| MPP Arnott Votes for Bill Aimed at Restoring
Firefighters' Fundraising for Charity
Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott voted in favour of Private Member's Bill 26 in the Ontario Legislature on November 29, 2001. The Bill was designed to reestablish charitable fundraising on roadways such as ‘toll booth' fundraisers that have been operated in Waterloo-Wellington by fire departments.
Such events were curtailed by Bill 8, the Safe Streets Act, a bill that was passed in order to deal with ‘squeegee kids' in urban areas who stopped motorists and solicited money to wash their windshields.
“I thought of the firefighters in Waterloo-Wellington when I voted for this bill, and the money they raise for good causes,” said Mr. Arnott.
“After consulting with municipal leaders, supporting their resolutions and correspondence, and discussing the issue with police officials, I have concluded that it is probably an unintended consequence of the Safe Streets Act that these traditional fundraising efforts have been called into question,” he added.
Bill 26 was brought forward for debate by Liberal M.P.P. Bruce Crozier. It was defeated by a vote of 43 to 31. Mr. Arnott was the only member on the government side who voted for it.
Bill 26 would have given municipal councils the authority to allow fundraisers that are conducted by registered charities.
Mr. Arnott had also voted for Mr. Crozier's Private Member's Bill 64, a similar bill which passed Second Reading narrowly on December 14, 2000 with a tie-breaking vote by the Speaker. The Bill was reintroduced as Bill 26 when the Second Session of the Legislature was convened.
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