{"id":2372,"date":"2018-12-20T15:13:59","date_gmt":"2018-12-20T20:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tobybarrett.com\/?p=2372"},"modified":"2018-12-20T15:14:01","modified_gmt":"2018-12-20T20:14:01","slug":"wishing-all-peace-and-happiness-this-christmas-%ef%bb%bf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tobybarrett.com\/wishing-all-peace-and-happiness-this-christmas-%ef%bb%bf\/","title":{"rendered":"Wishing all, peace and happiness this Christmas \ufeff"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By\nMPP Toby Barrett<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nChristmas season becomes the perfectly imperfect time to reflect on the past\nyear.  By taking stock of the challenges\nwe endured, we can take lessons for what may lie ahead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When\nthe Ontario Legislature belatedly rose for the Christmas holiday, it was in\neffect the last day of the first sitting of the 42nd<\/sup> Provincial\nParliament of the Province of Ontario. Our Speaker of the House, and my\nlong-standing colleague Ted Arnott, had taken the time to address all members\nof the House. He acknowledged 2018 as a difficult year for all elected to be involved\nin Ontario politics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\nwere the frantic months leading up to the June 7th<\/sup> election, the\nearly resumption of parliament once the election was over; a rare summer\nsitting which then blended into the fall sitting. There was little time for MPPs\nto catch their breath and for staff to learn their new roles and\nresponsibilities. At my home, the grass grew out of control as I worked hard,\nalong with Premier Doug Ford and my colleagues at Queen\u2019s Park, to bring about\nmeaningful change for our riding and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\nam grateful people across Haldimand-Norfolk once again entrusted me to\nrepresent our rich and beautiful riding on their behalf. It is a calling I have\nnever taken lightly nor will I.  I assure\nyou, decisions made this session were, in good conscience, based on the\npromises we made during the campaign. There are those who do not agree with our\naccomplishments, but I learned long ago from my friend and former Premier Mike\nHarris, that by trying to be all things to all people all of the time nets few\nresults. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All\nof us, no matter what job we do, can often feel the heavy demands of our roles.\nThose demands can seem relentless with the days long and the challenges sometimes\ninsurmountable. I confess it is no different in the Ontario Legislature. Nevertheless,\nat the end of the day, we continue to embrace the challenges, learn from our\ndisagreements knowing we are all motivated by the desire to build a greater\nOntario for future generations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile\nwe may differ on how to best achieve that goal, broadly speaking we all share\nit,\u201d Speaker Arnott told us. \u201cWe are not enemies across the aisle. We are\ncolleagues; we are parliamentarians. That is the basis upon which we should\ndebate the issues before us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These\nwords took me back to the Christmas Truce of 1914. The truce came only five\nmonths after the outbreak of war in Europe and is viewed as one of the last\nexamples of chivalry between enemies in warfare. It serves as a heartening\nreminder, that if humanity can endure the brutal acts of war, today we can\nsurely face life\u2019s challenges with maturity and respect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My\ncolleagues and I have now returned to our separate ridings. I will spend the\nChristmas season where I am happiest, reconnecting with family, friends and those\nI represent in Haldimand-Norfolk. At the same time, I will be looking ahead to\nthe work that I can aspire to do in 2019 so together we can continue making our\narea and the rest of Ontario a home we can be proud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\nclosing, I wish you all peace and happiness this Christmas season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toby Barrett is\nthe MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By MPP Toby Barrett The Christmas season becomes the perfectly imperfect time to reflect on the past year.  By taking stock of the challenges we endured, we can take lessons for what may lie ahead. 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