MPP Arnott joins debates on upgrading for nursing homes, and on population growth

Speaking in support of two of his colleagues’ Private Members’ Resolutions, MPP Ted Arnott stood up for better standards of care for seniors in nursing homes, and for communities having the right to shape their own future in terms of population growth.

Mr. Arnott participated in the two debates that took place on the morning of November 23rd in the Ontario Legislature. First up was the resolution by Ontario PC Health Critic Elizabeth Witmer. She called on the government to commit to a plan of action to invest in the upgrading of 35,000 older B and C classified long-term care beds.

“I had the chance to meet with residents, families and staff of long-term-care homes in Waterloo–Wellington. We met at Chateau Gardens in Elmira. The people in attendance expressed to me their serious concerns about the McGuinty Liberal government’s long-term-care policy. They talked about Bill 140 and complained about what is in the bill and what isn’t in the bill,” Mr. Arnott told the House.

Mr. Arnott also informed the House that when he met with the care providers, they gave him about 500 post cards from residents and families. The message on each card was the same as the substance of Mrs. Witmer’s Resolution, together calling for needed upgrades to nursing homes. Mr. Arnott brought the post cards to his desk in the House and indicated that he would be sending them over to the Minister of Health.

The next debate was on a Resolution by Simcoe-North MPP Garfield Dunlop concerning population growth and development.

“My own view on growth is this: Communities should be allowed and be able to decide their own futures,” Mr. Arnott stated. “If a community wants to grow, providing environmental issues are not found to be of significant concern, it should be allowed to do so. On the other hand, if a municipality wishes to maintain its population and preserve the status quo by restricting growth, it should be allowed to make that decision as well.”

Citing the Provincial Government’s Places to Grow policy growth targets, Mr. Arnott informed the House about the potential impact on the population of local communities.

“…the Government’s Places to Grow initiative anticipates that the combined populations of the County of Wellington and the city of Guelph will increase from 195,000 in 2001 to 321,000 by 2031. That’s an increase of 126,000 people. That’s a 65% increase over 30 years in communities which draw their water from the ground, the vast majority of which lack any form of public transit and are served by a county and separated city form of local government,” Mr. Arnott explained.

Both Mrs. Witmer and Mr. Dunlop’s Private Members’ Resolutions were voted on and passed Second Reading.

“I congratulate the Members for Kitchener-Waterloo and Simcoe North for bringing forward relevant and important matters for Private Member’s Business,” Mr. Arnott said afterwards.