RUNCIMAN TO SEEK RE-ELECTION
BROCKVILLE _ Bob Runciman, Leeds-Grenville
MPP and Ontario’s Minister of Public Safety
and Security, today announced that he will be
a candidate for re-election in the upcoming
provincial election.
Runciman, a 22-year veteran of the legislature
has served in six cabinet portfolios under three
premiers, but is perhaps best known for his
service as Solicitor General when he oversaw
many public safety initiatives including the
introduction of Ontario’s first boot camp
for young offenders, adding 1000 new police
officers and a complete revamping of the Ontario
Parole Board.
“ I’m very proud of the accomplishments
of our government over the past eight years
and confident that Ernie Eves can lead our party
to a third consecutive majority government”
said Runciman.
“ I don’t want to go back to the
tax and spend policies of the previous two governments,”
Runciman continued. “The people of Ontario
had to make sacrifices in our early years while
we worked to put the province’s finances
back in order.
“ We have recorded four consecutive balanced
budgets and we are starting to make major increases
to our investments in health care, education
and the environment,” he said. “Our
tax cuts put money back into the pockets of
our citizens allowing them to make the financial
decisions that have spurred the economic growth
that we have enjoyed.
“ We see what is happening to our tax
dollars with the Liberal government in Ottawa,”
Runciman noted. “ We can’t afford
another Liberal government in Ontario.”
Runciman sees gun crime and gun smuggling,
the development of a North American Security
perimeter and continued restructuring of the
province’s corrections system as three
top priorities for his ministry in the coming
year.
He said that although he is enjoying the challenges
of his new responsibilities as Minister of Public
Safety and Security, his primary reason for
seeking re-election is his ability as an experienced
MPP to get things done for Leeds-Grenville.
“ We’ve had some economic setbacks,
especially along the St. Lawrence corridor,
over the past two or three years,” said
Runciman. “And with my experience I am
probably in the best position of my career to
provide help.”
During his last term, Runciman has played a
role in bringing jobs to Leeds-Grenville --
at least 1,600 already with more to come as
the result of recent announcements. His government
brought the 1000 Islands Charity Casino to Gananoque,
helped convince NuComm International to locate
a major call centre in Brockville, and provided
important financing of over $200 million for
projects such as the creation of the St. Lawrence
Corrections and Treatment Centre, expansion
and reconstruction of the Brockville Courthouse,
the Brockville General Hospital and the Maple
View Lodge in Athens.
Still to come is the reconstruction of the
St. Vincent de Paul Hospital, St. Lawrence Lodge,
and a recreational complex in Kemptville. Still
in the approval process are sewage plant reconstruction
in Prescott, new emergency and diagnostic facilities
at the Kemptville Hospital, and water treatment
plants in a number of communities.
School revitalization projects will be a major
focus in Leeds-Grenville in the next couple
of years.
Runciman is also working to have Leeds-Grenville
designated as a provincial pilot tax incentive
zone, a concept he originally proposed when
he was Economic Development Minister.
“Yes Leeds-Grenville has faced some challenges,
but we have also had some major successes,”
said Runciman. “And we have a lot of work
yet to do.”
He believes the broadband initiative announced
recently with $2.8 million of provincial funding
will be an important catalyst for economic development
throughout Leeds-Grenville.
Runciman is committed to his riding and to
his province and he believes both will prosper
under the continued leadership of the Eves government.
“ My wife Jeannette is very supportive
of this decision,” said Runciman. “She
understands that I believe there is still work
for me to do, for Leeds-Grenville and for the
province.”
Runciman’s campaign team of the last
three elections led by JoAnne Best is delighted
he is seeking the nomination again and have
committed themselves to helping his bid to return
to Queen’s Park as the MPP for Leeds-Grenville.
