On the last day of his term in the legislature, Progressive Conservative Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott celebrated the 21st anniversary of his first election.
He also reflected on the past four years serving Wellington-Halton Hills and his 21 years in the Ontario legislature.
Arnott said in an interview that he has no plans to run negative attack campaign in his bid for re-election.
“The TV advertising is over the top, and the attacks on us have started,” he said. “I feel it’s incumbent upon me to run a positive campaign.
Arnott cited a number of accomplishments for the riding, many coming in the past three months.
Those included:
– helping secure $2.6 million in funding for Georgetown Hospital’s ER and CT scanner project;
– obtaining approval for new Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Centre Wellington;
– helping Jasper More’s family with approval of coverage for the medication Naglazyme for MPS VI;
– successfully calling for suspension of the GTA west corridor study, pending review by the next Minister of Transportation;- receiving recognition at Queen’s Park for having taken the lead to pass a bill observing Emancipation Day in Ontario – the first bill that was co-sponsored by MPPs of different parties, working together; and
– announcing that the Ministry of Transportation would repave and repair Highway 6 north of Guelph to Fergus – a project he had called for in the Ontario legislature – as well as renewing his call to prioritize the much-needed Morriston bypass, south of Guelph;
– successfully advocated for small, local school bus companies hurt by government procurement policy, following that work with Progressive Conservative education critic Elizabeth Witmer, the government backed off;
– helping Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria patient Lucas Maciesza and his family, who required a life-saving medication called Soliris; also successfully calling for the government to cover the cost of Soliris for patients who needed it;
– received an honorary membership in the Ontario Association of Road Supervisors for working on their behalf, adding to his honorary membership in the Fire Fighters’ Association of Ontario, for his work to protect volunteer firefighters;
Pushing for interim funding, later approved, for small nursing homes with low occupancy rates, helping homes like Morriston Park Nursing Home, south of Guelph.
Arnott said in an interview he believes the three big questions in the Wellington Halton Hills riding that the electorate will face are:
– who will best represent the riding, who has the experience, and who can be trusted;
– does Premier Dalton McGuinty deserve another term as premier of Ontario; and
– does the Progressive Conservative Party have the best plan to provide hope for the future in the next four years?
He said that the answer to the second question is that many people are telling him McGuinty does not deserve another term.
Arnott said “dozens and dozens” of volunteers have come forward to work on his campaign with him.
“We feel very encouraged by the support we’re getting,” he said.
He also noted that Dale Hamilton will by his NDP opponent. She finished second to Arnott in the 1990 election, and, “I suspect she will be a spirited and energetic campaigner if 1990 was any indication.
Arnott will open two campaign offices. One on the main street of Fergus, and the other on the main street of Georgetown. a very productive summer.
“Working together, we accomplished a great deal,” he concluded. “I look forward to continuing my work on behalf of the people of Wellington-Halton Hills.”
