RESPECT FOR RURAL

ERIC HOSKINS

WWW.ERICFORLEADER.CA ABOUT ERIC

Dr. was first elected as the MPP for the riding of St. Paul’s in 2009. He served most recently as Ontario’s Minister of Children and Youth Services. He previously served as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Eric is a renowned humanitarian, family doctor, husband and father – and a proud Ontarian with a long and dedicated record of public service.

The youngest of five children, Eric was born and raised in the small town of Simcoe in rural southwestern Ontario near the shores of Lake Erie.

After finishing his medical studies at McMaster University, and subsequently at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, Eric spent nearly a decade as a doctor and humanitarian in war-torn regions in Africa and around the world. Eric later served as the senior advisor to then Foreign Minister on such issues as human rights, child soldiers, peacekeeping and the landmines ban. Eric Hoskins with his wife, Dr. , and their seven-year Together with his wife Dr. Samantha Nutt, the old son, Rhys. two founded the international charity Canada to help hundreds of thousands of children in war-affected regions across the globe.

Eric has been recognized for his humanitarian work and public service. In 2008, he was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada. He has also received the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Cross, and has been awarded the Lester B. Pearson Peace Medal.

2 RESPECT FOR RURAL ONTARIO

I believe that for Ontario to be successful, we need a strong rural voice, strong rural communities, and a strong rural economy.

I believe that for the to be successful, we must respect, reconnect with, and listen to rural Ontario. We must strengthen our Party’s rural roots, and strengthen rural Ontario’s voice in Party decision- making and Party policy. The Liberal Party cannot recede into our urban strongholds; we must build and fortify our rural-urban bridge.

My family is deeply rooted in small town Ontario - since before confederation. I grew up in the southwestern Ontario town of Simcoe, near the shores of Lake Erie, and I attended the local public schools there. As a teenager I grew and harvested apples, cherries and peaches. My ancestors were homesteaders and farmers. A century ago, my grandfather came to rural Ontario as a British home child and made the area his home. I am proud of my rural roots and my rural values - hard work, integrity, and the importance of community.

I have chosen to release my rural policy first to underscore the importance that I place on rural Ontario and to highlight the place it holds in my heart. I am the leadership candidate who has deep, sustained roots in rural Ontario, and I am committed to building a strong rural Ontario and a strong rural voice within the Ontario Liberal Party.

Rural Ontario is about more than agriculture - as important THREE PILLARS as that sector is to all Ontario. Rural Ontario is also small and medium-sized businesses, bustling main streets, vibrant service There are three pillars to my rural policy: clubs and arts organizations. But while much of Ontario has recovered from the recent recession, many parts of the province, 1. Every decision at Queen’s Park will be including in the North and rural areas, have not shared in that viewed through a rural lens; revitalization. 2. We will re-establish the trust of I am deeply committed to working for all Ontario. I believe that rural Ontarians by listening to them, government can help empower communities and can help to by including them in government bring Ontarians together. decision-making, and by addressing their priorities; and Over the past few weeks I have travelled to rural Ontario to listen to Liberal members and Ontarians and will continue to listen 3. We will strengthen the Ontario Liberal over the coming months. My rural policy is meant to be the start Party in unheld and rural ridings of a conversation that will lead to more fulsome policy options by changing the way we operate as a for a general election. political party.

I have identified 25 specific actions that I will take as the Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party and as Premier. I look forward to your feedback.

Sincerely,

Eric Hoskins November 30, 2012 3 GENERAL

1. I will ensure that rural issues are front and 3. On an annual basis I will convene a Premier’s centre in our next government: I will appoint a Summit on Rural Ontario, and a Premier’s Food permanent full-time Rural Advisor to the Premier, Summit. and create a Rural Advisory Committee.

2. I will enhance our government’s consultation with local municipalities and give them a greater say in the implementation of government policy.

