Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece recently followed up on behalf of local municipalities that requested provincial assistance for clean-up costs from the December ice storm.
In a March 6 statement in the Ontario legislature, Pettapiece reiterated his support for the disaster assistance applications submitted by the Municipality of North Perth and the Town of Minto.
He also called on the government to support an all-party review of Ontario’s emergency preparedness as proposed by the Ontario PC caucus.
Premier Kathleen Wynne was present in the legislature during Pettapiece’s statement.
“In April of last year, I spoke about the ice storm that hit Perth-Wellington. I kept the government informed. I asked them to recognize our local states of emergency, and asked them to come through with the assistance we needed. Unfortunately, they did not come through,” said Pettapiece.
“Then, in December, we were hit by another ice storm – along with many other parts of the province. Again I kept the government informed,” said Pettapiece, noting he twice wrote to the minister of municipal affairs and housing.
One-time assistance
“I appreciate her promise to review both requests without regard to where their municipality is located,” the MPP said.
Pettapiece pointed out that following the government’s Feb. 27 announcement of $190 million in one-time ice-storm assistance for municipalities, “Toronto officials confidently stated that ‘virtually all’ of their costs will be covered. That’s good News. I hope the government will soon confirm that assistance for the GTA, but also for other areas affected by the storm, including Minto and North Perth.
“When a storm comes our way, small and rural municipalities are often most in need of assistance – and even more so when a second storm comes our way,” he said.
