MPP
Arnott calls for financial commitment to tornado
victims in Waterloo-Wellington
At
the first available opportunity for MPPs to speak
in the Second Session of the 38th Provincial Parliament,
Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott spoke about
the need for financial assistance from the Province
for tornado victims in Waterloo-Wellington. Mr.
Arnott gave his remarks in the Ontario Legislature
on October 13th, 2005. The following is the text
of his statement:
Mr.
Speaker, first of all I want to congratulate you
on your election.
Now
that the House has finally resumed, I wish to
inform Members of the natural disaster which occurred
in Waterloo-Wellington on August 19th. On that
day, severe weather in southern Ontario created
two devastating tornados which touched down in
my riding.
As
written in the Guelph Mercury: “Both funnels whipped
up winds of 180 to 240 kilometres per hour cutting
trees in half, downing power lines, tossing cars
into ditches and damaging homes and barns.”
After
the tornados struck, I returned home as soon as
possible to pitch in and help. Working with municipal
and emergency response officials, I urged the
Minister of Community Safety and the Minister
of Municipal Affairs to tour our devastated communities
in the Townships of Centre Wellington and Mapleton.
I’m pleased that they did.
I
also met with senior Ministry of Municipal Affairs
staff to push for financial support from the Province
under the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program.
And, I personally spoke with the Premier on September
9th, to seek his intervention and appropriate
response.
Yesterday,
the Government’s Throne Speech referred to the
response of Ontarians “when tragedy strikes around
the world.”
The
August 19th tornados happened right here at home.
Three weeks ago the Townships of Centre Wellington
and Mapleton, and the GRCA submitted their detailed
requests for financial assistance to the Ministry
of Municipal Affairs. We are still awaiting a
reply.
I
call upon the Government to complete its review
of our economic losses and provide a firm financial
commitment to the tornado victims in Waterloo-Wellington.
