The following is the text of remarks delivered by Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott, at an Appreciation Event held to thank him for his service to the Waterloo Region communities which he has represented since 1999. The event took place on June 21st, 2007 and his remarks followed speeches by Regional Chair Ken Seiling, and MPP Elizabeth Witmer.
Thank you, Elizabeth, and thank you all for coming this afternoon.
It's great to see you all, but listening to these compliments, and knowing myself as I do, I'm wondering “who are you talking about, and when did he die?” (Laughter)
This morning, when I was thinking about what I wanted to say to you today, a flood of memories of the past eight years came into my mind, the years I have served as the MPP for Waterloo-Wellington.
And through it all, you stood with me.
In spite of all the challenges we faced together, you stood with me.
In spite of all the naysayers and all the noise during our years in Government, you stood with me.
In spite of my occasional backroom fights with the Premier's Office, which in hindsight were actually rather frequent, you stood with me.
In spite of some of the lost causes that I embraced as crusades, because I believe that political capital is meant to be spent doing what's right, not hoarded and spent on nothing, some of which we won, some of which we lost, you stood with me.
And in spite of my own imperfections and limitations, which each of us have as human beings, you stood with me.
You stood with me, and I'm eternally grateful.
I especially want to thank Lisa, who hates to be singled out, for her love and support, and so far, for not changing the locks on the front door (Laughter), because of my too frequent absences from home because of the work that must be done. I love you Lisa.
I want to thank my staff, Mary Heffernan, Judy Brownrigg, and Marnie Mainland at our Riding Office, and Andrew Juby at our Queen's Park Office. It wouldn't be right to say that they do all the work and I take all the credit, because I do some of the work too. But they are dedicated, they are caring, they know their jobs, they do them well, and they are indispensable to me.
Rarely do I go to a public event when someone doesn't approach me to thank me for something my staff have done for them, in some cases unbeknownst to me because there hasn't been time to discuss everything that's happened in our busy office. Whatever success we've enjoyed on Election Day in 1995, 1999, and 2003 is in no small part due to Mary and Judy and Marnie and Andrew, and they deserve special thanks.
I also want to extend words of thanks to the Executive and Members of the old Waterloo-Wellington Riding Association, and I'm glad Ed Lemont and Bill Baxter are here, and for all that you've done to build the new Kitchener-Conestoga Association into the dynamic and winning political machine that it has become.
To my Campaign Managers through the years, Leo Heffernan, Bill Moody, and Lance Bryant, who've given me their encouragement, their enthusiasm and their talent, and every minute of their time during election campaigns, they all have my heartfelt thanks.
Our partners in Local Government, and Ken Seiling spoke eloquently as always today, who lead our communities towards an ever brighter future here in the Region of Waterloo and whose advice I've sought and valued, thank you too.
My former boss, my mentor and steadfast friend, Jack Johnson.
And another special friend and colleague, Elizabeth.
I'm so richly blessed because of all of you.
Now to the promise of the future.
There's a saying at Queen's Park that you run the first time because you want to change the world. You run the second time because you haven't quite accomplished it. You run the third time because you've lost your mind. And you run the fourth time because after so many years in politics you're basically unemployable (Laughter).
This fall will be my fifth campaign, and I run again because I still want to change the world, for the better, for us today, and for the generations who will follow. I want to continue to help Elizabeth and work with her, and Gerry Martiniuk, and be joined at Queen's Park by Michael Harris, and Matt Stanson, and Bob Senechal, and John Tory and all the others in whom we have great confidence.
Working together to strengthen our economy, fix our health services, build on the success of our schools, colleges and universities, protect the natural environment of our corner of the Planet Earth, and the other things we need to do, to build the Ontario of our dreams.
And now it is my pleasure to introduce my successor in Waterloo Region, a young man of energy and vision, smart and caring, with a name you've heard before, but we have the new and improved version: our PC Candidate and next MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga, Michael Harris!
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