Kathleen Wynne: 25th Premier of Ontario
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Kathleen Wynne & MPP Cristina Martins (Center) at an Ontario Liberal rally in Toronto May 22, 2014.
by Rosana Dias Lancsarics
Kathleen Wynne is a Canadian politician and the 25th Premier of Ontario. In office since 2013, she is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Don Valley West for the Liberal Party.
Photo: Premier greeting members of the Portuguese community during the Portugal Day Parade last year.
DISCOVER – What message would you like to share with Ontarians as the country and province celebrate 150 years?
Kathleen Wynne – On July 1st, Ontario, along with our entire country, will turn 150 years old. Ontario 150 will be an opportunity to celebrate our shared history and the diverse and dynamic province we call home. I want everyone in Ontario to feel like they are a part of our province’s history, as well as a part of our future. Whether you are Indigenous, your family came here six generations ago, or you came here six months ago, we all have a role to play in celebrating Ontario and shaping the province’s future. But these past 150 years only tell a fraction of the story. For generations, this land has been home to Indigenous peoples dating back countless generations. The first treaties were signed long before Confederation and they are still relevant today. They will continue to be relevant for generations to come. As we celebrate our past and honour the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada, Ontario’s 150th anniversary is also a time to think about what sort of province we are building for our children and grandchildren. The Ontario we’re building together is strong, welcoming and inclusive. It’s a place where everyone can work, live and raise a family, no matter who they are or where they came from. We have more to do, but I know we’re up to the challenge. We have accomplished so much together, and we will continue to work together over the next 150 years and beyond.
DISCOVER – What heritage do you hope your government will leave that will be remembered in 150 years?
Photo:Premier Kathleen Wynne & Discover magazine’s CEO Leila Monteiro Lins
Kathleen Wynne – Together we are building Ontario up. We’re building an inclusive and diverse society where everyone can live happy and healthy lives. And we’re creating more opportunity and security for families.
We’re doing that by making the largest infrastructure investment in the province’s history. We’re building hospitals and schools and repairing roads and bridges, as well as building new transit so people can get where they need to go faster. We’re also making university and college tuition free for hundreds of thousands of student s so they can get the skills they need for the changing economy. We’re making sure our seniors get the care they deserve and that our health care system is responsive and sustainable. We’re helping working parents by adding 100,000 more affordable and quality child care spaces. At the same time, we’re supporting a strong business environment where companies can grow in the global economy, attract investment and create good jobs for people across the province. So much of what we are building comes down to families. It comes down to those people around you who you want to support and see succeed. The people we love are everything. That never changes. In 150 years I hope that the people of Ontario are still seeing the benefits of the work that we are doing today. We want everyone to have even more opportunity and security in their lives. That’s the Ontario we are building right now and for generations to come.
