I was pleased to join the Hon. Rona Ambrose, Leader of the Official Opposition and Interim Leader of the Conservative Party, for the announcement of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet. With the announcement, I was named critic for Regional Development for Northern Ontario.
I was ready to receive the call from Ms. Ambrose asking if I would serve in the Shadow Cabinet for the Official Opposition as a designated critic.
As the Critic for FedNor in the 37th Parliament, I was recognized for the work I did previously in that role. Experience counts. Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke shares many of the same issues with our friends in Northern Ontario. In the last Parliament, I was pleased to receive letters of support from Northern Ontario municipalities for my Private Member’s legislation to protect jobs in the working forest.
The Nipissing section of our Riding comes under the mandate of FEDNor. When I was first elected, as an effective critic in Opposition, I brought programing and funding. Until I advocated on behalf of my Nipissing constituents, they had been ignored and neglected. With the Trudeau government promising to run successive deficits, in the past rural communities have been the first to suffer. I promise to fight hard on behalf of my constituents and the neglected people of Northern Ontario.
“I believe the team we have assembled will be the strongest Official Opposition this country has ever seen,” said Ms. Ambrose. “I am proud to lead this team of talented and respected individuals from across Canada. Together, we will ask the Government the tough questions and hold them to account.”
Over 5.6 million Canadians voted for the Conservative Party on October 19, including over 26,000 voters in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, leading to one of the strongest oppositions to a majority government in Canadian history. The Conservatives will form a strong opposition and ensure hard-working Canadians and their families are protected and the country’s finances kept in check.
I look forward to my new role and being an effective member of such a dynamic team.