Transportation Minister needs to intervene
(Queen’s Park) – Wellington-Halton Hills Ted Arnott is continuing to call upon the Minister of Transportation to partner with the Town of Halton Hills on a long term transportation strategy.
On November 23rd, he spoke again in the Ontario Legislature to call attention to his Private Members Resolution, which was passed unanimously on September 28th, 2017. The following is the text of his remarks:
Mr. Speaker:
I rise in this House today to urge the Minister of Transportation to respond appropriately to the expressed will of this House.
On September 28th, the Ontario Legislature unanimously passed our Resolution, calling upon the Minister to partner with the Town of Halton Hills to develop a long-term transportation strategy for the Town, including a review of the need for a Highway 7 Acton bypass, taking into account the need for improved safety, efficiency, and economic development opportunities.
During the debate on our Resolution, I was very encouraged by the remarks of the Minister of Transportation’s Parliamentary Assistant, the Member for Kitchener Centre.
She said and I quote from Hansard: “I can assure the member, and every other member of this House, that the ministry is going to continue to actively participate in this study… we’re going to need to see if there’s anything else that we can do at the provincial level to improve both the safety and the efficiency of this stretch of Highway 7.” End quote.
I have recently heard from the Town of Halton Hills, telling me that they are still experiencing difficulties with the Ministry of Transportation, and the Ministry continues to raise challenges for the proposed new business development on the 340 Main Street North Acton property and we are concerned this may call into question the whole project. The Minister needs to intervene.
We are offering to partner with the Minister, and we need him to be a funding partner.
I have followed up with the Minister of Transportation, who I acknowledge has responded to some of my requests on behalf of our Riding, and since the passage of our Resolution, I have written to him, and spoken to him several times about our proposed partnership.
Today, I urge him to respect the expressed will of the House, and partner with us.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
“I’ve been privileged to serve in this House for a long time. I’ve served as a Member of the Third Party, as a Government Member, and lately as a Member of the Official Opposition,” Mr. Arnott said afterwards. “I know that the Member for Kitchener Centre must have had at least the tacit approval of the Minister’s Office for her remarks. So we are encouraged and hopeful. I intend to continue raising this until the Minister agrees to our proposal.”
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Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org