Provincial, local – your concerns are my priority!

While this month’s provincial election saw local candidates debating issues that significantly impact our area directly –the land dispute, the pressure on farmers, local energy generation and local infrastructure –the rest of the province had its sights set on other agendas.

On election day, an IPSOS Reid poll outlined the top four issues voters had on their minds across Ontario as they headed to the voting booth. Respondents were given the opportunity to choose five priorities - among the results of the 7,500 people polled; 77 per cent indicated that “reducing healthcare wait times” should be a top government priority, the economy and jobs followed with 53 per cent support, 48 per cent selected improving the education funding formula, while the issues of public transit/ infrastructure investment and reducing taxes both received 46 per cent support.

While these issues were on the radar screen locally, there seems to be somewhat of a disconnect with the priority concerns that area people were discussing with me at the doors across Haldimand and Norfolk Counties. That said, over the next four years I look forward to working on both local and provincial top priorities as we move ahead.

With regard to reducing wait times, I will continue to fight the current government’s approach - an approach that saw the Liberal government promise to reduce wait times in five areas, while ignoring the rest. In a survey of doctors last year, 20 per cent saw direct evidence that wait times outside of the five targeted areas were getting longer. I will continue to push for decreased wait times and increased capacity by working with both public and private sector partners.

On the job creation front, I regret the fact that over the last four years, over 140,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Ontario. In fact, Ontario is poised to have the lowest level of economic growth in Canada – we have literally gone from first to worst. Much of the problem is that, as the CD Howe Institute stated recently, Ontario has the “least competitive business tax structure of any province.” We must attract and retain jobs. This includes fighting for tax reduction to attract business and working to ensure a stable, affordable supply of cleaner electricity.

After four years of empty promises, it's time to finally fix the funding formula and provide school boards with the resources and flexibility they need. It’s time for an urgent review of the funding formula in the 2007-08 school year with annual reviews thereafter.

Regarding the priorities of public transit and infrastructure investment. I will continue to lobby hard for the gas tax to be distributed to all municipalities – rather than just those in urban areas – and prioritized investment to support infrastructure improvements in rural Ontario. I do note that we have had one recent success on the transportation file with the re-opening of the Caledonia MTO licencing office – in the last year I collected signatures of close to one-thousand Caledonia residents to force government to reassess its original decision to close the office.

Given the myriad priorities, both local and provincial, that the people of Ontario and here in Haldimand-Norfolk are counting on government to address, it will be an interesting four years ahead.