Mayor of Loyalist Township, Ric Bresee, has been nominated as the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party’s candidate for the Riding of Hastings-Lennox & Addington. Ric made his official announcement at Papa’s Pizzeria in Amherstview on Saturday.
MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman and MPP Daryl Kramp were in attendance and introduced him. Daryl said, “I feel really good about Ric, and you should feel good about Ric…because Ric not only knows this riding from one end to the other, but he knows the people in the riding.”
“I certainly throw all of my support behind Ric,” says Shelby Kramp-Neuman.
Ric was born and raised in Amherstview and has lived most of his 55 years in this riding. He graduated from St. Lawrence College as a Business Systems Analyst.
After graduating, Ric spent 1996 to 2015 working full-time as a Systems Analyst and then an Adaptive Technologist for St. Lawrence College, while also a part-time instructor in various fields, including computer science, economics and Wind Policy in Canada.
Ric has had extensive experience in Municipal politics. He has served on the Loyalist Township Municipal Council for 22 years, being re-elected five times and serving as councillor, deputy mayor and mayor. During that time, he worked to build new residential and commercial areas, including the Loyalist East Business Park, which has added 21 new businesses. Loyalist has seen one of the highest residential growth rates in Eastern Ontario.
Ric is married to Heidi Galloway Bourgoin and has a blended family, having raised five children and now enjoys spoiling their two grandchildren.
“I am entering this race because, after two years of pandemic disruptions, Ontario, and this riding, must now begin the difficult task of rebuilding itself. I know that many people are concerned about economic recovery, the rising cost of living, and the debt taken on by businesses and individuals to get through the past two years. We are all also concerned about our collective health, in terms of COVID, and in terms of all the other challenges, the pandemic impacted.” says Ric
The Government of Ontario has worked extremely hard throughout this pandemic; following the advice of our scientists and medical professionals, they navigated safely between the risks of COVID and the range of problems with the restrictions. They have provided a steady and experienced hand through a very difficult time. Now that the threat of COVID-19 is receding, it is time to start rebuilding this great province and our home here in Hastings-Lennox & Addington. ”
He pointed out that Hastings-Lennox & Addington has stepped up to protect our most vulnerable during the last two years.
“As a community, we got vaccinated, put important moments on hold, and stayed home. But it is now time for us to start moving forward again. Thankfully, the Progressive Conservative government has already started this process. Recently they have invested 8.4 million dollars into Hastings-Lennox and Addington to expand their Community Paramedicine for Long Term Care Programs to help more seniors on long-term care waitlists stay safe while living in the comfort of their homes longer; Added 450 new long term care beds in Napanee, Tyendinaga and Madoc; Invested billions of dollars in local infrastructure; Provided the necessary funding to support businesses during this difficult time.”
Ric’s Top Priorities for Hastings – Lennox & Addington are:
- Supporting a stable workforce of skilled and dedicated workers
- Increase our capacity to train and provide Healthcare professionals like doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and PSWs
- Creating a stronger, more accessible and inclusive riding
- Speed up the development of sustainable, innovative renewable energy projects that will benefit our communities without driving up electricity rates.
- Cutting red tape and modernizing our regulatory system
- Improve health and long-term care by working with the Federal and Municipal governments and ensuring that all residents have access to the Healthcare they need.
- Assisting small businesses and providing incentives to invest in, rebuild and start new businesses
- Continuing to improve critical cell phone and broadband internet infrastructure in our rural communities
Ric’s goal is to start moving Hastings-Lennox & Addington forward and position it for the future. He has the skills, experience, and commitment needed to get the job done. He already has a proven record in public service of getting the job done for people in the riding.