MPP Arnott stands up for Belwood residents
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2013
MPP Arnott stands up for Belwood residents
(Queen’s Park) – The Ontario Legislature resumed on September 9 after its summer recess.
Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott delivered the very first members’ statement of the new
sitting and used it to voice the concerns of Belwood residents in their fight against the planned
wind farm near Belwood.
Mr. Arnott highlighted a community meeting that took place in Elora last month with local
residents and officials from wpd Canada.
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“On August 14 , along with members of the Oppose Belwood Wind Farm group and residents of
West Garafraxa in the Township of Centre Wellington, I attended a meeting in Elora hosted by
wpd Canada, a wind energy company which is planning to build a wind farm near Belwood,” Mr.
Arnott informed the House.
“The anger in the room was palpable. The representatives of wpd took the brunt of it, because
of course, no one from the Liberal Government would have dared to show up at a meeting such
as this,” said Mr. Arnott.
“But show up these Liberal scoundrels should, for it is their policies, to take away local decision
making authority, move ahead prematurely while health studies have yet to be completed, and
arbitrarily decide that a setback of 500m is sufficient, all the while driving up hydro bills and
driving out industry, that are the root of the problem,” he continued. “This is the legacy of their
Green Energy Act.”
Mr. Arnott has been a vocal opponent of the Liberal Government’s Green Energy Act. He has
repeatedly called on the Government to impose a moratorium on further wind farm development
until comprehensive independent health studies can be completed.
(Attached: Text of Mr. Arnott’s Statement in the Ontario Legislature, September 9, 2013)
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Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
Text of Mr. Arnott’s statement in the Ontario Legislature,
September 9, 2013
Mr. Speaker:
Today, the first day of the Fall Sitting of the Legislature, we begin again to discuss, debate and
deliberate the public issues facing the Province.
We might even have the occasional “conversation,” to use the Premier’s favourite word for a
dialogue that usually leads nowhere.
A genuine “conversation” must be two-way. Both sides must listen, and show respect for each
other. And normally the conversation should have a conclusion, if it’s not going to be simply a
waste of everyone’s time.
On August 14th, along with members of the Oppose Belwood Wind Farm group and residents of
West Garafraxa in the Township of Centre Wellington, I attended a meeting in Elora hosted by
wpd Canada, a wind energy company which is planning to build a wind farm near Belwood.
This particular “conversation” was initiated by the McGuinty Liberal Government’s Green Energy
Act, and today it is perpetuated by the Wynne Liberal Government.
The anger in the room was palpable. The representatives of wpd took the brunt of it, because of
course, no one from the Liberal Government would have dared to show up at a meeting such as
this.
But show up these Liberal scoundrels should, for it is their policies, to take away local decision
making authority, move ahead prematurely while health studies have yet to be completed, and
arbitrarily decide that a setback of 500m is sufficient, all the while driving up hydro bills and
driving out industry, that are the root of the problem. This is the legacy of their Green Energy
Act.
No wonder Liberal support in rural Ontario has all but disappeared.
But the voice of rural Ontario will continue to be heard here at Queen’s Park, from this side of
the House, and the conversation will only conclude when the Liberals are removed from office.