Losing a close election as an incumbent MP is always tough but the former Liberal MP for Northumberland-Peterborough South riding says she and her government have a lot to be proud of.
Kim Rudd says her Liberals still formed the government, albeit a minority one, and that should help to ensure the continuation of previous programs meant to help business and residents alike.
Rudd says her government’s improved Child Canada Benefit helped lift over 300,000 children out of poverty across Canada and helped almost 16,000 kids in her riding.
A boost in federal money for new and affordable housing was another program that was necessary and helped a lot of people.
“I personally have been working on five housing projects in Northumberland-Peterborough South. One of them is complete, another is is soon to be done and a mixed housing development has recently received approval at the local level. Another two affordable housing projects for the riding are in process and although no longer an MP, I’m trying to make sure they become a reality. All told the spending has created over 150 affordable housing units in the riding.”
Rudd was happy to have served on the Trudeau government’s Rural Caucus and she helped bring over $70 million for improved broadband and cellphone service to Eastern Ontario.
“As we all know, cellphones sometimes don’t work too well in the “rolling hills of Northumberland” and this investment is going to help us in so many ways.”
In the past four years Rudd also served as the Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Natural Resources. In this role she was able to help companies in the nuclear sector, including regional ones like Ontario Power Generation and Cameco, receive more federal support to be able to compete for business worldwide.
Commenting on the past election, Rudd said that she believed that she lost some votes to the Green Party which tripled its vote count in Northumberland-Peterborough South. “Those votes could have made the difference to me, however that’s life and it’s certainly not unusual to have a Conservative candidate elected in this part of the province. Best of luck to the new MP Philip Lawrence.”
Rudd has been asked by Justin Trudeau to run again in the next election for the Liberals. “I will give that request very serious consideration.”
