Why I am running
I believe in helping people and in building an inclusive, fair, and sustainable future for families in Etobicoke–Lakeshore and across Ontario.
My experience on both a personal and professional level has shown me the benefits of strong, progressive policy, services, and programs that help individuals, families, and communities thrive – and that a partnership between responsible businesses, the not-for-profit sector, civil society, and governments is essential to make it happen.
Ontario has made much progress over the past few decades, but progress is never permanent. We must fight for a better tomorrow, every day.
The COVID pandemic has brought about rapid – almost unprecedented – change and has created new problems. And before we can address these problems, we must first define them. Solutions will require a new way of thinking and the courage to act.
The pandemic has exacerbated long-standing inequities in our economy and social fabric. Smarter investments to drive our economic future are required to give everyone confidence in their ability to succeed, to be connected, and to feel a sense of belonging. Our public health system and the determinants of health are a critical foundation of that vision. We have all seen first-hand how a commitment to health care strategy, delivery, and access underpins everything else. And how we are only as strong as our weakest link in the system.
We can and must do better.
The recovery from COVID presents a unique opportunity to reset our strategy and our approach. The decisions we make must be informed by science and knowledge so we can build a new, optimistic future. Our seniors, our kids – all of us – deserve that future.
And Ontario needs a government that is up to the task.
We cannot ignore the evidence, and the complexity of the issues. When our health system is in trouble, it’s not just our physical well-being that is at risk. Mental health and addictions concerns are skyrocketing, our kids are missing out on learning and development, our business community continues to suffer uncertainty.
It is time to act, and that is why I am running to be the Ontario Liberal candidate in Etobicoke–Lakeshore.
Our health, educational, social, economic, and environmental challenges have never been clearer. It is time for governments to think more broadly, rigorously, and creatively and build solutions that support Ontarians, right now and for future generations.
The team that can build those solutions is the Ontario Liberal Party, and I want to be part of that team as the MPP for Etobicoke–Lakeshore.
Lee Fairclough