QUEEN’S PARK – Tim Hudak, MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, delivered an official statement in the Legislature today on the delegation of local leaders in government, education and the private sector at Queen’s Park for Niagara Week.

MPP Tim Hudak welcomed the delegates from Niagara to Queen's Park for Niagara Week“I want to recognize the hard work of Niagara regional chair, Peter Partington, and the many mayors, councillors and Niagara business and academic leaders who are joining us here today,” Hudak said. “They are meeting with MPPs of all parties as well as various ministers to draw attention to some very important priorities they have identified in the Niagara region.”

This week marks the 4th annual Niagara Week at Queen’s Park – which provides an opportunity for local delegates to meet with MPPs of all parties and ministers to discuss how the provincial government can assist in addressing important Niagara priorities.

Among the priorities identified during this year’s Niagara Week visit included:

• Expansion of GO Transit service to Niagara, completion of the Highway 406 extension, and acceleration of the Mid-Pen Corridor project;
• Much needed investment for tender fruit farmers and Greenbelt communities, where more than 3,700 acres have been affected by recent plant closures like CanGro and Cadbury Schweppes;
• Investments to improve ambulance response times, which have recently increased by 40%;
• And the impact of newly designated provincially significant wetlands on investment and growth from Niagara Falls to Fort Erie.

MPP Hudak’s statement, in its entirety, is copied below for your information.

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO
Tuesday, April 22, 2008

MEMBER’S STATEMENTS: NIAGARA WEEK

Mr. Tim Hudak: I am pleased to rise in the House to call members’ attention to the fact that it’s the fourth annual Niagara Week at Queen’s Park this week.

I want to recognize the hard work of Niagara regional chair, Peter Partington, and the many mayors, councillors and Niagara business and academic leaders who are joining us here today.

They are meeting with MPPs of all parties as well as various ministers to draw attention to some very important priorities they have identified in the Niagara region, including expansion of GO Transit service to Niagara, the completion of the Highway 406 extension to East Main Street in Welland, and the needed acceleration of the mid-peninsula corridor project. Speaking on behalf of west Niagara, investment is much-needed for tender fruit farmers and greenbelt communities, where more than 3,700 acres have been affected by recent plant closures, like CanGro and Cadbury Schweppes.

Furthermore, the mayors and councillors will press for investments to improve ambulance response times, which, because of off-loading delays, have increased in Niagara, unfortunately by 40%. The impact of newly-designated provincially significant wetlands on investment and growth, particularly the Niagara Falls to Fort Erie corridor. Obviously, tourism is always important and there is great opportunity presented by the War of 1812 bicentennial.

I invite members to make sure they stop by the Niagara reception in rooms 228-230 between 4:30 and 7:00 pm this evening.