the riding of Parry-Sound-Muskoka.
Mr. Arnott spoke for about half an hour about the Government's priorities and how these should reflect the needs and interests of Waterloo-Wellington. In discussing points in the “21 Steps to the 21st Century” laid out in the Throne Speech, Mr. Arnott began with the last one - enhancing the role of the individual MPP.
“In my view, one of the fundamental principles that guide and motivate the changes that we are making is that a government in a modern, pluralistic democracy rarely, if ever, knows better than the citizens that it represents. We must listen and act upon the advice of our informed citizenry -- our constituents who sent us here,” declared Mr. Arnott.
The Throne Speech signaled the government's intent to strike a task force to study the appropriate role of government in society. Against this backdrop Mr. Arnott stated what he believed to be the Government's responsibility with respect to the Conestogo Dam and its broken gates that normally control water flow for the Conestoga and Grand Rivers.
Following a description of the catastrophes that could take place if the Dam is not fixed including flash floods or endangered drinking water he informed the House:
“Granted, these are worst-case scenarios. But they are identified as realistic by the engineers and leaders of the Grand River Conservation Authority, and I take them seriously and continue to advocate on their behalf. They, along with municipalities I am representing, have a well-founded belief that it is the province's role to be a major partner in paying for the needed repairs to those gates to make absolutely certain that these worst-case scenarios never happen. I support their position.”
Mr. Arnott also indicated that he had discussed the need for provincial funding to fix the Dam in a private meeting with the Premier, then in a meeting with the Minister of Natural Resources and leaders of the Grand River Conservation Authority, whom also attended his more recent meeting with Mr. David Lindsay President and CEO of the SuperBuild Corporation.
“Our position on this matter is clear: the province of Ontario cannot abdicate its responsibility to assist conservation authorities in necessary flood-control projects. It is of the utmost importance to the riding of Waterloo-Wellington, and I will continue to raise this issue until it is satisfactorily resolved,” he advised the Legislature.
Mr. Arnott also addressed the Throne Speech commitment to restore extracurricular activities in schools. He followed up on the case he made a year ago within the Government Caucus for a reasonable compromise to end the standoff between the Government and the teachers' unions.
He had recommended that the Government amend Bill 74 provided that the teachers' unions agreed to resume extracurricular activities and not use them as a bargaining chip. The Province responded by not proclaiming the section of the Bill that would have made these activities mandatory.
In support of reaching a compromise solution, Mr. Arnott reiterated the suggestion from his recent letter to the Premier that the Government ask former Premier, the Honourable William G. Davis, to serve as a mediator in the dispute. He also recommend that Dr. Bette Stephenson, former Deputy Premier, might be prepared to do so, “or some other person who has the respect and confidence of both parties to this dispute.”
“I have offered this suggestion in the full knowledge that my constituents believe that we need to resolve this problem in the interests of students and end the war of words which is counterproductive to creating the quality education system that children need and deserve,” he added.
Mr. Arnott also took the opportunity to support Ontario's Promise and invited other MPPs to do so as well.
“Essentially, we promise to connect every child in Ontario with the minimum requirements they need to grow up into confident, capable and contributing adult members of our society. |
