Bob Bailey was first elected to the Ontario Legislature on October 10th, 2007 as the MPP for Sarnia Lambton. Immediately following his appointment he was appointed to serve as the Official Opposition's Labour critic and also served as on the General Government committee of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. In August 2009, following record job losses in the Province of Ontario, MPP Bob Bailey was invited to serve as the Official Opposition's Critic for Apprenticeships and Training, recognising his 30 years in industry, prior to serving the people of Sarnia-Lambton as their member.
As a member of the Progressive Conservative Caucus, Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, MPP Bailey also serves as the Chairman of the PC Caucus' Rural Task Force, which periodically travels around the provinces to hear the views and concerns of rural Ontarians in order to better propose and form provincial policy. MPP Bailey also currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario's Estimates Committee.
Prior to his election Bob had been an employee of NOVA Chemicals' Corunna Plant for over 30 years. Based in Sarnia-Lambton's Chemical Valley and one of the largest Petrochemical plants in Canada, Bob served NOVA Chemicals as a Contract and Construction Coordinator.
Born and raised in Petrolia, Ontario, Bob has devoted much of his life to serving the community of Sarnia-Lambton. Bob served his local community as a municipal councillor for Enniskillen Township and as chairman of the Sarnia-Lambton United Way's fundraising committee. However, Bob is probably best known in his local community as a champion for local, accessible health care; serving on the Board of Directors for Charlotte Eleanor Englehart (Petrolia) Hospital and more recently for his central role in the fight to save Petrolia Hospital's Emergency room. Bob has been an advocate for the long-awaited completion of the new Sarnia hospital, Ostomy care in Ontario and the need for a Sarnia-Lambton Community Health Study.
Bob has also served as Election Ontario's Returning Officer for the riding of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex and as Chairman of the Sarnia Lambton Unemployment Insurance Appeals Tribunal.
In January 2010, Bob and his wife, Elizabeth celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. The two of them reside in the Town of Petrolia and enjoy spending time with their three children, son-in-law and two beautiful grand-children, who all live nearby.
Bob has often stated that there are four primary issues at the forefront in Sarnia-Lambton. These include the neglect of local health care, the loss of manufacturing jobs, the threatened closure of the Lambton Generating Station and the lack of funding needed to strengthen and preserve our farming and rural communities. He is quoted stating "I am deeply concerned with the current government's lack of focus and direction which has been seen to negatively affect our business, labour and rural communities."
