KENORA – Political – Sarah Campbell MPP – On February 19th MPPs from across the province will return to Queen’s Park for the new legislative session.
Sarah Campbell MPP – I will continue to fight cuts
Like most, I am looking forward to the return and the opportunity to raise a number of important issues on your behalf. Over the past few months I have spent my time traveling across the riding attending public events, hosting open houses, and holding private meetings with many of you to discuss your priorities and expectations for the Ontario Government.
As a result of these discussions I have identified many issues that need to be addressed and I want to take this time to outline some of the issues I plan to bring forward during the upcoming legislative session.
They include pushing for government support for economic development opportunities in our region, including – but not limited to – the mining, forestry and tourism sectors; raising your concerns with the present standards for winter highway maintenance; and fighting for equitable access to healthcare across the North.
[sws_pullquote_right] I will continue to fight for a greater understanding of the unique challenges Northerners face [/sws_pullquote_right]
I will continue to fight cuts to Service Ontario Centres to ensure that we in the north have fair and equal access to government programs and services, as well as cuts to vital programs offered by the Ministry of Natural Resources. In the same regard, I will continue to fight for a greater understanding of the unique challenges Northerners face by pushing for the establishment of an all-party Northern Legislative Committee, which will be able to review and propose amendments to legislation that will impact the North.
Another concern that carries over from the previous session is the proposed closure of the Experimental Lakes Area between Vermilion Bay and Kenora by the Federal Government. After I wrote letters and raised this issue in the last session, I received assurances from the Minister of the Environment that the Province would stand up and fight to keep this invaluable research site open. But since then, the Liberal Government has done little, short of writing a letter, to prevent this closure. The written agreement with the Federal Government gives the Province a legitimate role in preventing the closure of the site without the Government of Canada first restoring it to pristine condition. Not only has this restoration not happened but it will be far more expensive for the Federal Government to rehabilitate and then close the site, than it would be if it were to continue to run the top-notch research station. It is time for the province to step up and I will continue to keep up the pressure to ensure that it does.
While these are not my only priorities for the upcoming session, they are some of the more commonly raised concerns that I hear across the riding. I would like to thank you for providing input over the past few months. I look forward to continuing to receive your feedback and priorities so that I can best represent you in Queen’s Park.
Sarah Campbell MPP
Kenora-Rainy River
