MPP Arnott challenges Premier to shelve Alternative 4-3

NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington – Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2011

MPP Arnott challenges Premier to shelve Alternative 4-3
(Queen’s Park) – Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott is continuing his campaign to put pressure
on the McGuinty Government over the GTA West Corridor Study. On December 5, Mr. Arnott rose
in Question Period to challenge Premier Dalton McGuinty to permanently shelve Alternative 4-3.

“Now is not the time for more dithering on this issue,” declared Mr. Arnott. “We need a clear and unequivocal answer. Will the Premier assure my constituents that he will put an end to Alternative 4-3 once and for all?”

Alternative 4-3 has the potential to have long term, adverse affects on Halton Hills, Mr. Arnott told the Legislature. “A new highway built along the Alternative 4-3 route would cut our community in half, destroy farmland and heritage sites, and have a negative impact on our local environment,”

Mr. Arnott urged the government to consider other, more feasible alternatives. He noted that now is
not the time to embark on such a costly project when there are more economical alternatives
available. “The town has identified a reasonable and practical alternative: the widening of the 401,
which would have to be a more cost-effective solution in the current, constrained fiscal
environment,” argued Mr. Arnott.

The Premier referred the question to the Minister of Transportation, Bob Chiarelli, who
acknowledged Mr. Arnott’s advocacy on this issue. He indicated that although the government
would take local concerns into account and conduct further study on the impact to farms,
businesses, and natural features, the government’s priority is to develop a transportation strategy
that will meet the demands presented by the GTA’s growing population.

Immediately after Question Period, Mr. Arnott followed up, by speaking directly to both the Premier
and the Minister of Transportation.

Mr. Arnott has worked hard to raise awareness of this issue in the Legislature, including delivering a
Member’s Statement on the November 23 outlining local concerns and last week launching a
petition against Alternative 4-3.

(Attached: Text of Ted Arnott’s questions in Question Period, December 5, 2011)

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Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington – Halton Hills

December 5, 2011

Questions to the Premier of Ontario

Mr. Speaker:

My question is for the Premier.

In 2007, the McGuinty Government launched the GTA West Corridor Study, saying that they wanted
to have a comprehensive study of transportation options through our area.

One of the options they’ve identified through this process, Alternative 4-3, has been rejected by the
Councils of the Town of Halton Hills and the Region of Halton, and by thousands of local residents.

Just before the election, I called for the GTA West Corridor Study to be put on hold, pending a
review of the whole thing by the next Minister of Transportation. Days later, they announced the
delay.

Now, we have a new Minister.

My question to the Premier is this:

Will the Premier listen to the people of Halton Hills and tell the Minister to take Alternative 4-3 off the
table?

Supplementary Question:

Mr. Speaker:

That answer will not satisfy my constituents.

A new highway built along the Alternative 4-3 route would cut our community in half, destroy
farmland and heritage sites, and have a negative impact on our local environment.

The Town has identified a reasonable and practical alternative: the widening the 401, which would
have to be a more cost-effective solution in the current, constrained fiscal environment.

Now is not the time for more dithering on this issue. We need a clear and unequivocal answer.

Will the Premier assure my constituents that he will put an end to Alternative 4-3 once and for all?