As your Member of Parliament I enjoy the privilege of working both in Ottawa, the heartbeat of our country, and here in Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry where I can be amongst my constituents, friends, family and neighbours. Regardless of my location I am always confident that our New Government is working hard to deliver strong leadership. On August 15th, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a new Ministry that will keep the Government moving forward; delivering the change that Canadians voted for on January 23rd 2006.

The new Ministry includes the following appointments. National Defence – the Hon. Peter MacKay, Foreign Affairs – the Hon. Maxime Bernier, Industry – the Hon. Jim Prentice, Indian Affairs – the Hon. Chuck Strahl, Agriculture – the Hon. Gerry Ritz, National Revenue – the Hon. Gordon O’Connor, Heritage – the Hon. Josée Verner, International Cooperation – the Hon. Bev Oda and Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism – the Hon. Diane Ablonczy

“We did what we said we were going to do and now it’s time to keep moving forward,” said the Prime Minister. “To seize the opportunities that lie before us; and rise to the challenges that confront us.”

This new ministry will maintain continuity on key files, allow strong ministers to vary their experience and position the right people in the right places to execute the next part of the government’s agenda. In particular, this will provide continued strong leadership on the economy, and defence and foreign affairs. It will continue to provide the same strong and decisive leadership that Canadians have come to expect from Canada’s New Government.

As our record over the past eighteen months demonstrates, we have a proven capacity to get things done for all of Canada’s families.

The new Ministry will continue to assert and defend Canada’s sovereignty, keep the economy strong and taxes low, vigorously tackle crime, preserve and protect the environment; and strengthen the Federation at home and abroad.

Canada’s New Government has spent the past 18 months doing what it said it would do - clean up government, strengthen national unity, put families at the heart of national decision-making, re-build the military; and replace environmental talk with environmental action.

This new Ministry presents Canadians with a clear choice; a choice between strong leadership that is moving Canada forward or a weak opposition that would set families and taxpayers back. In our hearts we know that a tremendous amount of consideration has gone into these appointments. This new Ministry will help Canada’s New Government move forward and continue to build a stronger, safer, better Canada – for all of us here in Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry.