New courthouse finally promised for Halton Region

(Halton Region) – The Ontario Government has promised a new Courthouse in Halton Region.

On June 21st, Attorney General Yasir Naqvi made the announcement in Oakville.

“For more than three years, we have been pushing for a firm Government commitment that a new Halton Courthouse will be built,” Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott said. “The existing Milton Court facility is aging, overcrowded, and simply inadequate to meet the needs of a rapidly growing Halton Region.”

Mr. Arnott, who attended the announcement, acknowledged the role of Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, Regional Council, local lawyers and other stakeholders, in securing the commitment.

“I want to express sincere thanks to Gary Carr, Paul Stunt, Ken Kelertas, and the many others whose efforts have helped lead to today’s announcement,” Mr. Arnott said. “This was truly a team effort.”

When the current Milton Courthouse was built on Steeles Avenue in 1962, the population of Halton Region was 190,000. While there was an addition in 1979, the population of Halton Region has grown significantly in recent years. Halton Region is forecast to be home to 620,000 by 2021 and that number is expected to exceed 1 million by 2041.

“Our current Courthouse was not designed to handle such a large population,” Mr. Arnott said. “We need to plan for the future, and that’s why today’s commitment is so important.”

Since 2014, Mr. Arnott has raised the need for a new Halton Courthouse on numerous occasions during debate in the Legislature, as well as during Question Period. He has written many times to both the current Attorney General and his predecessor Madeleine Meilleur, and repeatedly raised the matter directly with both of them in conversations in the Legislature. He also arranged for meetings at Queen’s Park to generate discussion, while working with the other Halton-area MPPs, and encouraging them to speak up.

“I hope this commitment is genuine and sincere. In the coming months, I hope they will‎ continue to take steps towards the construction of the new Courthouse,” Mr. Arnott said. “We intend to continue monitoring their planning process, and push the Government to deliver.”

Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown also recently spoke out about the need for a new Halton courthouse at a speech to the Burlington Chamber of Commerce earlier this month.

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Ted Arnott, MPP

Phone: 519-787-5247

Email: ted.arnottco@pc.ola.org