MPP Arnott Participates in Nutrient Management Bill Consultations

Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott joined the consultation on Bill 81, The Nutrient Management Act in Clinton on September 13, 2001. Bill 81 is the Government's legislation written to set standards for the management of materials containing nutrients such as manure.

These province-wide standards would set out responsibilities for farmers, municipalities and businesses in protecting the environment.

Bill 81 is intended to address concerns about manure that runs off into streams, rivers, or seeps into underground water systems. Public hearings for the Bill were announced as part of the Government's Operation Clean Water initiative.

The Bill has been sent to an all-party committee for hearings with stakeholders and interested groups. It was sent to the committee immediately after First Reading, which is done by the Government as a signal that they are prepared to listen and make significant changes if necessary. Normally legislation doesn't go to a committee until after it has been debated in the House and voted on at Second Reading.

“The Government is deliberating cautiously in order to get this right because it will affect many of our farm families and our rural communities,” said Mr. Arnott who is also Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment.

Mr. Arnott participated in the hearings as MPP for Waterloo-Wellington and spent a good portion of the day presiding as Chair of the Committee.

They heard from farm organizations, municipal leaders and from the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. Jenny Denhartog from the Drayton area, helped present in her capacity as Vice President of the Christian Farmers' Federation of Ontario.

“In October of last year I wrote to the Minister of Agriculture asking that the Government be prepared to provide financial assistance to farmers to help them achieve new standards, including sharing in capitals costs. I also suggested that the assistance should be allocated according to ability to pay and to those most in need,” added Mr. Arnott.

Groups or interested individuals may provide written input on Bill 81 to Ted Arnott, MPP at 181 St. Andrew St. E., 2 nd Floor, Fergus, Ontario, N1M 1P9.

Mr. Arnott's provincial riding of Waterloo-Wellington includes all of Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich Townships, a southwestern part of the City of Kitchener, and much of Wellington County.