Local priorities raised in Ontario Legislature – Speech
July 7, 2014 – Local Issues
Ontario Hansard – 07-July2014
Mr. Ted Arnott: Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate you and every member of this House on their successful election on June 12. I’m looking forward to working with each of them over the next four years in the 41st Parliament as we all seek to make Ontario a better place for all of its residents.
On June 13, the day after the election, we were back to work at my constituency office, and I wrote the Premier to highlight three key issues in my riding: the Highway 6 Morriston bypass, improved GO train service, and high-speed Internet in rural Ontario. On July 3, I tabled three private members’ resolutions on these issues. They are the first three items listed on the order paper today.
Highway 6 serves as a vital link between the 401 and the Hamilton-Niagara region and the US border. A bypass around Morriston will eliminate a major traffic bottleneck, improve safety and allow for the free flow of goods to the border.
During the election campaign, the government promised full-day two-way GO train service between Waterloo region and the GTA. What is the time frame for keeping this commitment? How does the government define “full-day two-way service”? Will this include more stops in Wellington–Halton Hills?
Finally, lack of access to high-speed Internet in rural Ontario continues to be a concern. Reliable and affordable access to high-speed Internet is essential in today’s economy. A provincial strategy for expanding affordable high-speed Internet would help our local businesses grow and attract new investment to our rural communities.
I commend all of these issues to the government and urge immediate support for them.