VINELAND – Superb summer weather and the beautiful grounds of Cherry Avenue Farms provided the perfect setting for more than 400 west Niagara residents who came out to enjoy great company and delicious food at MPP Tim Hudak and MP Dean Allison’s fifth annual Cherry Avenue community barbecue in Vineland on Saturday. MP Dean Allison and MPP Tim Hudak serve up hamburgers at their annual Cherry Avenue BBQ August 2.The always well-attended annual summer event presented a wonderful opportunity for the federal and provincial representatives of Niagara West-Glanbrook to chat with their constituents on a number of topics. “I always look forward to this event every year,” Hudak said. “For me, it’s a perfect opportunity to catch up with many west Niagara families and to hear some helpful advice and very good ideas.” Both Tim and Dean thank Tom Moyer, owner of Cherry Avenue Farms, for once again providing the perfect location for a summer barbecue, and all of the volunteers who helped to work the grills and ensure this year’s event was the best one yet.

QUEEN’S PARK – Progressive Conservative members of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs called today’s review of Premier Dalton McGuinty’s controversial health tax a sham and a complete waste of time. The committee, which includes PC MPPs Tim Hudak, Toby Barrett and Ted Arnott, was to review the controversial health tax imposed by the McGuinty government in 2004 despite campaign promises to the contrary. However, despite the Committee's review, Premier McGuinty has already said that the so-called health tax is here to stay no matter what the Committee hears from Ontario taxpayers. “Dalton McGuinty broke a promise when he imposed the so-called health tax in 2004 and he’s now breaking another promise when it comes to an honest review,” Hudak said. “It’s clear Dalton McGuinty has no intention of giving Ontario families and seniors a well deserved break.” Premier McGuinty broke his signature promise from the 2003 campaign not to raise people’s taxes when he introduced the controversial health tax with his first budget as Premier in May 2004. At that time, he promised to have the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs review the usefulness of the tax after four years.

QUEEN'S PARK – Ontario Progressive Conservative Agriculture Critic Ernie Hardeman (Oxford), Finance Critic Tim Hudak (Niagara West-Glanbrook) and Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett today demanded to know when the provincial Liberals will step up with their share of money to help struggling tobacco farmers trying to get out of the tobacco industry. “Dalton McGuinty is blowing smoke at Ontario’s tobacco farmers,” said Hardeman. “Despite promising to help these farmers transition out of the tobacco industry, McGuinty has done precious little during his five years in office.” In light of the federal government announcement today that provides money towards an exit strategy for tobacco farmers, the MPPs want to know when the McGuinty Liberals will do the same. “If the McGuinty government was truly committed to an anti-tobacco strategy, then they should do more to help farmers transition out of the product,” Hudak said. “They take in over $1 billion in tobacco taxes each year. They should use some of that revenue to help get Ontario farmers out of the tobacco business.” "Now is not the time for farmers to pause – they have to put pen to paper or pick up the phone to let their MPP know that we are only half way there,” said Barrett. “These hardworking farmers are already struggling and it’s time the McGuinty Liberals step up to the plate.”

Rather than make drastic cuts to health services in Niagara, Tim Hudak, MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, has called on Health Minister David Caplan to instead examine whether the Niagara Health System (NHS) is receiving adequate health funding. In a letter to the Minister, Hudak called on Caplan to shelve a report released by the NHS last week, which proposes significant changes to the way health services are delivered in Niagara. The NHS has been ordered by Ministry of Health to eliminate running annual operating deficits (estimated to be $15 million this fiscal year). “I say relegate this report to the recycling bin and instead examine whether the current base hospital funding is appropriate for Niagara's growing senior population,” Hudak said. “Only then can the NHS best determine how to deliver services to its communities.” The NHS is Ontario’s largest multi-site hospital administrative organization that manages seven sites to support 434,000 residents across the Niagara Region’s 12 municipalities. Hudak said the current hospital funding system does not reflect their unique needs. Hudak’s letter to Minister Caplan is copied below for your information: July 18, 2008 Hon. David Caplan Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care 80 Grosvenor St, 10th Flr, Hepburn Block Toronto ON M7A 2C4 Dear Minister Caplan,

Tim Hudak presents the Grimby Pipe Band with a $10,000 Trillium Foundation grant outside the St. John's Presbyterian Church July 4GRIMSBY – Tim Hudak, MPP Niagara West-Glanbrook, presented the Grimsby Pipe Band with a $10,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant on July 4 at St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Grimsby. The Grimsby Pipe Band, which formed in 2006, has become a fixture at community events in West Niagara. It will use the Trillium money to purchase equipment and uniforms. “This grant will help to raise the profile of the band within the West Niagara communities,” Hudak said. “I look forward to seeing them perform at the many local festivals this year.”

