Arthur Potts - MPP for Beaches-East York (November 28th, 2014)

Almighty God, I pray for MPP Arthur Potts today. I ask that the areas for which he is responsible, Justice, Agriculture and Public Accounting may be graced by Your overshadowing Presence. I pray that the area of Justice which we read in Your Word, is close to Your heart, may be touched by the Divine Directives that You give through Mr. Potts as he serves. I pray for the people of his riding in Beaches East York, that there would be a great awareness of Your blessing upon his life. Keep his family safe from any attacks from without or within I pray. Amen!


BIOGRAPHY

Arthur Potts was first elected as Member of Provincial Parliament for Beaches–East York on June 12, 2014. He brings to the role a passion for public service and a history of working with others to find sustainable solutions. As an entrepreneur and small-business owner, Arthur understands the challenges and opportunities of Ontarians trying to make their enterprise work in our great province.

Arthur began his career as a labour relations consultant with the Central Ontario Industrial Relations Institute and taught the subject at Seneca College. In 1989, he co-founded his first business – Wood Waste Solutions Inc. – a firm that specializes in wood waste management, recycling wood into usable end products. Wood Waste Solutions is still in operation today.

Arthur then went on to serve as the Executive Assistant to Metropolitan Toronto City Councillor Anne Johnston, a position that left him with a taste for public service and government relations. In 1994, he went on to launch his consultancy practice – Municipal Affairs Consulting – which has allowed him to work with companies in film, construction, waste management and other industries to push for initiatives with the City of Toronto. He has also co-founded BioWaste Treatment Technologies and is co-owner of The Pilot, a popular Yorkville bar and restaurant.

He is a proud father of two daughters – Robin and Dara – and lives with his common law partner Lisa Martin and her two daughters and son – Julia, Taylor and Devon. A fly-fishing enthusiast, Arthur also enjoys sailing and plays hockey and tennis, where he is a member of Kew Gardens Tennis Club. 
With his experience in government, business management and stakeholder relations, Arthur is well-placed to be an active and engaged MPP for Beaches–East York and to effectively serve Ontarians’ interests.

Arthur is honoured to be part of Kathleen Wynne’s team and looks forward to implementing our government’s bold agenda to build Ontario up. As the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Arthur will work with others to find solutions and create opportunities for our province’s agriculture and agri-food sectors and strengthen Ontario’s rural economy.  

http://arthurpotts.onmpp.ca/Biography

Randy Pettapiece - MPP for Perth-Wellington (November 27th, 2014)

Oh God, we thank you for MPP Randy Pettapiece as he serves the people in his Riding of (Perth – Wellington) as Member, Standing Committee on Government Agencies, Critic, Government and Consumer Affairs, and Critic, Seniors' Issues. Lord, we pray You will give him the necessary wisdom to deal with contentious matters that may arise in each of these department. Give him the strength of character, integrity and ability to understand the complexities that he will face, especially in the area of Seniors’ Issues. And Lord, bless his family and may they be aware of Your Presence in their lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen


BIOGRAPHY

Randy Pettapiece is a trusted voice for our communities, our interests and our values. He works hard to represent Perth-Wellington at Queen’s Park – not the other way around.
A trusted voice for rural and small-town Ontario

• Randy has advocated for our interests on many issues including municipal infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, culture, and energy policy including wind turbines.

• While at Queen’s Park, Randy serves as official opposition critic for government and consumer services, seniors and the horse racing industry.

• In 2012, Randy successfully passed a resolution with strong support from all parties to address the rural-urban divide.

• In 2014, Randy received all-party support for his motion calling on the government to protect taxpayers and municipalities from higher municipal insurance premiums.

A trusted voice for local health care services

• Randy has relentlessly called attention to the doctor shortage facing communities in Perth-Wellington, calling on the government to act.

A trusted voice on agriculture

• Randy graduated from Ridgetown College of Agriculture and Technology. He moved to our area in 1967, when his parents bought a dairy farm near Monkton. On the farm, he learned firsthand the values of hard work and service to community.

• Randy has served as the official opposition’s critic to the Minster of Rural Affairs and as deputy critic to the Minister of Agriculture and Food.

• In 2013, Randy helped launch the PC Caucus’ agriculture policy white paper entitled Paths to Prosperity: Respect for Rural Ontario.

