With her appointment as Canada's regional minister of southwestern Ontario, local MP Diane Finley has become a more powerful force in Ottawa.
She will report directly to Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the thoughts and feelings of Conservative MPs from an area stretching from Windsor to Burlington to Owen Sound.
As well, Finley, who is also minister for human resources and development, has the final say on hundreds of appointments to federal boards and tribunals in the region.
"I am on the outlook for talent," she said, adding applicants "will be evaluated by me and my staff."
Then there is the issue of money.
Along with Elgin-Middlesex-London MP Joe Preston, who is chair of the Conservatives southwestern Ontario caucus, Finley will have the ear of the prime minister on which economic development projects get funded.
"We can certainly recommend ones that are appropriate," said Preston, whose riding includes St. Thomas, an auto town badly hit by layoffs. "This gives us a direct voice to the prime minister and the other regional (ministers). The auto industry needs that type of voice."
Finley noted that in the last budget, there were economic development funds earmarked specifically for southwestern Ontario.
Will there be more goodies come the January budget?
"I can't speculate, but I can hope," said Finley. "My first role is to make sure southwestern Ontario gets its fair share of any and all monies."
Her position, she said, means she's responsible "for the whole region, but obviously I have Haldimand-Norfolk in the forefront of my mind."
Finley will have a full-time staff of "two or three" people to handle her regional ministerial duties, which also include meeting with Canada's 13 other regional ministers.
Until now, the government had one regional minister for all of Ontario.
But because of the increased numbers of Conservative MPs in the province, Harper decided to split the duties in three, with one minister for eastern and northern Ontario, one for the GTA, and one for southwestern Ontario, she said.
"Let's face it. The issues facing southwestern Ontario are quite different than those facing Sault Ste. Marie or Kenora," Finley said.
The southwestern Ontario caucus meets every Wednesday morning.
Preston said the region "is facing some of the biggest crises in Canada" and called for "resilience" from members of his riding.
"You've got to move forward and reach out for solutions," he said.