In past articles I have written how gratifying it is the have the honour of serving as the National Caucus Chair for the Government of Canada. I have enjoyed many highlights in the past three years and last week I experienced another first.

PHOTO CREDIT - GuyLauzon.ca

Cornwall - Sep. 12, 2011 - In past articles I have written how gratifying it is the have the honour of serving as the National Caucus Chair for the Government of Canada. I have enjoyed many highlights in the past three years and last week I experienced another first. For the first time in over 20 years Canadians elected a strong, stable, national, majority Conservative Government in Ottawa. In my role as National Caucus Chair, I had the privilege to preside over the first summer caucus retreat of this majority government.

The retreat began Wednesday evening when my wife Frances and I had the distinct privilege of hosting the Prime Minister and his wife Laureen, 230 MPs, Senators and guests, for a dinner to kick off our summer caucus retreat. The dinner was served in the historic Hall of Honour in Centre Block on Parliament Hill.

Thursday morning was another first for me. I had the honour of introducing the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, to my caucus colleagues and to millions of Canadians thanks to the media who were present. The Prime Minister informed Caucus and Canadians from coast to coast to coast of what they can expect from our newly elected majority government.

His message was quite clear. We will continue on the path set out in our budget called Canada's Economic Action Plan. Our Economic Action Plan is a low tax blueprint designed to create jobs and stimulate the economy. In his address the Prime Minister reminded us that Canada created 600,000 new jobs since July 2009. These jobs were created during the world's worst economic recession.

The Prime Minister also reminded us that we are the envy of the world because of our economic success. However, the economy remains fragile and we are subject to international pressures in this global economy. He also stressed the importance of maintaining our election commitment to eliminate the deficit and balance the budget by 2015. The Prime Minister's message to caucus was very clear. Our low tax Economic Action Plan is working. We are on the right track. On May 2, Canadians gave us a strong mandate to continue to pay down our debt, eliminate the deficit, create jobs, and strengthen the economy. And the constituents of SD & SG agree. I have heard from many constituents this summer who want our government to make the economy our number one priority.

Guy Lauzon
Member of Parliament
Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry