MPP Jones makes her first speech in legislature

Sylvia Jones is now a definite, full-fledged MPP, with one speech from her seat in the legislature at Queen's Park to her credit.

She made the address last Monday, as part of MPPs' responses to the speech from the throne.

In her remarks, Jones pledged her commitment to her constituents, as she pointed out they are the ones who ultimately have to live with the decisions made at Queen's Park.

"As I begin my new career here and I listen to debates and review legislation that is brought forward by ministers and private members, I've made a commitment to the people of Dufferin - Caledon to review everything with the lens of, 'Is it good for Dufferin - Caledon?'" she stated. "Unfortunately, political promises seem to mean less and less these days. Nonetheless, it is a commitment I've made to the people of Dufferin - Caledon and I intend to keep it."

Jones opened her remarks with some biographical material, recounting how she grew up on a family farm in north simcoe; one of seven children.

"I suppose you could say it was during the Jones family dinners and negotiating use of the family car that I first practised my debating skills," she quipped. "Hopefully, those skills will serve me well in the coming years on the floor of this legislature."

She also stated that the Caledon and Dufferin area has been her home for more than 20 years.

"Many of you will know it for its rolling farmland and beautiful ski and trail systems like the Bruce Trail, but if you really want to know Dufferin - Caledon, you must know the people," Jones declared. "We have an incredible cross-section of families who have been in the community for generations, to newcomers who have found a jewel and work hard to protect it."

Jones said she learned numerous political lessons from serving as executive assistant to the last three local MPPs. She said David Tilson, now the federal member for this area, "was a great teacher on the importance of working for your constituency."

Former premier Ernie Eves, she said, will be "fondly remembered" for moving the Bolton and Orangeville bypasses forward. "Bolton's bypass will assist our communities to move goods and services through the GTA more efficiently," she observed.

Most recently, she served under party leader john Tory, and was there while local farmers taught him much about rural Ontario.

"I would never wish to suggest that the work done in this chamber is unimportant, but without the anchor of our ridings telling us what is important and what issues need to be dealt with by our governments, we would be poorly prepared to act appropriately," Jones told the legislature. "We risk becoming insulated from what is really important if we do not make the effort to connect and learn from people in our ridings."

She also spoke positively about efforts to make the legislature more"family friendly."

"Sitting Fridays, taking us away from the important work that occurs in our ridings, will not improve debate in this chamber," she remarked. "On the contrary, it may insulate us from the very people we need to hear from and listen to."

Jones addressed a couple of specific issues, including Headwaters Health Care Centre, pointing out it's funded at one of the lowest service levels for community hospitals in the province, but it's serving one of the fastest growing communities.

"This funding shortfall translates into longer wait lines in the emergency department and more individuals leaving our community to seek care for themselves and their family," she commented, adding the throne speech set an objective to help people get health care closer to home. She argued that without the proper funding support, the opposite will happen.

As well, she pointed out many families in her riding don't have family doctors.

Jones also commented that Dufferin - Caledon is looking for relief when it comes to transportation infrastructure. While it would be nice to see commuters have options beyond their cars, the reality in rural areas is roads and bridges are often the only options.

"Perhaps if the government was willing to borrow an idea from our PC platform to spend Ontario's gas and fuel taxes on what they were intended for-our transportation infrastructurewe could stop the fingerpointing and get on with the job of fixing the problem," she said. "The solution is not to announce last-minute, end-of-year surplus bonuses. Our municipal partners deserve more consideration than a promise that 'if we have a surplus and if you apply on time, then you can try and grab some of the leftovers.'"

"We must do a better job of listening and learning from our constituents," Jones concluded. "Let's not limit ourselves to one ideological stand or become so narrow minded in our deliberations that we forget who we are here to serve."