There really is no place like home

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a nice holiday season and was able to spend some time with loved ones. I had a great time in the riding over the break.
Ottawa is a nice place, but there really is no place like home. This became obvious as I attended a host of local events and put in a few volunteer hours over the break. My first event in the riding was a trip to the Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program in Stratton. Some of you may know that I used to be a teacher, so it was nice to get back in the classroom and talk to some students about the life of a Member of Parliament and the various challenges and opportunities that come with holding the position. Another nice pre-Christmas experience was manning the kettles for the Salvation Army in Thunder Bay and Fort Frances. It was great to see such generosity and to know that someone in need was to going to be helped by the kindness of strangers. I also attended two amazing Pow-wows in Stanjikoming and Couchiching, and was impressed at how they brought so many people together. Finally, and to end the holiday festivities right, I and about 58 friends decided to take part in the Voyageur Lions Club Polar Plunge on New Year’s Day. The water in Rainy Lake was a little chilly but our spirits were high, and in the end we raised about $14,000 for youth and community events. Needless to say, this was one holiday break that I will never forget.
Following the break, I got back to work and organized a series of eight town-hall meetings to discuss the coming federal budget. The meetings were well attended for the most part and helped me to better understand what you see as the needs of the riding. Some of the main issues you raised at these meetings included the need to upgrade many sewers and roads, to ensure better access to a variety of health services in our rural and remote communities, and provide better access to Employment Insurance and other education, training, and assistance programs. The ideas that have come out of these meetings have been put together in a package and sent to New Democrat Leader Jack Layton and the caucus Finance Critic Thomas Mulcair who will be meeting this week with the Finance Minister to discuss the contents of his budget and what the people of our ridings would like to see in it. More information about these consultations will be sent out to each household later in the month.
Thanks again to all who attended the consultations and I’ll keep you informed and up to date on what happens in the run up to the presentation to the budget on January 27th.