Accompanied by his wife Debbie and newborn daughter Miller, Tim Hudak marked his 40th birthday last week by getting officially sworn in as MPP for the new riding of Niagara West-Glanbrook at Queen's Park.

Two thirds of Niagara West-Glanbrook, consisting of Lincoln, West Lincoln, Grimsby, Pelham, Glanbrook and upper Stoney Creek is new territory for Hudak. Despite this, he was re-elected with his best results ever - 51 per cent of the vote by a 10,000-vote margin.

Mr. Hudak was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1995 as MPP for Niagara South and re-elected in June 1999 to represent the new riding of Erie-Lincoln. Representing another new riding doesn't phase him.

"I look forward to pushing the issues I heard about while campaigning, like expanding the Eramosa karst conservation area, and though much water has passed under the bridge, keeping Mount Albion Road open. The odds are stacked against us, but I did make a commitment to at least fight for a moratorium for a couple of years," he said, referring to the road slated to close after the opening of the Red Hill Valley Parkway, despite many residents' opposition.

"I also want the people of Stoney Creek and Glanbrook to get a fair deal from the City of Hamilton and the province, increased access to health care, help with growth challenges, like protecting greenspace and school expansions."

The "flight of well-paying manufacturing jobs" from the city also concerns Mr. Hudak.

"We've had 160,000 manufacturing jobs leave Ontario in two years and Hamilton has been a bit of a poster child for the loss of these jobs," he said. "With the high Canadian dollar and Premier Dalton McGuinty holding the line on high taxes, I'm afraid this exodus of jobs will continue."

As of Tuesday, MPPs had not been informed when the Legislature would be back in session, but Mr. Hudak says he's ready.

"Experience counts. I know how things work at Queen's Park. I look forward to putting my experience to work for the families and seniors of Stoney Creek and Glanbrook."