Yakabuski named Deputy House Leader

Posted By PETER LAPINSKIE

Posted 6 months ago

Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak (MPP Niagara West-Glanbrook) unveiled his new 'shadow cabinet' at a press conference on Monday, with Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski being asked to cast a large shadow. Not that it should be too difficult for a man of his stature, but Mr. Yakabuski's import within the PC party grew with the announcement that he would be the party's new Deputy House Leader.

Mr. Yakabuski will also continue in the role of energy critic, a portfolio in which he has become well-versed over the last two years while dealing with issues such as the future of AECL and the growing wind turbine debate.

The new responsibility as Deputy House Leader brings an added dimension to Mr. Yakabuski's legislative duties.

"I am proud and honoured to be asked by our Leader to take on this important dual responsibility," Mr. Yakabuski said in a telephone interview Monday afternoon.

Generally speaking, the House Leader (who, in the case of the provincial Conservatives, is veteran Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob

Runciman) is in charge of the party's day-today business in the legislature and conducts negotiations with the other parties on the conduct of bills and debates.

The Deputy House Leader assists the House Leader with these negotiations and also helps to report back to the Leader and caucus. He (or she) also steers the daily strategy sessions as to who will speak on which topics and for how long.

"This is a big responsibility that our Leader has bestowed on me and I'm looking forward to the challenge,"Mr. Yakabuski stated.

The Conservatives announced at the press conference that they will focus on the priorities of job creation and economic renewal for the upcoming fall legislative session, with a view to the 2011 provincial election.

"We need a government that gets the fundamentals right and lays the foundation for private sector job creation to get Ontario working again," Hudak said.

Along with the new role for Yakabuski, Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod is going to have a big responsibility for the Conservatives come fall.

She has been given the revenue portfolio, which means she'll be leading the Opposition fight to overthrow the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). MacLeod has also taken on a new role as watchdog for government accountability, another busy portfolio given the scandals at eHealth Ontario and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation over the past year.

"Lisa is a dogged and determined individual who will make the Dalton McGuinty government accountable for its actions," Yakabuski said.

While most politicians relax during the summer and attend various "rubber chicken" banquets and barbecues, the second-term MPP for Renfrew- Nipissing-Pembroke is keeping a busy schedule. Aside from learning his new role as Deputy House Leader, Mr. Yakabuski is also preparing to attend a mid-western North American energy conference August 9-12 in Kansas as part of an all-party delegation from the Ontario legislature.

"This is an exciting opportunity for me to see what challenges other jurisdictions have to deal with in the field of energy, and what solutions they have developed that we could adapt for Ontario," he said.