Etobicoke's provincial politicians are anxiously awaiting the New Year in anticipation of the many projects and initiatives they have planned to keep them busy through 2011.
For Shafiq Qaadri, 2011 will bring with it big tax savings and rebates for the residents of Etobicoke North. Rebates from the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) are already in some mailboxes, with more on the way, he said. And while energy costs are expected to rise an estimated 3.5 per annually for the foreseeable future, Qaadri said the provincial government is set to start reducing energy bills by 10 per cent in January, with rebate cheques expected in May."Especially with regard to the economic downturn, the world is a different place today - we're looking at a dollar Canadian is almost trading at par, and that impacts a lot of businesses in Etobicoke North, which effects employment," he said. "So, things like the HST rebate and the 10 per cent energy reduction - real pocketbook issues - will hopefully help my constituents cope and rise above these challenges over time."For his younger constituents, Qaadri said the province will continue working hard to increase the opportunities available to the next generation through the Children's Activity Tax Credit and the full-day kindergarten program."As a physician and as a parent, I know the value of engaging kids and their minds as early as possible," he said.Representing the riding with Canada's largest proportion of senior citizens, Etobicoke Centre MPP Donna Cansfield plans to devote much of the new year to seniors issues - including continuing to pursue Bill 52, an Act to deal with Alzheimer's and dementia-related diseases. The bill, she said, speaks to prevention and intervention, as well as support and research, and is becoming more and more important as the baby boomer generation ages."January 1 marks another 10,000 people who have turned 65 - statistically, one in three baby boomers will get Alzheimer's or dementia," she said of the importance of the bill, which she co-sponsored with PC MPP Christine Elliott and NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo. "Intervention and prevention are critical for me - what can we do to get people knowledgeable about it, how do we get them engaged in how to make a difference themselves?"Cansfield also plans to continue working closely with Dorothy Ley Hospice and the Seniors Advisory Group she meets with monthly, both experiences that will likely help shape her perspective as she plans to call on a ministry for seniors. Pointing out that there are now more people over the age of 65 in the province than there are children under the age of five, Cansfield said there is now more than ever a need for a "strategic approach" to seniors as opposed to "a little bit here and a little bit there.""The idea is that we need to have a more concerted effort around seniors' issues - a secretariat doesn't cut it for me, because it's broader than that," she said. "We have issues of senior abuse, we have issues of retirement, pension issues, and huge waiting lists of 100 to 500 at the 10 long-term care homes and about two or three of the residential buildings in my riding alone...and then there's also the obvious issue of health."Down in Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Laurel Broten said she sees the new year as an opportunity to build on the work she's been privileged to do going into her eighth year."A big focus of the time and attention I spend in the community is on how we can improve quality of life for families. That means we have worked hard over the years to revitalize the community - through revitalization of the lakeshore and investments in Humber College, and the funding we secured for recreation and the number of recreational projects right across the riding," she said. "Each one of those things is tied to making sure this community really supports families young and old, to get exercise, to get out in the community, and to purchase and shop locally, because all of that improves our quality of life."Broten said she always strives to stay very connected to her community and is especially cognizant of the fact that families far and wide are still emerging from some "challenging times.""There is no doubt that families have been through some real strain, so it's incumbent on us in government to do more and continue to push and strive to ensure that we're getting good value for the dollars we invest in public services, and at the same time, that we always seek to improve," she said. "I really want to keep building on what we've been doing - the work I've been privileged enough to be asked to do on behalf of the community isn't done. We've accomplished a lot, but there is much more to do and I'm looking forward to the new year to keep my sleeves rolled up and keep doing it."