In both the 2004 and 2006 election campaigns, I made a commitment to the voters of Stormont-Dundas and South Glengarry that if elected I would work tirelessly to improve the economic outlook of our community. I felt that the previous government had overlooked our area and we had not received our fair share of the economic growth our country had enjoyed over the past number of years.

To say that our community has faced challenges in the past decade would be an understatement. The closing of Domtar and other manufacturers have greatly affected our local economy. However, I feel strongly that the worst is behind us.

The many advantages our riding has are undeniable. We have a highly motivated, skilled workforce, ready and eager to take on high paying jobs that utilize these skills. One third of our population is bilingual. We live in a community that is affordable, has a rich cultural history and is virtually crime free. Environmental and traffic problems are nonexistent. Our riding is the perfect place to live, work, raise a family and invest in.

I have worked hard at being an advocate within the Federal Government. I believe that our region is the most attractive area in the country for the Public and Private sectors to do business in. That is why I have worked hard at attracting public and private investment.
Since being elected in 2004 I have been your voice in Ottawa, I have represented your concerns in the legislature, but more than that, I have worked to represent this community to the entire country.

I’m proud to report that in the past several months we have seen several positive developments within our community. This summer I had the pleasure of announcing the creation of an Employment Insurance (EI) centre of specialization in Cornwall, which will create 41 high paying quality jobs and will contribute an additional $2 to 3 million dollars to the local economy each year.

Most recently, on November 5th 2007, I secured an agreement with the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada and the Minister of Public Safety for the design, construction, financing and property management of a new RCMP Eastern Ontario Headquarters building in Cornwall worth an estimated value of $15 million. The contract was awarded to the joint venture of Westeinde Group (Ottawa) and Chenier Development Corp., headquartered in Cornwall. To the greatest extent possible all supplies and materials will be purchased locally.

Things are beginning to look better and better for our community. While there is still more that needs to be done, slowly but surely, together, we are making progress and getting things done.