MPP Arnott continues push for new courthouse in Halton Region

NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2015

MPP Arnott continues push for new courthouse in Halton Region

(Wellington-Halton Hills) – A new Courthouse is urgently needed for Halton Region and
Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott is continuing to push the Government to provide the
necessary approvals to move the project forward.

In a letter to Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur on February 5, Mr. Arnott called on her to
approve the new Courthouse and said it should be a priority for her Ministry:

“Your Government is planning to spend $254 million for justice infrastructure this year and it is
reasonable to expect that you will be spending a similar amount going forward. A new Halton
Courthouse should be a priority,” he wrote.

The current Courthouse is no longer adequate due to overcrowding and serious security and
privacy concerns. According to the Halton County Law Association, litigants are often required
to travel to Brampton or Guelph because the Courthouse simply cannot accommodate the
volume of cases.

When the Milton Courthouse was first constructed in 1962, it served a population of 190,230
people. While there was an addition in 1979, it now serves a population of 550,000. That
number is expected to grow to even further to 565,100 by next year.

“I urge you to once again to instruct your staff to look at the case for a new Courthouse in Halton
Region and to provide the leadership needed to get this important project approved,” he
continued.

Mr. Arnott has sought to work cooperatively across Party lines to get the job done. Late last
year, he contacted the Attorney General’s office to arrange a briefing on the issue for all Halton
area MPPs.

He has also raised the issue in the Legislature on a number of occasions and has both written
and spoken directly to the Attorney General.

In September, he toured the Courthouse and attended a Town Hall meeting with Courthouse
users to see the need firsthand.

(Attached: Mr. Arnott’s letter to the Attorney General)

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