Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor in the Legislature. Bullet News file photo by Peter Conradi.
Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor took Niagara’s issues to the office of the new premier Monday afternoon.
Craitor had a one-on-one meeting with Kathleen Wynne at Queen’s Park, a discussion that covered plans for a Toronto casino, a new hospital for south Niagara and even the makeup of the next provincial cabinet.
“I briefed her about everything,” Craitor said. “We agreed that I wouldn’t say too much publicly and I am going to stick to that commitment, but we talked about the hospital, the wine industry, the casino, the (Fort Erie) race track. It was a good talk. We covered a lot. We had a lengthy discussion about a lot of things, about my thoughts and I would say it was a positive discussion. I was pleased.”
Craitor said he and Wynne were alone without staffers. He said last week he would bring Niagara’s opposition to a Metro casino to the premier and ask her to support a second new Niagara hospital and a plan to help save the Fort Erie Race Track.
“When we talked about the hospital, she knew who (Niagara Health System supervisor) Kevin Smith is and had a pretty good understanding of something she hasn’t had to deal with all the time.”
Craitor was intending to be on hand for a news conference Monday when track operators announced a new lease with the owners of the facility, but then his opportunity to meet with Wynne came up.
Craitor offered no insight into his comments to Wynne about cabinet, but told Bullet News not long ago he is not seeking a place among the inner circle. He said the cabinet will be announced probably next Monday with the Legislature returning to work on Feb. 19.
