Eastern Ontario guy shadows the North

SooToday.com has received the following news release from the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, regarding the appointment of new party leader Tim Hudak's shadow cabinet.

Randy Hillier (shown), an Eastern Ontario MPP, has been assigned to track the Northern Ontario resource sector.

************************* Hudak shadow cabinet to focus on jobs and economy

QUEEN'S PARK - Leader of the Official Opposition, Tim Hudak (MPP Niagara West - Glanbrook) yesterday announced the appointment of his shadow cabinet to hold the Dalton McGuinty government to account in the key areas of job creation and economic renewal.

“We need a government that gets the fundamentals right and lays the foundation for private sector job creation to bring jobs back to this province”, said Hudak. “With so many of our energetic and talented MPPs focusing on jobs and the economy, we will be able to hold this government to account.”

Hudak also named a strong team of caucus officers and additional critics.

Key among those appointments includes Christine Elliott (MPP Whitby-Oshawa) as deputy leader of the PC caucus and critic for Health and Long-Term Care.

“I am looking forward to working with Christine Elliott as deputy leader and to expanding our party together as we work to victory in 2011.”

Veteran Bob Runciman (MPP Leeds-Grenville) will be House leader for the Official Opposition.

Under Dalton McGuinty, Ontario’s taxes and government waste have hit new heights.

Meanwhile, on Dalton’s watch, Ontario lost 330,000 manufacturing jobs, became a have-not province, and has a record $18.5 billion provincial deficit.

Norm Miller (MPP Parry Sound-Muskoka) will take on an important job as the new finance critic.

Lisa MacLeod (MPP Nepean-Carleton) will focus on leading the fight against Dalton McGuinty’s new tax hike, the HST, in the revenue portfolio, as well as taking on a new role as watchdog for government accountability.

Frank Klees (MPP Newmarket-Aurora) will be Infrastructure and Transportation critic, focusing on breaking gridlock and placing a priority on fixing Ontario’s lagging infrastructure.

Peter Shurman (MPP Thornhill) moves to the Economic Development and Trade portfolio and will also keep his current critic portfolio of Francophone Affairs.

Randy Hillier (MPP Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington)[shown] is the new critic for Labour as well as Northern Development and Mines and Forestry, reflecting a focus on job creation in the resource sector and across Northern Ontario.

Several other MPPs will also focus on strengthening the economy and creating jobs in their portfolios, including those of energy, small business, agriculture, training, tourism, and colleges and universities.

“We need innovative ideas in order to get Ontario moving,” said Hudak. “Together, united and strong, we can focus on the issues that matter to families, defeat Dalton McGuinty and the Ontario Liberals in 2011, and bring prosperity to our province.”

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