Today, the Ontario PC Party announced that Graydon Smith has been acclaimed as the party’s candidate for Parry Sound–Muskoka in the next provincial general election.
Since being elected MPP, Graydon Smith has delivered significant results for the residents of Parry Sound–Muskoka. In his two and one half years as MPP, Graydon has helped secure over $500 million in new government funding (not including the $1 billion investment for new hospitals). Highlights of his achievements include $51 million for water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, $900,000 per year in operational funding for the new MRI machine, approximately $80 million in Municipal Partnership Funding, approximately $35 million in Ontario Community Infrastructure Funding, millions in new funding for local Family Health Teams, the restoration of Northlander passenger rail service and approximately $10 million in Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation funding.
“Graydon Smith is a tireless advocate for his community, and his commitment to improving the lives of families in Parry Sound–Muskoka is unparalleled,” said Doug Ford, Leader of the Ontario PC Party. “From cutting costs for families to expanding access to high-speed internet, fighting the Liberal carbon tax to make life more affordable, and investing in local health care, Graydon is delivering results. I’m proud to have him on our team as we continue building a brighter future for all Ontarians.”
Graydon Smith and the Ontario PC Party will continue to focus on creating jobs, expanding infrastructure, and reducing costs for families and businesses in Parry Sound–Muskoka.
“I am deeply grateful for the trust the people of Parry Sound–Muskoka have placed in me,” said Graydon Smith. “Over the past term, we have made substantial progress in improving local quality of life. Our government has committed unprecedented levels of health and infrastructure investment – from the new hospitals to MRI services and expanded primary care teams to over $100 million to build better community infrastructure – and I continue to do everything I can to help make our communities stronger. But the work doesn’t stop here. We need an MPP in government to shepherd these new hospitals through to completion, ensure critical infrastructure gets built and further expand access to family doctors and nurse practitioners.”
“Graydon is the only candidate in Parry Sound-Muskoka in touch with the issues affecting the average family and capable of making people’s lives better, as he has done as an elected official over the past 18 years,” said Dan Powers, President of the Parry Sound-Muskoka PC Association. “A vote for Graydon is a vote for greater affordability, lower taxes, more jobs, more doctors, more investment and a strong voice for our riding at Queen’s Park. A vote for the other parties is a vote for skyrocketing home energy costs, expensive schemes, higher taxes, big-city housing density and being relegated to the political wilderness at Queen’s Park. There’s too much at stake to relegate our communities to the fringes of the Legislature.”
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Dan Powers: You state that a “vote for the other parties is a vote for skyrocketing energy costs, expensive schemes, higher taxes, big city housing density”. Seems to me that is exactly what we have now after 6 going on too many years.
We are however, not relegated to the sidelines in Ontario politics, though we sure have been for a long time. Again, having the bejeezuz scared out of the PCs in the last election, I’m sure had a lot to do with having some tax dollars focused on Muskoka/Parry Sound.
Still would like to see a list of “I’m working ons” from our local MPP.
Acclamation again? Why not. And the Green Party scared the snot out of the PCs last time. I contend that we have reaped a bounty from that.
And please don’t try to tell me that all of what Muskoka/Parry Sound has accumulated has been from the tireless work of MPP Smith. Not saying he hasn’t been busy (we do see and hear), but most of these projects have lingered on the books for years, even through different governments. Mountainview was smelling for a lot of years. We’ve been kicking hospitals around since well before these PCS and this MPP. And the train’s been coming for a while.
A number of these projects will be coming for a while yet. Apparently not as important as short changing teachers, ‘mini cocktails’ and booze in corner stores, closing the Science Center, or funding Therm (think that’s the right name) to rebuild Ontario Place to their specs on our dime. Reading the Auditor-Generals’ report makes you realise where this government is punting our money.
Some might say that Doug and the boys are ‘getting ‘er done’. Maybe. But I still think the Greens had a hand in this latest largess. It might be educational if we could be presented with a list of pending projects that our local MPP has on the go; before the announcements and photo ops. Some projects a couple of years into the future and not chest beating after the fact. We could keep an ‘achieved and not achieved’ score sheet.
For me that would add a bit of credulity to the process.
What new hospitals, or is this like Dougie’s promise of a buck a beer campaign.
Still waiting for the high speed internet here. Doctors? hmm..seems Huntsville just lost 4. Folks still on Family Dr. waitlist for 4 years +.
Monies identified as being secured were already going to be provided to municipalities..this guy just happened to be here.
Energy costs? It is our association’s buying group that navigates a significant piece of that landscape; Mr. Smith has nothing to do with it..Our Hydro costs keep going up, but not according to the spindoctors at Muskoka PC Association.
Mr. Graydon forgets that it’s not only housing density that is the issue, it is also the size of single housing projects that are contributing to eroding the quality of life in Muskoka…the response to that is, ‘it’s a local decision”..and the circular rhetoric begins.
A vote for PC is at the cost of jobs, having affairs managed in an unfair manner that lacks transparency; e.g. Bradford Highway, greenbelt, Science Centre, Ontario Place spa, to name a few.. in affairs that are not their business, and that has eroded local level autonomy…i.e. why are the PCs picking a fight with Toronto’s bike lanes; the notwithstanding clause (if we don’t like what you say, we’re going to have our own way).
One thing for certain, the PCs are desperately hoping for the same voter apathy that gifted them the last election. Regardless of your politics, if you are of voting age; get out and vote; it’s one thing this government can not control.
Glad to hear you will be running again Graydon. You have my vote , just make sure Doug doesn’t build any traffic tunnels!