A trusted community-builder

• Serving the community is second nature to Randy. As an elected councillor in the Municipality of North Perth, he worked with residents to develop and implement a complex infrastructure project.

• Randy is a dedicated volunteer and supporter of local community groups. He is a longtime leader in the Monkton Lions Club, working with other clubs throughout Midwestern Ontario.

A trusted father and grandfather

• Randy and his wife, Jane, have been married for 41 years. They raised three boys, who are now married with children of their own.

• Jane and Randy love spending as much time as possible with their families – especially with their grandchildren.

http://pettapiece.ca/about-randy/

David Orazietti - MPP for Sault Ste. Marie (November 26th, 2014)

Father, we come before You with thanksgiving for the men and women that serve us in the Parliament of the Province of Ontario. We lift up MPP:  David Orazietti to You and ask You to pour out Your blessings on him and his family. Be with him Lord, as he serves in government and in his constituency of Sault Ste. Marie. Open his eyes to new possibilities as he travels and talks to the people of our province. Renew his strength and vision for the work You have called him to do. Protect him Lord as he travels either by airplane or car in his role as a Cabinet Minister. As Minister  of Government and Consumer Services we ask that you help him to make good decisions and give good leadership to the role he has been given.  We begin to pray for wisdom, courage, integrity, strength, blessing and righteousness to be poured on him that he may help to give good leadership to our province.   We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

BIOGRAPHY  

David Orazietti was first elected to the Ontario legislature in 2003 and represents the riding of Sault Ste. Marie. He is currently the Minister of Government and Consumer Services. He previously served as the Minister of Natural Resources.

Orazietti has served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Natural Resources, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and the Minister of Northern Development and Mines. He served as Chair of the Liberal Caucus, Chair of the Northern Caucus, Chair of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy and as a member of the Cabinet Committee on Education Policy.

Orazietti is a third generation Sault Ste. Marie resident who served two terms as a city councilor while also working as a full-time secondary school teacher for 10 years. David worked for the Algoma District School Board and served as the President of the Sault and Algoma Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation. 

During his time as a city councilor, Orazietti also served on numerous boards and committees, including the Public Utilities Commission, John Rhodes Expansion Committee, Algoma University College Board of Governors, Ward Boundary Review Committee, Sault Ste. Marie Teen Centre Committee, Hospital Redevelopment Joint Committee, Council Physician Recruitment Committee and the International Relations Committee. He has also served as Chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. 

Orazietti's Private Member's Bills, including improving the northern health travel grant, increasing access to the breast cancer screening program, protecting children from second hand smoke in vehicles, 4-laning the Highway 17 portion of the Trans-Canada Highway, and consumer protection for cell phone users, continue to help make Ontario a better place to live.
Orazietti and his wife, Jane, have two children, Olivia and Alexander.

http://davidorazietti.onmpp.ca/Biography

Rick Nicholls - MPP for Chatam-Kent-Essex (November 25th, 2014)

Heavenly Father, we pray for Rick Nicholls and the riding of  Chatham-Kent-Essex. We ask for your strength and wisdom as he serves as an MPP . We prayer for your power to be displayed in his life. Grant him wisdom, understanding, and direction in the decisions he will make. May he make decisions that will help the province grow in your grace. In Jesus Name - Amen

BIOGRAPHY

Rick was born and raised in Chatham-Kent. He was first elected to the Ontario Legislative Assembly in October of 2011, and is proud to serve as the MPP for Chatham-Kent-Essex in the 40th Parliament of Ontario.

Rick strongly believes in building solid working relationships not only with those at Queen’s Park but also within his constituency.  Shortly after Rick was elected, he was asked what it was like to be the MPP for Chatham-Kent-Essex.

“Before the election, my family consisted of my wife, three children and a dog,” he said. “Now my family consists of over 110,000 people! I will work hard and represent all of them at Queen’s Park and in my riding.”

Throughout his private sector career with a major truck assembly plant, a major natural gas utility and in the training and professional development sector, Rick’s entrepreneurial spirit has allowed him work with some of Canada’s most renowned companies via the Nicholls Training Group. His work has taken him throughout Canada and the United States extensively – including an opportunity to twice address the Canadian Embassy to the United Nations.  Some of his major business sector clients have included both the US and Canadian governments, financial, automotive, manufacturing, hi-tech, insurance, retail, hospitality,  and educational institutes, to name a few.

