http://www.saultstar.com/2017/12/22/politicians-christmas-wishes-focus-on-family

Santa’s making a list and he’s checking it twice.

And children full of glee are not the only ones on this year’s list.

Sault Ste. Marie’s top three elected officials have penned wish lists of their own – both on the personal side and for the city as a whole.

Sault Mayor Christian Provenzano said Christmas will be special this year sharing it with his two-year-old and infant daughters.

“As a father of two girls I no longer think of what I want for Christmas, but what I can get them for Christmas,” he said.

MPP Ross Romano said while he enjoys the beauty of the snow-covered trees and the white winter wonderland of the North, he’s hoping for safe travels for all this Christmas season.

“I’ve been so busy I haven’t really given my list much thought,” Romano chuckled. “I guess I’m looking for a good holiday season and fun times to spend with the family.”

And Sault MP Terry Sheehan said he simply wants health and prosperity for his family, friends and his constituents as a whole.

“I think having health is one of the most important things,” he said.

Looking through the glass in their respective elected capacities, all three elected officials have hopes and dreams for strong economic prosperity for Sault Ste. Marie and beyond.

Provenzano said he’s hoping Santa and his helpers will pave the way and provide a clear indication that Algoma’s CCAA process will end early in the new year.

The process has been ongoing for three years and has resulted in economic uncertainty in the city that Provenzano wants to put behind.

Sheehan’s wish list follows along the same line. As co-chair of the steel industry committee, he wants to see the continued rebound and strengthening of the steel industry.

Also important to him is the strengthening of the middle class with tax cuts and child benefit tax.

“That tax puts $50 million into the local economy. It’s tax free and significant and makes for a better Christmas for families and children,” he said.

The top of Romano’s wish list is the hope that Noront Resources chooses Sault Ste. Marie as its location for a ferrochrome plant sometime in 2018.

“The bids are due Feb. 2 and I hope our Sault Ste. Marie bid knocks them out of the park,” he said.

Taking some time off to spend with family and friends is an important part of the holidays, the politicians agree.

While tradition is an important part of the season, Romano said his family tradition is alternating Christmas locations.

His wife hails from Markham, Ont., and the Romano’s spend every second Christmas with her family.

“It’s our turn this year to host the dinner down at her parent’s home,” Romano said. “Heather handles the bar and I’m responsible for the cooking. It’s a tradition we’ve had since we’ve been married.”

Sheehan said his long-time family tradition is participating in the family fun curling bon spiel on Boxing Day, an event his parents became involved in years ago.

“It’s something I always look forward to. My dad and mom ran it for years and I’ve participated in it since my hair was black,” he said.

For Provenzano Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day means shuffling between his and his wife’s families.

“We hit my wife’s parents in the morning because there are more young kids on that side and then my parent’s later in the afternoon,” he said. “We eat a lot and move a lot between several different homes but spending time with family is very important to me.”