The New Year is traditionally a time for us to look back and be thankful for the blessings that that have come our way.

As 2009 draws to an end, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to the Niagara and Hamilton communities for all of your support as your Member of Provincial Parliament.

This has certainly been a memorable year for me. This summer, I became leader of the Ontario PC Party and the Leader of Ontario’s Official Opposition. It was humbling to see so many people from the local community volunteer to lend a hand to our campaign and I remain grateful to everyone who helped out.

Since I became Leader, I have been amazed by the number of people who wrote cards, letters and e-mails to my office, whether they were sending words of encouragement, asking serious questions about government policy, or even offering some constructive advice. This kind of feedback is fundamental to our democracy and I want to thank everyone who has participated.

Today Ontario taxpayers know they have a champion in the Ontario PC Caucus that is providing a real voice for seniors, middle class families and small businesses.

It has also been an eventful year here in Niagara West-Glanbrook.

In West Niagara, we continue to see a groundswell of support to get the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital project off the ground, and local families can be proud of their successful efforts to secure funding for the West Niagara YMCA.

And, of course, the Town of Lincoln made it all the way into the Top 10 in Canada in the CBC competition to become the next Hockeyville. I’m pleased to report that Lincoln’s hockey community, who continued their campaign to raise funds for Lincoln Centennial Arena throughout the year, are back in the competition and – this time – are planning to win it all. They will have tough competition as West Lincoln Arena has also joined the rink race.

In Stoney Creek, we saw a continued groundswell of support to protect the Eramosa Karst from development. Hamilton City council approved its official plan this summer that designated the vital feeder lands as a natural heritage site.
The Junior B Stoney Creek Warriors won their first ever Golden Horseshoe Championship and made it all the way to the Ontario finals – the Sutherland Cup.

Just as hockey fever started to break in Stoney Creek, our community got behind Blackberry developer Jim Balsillie’s bid to bring an NHL team to Hamilton.

In Glanbrook, we saw the formation of the Glanbrook Chamber of Commerce. In its inaugural year, the Glanbrook Chamber has got off to a terrific start raising the profile of local businesses and integrating them into the Hamilton business community. It also spearheaded many successful initiatives like the Binbrook Farmers’ Market and the recent first annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

This year also saw one of the best attended and most successful Binbrook Fall Fairs in recent memory. We were successful in bringing health card renewal clinics to town for local residents. And the Hamilton area gained not one, but two provincial party leaders.

And in Pelham, we saw a groundswell of support to protect the Fonthill Kame-Delta from development. Due to its enormous popularity and community support, more bricks continued to be laid at Pelham Veterans Park even after its official dedication. And we were successful in securing $850,000 in infrastructure funding for the Town of Pelham to revitalize its downtown core.

We have much to look forward to in the year ahead. While our community and our province still faces many challenges, I have said many times that I believe Ontario’s best days lie ahead. And, as we move into 2010, I still believe that to be true.

In closing, I want to wish you and your family a very Happy New Year. I look forward to staying in touch with you in the year ahead.