Wellington County’s two MPPs expressed displeasure in the Legislature over what they perceived as the Liberal government allowing a former party candidate to make infrastructure-funding announcement.
On Nov. 14, the province announced allocations for municipalities under the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund, including a total of more than $1.5 million for municipalities in Wellington County. The announcement was contained in a press release published by numerous News agencies, and posted on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs website.
On Nov. 17 the Perth-Wellington Provincial Liberal Association “in response to a funding announcement that impacts Perth-Wellington,” issued a press release containing comments on the funding from Liberal riding association spokesperson Stewart Skinner, who ran unsuccessfully for the party in the last provincial election.
Both Pettapiece and Wellington Halton-Hills MPP Ted Arnott appear to have learned of the funding from News reports based on the Liberal party press release, rather than the earlier announcement released by the government.
“It is not for Liberal insiders or defeated Liberal candidates to make public infrastructure funding announcements,” states a joint press release issued by Arnott and Pettapiece on Nov. 27.
The MPPs took that message to Premier Kathleen Wynne in the Ontario Legislature on Nov. 26.
“Does the premier think it’s appropriate for [defeated Liberal candidates] to be making public announcements of new funding for area municipalities when the elected MPPs haven’t even been officially notified?” asked Arnott.
Even though the Liberal press release was issued days after the funding announcement, the Conservative MPPs claim Skinner “would likely have had access to the information as a ‘non-partisan’ staff member in the office of the Minister of Agriculture prior to its public release.”
“It was a Liberal press release, from the former Liberal candidate, announcing public money,” Pettapiece said.
“Is that part of the job description for staffers working on the public dime in the office of the Minister of Agriculture?”
After the question Pettapiece claimed, “The Liberals are trying to bypass the people’s elected representatives.”
“The government needs to respect the democratic will of the people,” said Arnott, adding, “Defeated Liberal candidates should not be in the business of announcing who will get taxpayer dollars and who will not.”
Responding to the Tory inquiries during question period, Wynne, who was not initially aware of the riding association release, said, “I’ve just been handed a copy of the press release, which says, ‘Ontario government invests over $1.3 million across Perth-Wellington.’ This isn’t an announcement; this is a statement of something that is happening. As I said, if the member opposite wanted to talk about what investments were being made in his riding, I would think that would be a very good thing …”
Contacted by the Advertiser, Skinner responded, “This is the type of nonsense we’ve come to expect from the PC party. The Perth-Wellington Provincial Liberal Association press release simply noted much-needed new infrastructure investment for our local communities that was already announced, and posted on a public website.
“It’s normal for all parties to issue press releases. I’m not surprised that Mr. Pettapiece is upset, because this exposed that he wasn’t … ensuring that local residents are aware of government funding and programs.”