At home, Rick is a proud husband, father, and grandfather, and has been an active member within the Chatham-Kent community. Rick has been involved with the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce, an award winner at the international level with the Chatham-Kent Toastmasters, and president of Gideon’s International of Canada – Chatham, coaching little league baseball and sponsoring girl’s minor soccer.  Rick’s community involvement has also included Softball Canada as an umpire, for which he was recognized by the organization for his knowledge of the game, professionalism, and the ability to “make the tough calls”. He consistently demonstrates his passion for his work as the current Deputy Labour Critic and is not shy when it comes to addressing the tougher issues at Queen’s Park and within his riding.

Rick’s personal goal is to be “Accessible and Accountable” to the constituents he serves. To that end, and to further compliment his primary constituency office located Chatham, he recently opened a second constituency office in the community of Leamington, which now has an MPP presence for the first time in over 20 years.

http://ricknichollsmpp.ca/about/

Taras Natyshak - MPP for Essex (November 24th, 2014)

Thank you Lord for our Taras Natyshak in Essex Riding.  Father we pray for wisdom and strength for this leader. We pray Lord, that our leader would be a man of integrity, be upright, honest and have a godly influence to serve and meet the needs of the people in his riding.  In all his busyness of meetings and committees and serving his constituents I pray Lord that he would hear your voice, always acknowledge and You, and You would direct his path.  Lord we pray for his family today, keep them Lord in Your loving care.  Father, Your word says to pray for our leaders, and we do and we thank you for hearing our prayers, in Jesus name, Amen.

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Yasir Naqvi - MPP for Ottawa Centre (November 21st, 2014)

Lord, surround Yasir Naqvi MPP for Ottawa Centre today and in the coming days with Your wisdom and guidance. May his thoughts and plans be established by You. Give him the ability to discern what is of real value. May he be filled with compassion and be aware of the needs of the people in his constituency and how to meet them. Bless his family members and may love and faithfulness never leave them. May they win favor and a good name with all people. Amen

BIOGRAPHY

Yasir Naqvi was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in October 2007.  He served as Ontario's Minster of Labour from February 2013 to March 2014, and Premier Kathleen Wynne appointed him as the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services in March, 2014.  He is also part of the Cabinet Committees on Health, Education and Social Policy, Jobs and Economic Policy, and Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion.

As the MPP for Ottawa Centre, Yasir has been a tireless advocate for public services and sustainable community growth.  Working closely with the community, he helped secure funding to build over 350 new affordable housing units, two new buildings at Carleton University and over $300 million in infrastructure upgrades and community projects throughout Ottawa Centre.  These include a second level to the Charlotte Birchard Centre of Early Learning, a new, permanent addition at Mutchmor Public School, the creation of an Innovation Hub at Bayview Yards, and funding to expand the Ottawa Heart Institute.

He has introduced several Private Member's Bills, including the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, 2009, the Escaping Domestic Violence Act, 2010, the College and University Student Associations Act, 2011, the Protection of Public Participation Act, 2012, and the Enhancing Red Light Camera System Enforcement Act, 2012 - each born of an idea from one of his constituents.

Prior to representing Ottawa Centre, Yasir was the Associate Director and International Trade Counsel at the Centre for Trade Policy and Law (CTPL), a non-profit think-tank affiliated with Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. Before joining CTPL, he practiced international trade, competition, regulatory and administrative law with major law firms in Ottawa.  In addition, he has served as part-time professor at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, and guest lecturer at Carleton University.

Yasir obtained his law degree from the University of Ottawa, and is called to the bars of Ontario, and England and Wales. He holds a Master's Degree in International Affairs from the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) and Bachelor of Sciences (Life Sciences) from McMaster University.

Yasir is recognized by his peers as a strong community leader and involved resident of Ottawa Centre. He sat on the Board of Directors of the Centretown Community Health Centre for four years, and has been the Co-Chair of the Capital Food Bank Blitz since 2005, raising over 356,000 pounds of food for those in need in the community.  In 2013, Yasir was recognized as a Community Builder by United Way Ottawa.

http://yasirnaqvi.onmpp.ca/Biography