VINELAND – Tim Hudak, MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, released his report entitled Where Do We Grow From Here: A Way Forward for Niagara’s Tender Fruit and Grape Growers locally on July 4 at the Peach Country Farm Market in Vineland. Tim Hudak presents his report on the tender fruit and grape industry at Peach Country Farm Market on July 4The report provides a detailed overview of the challenges the industry is facing, takes a look at programs implemented by the federal and other provincial governments, and makes recommendation to help revitalize Ontario's cherished tender fruit and grape industries. When the Ontario Government passed the Greenbelt Act in 2005, it effectively locked in Niagara’s tender fruit and grape lands into agriculture protection. The Province has an obligation to see that greenbelt farmers have a market for their product at a good price.

QUEEN’S PARK – Tim Hudak, MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, joined by Torrie Warner, a tender fruit and grape grower from Beamsville, held a press conference today to present Hudak’s report entitled Where Do We Grow From Here: A Way Forward for Niagara’s Tender Fruit and Grape Growers. Tim Hudak presents the report at Queen's Park with Niagara tender fruit grower Torrie WarnerThe report provides a detailed overview of the challenges the industry is facing, takes a look at programs implemented by the federal and other provincial governments, and makes recommendation to help revitalize Ontario's cherished tender fruit and grape industries. When the Ontario Government passed the Greenbelt Act in 2005, it effectively locked in Niagara’s tender fruit and grape lands into agriculture protection. The Province has an obligation to see that greenbelt farmers have a market for their product at a good price.

QUEEN’S PARK – Tim Hudak, MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, continued to call on the McGuinty government in the Legislature today to give Ontario residents a break this summer from the ever increasing cost of living in Dalton McGuinty’s Ontario. A person driving a plain old Honda Civic is going to spend $378 more this summer in higher gas prices. Families with a Jeep Grand Cherokee will pay an additional $603. Combine that with increased prices for basic foods items, increased mortgage and hydro rates, and higher taxes and new user fees, and Ontario families will find it difficult to make ends meet this summer, let alone find the disposable income to enjoy the season, Hudak said. “Ontario families are paying more to put gas in their automobiles, to fill up their grocery carts and to power their homes,” Hudak said. “They are making significant sacrifices in this summer of increasing costs.” Hudak called on the Minister of Government and Consumer Services to adopt the solid and thoughtful plan put forward by John Tory and the Ontario PC caucus to eliminate the provincial sales taxes on accommodations and attractions in Ontario this summer so working families can have some quality time together. See hansard transcript of Tim Hudak's question in the House: Gasoline Prices

QUEEN’S PARK – Tim Hudak, MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, vowed yesterday to continue to fight for the fair treatment of Ontario families who choose to have a spouse stay at home or work part time, despite the opposition of Premier Dalton McGuinty. Tim Hudak speaks to his Private Member's Bill - the Fairness for Families Act - in the Legislature June 12Hudak’s Private Member’s Bill, the Fairness for Families Act, was brought forward for second reading yesterday in the Legislature. The Bill had support of the PC Caucus and members of the NDP and Liberal parties, but enough Liberal MPPs were whipped to vote against the Bill to defeat it. In doing so, the McGuinty Liberals refused to provide tax relief to hard working Ontario families who are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet in Dalton McGuinty’s Ontario. “If passed, the Fairness for Families Act would have eliminated the provincial tax penalty imposed on families who choose to have one spouse stay at home or work part time,” Hudak said. “It would have also helped formerly dual-income families who have been impacted by the loss of 200,000 well paying manufacturing jobs through difficult times by lowering their tax burden.”

QUEEN’S PARK – Tim Hudak, MPP Niagara West-Glanbrook, congratulated his many constituents today who helped to save the tradition of the Lord’s Prayer in the Ontario Legislature by signing his petition. Today in the Legislature, members of all parties voted against Premier McGuinty and supported the PC position to keep the Lord's Prayer and give the Speaker an opportunity to follow it with another prayer or a call for a moment of silent reflection. “Today was a victory for all of those who support the customs and traditions that make Ontario a desirable destination to live and raise a family by people around the world,” Hudak said. “I strongly supported the preservation of the Lord’s Prayer and was happy to carry forward the concerns of my constituents who felt strongly about it too.” Premier McGuinty announced plans in February to abolish the tradition of having the Speaker of the House recite the Lord’s Prayer at the beginning of daily proceedings in the Ontario Legislature – a custom that has stood since the 19th century.