MPP Arnott recognizes fire and emergency services personnel

NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington – Halton Hills

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2010

MPP Arnott recognizes fire and emergency services personnel
(Queen’s Park) – Thanking the people who keep us safe, Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott today recognized our firefighters and emergency services personnel in a statement in the Ontario Legislature.

“We are greatly indebted to these fine and courageous individuals, who demonstrate
professionalism and skill in all that they do to keep our communities safe,” Mr. Arnott told MPPs.

On Friday, September 10, Mr. Arnott attended an event with Halton Hills Firefighters and Halton Region’s Emergency Medical Services personnel. Held in Georgetown, the occasion marked the official opening of a new Fire Headquarters on 10 Sideroad and a new fire/EMS Station on Maple Avenue in Georgetown.

Mr. Arnott thanked the Government of Ontario for its $1.9 million contribution toward the $9.4-million project and also recognized local leadership.

“I want to acknowledge the leadership of Chief Brent Marshall, Deputy Chiefs Harry Olivieri and
John Martin, and EMS Director Greg Sage,” Mr. Arnott said following his statement.

“The councils and staff of the Town of Halton Hills, as well as the Region of Halton, deserve credit too,” he added. “Because of their vision and leadership, they moved this project from concept to completion.”

Mr. Arnott has often worked to support our volunteer fire services. Most recently, he advocated
successfully for fairness across the entire fire service when it comes to “presumptive” workers’
compensation coverage.

“These are concerns I care passionately about, because of the respect and affection in which I hold our volunteer firefighters for all that they do,” he said.

Several months ago, the Firefighters’ Association of Ontario recognized Mr. Arnott’s work by making him an honourary member of the fire service.

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Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Attached: Text of Mr. Arnott’s statement

Mr. Speaker:

Last Friday, I was privileged to attend an impressive event, along with our Town of Halton Hills
Firefighters and Halton Region’s Emergency Medical Services personnel.

We are greatly indebted to these fine and courageous individuals, who demonstrate
professionalism and skill in all that they do to keep our communities safe.

And now our firefighters and EMS staff have new facilities to train and prepare to respond to
emergencies-a new Fire Headquarters on 10th Sideroad and a new fire/EMS Station on Maple
Avenue in Georgetown.

These impressive new buildings are now officially open, and I want to publicly thank the
Government of Ontario for its $1.9 million funding, which contributed substantially towards the
total $9.4 million project cost.

In the 20 years that I’ve served as a Member of Provincial Parliament I have gone to bat for our
volunteer fire service many times, most recently to push hard for fairness across the entire fire
service when it comes to “presumptive” Workers’ Compensation coverage.

These are concerns I care passionately about, because of the respect and affection in which I
hold our volunteer firefighters for all that they do.

I want to express my sincere thanks to the Firefighters’ Association of Ontario for making me an
Honourary Member of the fire service a few months ago, in recognition of the public issues
we’ve worked on together.

Looking to the future, we will continue to support our volunteer firefighters, as a means of
beginning to repay the debt of gratitude we owe to them, which can never be fully discharged.