Question Period： Supporting First Responders in Ottawa
Episode Stats
Summary
Learn English with the Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne. Premier Kathleen Wynne speaks to the House of Commons on the ongoing flood crisis in her riding of Carleton, Ontario. She also visits the Centre for Emergency Preparedness in Carleton and speaks to Mayor Jim Watson and the Mayor of Ottawa.
Transcript
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Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier of Ontario. For over a week now,
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we have been experiencing floods in many parts of the province, including my city
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of Ottawa. Our hard-working first responders have been hard at work to
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prevent damage to communities and homes in coordination with our emergency
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management partners, and our government understands the impact and severity of
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the flooding, and we take the safety of our communities seriously. I know that
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people in my riding of Carleton were reassured to see the Premier visit several of the municipalities
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currently under a state of emergency in order to see the conditions firsthand and to assist
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our hard-working first responders with relief efforts.
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Can the Premier please update the House on what measures the province is taking to respond
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the great MPP from Carleton, the absolute
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champion i i was up in carlton mr speaker you want to talk about a popular mpp when i was up there
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i went and visited a senior a senior's home and they love the mpp from carlton incredible job
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but do you know do you know we love as as well mr speaker we love the first responders
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and the military folks look look at those champions up there absolute champions i absolutely love you
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mr speaker when i was in ottawa it was like the cavalry coming over the mountain when we saw the
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military they came in they were sandbagging helping people because people in ottawa were
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exhausted. I just got off the phone with Mayor Watson, making sure and reassuring him that he
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has the province's support on anything he needs.
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Thank you to the Premier for that response, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for your kind words and
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for visiting the CARE Centre. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, while our government is hard
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at work responding to floods, the opposition continues to fear-monger about the ability
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of Ontario's conservation authorities to respond to flood events.
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I'd like to read them a quote from Rhonda Bateman, the General Manager of the Sault
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We are not going to cut the maintenance and flood control program.
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Perhaps a member from Thunder Bay at Ticocan was not aware that managing water-related
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hazards are part of the programs and services Conservation Authorities are mandated to provide.
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Can the Premier please clarify our government's proposal to make Conservation Authorities more
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For you, Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, I talked to the Mayor of Ottawa.
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He appreciates the help from the Solicitor General, the Minister of Municipal Affairs,
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It's all hands on deck, no matter if it's Ottawa.
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Speaking to the Mayor of Huntsville, which I'm going to be heading up to Huntsville and Bracebridge,
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and spoke to the Mayor of Muskoka Lakes, they're so grateful for our support.
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As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, we're putting $5 million additional to protect the watershed
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Again, I'm traveling up there tomorrow, Mr. Speaker, to see firsthand how we're progressing.
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Once again, the first responders and the great military is up in Muskoka working their backs