| MPP
Arnott’s Bill 30 Passes Second Reading – Right to be
a Volunteer Firefighter a Step Closer to Being Protected
Waterloo-Wellington
MPP Ted Arnott’s Bill 30 narrowly passed Second Reading
on June 6, 2002, after a close vote of 32 to 28 during
Private Member’s Hour in the Ontario Legislature.
Bill
30 would protect “double hatters” – full time professional
firefighters who also wish to volunteer as firefighters
in their home communities during their spare time.
In
recent months, some double hatters in Ontario have been
threatened by their unions, and told that they must
resign from their volunteer positions or face charges
that could lead to dismissal from their full time positions.
“My
sense was that it would be very close but that we were
doing well and it would pass. I am very pleased that
members of the Legislative Assembly, from both sides
of the House, have supported my Bill which is intended
to put an end to heavy handed tactics aimed at making
some of our volunteer firefighters quit,” declared Mr.
Arnott.
“This
bill upholds the standard of public safety that teams
of volunteer firefighters have built and will continue
to build across the province of Ontario and it does
so by upholding the right to volunteer,” he added.
Mr.
Arnott’s Bill is endorsed by volunteer fire chiefs,
some local municipalities and by the Association of
Municipalities of Ontario. Many of them are concerned
about the reported incidents wherein firefighters are
being charged or threatened with being charged, and
if they are expelled that could mean the loss of their
full-time jobs.
While
speaking to his Bill during the debate in the Legislature,
Mr. Arnott introduced his guests in the Member’s Gallery,
which included volunteer fire chiefs Doug Smith (Puslinch),
Clare Weber (St. Jacobs), Dave Thompson, Adam Gall,
Jim Richards, Bill Burns and Bob Burns.
Mr.
Arnott also noted that the issue was brought to his
attention first by Chief Doug Smith, and by Woolwich
Mayor Bill Strauss, and in the form of a resolution
passed by the Council of Guelph/Eramosa.
“I
want to thank Liberal MPPs Ted McMeekin, Sean Conway
and Richard Patten for supporting Bill 30 and I also
thank Claudette Boyer for voting in favour of it and
for trading her Private Member’s time slot so that I
could move this forward,” said Mr. Arnott afterwards.
“I
was disappointed with the comments of Dave Levac, the
Liberal Critic for Public Safety and Security. I hope
that, as we move forward, Mr. Levac will reconsider
the importance of these issues as they impact rural
municipalities across the province, and consider supporting
my Bill in the end,” he concluded.
Bill
30 has been referred to the Standing Committee on Justice
and Social Policy for further consideration.
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