Minister of Municipal Affairs views tornado damage in Waterloo-Wellington

Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing John Gerretsen has joined Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott and senior municipal officials to survey the damage caused by the August 19th tornados.

“I appreciated the personal interest that John Gerretsen demonstrated in the continuing challenge we must address together,” Mr. Arnott said.

The Minister’s visit took place on September 1st.

County of Wellington Warden Brad Whitcombe and CAO Scott Wilson, Township of Centre Wellington Mayor Russ Spicer and CAO Michael Wood, Township of Mapleton Mayor John Green and CAO Patty Sinnamon, and Grand River Conservation Authority GM Paul Emmerson, were all part of the tour of the devastated areas, which lasted almost two hours.

Mr. Gerretsen is the second provincial Government Minister to visit Waterloo-Wellington in the past few days. Minister of Community Safety Monte Kwinter saw the damage first hand on August 23rd, arriving by an OPP helicopter.

“Both Mr. Gerretsen and Mr. Kwinter have provided us with advice on the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program. If our municipal councils formally request provincial assistance, I will insist that these Ministers go to bat for us,” said Mr. Arnott. “I am committed to supporting whatever request for provincial assistance that our municipalities put forward.”

Once again, Mr. Arnott expressed his appreciation for the extraordinary community response to the tornados. “The strength and caring of our community shine as an example of how we should respond to natural disasters,” Mr. Arnott observed.