The first woman speaker at Queen's Park is focusing on her northern Ontario roots
Donna Skelly grew up in the railway town of Capreol, north of Sudbury
A southern Ontario MPP who was recently appointed speaker at Queen's Park says she's looking for ways to strengthen the connection between the legislature and the north.
Donna Skelly, who grew up in the Capreol area of what is today Greater Sudbury, was elected as Ontario's first female speaker on April 14.
"My father was a railroad engineer and my mom was one of four women who worked as a secretary in the mine," said the Progressive Conservative MPP for Flamborough-Glanbrook.
"I went to Marymount College and when I was 17, I graduated from high school and headed to Toronto and studied broadcasting."
Skelly worked in journalism for 30-years, with jobs at CHIP-FM Radio in Fort Coulonge, Quebec, CHRO TV Radio in Pembroke, CKWS-TV in Kingston and CHCH in Hamilton.
From there, she was elected to city council in Hamilton, before entering provincial politics.
Despite being based in southern Ontario, she said she has never forgotten her northern roots.
"I absolutely love the north and I will be focusing a large part of my time and my efforts will be focused on northern Ontario," she said.
"I'm really hoping that they can bring the legislature to the north and the north to the people of Queen's Park."
To do that, Skelly said she's going to continue to work with MPPs in the region.
"Next year, we will be bringing the legislative educational component, what the speaker does, to every riding in northern Ontario," she said.
"And I'm hoping to go back to Sudbury and to Nickel Belt, to bring the sword and the legislature to some of the elementary schools."
As for her role as speaker, Skelly said she is comfortable with her role policing the behaviour of her fellow MPPs.
"People in Ontario do not want to see their politicians bickering and acting like children," she said.
"I believe already, we have seen an elevated decorum in the house. People are a bit more respectful and I intend to make sure that is maintained throughout the next four years."