MICHAEL DEANE HARRIS
Embrace change … make it work                                         CONTACT MARK
STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER OF ONTARIO

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Press Release October 16, 2001
During my time at Queen's Park, I estimate that I have traveled back and forth to my riding at least 1,000 times - half the time I drove and half the time I flew.
At this time of year, one of the most breathtaking experiences is to fly over the miles and miles of autumn colors on a crisp fall day. That is what I did this past week. Going home for Thanksgiving, I saw the leaves and the land as I had not seen it for several years. I had time to stop and reflect.
I thought about my 20-plus years at Queen's Park. I thought about the significant changes I had seen over those years. I thought about my 11-plus years as Leader and the progress we had made as a party.
And I thought about the past six years as Premier of this great province and all of the gains we have made together with the families who live and work here.
I thought about all of this and about my own family and my own future.
Last night, I delivered to PC Party President, Dr. Rueben Devlin, a letter asking the Party Executive to call a leadership election as soon as possible.
I spoke to our caucus this morning and indicated to them that I will resign as Party Leader and as Premier of Ontario upon the election of a new Leader of our party.
Once our new Leader is chosen and the new Premier is sworn into office, I will serve the balance of my political career here at Queen's Park, the same way I began, as a member of the legislature representing the people of Nipissing.
Next week, our party will lay out a new vision at our convention--the result of the Destinations phase of Seizing Tomorrow's Opportunities. It is this grassroots party consultation, just like the ones we did back in the early 1990s, that is laying the foundation for the next Common Sense Revolution.
The Leader who takes us into the next provincial election some two years or so from now should lead the development of the policies and the promises that will take our party to renewal and a third majority government.
As Premier of Ontario, I have done things I did not dream I would do growing up in Callander and North Bay, Ontario.
I entered political life to make a difference--to make changes for the better. I am proud of the Common Sense Revolution and all that it has done.
As a father, I can honestly say that we have given our children, including my two sons Michael and Jeffrey, a better future full of greater opportunities.
We restored accountability and excellence in our education system. We rewarded initiative and reinforced the work ethic with our tax cuts and welfare reforms. We provided for the most vulnerable in our province. We balanced the budget and set the stage for building this province once again.
Our government has laid a foundation. We have restored pride in our province and put in place the economic fundamentals that will allow Ontario to realize its full potential.
When I think of all of our accomplishments, I am most proud of all we've done to level the playing field for children to ensure that every child has an equal start in life. Head start programs: Healthy Babies, Healthy Children; Early Years centres; breakfast programs; new rigorous curriculum and standards; increased testing.
All these initiatives we undertook to give our children an equal chance at a better future in this great province.
We have changed politics in Ontario.
I believe government is an instrument of the people. It is not an end in itself. We are here to serve the taxpayers, not the other way around.
The political process, as flawed as it might be, is a vehicle to achieve great things.
I am proud of our province and its people.
In turning this province around, we have done some amazing things together.
We can say, because of what we have done together, Ontario is a better place.
I thank the people of this great province and of Nipissing for the opportunity to serve in that effort. I particularly want to thank all members of my family and my friends for their unwavering support.

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