Seaway High’s ‘hay day’ celebrates agriculture

The next leader of the Ontario PC party dined at the Morrisburg Legion last week, but as of yet, who the leader of the province’s official opposition party will be has not yet been decided.

This leadership bid is to replace Tim Hudak, who resigned when the Ontario Liberals won a majority government in the June election.

October 8, the Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry riding association hosted a harvest supper fundraiser, here in Morrisburg and all five leadership candidates were in attendance including Monte McNaughton, MP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, Barrie MP Patrick Brown, former North Bay mayor Vic Fedeli, MPP for Whitby-Oshawa Christine Elliott and Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod.

This was the first event where all five were in attendance.

“It all starts right here in Morrisburg,” said Eric Duncan, who emceed the evening’s event.

Each of the candidates wasgiven five minutes to address the crowd packed with party supporters and area dignitaries.

All spoke about the great need to re-build the party, which now has only 10,000 members, but at one time had as many as 105,000 members.

McNaughton, spoke about how the party is “too top down, explaining that during the last two elections, a few party insiders have come up with disastrous election planks. “It’s killing us,” he said. He would like to see the party membership have much more say by way of voting on an election platform. “That will help us win government in 2018.”

“I have seen us lose elections we should have won,” said Brown. “There is nothing more frustrating than watching us shoot our own feet. We need to play as a team in this party. The fact that our membership is at an historic low speaks volumes.” 

“I’m tired of losing elections too,” said Fedeli. “We need to restore our pride in being Progressive Conservatives. He called June’s election, a disaster. His bid for party leadership is based on putting Ontario first, and being open to all ideas, no matter which party they come from.

Elliott spoke about the need to rebuild the party from the outside in and from the inside out. Newcomers, young people and women need to be encouraged to join the party. “We need to reach out to all members,” she said. 

McLeod, who has the support of local MPP Jim McDonnell in her leadership bid, said that the months following the June election have been the most difficult in her political career. With the PC loss, she felt  that she let a lot of people down.

“We built Ontario,” said MacLeod. “We need  a strong PC party so we can have a strong Ontario.” She encourages all party members to be active in this leadership race.

The leadership campaign officially starts November 8, 2014. Voting will take place May 3 and 7, 2015. 

In order to vote, party membership needs to be purchased by February 28, 2015, and be in good standing. 

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On April 26th, at approximately 3 p.m., an SD&G OPP officer stopped an eastbound Pontiac on County Road 2.

The driver was reported to be driving 133 kilometers per hour in posted 80 kilometer per hour zone.

According to Constable Pete Robertson,   the penalties for driving more than 50 kilometers per hour over the speed limit could include a seven day license suspension, the vehicle being seized for seven days, and possible fines ranging anywhere from a minimum  of $2,000 to a maximum of $10,000.

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Details of the 2014 Royal Tour of The Princess Royal were announced October 17, and that tour will bring a member of the Royal Family to South Dundas.

The Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages announced that Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal (Princess Anne) and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will tour the National Capital Region on November 10 and 11, 2014.

To highlight the War of 1812, Vice Admiral Laurence will visit the Crysler’s Farm Battlefield Memorial. 

The Battle of Crysler’s Farm—fought on November 11, 1813, in Morrisburg, Ontario—was a key battle that saw Aboriginal, Canadian and British forces work together to repel a large invading American army and win the field, despite being outnumbered. The victory at Crysler’s Farm turned the tide of the war.

The theme for this tour is “Canada’s Heroes: A Celebration of Accomplishment and Pride,” and Her Royal Highness will join Canadians and the world in marking the anniversaries of the start of both World Wars. 

During the two-day tour, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Laurence will participate in the National Remembrance Day Ceremony activities at the National War Memorial. 

The Memorial, originally built as a tribute to those Canadians who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the First World War, was unveiled 75 years ago by Her Royal Highness’s grandparents, Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother).

In addition, Her Royal Highness will also meet those individuals many Canadians would consider to be everyday heroes, who do outstanding work in and for their communities and country. 

Her Royal Highness will meet with members of the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association, an organization that uses riding to empower children and adults with disabilities. 

An expert horsewoman and Olympian, Her Royal Highness is patron of the organization.

The full itinerary has not yet been released.

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