MPPs exchange fire during debate in Legislature
about Double Hatters’ right to volunteer

MPP Arnott says Double Hatters help maintain high standards in fire service

A heated exchange took place in the Ontario Legislature on November 2nd, as Conservative MPPs Tim Hudak and Ted Arnott continued to support Double Hatter fire fighters and their right to continue to serve as volunteer fire fighters in their home communities.

Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott has again brought the issue to the House with Bill 52, a bill to protect Double-Hatters’ rights. These fire fighters are being forced by union leaders to either quit as volunteers or face the possible loss of their full-time jobs. He was joined in Question Period by Erie-Lincoln MPP Tim Hudak who defended the rights of these volunteer fire fighters in his community.

Rising for his question, MPP Ted Arnott reminded the Legislature again of the benefits that Double Hatters bring to fire services in Ontario saying that: “…legislation is needed to protect Double Hatters, to protect their right to volunteer in their home communities and to ensure a high level of emergency response preparedness in rural and small town Ontario.”

Mr. Arnott continued to challenge the Minister in some of the strongest terms yet:

“The minister, just now, made reference to the fire marshal. He said he's listening to the fire marshal. Yet at the standing committee public hearings two years ago, the fire marshal said, ‘There is a provincial and public interest in protecting two-hatters who wish to serve as volunteer firefighters. We do not believe that a non-legislated solution is achievable or enforceable.’”

“The fire marshal has said legislation is needed to protect double-hatter firefighters. And this spring, he reconfirmed that position in writing to me,” he continued in the House.

“My question is this: When will the government listen to the fire marshal, grow a backbone and take a stand in favour of community safety in rural and small-town Ontario?” Mr. Arnott asked the Minister.

Although the Minister did commend Mr. Arnott for his Private Member’s Bill, he deflected the question by criticizing the former Conservative Government.

“I’m disappointed that the Liberals have so far refused to do anything about this important public safety issue. If union leaders are allowed to continue to threaten Double-Hatters with a choice between their full-time jobs and volunteer service, this will weaken volunteer fire departments and make our rural communities less safe,” Mr. Arnott said later.

“The Liberals have been in Government for over a year, the issue has been raised in the Legislature many times, and I plan to continue to ask them to take the necessary legislative action to support the right to volunteer for these fire fighters,” he concluded.

Mr. Arnott is encouraging people to get involved in a province-wide petition in support of Double-Hatters. The petition can be obtained on his website at: www.tedarnottmpp.com and original signed petitions should be delivered to the local MPP.