What newly elected local MPPs are making a priority when they return to Queen's Park

With the Ontario election now in the rearview mirror, new and returning MPPs in Waterloo region and area are setting their sights on what they'd like to get done first when they get to Queen's Park.

Progressive Conservative government members, led by Mike Harris, echo the Ford campaign priorities. Harris, who retained his seat in Kitchener-Conestoga, says there's a lot of work to be done to make life more affordable for people again.

"And that transcends into too many different factors, whether it be at the gas pumps, whether it be at the grocery store, whether it be housing,' he said.

He also said the party is committed to two-way, all-day GO trains between Kitchener and Toronto.

"We've seen really great progress over the last few years. Obviously, the pandemic sidelined things a little bit, but we've got the trains back rolling down the tracks," he said.

"We're making some really good investments in the growth corridor, looking at ways that we can speed up that train. We're under two hours now, which is pretty exciting, adding more off peak and peak trains. And I think by 2024 or 2025, you're going to see it really come to fruition."

Rookie PC MPPs look to settle in

At his post-election celebration, new PC MPP Brian Riddell says he first wanted to celebrate the win, then he'll start looking at the first steps of his new job.

"The biggest one that I'm for is trades and building ... back the province, moving out of COVID and moving into the future and getting more high paying jobs into this area," he said.

He said he's pleased to see a new trades centre at Conestoga College.

"I think that's a great step for getting people to have better paying jobs, to work with affordability and just work with the area," he said.

Progressive Conservative Jess Dixon, who was elected in Kitchener South-Hespeler, has not responded to requests for an interview. In posts on social media, she said she celebrated her win at her parents' house.

"In the coming weeks, I'll be figuring out the mechanics of starting up the office and delivering constituency services. Once we have an office up and running I intend to meet with local media and community stakeholders," Dixon's post said.

Opposition plans

For Kitchener Centre MPP Laura Mae Lindo, that includes reintroducing a private member's bill that would address racism in education. The bill died when the election was called. 

Lindo says just because an election happened doesn't mean that issue is no longer important.

"The reality is we tabled the bill because those are issues that were impacting people not just in Kitchener Centre but across the province. And so of course we've got to do that. We've got to make sure that we address racism in the school system and I'm ready to keep that fight going," she said.

Similarly, Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife plans to reintroduce her bill that would ensure seniors are not separated from their partners when they need to go into long-term care.

"I'm hoping that there's a reset at Queen's Park and that the arrogance and hubris are not so strong and that the premier recognizes that there's gaps in our health-care system and we shouldn't have to shame them into actually taking action," Fife said.

She said she also really wants to see talk about mental health.

"The mental health piece in Ontario needs to be addressed. It impacts everyone," she said.

'Get it done'

In Wellington-Halton Hills, long-serving PC MPP Ted Arnott was back at his desk Friday morning after Thursday night's win and he penned a four-page letter to his party's leader, Doug Ford, with several local priorities.

Those includes the Morriston bypass, the redevelopment of Halton Healthcare's Georgetown hospital and the Town of Erin needing $20 million from the province for a wastewater treatment project.

"I ask for your continued assistance. Let's get it done," Arnott wrote in his letter about the Erin project.

'Work across party lines'

In Guelph, Green Party of Ontario Leader and re-elected MPP Mike Schreiner said his focus is to be a "strong voice for the province."

"Both putting forward new solutions to old problems and working across party lines where we can and also holding government and the other parties accountable, especially on issues related to addressing the climate emergency and bringing in stronger environmental protections to protect the people and places we live in Ontario," he said after voting in the election Thursday morning. 

Schreiner had two private member's bills pass in the legislature, one co-sponsored by all four parties.

"I think it just shows the way in which Greens are able to collaborate, work across party lines to put people first," he said.