May 7, 2018 @ 11:45 Do you ever have a song that get’s into your head and you just can’t shake it? We all do. I think you’ll understand why the song, “Get the Party Started” by the singer Pink is pumping through my mind as of late. Often people say it drives them crazy when this happens to them, ...

Apr 30, 2018 @ 07:45 One of the privileges of being an MPP is the many invitations I receive to attend festivals, special events, grand openings and program or funding announcements. Since Algoma-Manitoulin covers such a vast territory, there is no shortage of such opportunities. Recently I was in Wikwemikong for the Indigenous Agriculture Gathering for Earth Day. I was ...

Apr 23, 2018 @ 08:31 One of the things I love about Canadians in general is our ability to look in the collective mirror when we need to have a good laugh. That’s why shows such as Air Farce, This Hour has 22 Minutes and The Rick Mercer Report are so incredibly popular and have been on the air for ...

Apr 9, 2018 @ 08:22 As regular readers of this column know, I always encourage people to contact my office about the column or any provincial matters of concern. I can tell you with certainty that many constituents take me up on this offer. My office is always busy assisting constituents with a multitude of issues and I am pleased ...

Apr 2, 2018 @ 08:18 Well, in terms of putting on a great show with lots of sparkle and dazzle, the Wynne Liberals came through, if you look at it from a salesmanship angle.  But in terms of having any meaningful impact on improving the lives of Ontarians, Wynne’s final budget is a disappointing, last-ditch pitch for votes – with ...

Mar 26, 2018 @ 08:11 The other night I was watching one of the Mike (Make it Right) Holmes television shows in which Holmes was helping a couple who had purchased a home that they believed was in good repair, assured by the seller it would be free from major problems. As you can imagine, the couple were hornswoggled. Too ...

One of the real perks for me in this job is visiting with students in our school system. Many would be surprised to learn that my visits don’t just focus on secondary school civics classes. I make it a point to visit classrooms from primary grades through to college. If we want our youth to be engaged and have an ...

Mar 5, 2018 @ 16:25 The recent school shooting down in Florida sent collective shivers down the spine of parents and grandparents around the world. Few leaders would disagree that among the very highest trusts bestowed upon elected leaders is the protection of our children. Long ago I recall a grandmother saying to me, “The most precious jewels that a ...

Feb 26, 2018 @ 08:27 Well, we all know that Toronto has been described by some as ‘Hollywood North’ because of the popularity it has gained as a preferred site for movie and television productions. As well it has always been a hotbed for theatre and shows. But this week it seems Toronto is now known as the location of ...

Feb 19, 2018 @ 08:12 This week MPPs will return to Queen’s Park for the last leg of this session before the anticipated election that will be called for early June. I for one am ready to get back into the Legislature and Queen’s Park office; eager to tackle the multitude of issues that have been brought to my attention ...

Feb 12, 2018 @ 08:18 Like many Northerners, I’m definitely a 4-season person. That is to say, I love something about each of our seasons. In fact, this is one of the best things about Algoma-Manitoulin. Winter, spring, summer, and fall, with our hills, forests, lakes and rivers there is a plethora of things to do for outdoor enthusiasts. And for ...

Feb 5, 2018 @ 09:37 I am sure that I don’t have to remind you that Monday February 19th Ontarians celebrate Family Day. The holiday is celebrated on the third Monday each year. Ontarians work very hard to support their families and help our economy grow. But sometimes our lives are so full that it’s hard for people to make ...

Jan 30, 2018 @ 18:14 I’m sure that most readers will recognize world-famous scientist Albert Einstein’s often quoted definition, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. As I pondered this definition this week it occurred to me that Einstein’s wisdom is clearly applicable to far more than just the scientific world. In this ...

Jan 22, 2018 @ 10:02 Those of you who are sports fans have often read or heard comments from athletes who are heading into a situation where they just know something is about to happen. They often say they can smell or taste big changes coming in the air. Lately, I have been having such feelings myself, but for me, ...

Dec 18, 2017 @ 08:17 One of the things that draws many individuals into the political arena is an intense desire to help those who are most vulnerable in our society or who have been wronged by the system. I say this is true for many individuals of all political stripes. In all honesty there is no doubt in my ...