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Every elected representative develops their own style as to how they want to operate and relate to their riding. Jill Dunlop is no different. However, she has certainly been successful as a minister. That is what the local Liberals can't seem to process.
At their recent AGM, local Liberals were apparently mystified as to 'how it is that Simcoe North's MPP Jill Dunlop can represent the people of the riding without ever meeting with them and hearing what they have to say?' They got their answer on Friday when Jill was appointed minister of education, a heavy duty position.
Jill was serving as minister of universities and colleges when she received her new appointment. Apparently the local Liberals don't realize the importance of Lakehead University and Georgian College as educators and employers in Simcoe North. The local Liberals will know that every community in Simcoe North has a public school or high school.
As a former federal cabinet minister I can tell you that clout helps whether you are a member or a cabinet minister. When the Conservatives formed government in 1984, I got a call from John Fraser, then federal minister of fisheries telling me that a marina funding proposal in Thunder Bay had fallen through and asking if we had any projects on the go in Simcoe North. I called Bruce Bayne, city clerk of Orillia, and he said that the breakwater at the Port of Orillia was ready to go and they just needed funding. The rest is history.
When I was minister of transport, I arranged the funding for the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport. The rest is history.
Bruce Stanton served Simcoe North as an MP with distinguishment, finishing as the longest-serving Deputy Speaker in Canada's history. Every minister wants to be on the side of the Speaker's office no matter who is in government.
As former U.S. Senator Tip O'Neill once said: “All politics is local."
Doug Lewis
Orillia
