Jones praises first responders during dangerous winter

February 20, 2014 · 0 Comments

Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones MPP has thanked first responders and emergency personnel for their tireless efforts throughout what has been a very difficult and dangerous winter in the riding.
“This has been a very rough winter for many Dufferin-Caledon residents and families,” Jones said. “As officials urge us to stay off the roads for our own safety, there are still those among us who work outside every day to assist those in need.”
“Our first responders and emergency personnel have dealt with the dangers of this weather with bravery and courage and they deserve our sincere thanks,” she added. “They have been working hard to get people into shelters and keeping our roads cleared, at personal risk.”
“In Dufferin County, a state of emergency has been declared, and only a few weeks ago we suffered a terrible ice storm in Caledon,” Jones observed. “We’ve seen Rosemont volunteer firefighters rescuing stranded motorists, and many Red Cross volunteers helping with the warming centres used last Friday in Dufferin County. In Caledon, we saw hydro crews working around the clock to restore power to the countless homes that lost power, and municipal road crews working non-stop to try and make our roads drivable again.”
“All of this incredible hard work has been appreciated by our community,” she commented. “The personal risk these individuals take on can be substantial, as we saw with the terrible accident that occurred just outside of Orangeville recently. My heart goes out to the OPP constable whose police cruiser was hit while she was assisting another motorist.”
In response to extreme blowing snow, cold, and hazardous driving conditions, Dufferin County declared a state of emergency. The severe snow and wind was consistent for days and several roads remain impassable. In late December, the Town of Caledon was caught in the midst of an ice storm that caused havoc across the Greater Toronto Area. Estimates of the damage and clean-up costs in Caledon and Dufferin are still being calculated.
“Dufferin-Caledon will get through this extreme weather, but we couldn’t do so without the dedication and professionalism of our first responders and emergency personnel,” Jones concluded. “They’ve made all Dufferin-Caledon residents proud, and so as the MPP for Dufferin-Caledon I would like to thank them for everything they have done and continue to do during this difficult time.”