In a recent speech to the Canadian Club in Toronto, Premier Dalton McGuinty made it clear our government’s priority is to eliminate the deficit.

This will require a multi-year plan and an unwavering commitment. Our government will protect health care and education, and will not raise taxes.
Instead, we will find ways, through reform, to deliver government services more efficiently. We will position Ontario to create more jobs, and have an even stronger economy and better public services.

With that said, 2012 will be an important year for Ontario, and we want everyone’s input. Last week I participated in a live tele-town hall with Finance Minister Dwight Duncan. More than 38,000 people from across the Golden Horseshoe area took part in the discussion.

As Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
Together, we will build a bright future for our children.
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As Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs one of my biggest thrills is simply driving down a farm lane and introducing myself. Farm families are very welcoming. I enjoy touring farming operations and seeing first-hand why Ontario is known for producing the best tasting, most nutritious and safest foods.

Locally, I had the opportunity to tour Loewith Dairy Farm in December, as well as Beverly Greenhouse and Terra Greenhouse operations. Thanks to Ben Loewith, Jan Vander Hout and Andrew Pepetone for the hospitality.

I also attended annual general meetings for the Hamilton-Wentworth Federation of Agriculture and the local beef producers.

Since being appointed minister in October, I have met with more than 60 agriculture stakeholder groups and several small-town mayors.
Something I learned at these meetings is there is a common drive to increase production, consumption and export of Ontario agricultural products and to focus on research and innovation that will help grow our agricultural economy and create more jobs.

I was also pleased to hear directly from constituents, either at my New Year’s Levee in Ancaster, as well as Mayor Bob Bratina’s levee and Councillor Lloyd Ferguson’s levee. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.

I welcome further input and ideas on how we can best move forward with our goals to reduce the deficit, while growing our economy and protecting jobs. If you would like to reach me, please don’t hesitate to contact my constituency office either in person at 299 Dundas St. E., Waterdown, by phone, 905-690-6552 or by email at tmcmeekin.mpp@liberal.ola.org.
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I would like to congratulate Judy Langsner (Ancaster High) and Rick Hart (Highland) for receiving top honours as two of Canada’s Outstanding Principals for 2012.

On the sports scene, Michael Ciccarelli, won a gold medal in snowboard slopestyle at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Austria in January, and Waterdown sprinter Christian Brennan was one of three finalists for the Bill Sturrup Golden Horseshoe Athlete of the Year award, make us so proud.

Lastly, happy 100th birthday to Vera Tomlinson, who resides at Amica in Dundas.