Sarnia-Lambton Conservative MPP Bob Bailey is reflecting on 2024 as a year of investment into the community, and he's looking forward to announcing more in the new year.
Bailey said education was a focus for the province.
"We opened the Gregory A. Hogan school, that's a $24 million investment," said Bailey. "Errol Village received a $6.1 million expansion, and Sacred Heart got $3.3 million for renewal there."
Bailey added there were a lot of healthcare investments across Ontario in 2024.
"Around $378 million was put toward the 19 homeless and addiction recovery treatment hubs," he said. "There was $152 million invested for supportive housing. I'm working with the local community to hopefully qualify for one or all of those programs. In the province itself, there will be $36 billion in capital grants over the next decade for healthcare improvements."
Bailey expects there to be some positive announcements surrounding Bluewater Health in 2025.
"I'm very, very confident that I'll be able to announce further investments at Bluewater Health, that's all I can say," said Bailey. "I want to give credit to Bluewater Health and (President and CEO) Paula Reaume-Zimmer and her team who have stayed focused on that. I know it can be frustrating for the community as a whole."
Bailey said there will be some upcoming news surrounding the repurposing of the former Lambton Generating Station in St. Clair Township.
"I'm looking forward to making an announcement with the minister in early January, so stay tuned for that," he said.
Bailey said long-awaited improvements to Highway 40 could be on the horizon in 2025.
That would include an expansion to four lanes.
"The Ministry of Transportation has made investments in acquiring property along there," said Bailey. "All of these things have to be done before the highway can be expanded. So, I'm quite confident in more positive news around that. I know that's a subject that's gone back about 40 years."
Bailey was recently acclaimed as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the next provincial general election. He was first elected to serve as MPP in 2007.
