Ontario Green Legacy proposal endorsed by Legislature
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2015
Ontario Green Legacy proposal endorsed by Legislature
(Queen’s Park) – Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott’s proposal to establish an Ontario
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Green Legacy Programme to mark Ontario’s 150 anniversary within Canada has been
endorsed by the Ontario Legislature.
On October 22, the Legislature voted unanimously to pass Mr. Arnott’s Private Member’s
Resolution calling on the Government to take Wellington County’s Green Legacy Programme
province-wide by planting 150 million trees beginning in 2017.
“An Ontario Green Legacy Programme could be a legacy that all of us in this House can claim
as our collective gift to the generations to come,” Mr. Arnott said during his closing remarks in
the debate.
With Wellington County CAO Scott Wilson, Green Legacy Committee Chair Mark Van Patter,
and Green Legacy Nursery Manager Rob Johnson on hand to watch the debate, Mr. Arnott
acknowledged the work of County officials.
“I want to once again express my admiration for the County of Wellington, for the outstanding
leadership they have shown in launching their Green Legacy Programme and maintaining it on
an ongoing basis, such that it has grown into the largest municipal tree planting programme in
North America,” Mr. Arnott told the House. “They have shown us the way.”
“When the County of Wellington first started down this road, it was a large challenge. But we
found that we could succeed with the involvement of the community. With the support of the
House and Mr. Arnott’s Resolution I find that I am hopeful and know that we in the Province can
succeed,” said Mr. Van Patter.
The Ontario Green Legacy Programme has also been endorsed by the David Suzuki
Foundation, NeighbourWoods on the Grand, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the Christian
Farmers Federation of Ontario, the Professional Foresters Association, as well as Halton Hills
community leader Laurent Thibault.
Mr. Arnott intends to continue to follow up with the Minister of Natural Resources to see that the
Government follows through.
“Passing my resolution today was the first step towards an Ontario Green Legacy Programme,”
Mr. Arnott said afterwards. “Now we need to see a positive response from the Government. I
intend to continue to raise this with them until they commit to making Ontario Green Legacy a
reality.”
The Green Legacy Resolution is the second consecutive Private Member’s initiative brought
forward by Mr. Arnott that was successfully passed by the Ontario Legislature. In November
2013, the Legislature passed his bill to honour former Lieutenant Government Lincoln Alexander
by proclaiming January 20 Lincoln Alexander Day in Ontario.
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Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org