Dear Friends,

For the past 22 years, I have had the privilege of representing Canadians in Parliament. I feel blessed to have had unwavering support over those decades as I sought to make the small changes in Ottawa that could make big changes to lives of individuals and families in Mississauga and around the country.

Since the outset, I set out to move the yardsticks on the key issues that drove me to enter politics. From attempts to enshrine universal health in the constitution, provide real skills training for older workers, properly fund old age security, or provide greater justice in our justice system, I have been buoyed by the encouragement of my neighbours here at home in Mississauga and from Canadians around the country.

As a backbencher, I strove to give some meaning to our role as legislators by taking on controversial issues. My Private Members Bill to end concurrent, discounted sentences for multiple murderers passed the House of Commons. While it did not make it through the Senate, it formed the basis for a similar government bill before Parliament today.

More recently, I have taken up the cause of donors and taxpayers who have been prevented from seeing what happens to their charitable contributions. My latest bill seeks to end the secrecy around charity executive pay and provide the same disclosure of high salaries as exists in public corporations and even in American charities.

Mid-way through my career, Prime Minister Paul Martin gave me the rare privilege of serving in Cabinet. As Associate Minister of National Defence, Minister of State for Civil Preparedness and finally Minister of Veterans Affairs, I sought to take the risks that change required. In Veterans Affairs, I declared 2005 as Canada’s Year of the Veteran , expanded care for widows and brought in a transformation of Veterans benefits that had been demanded for more than a decade. While no transformation of this scale can be without revision, I believe the cash, care and careers offered by the New Veterans Charter will deliver brighter futures to veterans who have had to return to civilian life.

At the core of my efforts has been a strong link to the people I represent. To be worthy of your trust and support has been my prime objective through the years. Alas, after 22 years, a recent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis has caused me to reconsider my future. I have decided to leave politics at the next election and find new ways to contribute to my community and the country.

I hope I will be able to stay in touch with the thousands of constituents who have truly become my extended family. Should an election be called before my next correspondence, you may always reach me at the email address below. Thank you for giving me the honour to represent you. It has been the privilege of a lifetime.

Sincerely, Albina.
albinaguarnieri@gmail.com