“Ontario must confront the new challenges emerging in the global marketplace, including the dynamic economies in the Far East. If we don’t do everything we can to compete successfully, we will lose jobs in this province.” – Ted Arnott in the Ontario Legislature, June 8, 2005.
“We cannot take current favourable economic conditions for granted. The world isn’t standing still and our manufacturers are facing unprecedented challenges in the global marketplace. If we aren’t competitive, we will lose jobs.” – Ted Arnott, news release, June 2, 2005
Almost eight years ago, I called upon the provincial government to have an all-party legislative committee hold public hearings on the competitiveness challenges faced by our manufacturers.
My hope was that we could work together across party lines to develop an action plan to support our manufacturing sector, at that time the source of so many jobs in Ontario’s economy.
While the Ontario Legislature passed my private members resolution on Nov. 30, 2006, the McGuinty government steadfastly refused to allow the hearings to take place.
Since 2005, Ontario has lost more than 300,000 manufacturing jobs.
And last week, on April 3, our riding received the disappointing news that A.O. Smith (formerly GSW, and before that Beatty Bros.) would soon cease manufacturing water heaters in Fergus, and 350 good-paying jobs would be lost.
The next day, I made repeated calls to company, union and government officials, and spoke to Premier Kathleen Wynne.
Along with Centre Wellington Township Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj, I visited the plant, and we resolved to do whatever we could to support the affected families.
* * *
A new drug is giving some cystic fibrosis (CF) patients hope for the future, and they are now awaiting provincial government approval for its funding.
On March 28, I raised the issue in the Ontario Legislature, calling on the government to expedite funding approval for Kalydeco, a new medication which has shown great promise in treating some forms of CF. In my remarks, I informed the House about Madison Phipps, a 17-year-old Georgetown resident who has suffered from cystic fibrosis since birth.
The Canadian Expert Drug Committee has recommended that Kalydeco be on the formulary listing of public funded provincial drug plans for the treatment of some cystic fibrosis patients.
Now it’s up to the Minister of Health to act and do the right thing, so that patients like Maddie Phipps can have access to this life-saving drug.
* * *
I recently renewed my efforts to get the Minister of Transportation to place the Highway 6 Morriston bypass project on the ministry’s five-year plan for highway construction.
Working with the residents of Puslinch Township, led by Mayor Dennis Lever, council and staff, we are making a strong case for this project based on economic and community safety arguments. We are working to build support around the larger regional area, as a Morriston bypass would eliminate the current traffic log jam through the community, benefiting all the communities around us.
A petition in support of the project has been launched by the Puslinch Township COP committee, and can be accessed at: www.hwy6bypass.ca.
Thanks to everyone who is speaking out in support of this needed project.
Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott welcomes your comments. He can be reached at 1-800-265-2366. His website address is www.tedarnottmpp.com.