Dear Brenda,   The Northern Policy Institute (NPI) recently published a report titled “The Thin Case for Passenger Rail in Ontario’s Northern Regions” which has left me in a state a profound dismay and disappointment. It contains some very misleading information and does little to improve sustainable transportation options desired by Northerners.   The document in question attempts to undermine ...

La chef néo-démocrate Andrea Horwath a exigé que les états financiers de ce mercredi comprissent un plan pour envoyer des chèques « Revenu d’urgence Ontario », d’une valeur de 2000 $ chacun, aux ménages souffrant de chômage ou d’une baisse des revenus pendant la crise de la COVID-19.   Ces paiements directs combleraient les lacunes laissées par l’attente de plusieurs semaines devant précéder ...

To the Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada: It has become exhausting facing the mounting challenges on our family owned remote tourist business after the ACR passenger train service was cancelled. When the Federal Government and CN did this it compromised our Northern identity. Railmark’s attempted take-over of the service was a total disaster – they didn’t have their ...

MPPs return to Queen’s Park on Tuesday, February 19 and budget day should be soon after. The question northerners are asking – is the $45 million promised by the PCs for the return of passenger rail service from Toronto to Cochrane in the budget?? Will Premier Ford keep his promise? Will Vic Fedeli keep his promise? The Northeastern Ontario Rail ...

Oct 11, 2017 @ 08:08 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of Infrastructure & Communities – Amarjeet Sohi Minister of Transport – Marc Garneau Good Morning Gentlemen, I have received the following Open Letter for publication. These two well-respected engineers have some valid concerns about the skyrocketing costs of ‘Signature’ or Cable-Stayed Bridges. (emailed link to letter) As a tax payer, ...

Dear Brenda and Wawa-news readers:   Why do I do it? Expend prodigious amounts of research time, travel to the North Shore and push for the preservation and resurrection of VIA Rail’s Canadian, that is.   Three good reasons:  past glories, present potential and people.   I grew up in a family of railroaders who embedded in me a deep ...

Aug 4, 2017 @ 08:07   August 3, 2017 The Honourable Kathleen Wynne Premier of Ontario Room 281, Main Legislative Building, Queen’s Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A1 Dear Premier Wynne, The LCBO has closed its outlet in Larder Lake. I am writing to you directly because the Minister of Finance has not responded to any of my enquiries to date. ...

Jul 28, 2017 @ 09:07 Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha issued the following open letter today, in response to concerns raised by a local constituent about the privatization of Ontario’s hydro system, and soaring hydro bills: July 27, 2017 Dear Mr. Moyer; Thank you for your letter, and your efforts to raise awareness about this situation. As a lifelong Northerner, an ...

Dear Editor, I find it fascinating that people talk about Privacy but don’t seem to realize that we need legislative action now to deal with one of the most intrusive forms of privacy invasion, apps in smart phones.   When we use apps for smart phones most of them require that the app being able to access all our pictures, ...

Dear Editor,   I have been deeply concerned about the direction this ministry has been travelling for some years now as laws are now being based on emotion and driven by special interest and protectionist lobby groups. Ontario’s 2017 Hunting Regulations and our Moose, Deer, Wolves, Bears and the scary direction it’s ALL heading. I am a native Canadian being ...

Dear Editor,   A couple of months ago the Federal Governing Party withdrew from changing our voting system. That despite that it being one of their major policies platforms of the last election.   The current leader’s father was of a different breed. Whether you agree with Pierre Trudeau, he led. When he repatriated the Constitution, which had been talked ...

Apr 12, 2017 @ 12:00 Dear Brenda, As PC Critic for Municipal Affairs and Housing, I hear from people all over Ontario who are concerned about the unaffordability of living in Ontario. Over the past few weeks I have been hearing from more and more people who, like the 31 seniors in Sault Ste. Marie, are facing huge rent increases. ...

I am still reeling from the shock of losing one of the threads that so deeply tied me to Canada in its entirety. No one but Stuart McLean could conjure a deeper connection to my country and my roots with his sweet stories of which I would just have to hear the ending, even if it meant another few minutes ...