WHITBY -- Christine Elliott, member of provincial parliament for Whitby-Oshawa, has had a busy year between election campaigning and settling into her position as a member of the opposition. She sat down to talk with us about how she thought last year went and what her goals are for the year to come.
    
How do you think this year went?

Well, this year was very challenging because of course we had a provincial election and that was something that took up the latter part of the year anyway because of the campaign period. So it was very busy, it was very challenging and though it didn’t end up for my party in the way we hoped it would because we didn’t win government it was still a very challenging year. At the end of it I felt very honoured to return as the member for Whitby-Oshawa. I think I know what the priorities are.

So what is your first priority for next year?

I think two issues really stood out in terms of what people were speaking to us about at the door. The first one was the issue of health care, in terms of getting a new hospital for Whitby; that was a big issue. Working with the task force that has been charged with the responsibility of putting a case together for the Ministry of Health for a new hospital here is a priority. I am not part of the task force, but I want to work with them and do whatever I can to support the work that they’re doing. There is also the issue just generally of funding for health-care services here in Durham Region and with the work that’s been done by the GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance, we have some good statistics now to show that we are really underfunded here in Durham region across the board for all the health care services that support hospital care. Things like long-term care, beds, we need more of those and more money put into home care so more people can stay in their homes longer and services for children of course.

What is the biggest challenge facing you as a member of the opposition?

Well I suppose when you are member of the opposition it’s a little frustrating sometimes because the things that you think are important, that you try to bring forward aren’t necessarily the same priorities the government has. So you have to figure out the things you can get done and be most effective at and still advocate for the issues that are most important to your constituents.

What are you looking the most forward to for next year?

Well not having to run in an election for one (laughs). I think that things will probably settle down now that the provincial members have been elected for another four-year period. So I am looking forward to having an opportunity to work on some private member’s bills about some issues that I am really interested in and having time to do the research and speak to people about issues locally that are most important to them.

You attended all of  Whitby’s Town hall meetings this year. How do you feel they went?

I thought they were very effective because it is good to have representatives from all four levels of government: Mr. Anderson (Roger Anderson, regional chairman for Durham Region) was there, the mayor (Pat Perkins) and Jim (Flaherty, member of parliament) when he was able to be there and me. I think it’s good as far as the citizens that attend. I hope they feel that you can’t pass the buck at those events, that there is always someone there that has responsibility for those areas. So I think it’s good that you can get an answer when you attend those meetings and I think they are very worthwhile.

You have been very involved in the Abilities Centre project. What is the direction that is looking to for next year?

Well, we are hoping to actually commence construction next year, we are looking a mid-to-late-summer/early fall, we haven’t yet done the final planning for that. But we are working on the final architect’s plans, we’ve had some very good meetings with the Town of Whitby reps and we’re hoping to have our capital campaign completed in time for the shovel to go into the ground. The opening will be some time in late 2009; it takes a year and a bit to build a facility like this. So, we’re really looking forward to it and that is something I am hoping to have some more time to work on as well because I am a member of the board of directors there as a volunteer and I think it’s going to be wonderful. And of course we have the Special Olympics coming here at the end of May as well. I want to help out with that as much as I can too. So there is a lot going on for 2008 and I am really looking forward to it.

What do you think the biggest challenge for 2008 is going to be?

Well I think that there are different challenges; one will be certainly advocating for the hospital, that will be a local challenge. Another challenge we face here in Durham Region that many other parts of the province face is the loss of manufacturing jobs and so I think that we want to encourage whatever we can do as a community to support people who may lose jobs. And that’s across the province, it’s not just here. I think we have a good number of volunteer and non-profit agencies that are set up to help and whatever we as elected members can do to help, we want to do that. I think that over time the relationship with the university is going to help with the economic success of this region. And we want to work to bring in high-quality, high-paying jobs to this region so people will be able to live and work in the same community.

Do you have a new year’s resolution?

I should have many. But realistically I’d like to spend more time with my family and hopefully do some more exercising.