Township of Centre Wellington to receive $2.2 million to replace St. David Street Bridge

NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2016

MPP Arnott reiterates call for MTO to partner with Town of
Halton Hills on long-term truck strategy

(Queen’s Park) – Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott rose in the Ontario Legislature on
April 4 to reiterate his call for the Ministry of Transportation to partner with the Town of Halton
Hills on a long-term truck strategy and a possible Acton bypass.

“Last August I was approached by the Town of Halton Hills about the need for a long-term truck
strategy, including the possibility of a bypass on Highway 7 around Acton,” Mr. Arnott told MPPs
at Queen’s Park. “We immediately went to work on it.”

Many area residents believe an Acton bypass is badly needed due to the increasing volume of
truck traffic making its way along Highway 7 through Acton’s narrow downtown corridor. There
are also concerns about truck traffic in Georgetown and Norval.

Since he was approached by the Town, Mr. Arnott has spoken to the Minister of Transportation
in the Legislature on several occasions to discuss the problem with him. He has also raised the
issue in the House and written to the Minister a number of times.

“Last fall I also tabled a resolution calling on the Minister to place the Highway 7 Acton bypass
on his ministry’s five year plan for highway construction,” he said. “I also arranged a meeting in
January with the Minister’s office between the Minister and a delegation from the Town of Halton
Hills, which included Mayor Rick Bonnette and Regional Chair Gary Carr.”

Mr. Arnott pointed out that the Town of Halton Hills has offered to cover half the costs of the
study, as an initial step towards a constructive partnership.

“We all realize that an Acton bypass is not going to be built overnight,” Mr. Arnott concluded.
“It’s important that we get moving forward because we know that, working together, we make
progress.”

– 30 –

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

Ontario Hansard – 04-April 2016

Mr. Ted Arnott: More than 30 years after discussion on the Highway 6 Morriston bypass began, last
week we were able to welcome the Minister of Transportation to Wellington-Halton Hills as he
announced the approval of this needed project. Working together, we’ve been pushing for the bypass for
years, and I want to thank Mayor Dennis Lever, the township of Puslinch council and staff, the county of
Wellington, the Morriston bypass coalition and many others who expressed support, including the
Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Minister of Education.
However, I need to remind the Minister of Transportation that there are still many other important
transportation needs in Wellington-Halton Hills. For example, last August I was approached by the town
of Halton Hills about the need for a long-term truck strategy, including the possibility of a bypass on
Highway 7 around Acton. We immediately went to work on it. I have approached the minister on several
occasions in the Legislature to discuss this issue with him and have also written to him a number of times.
Last fall, I also tabled a resolution calling on the minister to place the Highway 7 Acton bypass on his
ministry’s five-year plan for highway construction. I also arranged a meeting in January with the
minister’s office between the minister and a delegation from the town of Halton Hills, which included
Mayor Rick Bonnette and regional chair Gary Carr. The town has offered to cover half the costs of the
study as an initial step towards a constructive partnership. But we all realize that an Acton bypass is not
going to be built overnight. It’s important that we get moving forward because we know that, working
together, we make progress.