Here are excerpts of Horwath's election night victory speech:
It’s a new day for Hamilton.
A new day for Ontario.
And a new day for New Democrats.
Hamilton East voters have spoken loud and clear.
They have delivered a vote of non-confidence to an arrogant Liberal government.
And given an official vote of confidence to the NDP.
Voters have sent Dalton McGuinty a message:
You’ve broken your trust with the people. You’ve betrayed their faith.
No more excuses. No more weak leadership. No more broken promises.
It’s time to keep your promises and deliver real change… for a change.
Voters have chosen a strong voice for Hamilton.
They’ve rejected another voice for Queen’s Park in Hamilton.
And they’ve embraced a strong New Democrat voice for Hamilton.
You can count on me to fight for Hamilton.
I’ll hold an out-of-touch government’s feet to the fire.
No more broken promises.
I’ll fight for quality health care. A good education for our kids.
I want our community to be clean and safe for everyone.
I want to stop the hydro and auto insurance rip-offs.
I’ll stand up for our most vulnerable citizens and make sure they’re not forgotten.
And I’ll stand shoulder to shoulder with workers to fight for good jobs, safe workplaces and secure pensions.
Picture this -- if a hotly-contested by-election gets Hamilton $50 million over four weeks, imagine the difference we’re going to make for this city over the next four years.
It’s so good to see so many familiar faces here tonight.
This is no ordinary party – it’s an official party.
We’ve made history in Hamilton.
We returned Hamilton East to its NDP roots.
And we’ve won back Official Party Status.
For the last seven months, our leader Howard Hampton and the NDP caucus have done a great job at Queen’s Park.
The Conservatives are the Official Opposition – but let’s face it, that’s a tired, old, jaded and discredited party.
The NDP is the real Opposition.
And with the great gains we’ve made tonight … imagine the difference we’re going to make now.
Before I close, I want to say a few words of thanks.
Victory is always possible for people who refuse to stop fighting.
There are many tenacious, dedicated people here tonight who fought very hard to make this victory possible.
To everyone who believed in me, joined the campaign and worked so hard to help us win: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
There are too many individuals to thank by name … but I want to say a special word of thanks to a few people.
Thanks to my family for their love and support.
Bob Sutton. Your hard work paved the way for tonight. Bob -- this night is your night too. Thank you.
I want to acknowledge my fellow candidates: Raymond, Tara, John and Ralph. Congratulations on a good campaign. Moving forward, I hope we can work together toward the goal we all share: Making Hamilton a better place to live and work for everyone.
Finally, I want to thank the voters of Hamilton East for their support tonight. I’m humbled by your vote of confidence. Thank you.
We made history tonight.
But the history-making isn’t over yet.
For Hamilton New Democrats -- the winning has just begun.
When Paul Martin summons the courage to call that federal election, we’re going to make history in Hamilton again and again and again.
We’re going to carry tonight’s momentum into the federal election.
We’re going to send federal Liberals a message too.
Your time is up.
It’s time for new energy and a positive alternative.
We’re going to elect New Democrats in Hamilton and
ridings all across Ontario.
And here in this riding, that means sending Dave Christopherson and Tony Depaulo to Parliament Hill.
Let’s go!
]]>I've enjoyed the privilege of working with people from all over Hamilton as a three-term Hamilton city councillor. I'm eager to continue working with you and for you as your new Member of Provincial of Parliament.
I want to work with you for quality health care and a good education for our children. Our seniors need to know their pensions and benefits are secure. We need someone to fight for good jobs and lower hydro and auto insurance rates.
As your MPP, you can count on me to fight for our community and keep my promises. I look forward to your support on May 13th.
Andrea Horwath
NDP Candidate
Hamilton East
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SEND THE McGUINTY LIBERAL GOVERNMENT A MESSAGE:
Send a fighter to Queen's Park
Andrea Horwath has lived and worked in Hamilton all her life. On City Council, in her community work, she has a track record of getting things done. Whether it's affordable transit, help for small business, or cleaning up our air and our streets, she's worked to improve our community.
We need an MPP who will fight for our community, who will provide a strong opposition to the McGuinty Liberals. We need a strong voice at Queen's Park, not another quiet Liberal backbencher from Hamilton East.
Andrea wants to work with you to make Hamilton East a better place to live and work. We need jobs in Hamilton. We need quality health care, and a good education for our children. Our seniors need to know their pensions and benefits are secure. We need someone to fight for lower hydro and auto insurance costs.
As your MPP, Andrea will be a leader you can count on to fight for our community. And you can count on her to keep her promises.
Help Elect Andrea Horwath As Our MPP
Make a donation to the campaign today!]]>
A three-term Hamilton city councillor, Andrea has built a reputation as a fighter for Hamilton who gets results.
First elected in 1997, she has worked with the people for the people – seeking out their opinions, listening to their concerns, developing action plans with them, following through and getting things done.
Unlike Dalton McGuinty, she has kept her promises. Everywhere you look in Hamilton, you see the results: New parks, more family-friendly neighbourhoods, more bicycle lanes, affordable transit fares, more viable small businesses, improved streetscapes, better recreation facilities and cleaner air thanks to her successful fight to close the dirty old SWARU garbage incinerator. And she is council’s progressive voice fighting for more affordable housing, better services for seniors and a new deal for Hamilton.
Andrea’s roots run deep in Hamilton. She was born and raised here. She studied at McMaster University. She got her first job here, helping workers at the McQuesten legal clinic. And in 1997, her tireless community advocacy work earned her the City of Hamilton Woman of the Year award in 1997.
Andrea’s not just another Liberal backbencher to make excuses when Dalton McGuinty breaks yet another promise.
Committed, spirited and passionate, Andrea knows the issues. She has the experience. And you can count on her to fight for what’s right for Hamilton East.
]]>We need an MPP who will fight for our community, who will provide a strong opposition to the McGuinty Liberals. We need a strong voice at Queen's Park, not another quiet Liberal backbencher from Hamilton East.
I want to work with you to make Hamilton East a better place to live and work. We need jobs in Hamilton. We need quality health care, and a good education for our children. Our seniors need to know their pensions and benefits are secure. We need someone to fight for lower hydro and auto insurance costs.
As your MPP, you can count on me to fight for our community. And you can count on me to keep my promises.
Andrea Horwath
Hamilton East NDP Candidate
Help Elect Andrea Horwath As Our MPP
Make a donation to the campaign today!
Established new green spaces and parks in our urban neighbourhoods.
Ensured the replacement of watermains and sewer lines throughout Ward.
Working closely with police - increased foot patrols and community policing centres.
Essential traffic calming improvements underway throught the Ward.
IN OUR DOWNTOWN - WORKING THE PLAN
Took our Downtown Plan off the shelf and started the work:
Significant increase in the private-sector construction year over year for the past three years.
Established an action plan for the cleaner, safer Downtown, endorsed unanimously by Council. It includes more trash containers and litter pick-ups, more street cleaning and sidewalk washing.
Started the "Gore to Shore" shuttle bus connecting residents ans visitors from Downtown to Waterfront.
Improvements to Ferguson Ave. and King St. W. are well underway and plans for many more streets are in progress.
IN OUR ENVIRONMENT - TAKING ACTION:
Led our City in the plan to divert 65% of our garbage from landfill sites by 2008 including:
Recycling services for apartments
Kitchen waste recycling
Public space recycling
Opposed expansion proposals for more urban sprawl that threaten our existing neighbourhoods.
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