By Wayne Gates, MPP, June 23, 2022, VOL. 3 ISSUE 22
Let me begin this article by saying from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I know in this electoral cycle you were presented with very different visions for the future of Fort Erie and Ontario and the confidence you placed in our team will never be forgotten. We’re going to work every day to earn your vote.
As we look to the future and the next four years, the vision of our team doesn’t really change that much. We’ve been able to work closely with governments of every stripe to deliver for Fort Erie and we plan to continue doing just that. Eight years ago, our Racetrack was facing closure and we were able to work across party lines to prevent that. In the last four years, we passed a motion to have PSA testing covered under OHIP and now bringing that across the finish line is one of our chief goals. Simply put, we have many projects moving forward where we can work with any elected official at any level to get it done so long as it benefits Fort Erie.
Of course, we won’t be silent if we see policies that must be reversed. In this most recent election, I was disheartened to be the only candidate explicitly committed to keeping Douglas Memorial’s Urgent Care open. Our growing community of over 32,000 needs access to urgent care and I am going to make sure our Premier knows that. My team and I will continue to raise the importance of Douglas Memorial until we have a commitment that this government will keep it open and operational. I believe the case is clear that as Fort Erie grows it needs more healthcare options, not less, and we plan to make that a provincial issue.
Additionally, we’re going to continue our efforts to have Bill 124 reversed, which has frozen the wages of our front-line workers. Right now, we’re seeing massive ambulance delays because first responders are waiting for hours to offload patients. One of the major solutions for this problem is reversing the tide of nurses who are burnt out to the point where they leave the profession. We plan to once again table legislation to ensure our front-line workers feel safe, secure, and respected in the workplace so we can get our local healthcare system back on its feet.
The other issue which we refuse to abandon is that of affordability. Whether I was knocking on doors in Crystal Beach, Ridgeway, Stevensville, or the Town proper, it was clear that every single resident was being squeezed beyond their means. This was especially evident for seniors. Seniors are watching their costs go up and yet their pensions and benefits remain stagnant. I believe there are many common-sense policies available to us now to reduce the price of gas, groceries, and everyday essentials. I also believe seniors must be given the respect they deserve given that they built these communities. We will once again bring the stories of the residents of Fort Erie to the Legislature, and if need be, to the Premier’s desk, to explain why immediate relief is required and corporate gouging must end.
As you can see, we have a lot of work ahead of us but that’s no worry. I am proud to say our team is reinvigorated by your vote of confidence and we plan to continue to work as hard as we can to provide for you and your families. Every day we’ll continue to listen to your concerns and escalate them to Queen’s Park with the goal of fixing our healthcare and making life affordable again.
To everyone who took the time to call, email or write to us and share your concerns – thank you. We hear you and we plan to earn the right to be your voice again.
Thank you.
Photo left to right: Volunteers Adeline Willet, Nathan Bianchi, Landon Desmarais, Victoria Zarb and Owen Riel.
