![Ontario Liberal Leader, Premier Kathleen Wynne](https://www.netnewsledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Kathleen-Wynne-Liberal-Leader.jpg)
QUEENS PARK – Politics – For almost 23 years, Dalton McGuinty served the people of Ottawa-South with vision and determination.
He was first elected as a Member of Provincial Parliament in 1990, filling the seat held by his father, Dalton McGuinty Sr., and there is no doubt he inherited a fierce devotion to public service that he shares with each member of his close-knit family.
![Ontario general election, 1999 Ontario general election, 1999](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/71/Dalton_McGuinty_small.png/75px-Dalton_McGuinty_small.png)
As Ontario’s 24th Premier, he reminded us that government could build us up through investments in education, health care, research and innovation.
He created Ontario’s Greenbelt, committed to phasing out coal-generated power and began to address the provincial infrastructure deficit through the introduction of MoveOntario.
He steered this province through a global recession and three general elections. Unbowed by the challenges of his office, he always had a family anecdote, a historical reference and a charming turn-of-phrase to put things in perspective.
Earlier this year, he wrote me a letter encouraging my commitment to conversations in which he quoted the Greek statesman, Pericles, who described continued discussion as an “indispensable preliminary to any wise action at all.” I have always valued Dalton’s counsel and look forward to our continued discussions as I endeavour to build on his many wise actions.
Dalton has been an unwavering political force since I first entered provincial politics, and I thank him, Terri and their children for the sacrifices they have made. I wish him well in the next phase of his impressive career.