The last time I blogged for my website, it was my campaign website and a campaign blog. Welcome to my new world?and yours! You?ve logged into a new and ongoing website that we have created to be even more interactive than the one we used during the election campaign.
Why? Because you elected me to represent you and, while there are many ways to contact me, this is an incredibly useful one because you can post concerns and others who share them can add to the discussion. My promise is to follow through as I have from the day I was nominated. In other words, call me or email me or post an issue here and you?ll always get a response.
The election, somewhat obviously now, turned out to be less than we?d hoped for as a party and more than we?d expected in the riding. Yes, I was elected but, no, I did not expect to be the sole MPP to represent the PC Party for the entire 416 and the immediate ?905 ring?. You should all know that this in no way changes the fact that Thornhill and the concerns of all constituents are my first concerns. People suggest that in opposition, MPPs cannot do as much as those who belong to the governing party. Not necessarily so. There are many ways to be effective.
In the days to come, our Leader John Tory will give me responsibility to act as an opposition critic for a particular portfolio?that means I?ve got to know as much as the Liberal Cabinet Minister on the topic of crucial concern to both of us?and I shall. I can tell you that I am optimistic my duties will be primary to the concerns I discovered in visiting at approximately 20,000 doors between July and October. We have issues in Thornhill and I?ve been spending virtually every day at our Yonge Street Constituency Office and in the riding generally, meeting with both community leaders and ordinary citizens on subjects that they know a lot about or which simply matter to them. Every day is a learning experience ? and every future day will be too. We need an approach that is timely and effective to end gridlock and access and to enhance public transit. We need improvements in health care delivery and in how we deal with our older citizens (and we?re all getting older!).
I was sworn in on Monday, November 5th and so we?re in business. I have a new and excellent staff to assist in getting ?to-do? to ?done?. Don?t be hesitant to contact the Constituency Office which is staffed all day every weekday. And, by all means, provide your input. My campaign rhetoric suggested I?d work with everyone and anyone in the riding to move things forward. As your MPP, that promise will never be forgotten.