The pandemic has forced all of us to make some major changes to so much of what we do in our lives and daily routines. Some of the changes are pretty small and hardly noticeable while others seem gargantuan in nature. Of late I’ve read and/or heard from small business owners expressing devotion and commitment to their business, employees and ...

Our MPP Michael Mantha continues to press the Hon. Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation about the lack of access that Northern Ontarians have to DriveTest Centres within our region. Wawa has a DriveTest location at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre but the website says, “Temporarily Closed Until Further Notice”. Below is a copy of an open letter sent to Hon. ...

Michael Mantha, NDP MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin says the ticking of the back-to-school clock is getting louder as the reopening of Ontario schools gets closer.  “Judging by the number of calls, letters and emails that my office is receiving, this is clearly a major stressor for families, teachers, support staff and school bus drivers”, said Mantha.  “More and more people every ...

Il y a tellement de façons d’apprendre et d’enseigner certaines des leçons les plus importantes de la vie. Il ne fait aucun doute dans mon esprit que le moyen le plus efficace est l’expérience personnelle. Cela ne veut pas dire, cependant, qu’un tel apprentissage est toujours agréable ou rapide. Certaines leçons prennent toute une vie à apprendre. Outre l’expérience personnelle, ...

There are so many ways to learn and to teach some of life’s most important lessons.  There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the most effective of these is personal experience.  This is not to say, however, that such learning is always pleasant or quick.  Some lessons take a lifetime to learn. Aside from personal experience, one of ...

I have an uncle that I love dearly who has always been extremely supportive, especially since I joined the world of politics.  He stays abreast of what’s happening in Algoma-Manitoulin in the news and comments on this weekly column from time to time.  He’s a wonderful fellow with a great sense of humour but he does have some pet peeves.  ...

J’ai un oncle que j’aime beaucoup et qui m’a toujours soutenu, surtout depuis que j’ai rejoint le monde de la politique. Il se tient au courant de ce qui se passe à Algoma-Manitoulin dans les nouvelles et commente de temps en temps cette chronique hebdomadaire. C’est un type formidable avec un grand sens de l’humour, mais il a quelques bêtes ...

Au moment où j’écris la chronique de cette semaine, assis ici, dans mon bureau de Queen’s Park, c’est le jour après que les conservateurs ont déclaré les vacances d’été de l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario. Pour la deuxième fois seulement de ma carrière, je me suis retrouvé à la Chambre pendant les mois d’été. Cependant, je ne le regrette en aucun ...

As I write this week’s column, sitting here in my Queen’s Park office, it’s the day after the Conservatives declared the summer recess of the Ontario Legislature.  For only the second time in my career, I found myself in the House during the summer months.  However, I do not regret this in any way.  There is no doubt that the ...

C’est merveilleux de pouvoir sortir encore et encore après avoir été enfermé pendant si longtemps, même après la fin de l’hiver. Les gens sont ravis de pouvoir enfin profiter des occasions de sortir et de parler à des gens qu’ils ont été contraints d’éviter à cause de l’épidémie de COVID-19. La bonne nouvelle est que, en général, les gens continuent ...

It is wonderful to be able to get out and about again after being cooped up for so long, even after the winter season ended. People are delighted to finally enjoy opportunities to get out to see and speak to people they have been forced to avoid because the COVID-19 epidemic. The good news is that, in general, people are ...

This week MPPs found themselves back in their home ridings for a constituency week.  I’d rather be home in the North, away from the humidity and stickiness of Toronto.  I love hearing the call of the loon on CBC Morning North in the summer, although there is nothing like hearing the real thing wafting over our lakes at home in ...

Cette semaine, les députés sont rentrés dans leur circonscription pour la semaine. Je préfère être chez moi dans le Nord, loin de l’humidité et de la chaleur de Toronto. J’adore entendre l’appel du huard sur CBC Morning North en été, bien qu’il n’y ait rien de tel que d’entendre la vraie chose qui flotte sur nos lacs à la maison ...

Readers will undoubtedly know that the Ontario Legislature has begun to resume operation, meaning that once again I find myself in Queen’s Park for the bulk of the week. Heading back to The City at first was rather disconcerting. The very streets themselves looked and sounded different. Not quiet but more empty than usual.  Seeing so many people walking around ...

I’m certain that regular readers of News from the Park have not been surprised that I have not posted the column since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Needless-to-say, my team and I have been beyond swamped with calls and letters from individuals, groups and businesses posing questions, asking for clarification and direction, and offering thoughts and observations on the ...