Opening of Centre Wellington Food Bank’s Community Commercial Kitchen

Ted Arnott attended the official opening of the Centre Wellington Food Bank’s Community
Commercial Kitchen on September 24th, 2010, when he delivered the following remarks:

Good afternoon, friends.

I’m glad to be able to join you today, and honoured to have this chance to speak and thank all
who have worked so hard to support our food bank.

Ontario’s Food Banks are unique social organizations. In many cases, they wish they weren’t
needed. In fact, it’s often said that the long term goal of a Food Bank is to no longer be needed.

Their long-term vision is to see a day, at some point in the future, when every single family and
every single individual in our community, has the means to feed themselves safely, adequately
and nutritiously.

Surely this is a goal we can all embrace.

But our Food Bank Volunteers don’t just embrace this goal. They live it, giving countless hours,
making time in their busy lives to help others in their community – helping people they may not
even know.

They help because they know there’s a need, which is also what motivates our generous donors,
and we thank them as well.

I want to also acknowledge Fred, whose passion and dedication is evident to everyone who’s
ever met him. What a great job he does in our community, raising awareness, organizing the
various food drives and making sure no one forgets that there are families in our community who
are hungry and need a community response, that gives them nourishment.

It’s interesting to note that the Ontario Legislature recently supported the concept of establishing
a tax credit for farmers who donate surplus foods to Food Banks. I hope that this bill, which was
sponsored by my colleague from Sarnia-Lambton, Bob Bailey, makes its way to third reading and
is passed into law, hopefully before Christmas.

Wouldn’t that be a positive development?

I want to express my thanks as well to the Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures Development
Corporation. This organization has been extremely helpful in our area for many years,
strengthening our local economy and providing support for many worthwhile endeavours.

This new commercial kitchen will no doubt be a focus for positive change in the lives of many of
our local families. This investment in our future is one that will pay social dividends: that means
families will be better off and their quality of life will improve.

This is what today is all about.

And, again, on the behalf of the Province of Ontario, and I want to thank and congratulate
everyone involved.