As the first woman leader of Ontario’s NDP, it is my honour and privilege to celebrate alongside all mothers on this very special day.

Mothers are caretakers, nurses, chefs and event planners – and that’s before the workday begins.

We are role models and multi-taskers. We are able to switch from disciplinarians to cheerleaders, from psychologists to budget minders, and from teachers to consolers.

I know how hard it is for many mothers to balance responsibilities at work and at home. We often struggle to make ends meet, juggle to handle all of our responsibilities and make sacrifices in our personal and professional lives.

Even in 2009, some of us are challenged to succeed in a world that is not always supportive of working mothers. In Ontario today, women are still getting pink slips for having children, with the economic crisis being used as an excuse.

During tough economic times, mothers show their resourcefulness and tenacity. They pull communities together when economic hardship threatens to tear communities apart.

The Ontario government would do well to emulate mothers in the next few years. We must strive to build, protect, unite and create with vision and fairness – as thousands of mother do every day.

To all moms across Ontario – including my own – I wish you a Happy Mother’s Day!