Time for Morriston bypass is now, Arnott tells Legislature
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2015
Time for Morriston bypass is now, Arnott tells Legislature
(Queen’s Park) – Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott refuses to give up on the Morriston bypass
highway project.
“The traffic bottleneck in Morriston directly impacts the safety of local residents. However, it extends
beyond that,” Mr. Arnott told the Ontario Legislature on November 30. “Because Highway 6 is such a
key economic corridor, connecting the 401 to the Hamilton/Niagara region, as well as to the U.S.
border, the traffic jams, which often stretch for kilometres, are costing our provincial economy
millions of dollars each and every year.”
There is widespread support for the Highway 6 Morriston bypass, he noted.
“Mayor Dennis Lever and Township Council have pushed strongly for the Highway 6 Morriston
bypass project,” Mr. Arnott said. “The County of Wellington, the City of Guelph, and the City of
Hamilton all support the Morriston Bypass. So do the Guelph and Hamilton Chambers of
Commerce, as well as Tim Hortons, Maple Leaf Foods, Nestlé Waters, Canada Bread, and Cargill.”
With the Government beginning preparations for next year’s provincial budget, Wellington-Halton
Hills MPP Ted Arnott felt it was timely to once again insist the Minister of Transportation place the
Highway 6 Morriston bypass project on his Ministry’s 5 year plan for highway construction.
“Based on my experience in the Legislature, I’m aware that the Ministry of Transportation will be
preparing its pre-budget submissions right now,” stated Mr. Arnott.
The Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, tabled in the Legislature on November 26,
indicated on page 113 that the Government plans to spend $2.466 billion on provincial highway
infrastructure this year.
“I urge the Minister to continue to push hard. We’ve been waiting for this project for a generation.
Let’s work together to get it done,” he concluded.
The Minister of Transportation was in the House for Mr. Arnott’s statement. The Minister listened
intently and afterwards, Mr. Arnott crossed the floor to speak to him and they shook hands.
As soon as it was possible after the 2014 Provincial Election, Mr. Arnott tabled a Private Member’s
Resolution calling attention to the need for the Morriston bypass. It is the first item on the Ontario
Legislature’s Order Paper listing of Private Member’s Resolutions.
(Attached: Hansard record of Mr. Arnott’s statement, November 30, 2015)
– 30 –
Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Ontario Hansard – 30-November 2015
Mr. Ted Arnott: As members of this House know, for years we’ve been advocating for a bypass on
Highway 6 around the community of Morriston in the township of Puslinch.
I’ve been in Puslinch township the past two weekends to attend public events. People there understand the
Highway 6 Morriston bypass is urgently needed. The traffic bottleneck in Morriston directly impacts the
safety of local residents. However, it extends beyond that. Because Highway 6 is such a key economic
corridor, connecting the 401 to the Hamilton-Niagara region, as well as to the US border, the traffic jams,
which often stretch for kilometres, are costing our provincial economy millions of dollars each and every
year. This was demonstrated in a University of Waterloo study conducted two years ago.
Mayor Dennis Lever and township council have pushed strongly for the Highway 6 Morriston bypass
project. The county of Wellington, the city of Guelph and the city of Hamilton all support the Morriston
bypass. So do the Guelph and Hamilton chambers of commerce, as well as Tim Hortons, Maple Leaf
Foods, Nestlé Waters, Canada Bread and Cargill.
I appreciate the interest the Minister of Transportation has shown in our project. We’re taking him at his
word that he’s pushing for it. And we know the Premier has also publicly acknowledged the importance of
the Morriston bypass in this very House.
Based on my experience in the Legislature, I’m aware that the Ministry of Transportation will be
preparing its pre-budget submissions right now. I urge the minister to continue to push hard. We’ve been
waiting for this project for a generation. Let’s work together to get it done.