RURAL JOBS AND RURAL ECONOMY

4. I will work with local governments to develop 7. I will develop a strategy to deliver High Speed a Rural Transit Strategy and will share local gas Internet across Ontario. taxes with all municipalities in Ontario, allowing them to use these revenues for transportation 8. I will assist small town Business Improvement infrastructure. Areas to enhance their storefronts and public amenities and to market their downtowns. 5. I will launch a Rural Jobs and Economic Development Strategy focussing on small and 9. I will support a Centre for Biological Innovation, medium-sized businesses and a new generation of to capitalize on research and innovation in entrepreneurs. This strategy would include: the bioeconomy, bringing together various discliplines, including energy, health sciences, • training tax credits and employer supports for conservation biology and agriculture. hiring rural employees; • a special Youth Employment component 10. To meet Ontario’s residential and commercial that will help young people stay in their energy needs, we need a reliable energy supply. In community or give them viable opportunities the first 100 days, I will undertake a review of the to return once they have completed their government’s current approach to community and education; and municipal energy-related consultation, and I will • enhancements to the Eastern Ontario and develop a transparent, strengthened and uniform Southwestern Ontario Economic Development consultative process serving all Ontarians and all Funds by adding a component of micro- jurisdictions equally and consistently, based on lending and grants for small businesses. science, predicated on cooperation, and balancing the legitimate concerns of local communities with 6. A vibrant horse breeding and horse racing sector the province’s energy requirements. is important to the economic and social fabric of Ontario. In the first sixty days, I will undertake a I will give greater weight and priority to review of the sector, building on insights gained energy proposals that are supported by local from the Horse Racing Industry Transition municipalities and communities. I want to Report, to ensure that the sector is an integral encourage Yes-In-My-Backyard (YIMBY) part of the provincial gaming strategy, and I proposals that have local support, and reflect will develop a long-term sustainable solution - a cooperation between private sector proponents, workable plan - that establishes the government’s communities and local government. partnership with the sector. 4 AGRICULTURE AND FOOD

11. I support supply management. I am committed 14. I will fund the expansion of the Environmental to supporting the government’s business risk Stewardship Program that creates incentives for management programs. farmers to use sustainable practices.

12. I will reintroduce legislation to enact a Local 15. As part of a new Local Sustainable strategy, I will Food Act, and will support a local food policy support food processors in rural Ontario so that by requiring that food bought with provincial these areas benefit from manufacturing jobs. funding be sourced, whenever possible, in Ontario. 16. I will launch a formal consultation process to identify and support new retail opportunities for 13. I will continue funding of the Marketing Ontario wines and craft beers. Investment Fund and develop additional strategies for the marketing of Ontario-grown food. I will encourage interprovincial movement of agricultural products by eliminating regulatory barriers.

QUALITY OF LIFE

17. I will invest in rural health care and family 20. I will support rural arts and cultural organizations doctors, and expand tele-medicine. to enhance the quality of life and tourism opportunities in these communities. 18. I will enhance services for seniors in smaller communities, including home care, senior’s housing and drives for medical appointments to allow seniors to remain in their homes longer.

19. Working with local school boards, municipalities, employee groups and parents I will develop a Rural School Strategy, will review the education funding formula for rural school boards, and will facilitate cooperation between school boards to preserve rural schools.

5 ONTARIO LIBERAL PARTY RENEWAL

21. I fully support the Rural Roots strategy developed 24. I will create a permanent fundraising matching by former MPP Lou Rinaldi. This strategy will program so that money raised centrally can be pave the way for our party’s revitalization in rural used to match contributions raised in unheld Ontario. ridings.

22. I will mandate and facilitate a stronger voice for 25. I will increase Ontario Liberal Party field workers’ rural riding associations and members, including resources to support unheld and rural ridings, in policy development and the development of and will develop a multi-year outreach strategy for campaign supports like the riding services package rural Ontario. and campaign materials.

23. I will support earlier nomination of rural candidates.

CONTACT THE ERIC HOSKINS CAMPAIGN

Eric Hoskins for Leader Campaign www.ericforleader.ca | [email protected] 464 Yonge Street, Suite 201 | Toronto, ON | M4Y 1W9 Phone: 416-967-0814

Twitter: @EricForLeader & @DrEricHoskins Facebook: facebook.com/DrEricHoskins

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