The past year has been a period of challenges and opportunities for businesses and working families in Niagara West. Throughout the past year, I have worked with my team to deliver on the local priorities that I hear about from families, seniors, workers, and job creators in Niagara. As I have always said, I was elected to be the voice of Niagara to Queen’s Park, not the voice of Queen’s Park to Niagara. Looking back over the past year, many actions have been taken to deliver what the people of Niagara West expect and deserve – from investments in healthcare to education and the economy.
Early in January, the Ontario government announced a plan to make it easier and faster for people to access the publicly funded surgeries and procedures they need by further leveraging community surgical and diagnostic centres to eliminate backlogs and reduce wait times. Also in January, the province announced new ‘As of Right’ rules which allow health care workers registered in other provinces and territories to immediately start working and caring for people in Ontario.
In February, I shared details of the Niagara portion of the provincial Gas Tax Allocation, providing millions of dollars to local municipalities to invest in roads and bridges in our communities.
In March, our government announced changes to presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters to protect those who serve in our communities. I also hosted Hon. Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, former federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, in the riding to sign a historic funding agreement for the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Program, expanding exports and innovation in Ontario’s agricultural sectors.
In April, I shared details of a historic 86 percent increase in Homelessness Prevention Program funding for the Niagara Region, amounting to almost $10 million a year in new funds to shelter some of the most vulnerable across our region. Our government also introduced a bold and forward-looking provincial budget, ‘Building a Strong Ontario’, investing in the infrastructure and healthcare needed to keep our province economically resilient and healthy.
In May, after hosting leaders from Niagara at Queen’s Park for a Niagara Advocacy Day, Premier Ford visited our region to share details of expanded GO Train service – a win for commuters, the environment, and our local tourism sector.
On June 5, the Legislative Assembly unanimously passed my Private Member’s Motion calling for expanded chaplaincy services in provincial prisons to help reduce repeat offences and keep our streets safe. Also in June, our government announced a substantial expansion of palliative care in Niagara, including new funding for more beds at McNally House Hospice in Grimsby.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to have served the people of Pelham"
In July, I joined Premier Ford, as well as Hon. Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health, along with local municipal and community leaders, for the groundbreaking of the South Niagara Hospital, an extensive 1.3 million square foot site that will add substantial healthcare capacity to our region once it is open. This work is well underway just down the road from Pelham.
Another step towards reducing the stigma around skilled trades and increasing the number of people who can work to build Ontario came to fruition with details of a new pre-apprenticeship program for Niagara College. Additionally, local Skills Development Fund grants are providing more young people across the region with training for a career in the skilled trades.
As students headed back to class in September, MPPs returned to Queen’s Park, and I was pleased to share information about an expanded Dedicated Offload Nurses Program to cut wait times in emergency departments and ensure those who really need access to care can get it when and where they need it.
In October, upgrades at Centennial Park in Fenwick were officially announced thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
In November, our government introduced a prudent Economic and Fiscal Overview, continuing a path towards balance, while also investing in the areas that people need the most. As part of ‘Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care’, the province introduced a strategy to expand the number of Nurse Practitioners in Ontario, leading to an increase in the number of training spots for more frontline caregivers.
And just this December, the province released details of a plan to expand beverage alcohol sales to participating convenience, grocery, and big box stores, while cutting taxes such as the punitive 6.1% tax for Niagara’s grape and wine sector.
On a personal note, my wife and I welcomed our second child in October with the birth of a cherished daughter.
As we approach a new year, I will continue to advocate for measures such as the gas tax cut, investments in local healthcare and working to cut red tape and costs for job creators to ensure we have a strong economy in Niagara and across the province.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have served the people of Pelham – and Niagara West – for another year and I look forward to continuing to work hard on behalf of all my constituents in 2024!
