July 18, 2007
For Immediate Release

Progress Being Made with Temporary Operator

Grimsby - Erie-Lincoln MPP Tim Hudak and Grimsby resident Lynn Vanderplaat met at the site of the old Grimsby Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Office today, as they continued to put pressure on the McGuinty Government to permanently re-open the MTO Office.

After over 30 years of providing valuable service to the residents of Grimsby, the McGuinty Government closed the Grimsby MTO Office in March. After a public outcry from the community, local political leaders and a petition drive, the McGuinty Government has backed down and announced the office will re-open for at least one year.

The closure of the MTO Office is particularly upsetting as driver fees have doubled under the McGuinty Government’s tenure, but important services such as the Grimsby MTO Office have been cut.

From his contacts with the provincial government, Hudak has learned that the Ministry is currently reviewing applications to select a temporary operator to provide in person service for the period of one year. Hudak will keep the pressure up to ensure that Grimsby maintains a permanent MTO Office staffed by a person, not simply a computer kiosk.

Hudak was joined by Lynn Vanderplaat who collected signatures from local Grimsby residents opposed to the closure of the MTO office. Many of the signatures were from seniors who have been directly affected by the closure, as many do not want, or can not, make the trip to St. Catharines or Hamilton.

"The tremendous response from the community to our petition shows how valuable this service is to the citizens of Grimsby," said Hudak. "I want to thank the petitioners for their efforts to restore this important service".

On May 28, 2007, Hudak read the petition into the Ontario Legislature stating, "I'm pleased to present a petition to reopen the Grimsby MTO office. I want to thank Lynn Vanderplaat for her hard work in gathering hundreds of signatures."

"I also want to thank MPP Jennifer Mossop, Mayor Bentley, and Grimsby Council and local citizens who have put together a collective front to restore this important public service", said Hudak

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For additional information contact:

Tim Hudak, MPP
(416) 325-8454