Jul 24, 2018 @ 08:02 Due to the extreme fire hazard and the large number of wildfires burning, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has expanded the Restricted Fire Zone in effect to include some areas of the Southern Region. The new zone includes areas north of the community of Rosseau, northwest to Caramat, over to the Quebec border ...

Michael Mantha, NDP MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin released the following statement regarding the forest fires in Northeastern Ontario: “All my thoughts are with the people in our region who are being evacuated and with the emergency crews that are working hard to keep everyone safe.  I know our communities are strong and can overcome this stressful time. People should remain calm ...

Michael Mantha, député néo-démocrate d’Algoma-Manitoulin, a fait la déclaration suivante quant aux feux de forêts dans le nord-est de l’Ontario : « Toutes mes pensées vont aux gens de notre régions qui sont en train d’être évacués et aux équipes d’urgence qui travaillent sans relâche pour assurer la sécurité de tous.  Je sais que nos communautés sont fortes et qu’elles peuvent passer ...

During question period Monday, NDP MPP Michael Mantha demanded answers from the Ford government on the cancellation of the Green Ontario Fund. “This sudden cancellation has hurt families in my riding that signed contracts worth several thousand dollars,” said Mantha, MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin. In Wawa, where families face some of the highest energy costs in the province, 30 homeowners were ...

During question period Thursday, NDP MPP Joel Harden demanded that the Ford government follow through with increases in social assistance supports for Ontarians in need after the government failed to provide assurances the budgeted increases would happen.   The 2018 Ontario Budget includes a commitment to increase support for Ontario Works (OW) and ODSP recipients by 3 per cent annually, ...

Premier Doug Ford spoke on the phone yesterday with Rick Snyder, Governor of Michigan. The call was an opportunity for the Premier to connect directly with Governor Snyder, and build on the mutually beneficial trade relationship between the two jurisdictions. “Ontario and Michigan share a very valuable trade partnership,” said Ford. “We’re their number one customer. We trade more than ...

Ontario NDP Energy Critic Peter Tabuns says Doug Ford’s attempt to give the government the power to break its own contracts will have a chilling effect on business. “From now on, businesses seeking government contracts will have only two options,” said Tabuns. “Either they will have to add a bad faith risk premium onto the price of government contracts and ...

Doug Ford has hired embattled former British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell to help him with Ontario’s books – despite Campbell’s having presided over one of the most notorious backroom deal scandals in Canadian history. “As premier, Campbell cut social services, fired scores of public employees and sold off and privatized public assets like ferries and BC Rail’s entire operation,” said ...

Newly elected NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong) was sworn in with an addition to the formal Oath of Office – a pledge to respect the treaties signed with First Nations. Mamakwa took the oath in Oji-Cree as well as English.   “And, I solemnly affirm that, in the carrying out of my duties, I shall honour and respect the treaties ...

During question period Tuesday,  NDP health critic France Gélinas questioned Premier Doug Ford on his decision to award a million-dollar contract to the former president of the Ontario PC party.   Rueben Devlin will be paid $348,000 each year during his three year term – over $1 million in total – to provide advice on the health care system. “The ...

Ontario’s Government for the People is taking action to restore the people’s trust in the public finances. Today Premier Doug Ford joined with Vic Fedeli, Minister of Finance, and Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board, to announce unprecedented action to restore the public’s confidence in Ontario’s books.   “One of my first actions as premier was to bring in ...

Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) announced today that a significant milestone has been met in the public-private partnership (P3) procurement process with the selection of Bridging North America as the Preferred Proponent to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. Bridging North America’s design will see it delivered as a cable-stayed bridge. Bridging North America was ...

Today (July 16, 2018), The Hon. Greg Rickford, the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, and Minister of Indigenous Affairs tabled The Urgent Priorities Act, 2018, which, if passed, would enact or amend several Acts. The Urgent Priorities Act, 2018 would enact the Hydro One Accountability Act, 2018 which, if passed, would improve transparency and accountability at Hydro One, ...

On the first day of question period on Monday, Sol Mamakwa, NDP MPP for Kiiwetinoong, called on Premier Doug Ford to explain why he removed reconciliation from the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and relegated the ministry to a part-time minister.   “Why did the Ford government drop reconciliation from the mandate of the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs  and what is behind ...

“During the recent election campaign, we made a clear promise to replace the entirety of Ontario’s current sex-ed curriculum with an age-appropriate one that is based on real consultation with parents. “When Ontario voters chose their new government, they did so knowing that this was our intended course of action. “Throughout this process, our commitment to Ontario parents has remained ...