| MPP
Arnott Supports National Volunteer Week
Waterloo-Wellington
MPP Ted Arnott spoke in the Ontario Legislature on April
19, 2004 about National Volunteer Week doing so in his
capacity as Conservative Critic for Citizenship and
Immigration. He said the following:
Mr
Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): I want to begin my
remarks by expressing appreciation to the Minister of
Citizenship for her fine remarks and to say that I'm
very glad we have unanimous consent to pay tribute to
volunteers through National Volunteer Week.
I
will begin by saying thank you to volunteers who coach
minor sports, fundraise to feed and clothe people in
need, give time to care for seniors, and so many other
activities. Their contribution is valuable by its definition,
because volunteers' talents are given into service by
their own free will and, in doing so, they form the
social fabric of our communities throughout the province.
Volunteers
have shaped our way of life. I'm reminded of this fact
when I think of volunteers who served in Canada's armed
forces during the major wars of the last century and
especially as we approach the 60th anniversary, on June
6, of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France.
We should always remember that they paid dearly to leave
us with a peaceful society where we are free to give
and serve. The organization Volunteer Canada says that
National Volunteer Week was first proclaimed in 1943
to make the public aware of the vital contribution made
by women to the war effort.
We
can only do justice to the tradition of volunteering
by guaranteeing its future through the young people
of Ontario. For example, we can continue to support
the minimum 40 hours of community involvement for high
school students. Through volunteering, we know that
young people develop the skills they need, an understanding
of civic responsibility, and they learn that they can
make a difference through their actions.
Planting
the seeds of volunteerism is a two-way street, because
youth and children need guidance, help and positive
role models in life. My own experience as a Big Brother,
when I had a little brother from 1987 to 1990, when
he turned 17 and the program officially ended, was a
deeply meaningful experience that continues to guide
my perspective. I had a chance to be a friend and mentor
to a young man as he grew up, and I'll never forget
the experience. Big Brothers continues to be part of
my life. I'm glad to serve as an honorary member of
the board of the North Wellington Big Brothers.
Volunteering,
mentoring and working to improve the future for young
people is an important focus for me. That is why I strongly
support Ontario's Promise, an initiative launched by
former Premier Mike Harris and minister for children
Margaret Marland.
Ontario's
Promise brings together business, non-profit agencies,
community leaders, parents and individuals to make and
keep five promises to Ontario's young people. The five
promises are: (1) a healthy start for all children;
(2) an ongoing relationship with a caring adult; (3)
a safe place with structured activities during non-school
hours; (4) marketable skills through effective education;
and (5) giving back through community service.
I
liken Ontario's Promise to John F. Kennedy's Peace Corps
idea. It has the potential to light the fire of idealism
and spirit of service throughout an entire generation.
I ask MPPs to forgo partisan politics where Ontario's
Promise is concerned and support this program as a strong
partnership for children and youth.
Over
the years as an MPP, I have also supported volunteer
firefighters in a number of ways. In my riding, and
in the vast majority of rural communities, we are indebted
to volunteer firefighters. They protect our homes, businesses,
farms, cottages, schools, hospitals and all manner of
buildings from fire, and they are often the first on
the scene at car accidents and other emergencies. The
skills they develop are essential where they volunteer
and wherever they serve. Those skills are highly valuable
in a monetary sense. There is no way that small communities
could afford fire departments without volunteer firefighters.
Without
them, property taxes would be prohibitive, with opportunities
for home ownership, businesses and jobs lost or taken
away.
I
want to remind all members of how important volunteer
firefighters are, even to those members who represent
cities, and hope you will understand how they benefit
the whole province through their service to rural Ontario.
The
Wellington Advertiser, one of our local newspapers in
my riding, also deserves recognition for their story
about National Volunteer Week that appeared in last
Friday's paper. Here is how they described opportunities
to volunteer: "In Wellington county there are numerous
opportunities for individuals of all ages to get involved,
from participating in environmental cleanups with Greenspaces
for Wellington to acting as a prospective role model
in the life of a young boy or girl through Big Brothers
or Big Sisters, or as a volunteer driver, childcare
assistant or special events volunteer" with the
community resource centres of our riding.
I
join them in asking people who are interested to step
forward and volunteer. Your services are needed. As
stated in the article, "Volunteers are not paid;
not because they are worthless, but because they are
priceless."
I
had the pleasure of attending the Centre Wellington
Chamber of Commerce's recent dinner, where they paid
tribute to Roberta and Rienk Vlietstra of Fergus. One
of our local papers said the following about them, and
I quote, "For, like other involved volunteers everywhere,
the Vlietstras are significant contributors to their
community."
The
same could be said of all of our volunteers, and for
this we express our thanks.
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