Local municipalities among first to be promised ice storm assistance

NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 18, 2015

Local municipalities among first to be promised ice storm
assistance

(Queen’s Park) – The Township of Centre Wellington and the Township of Puslinch are among
the first municipalities to be promised financial assistance from the Province of Ontario for
cleanup costs following the 2013 Christmas Ice Storm.

On February 13, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced it has approved the
claims and initiated final payments to three municipalities: the Township of Centre Wellington,
the Township of Puslinch, and the Township of Mapleton, all of which are located in Wellington
County.

The Township of Centre Wellington has been promised $297,543 and the Township of Puslinch
$44,923.

While other municipalities in Wellington-Halton Hills are still waiting for their claims to be
finalized, the Region of Halton has been offered $996,639, the Town of Halton Hills $326,901,
the Town of Erin $156,702, and the Township of Guelph/Eramosa $56,178. All of these
amounts have been characterized by the Government as “interim funding.”

“I trust our municipal partners and I know that staff from all our municipalities have spent untold
hours putting the claims together to satisfy the Government’s process,” said Mr. Arnott. “I was
glad to support their efforts.”

Last year, when it became apparent that the Ontario Government was dragging out the claims
approvals process, Mr. Arnott reached out to municipalities and conservation authorities in
Wellington-Halton Hills, asking for details on their individual claims. He worked with his
colleagues, Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman and Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece.

Mr. Arnott raised the issue in the Legislature in December, urging the Government to expedite
the process. He followed up by presenting the claim information to the Minister of Municipal
Affairs and Housing, insisting upon a prompt resolution to the issue.

– 30 –

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