Editorials, Letters & Political Commentary

Sandy Shaw, NDP MPP for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas, released the following statement after her motion to end ambulance code zeros passed in Ontario legislature last week: “I am extremely encouraged to see the issue of ambulance delays treated with the seriousness that it deserves and pleased that my motion to end code zeros passed last Thursday. This is an important first ...

Je me souviens bien de m’avoir réveillé le matin, ou plus honnêtement, l’après-midi du 3 juin, le lendemain de l’élection provinciale. J’ai immédiatement pensé que mes collègues députés et moi avions les quatre prochaines années pour essayer d’améliorer la vie de tous les Ontariens. Nous avons une telle opportunité et le temps de faire avancer les choses. Il semblait que ...

I well recall waking up on the morning, or more honestly, the afternoon of June 3rd, the day following the provincial election and thinking that my fellow MPPs and I have the next four years to try to make life better for all Ontarians. We have such an opportunity and the time to get things done. On that new day, ...

NDP Education critic Chandra Pasma released the following statement in response to news of a strike notice from Ontario’s lowest-paid education workers: “Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce have brought us to the brink of disruption in our schools, and they’re the only ones who can stop the clock on this countdown. All they have to do is come to the ...

NDP Education critic Chandra Pasma released the following statement in response to news of a strike notice from Ontario’s lowest-paid education workers: “Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce have brought us to the brink of disruption in our schools, and they’re the only ones who can stop the clock on this countdown. All they have to do is come to the ...

Shaw fights to ensure ambulance availability, end code zeros in Ontario Sandy Shaw, NDP MPP for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas, will bring forward a motion for debate Thursday calling for action to end ambulance unavailability across the province. “It’s a terrifying moment when you call an ambulance for a parent, grandparent, or child, only to learn that no ambulance is available to ...

The Government of Ontario today introduced the next phase of its Housing Supply Action Plan: the proposed More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022. The Plan includes a broad array of legislative and regulatory changes related to land use planning, property taxes, building code, heritage, conservation, and the infrastructure financing framework that supports growth. “Municipalities will welcome some of the proposed ...

Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk-James Bay), France Gélinas (Nickel Belt), Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong), Michael Mantha (Algoma-Manitoulin), John Vanthof (Timiskaming-Cochrane), Lise Vaugeois (Thunder Bay-Superior North), and Jamie West (Sudbury) are asking the Ontario Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission to reconsider a proposed electoral boundary change that would diminish the representation of Northern Ontarians in Parliament. In a letter (below) addressed to the Commission last ...

Oct 25, 2022 at 08:13 Ottawa NDP MPPs Joel Harden and Chandra Pasma issued the following response to news that Doug Ford and Sylvia Jones have been summoned to testify at the Emergencies Act inquiry: “Learning that Doug Ford and Sylvia Jones turned down a request to voluntarily testify at the Emergencies Act inquiry just adds insult to injury for ...

Oct 18, 2022 at 12:25 Chandra Pasma, NDP Education Critic, released the following statement in response to news that the no-board report requested by CUPE has been issued: “Let’s be very clear: the one person with the ability to stop classroom disruption is Doug Ford. The premier can ensure kids stay in schools right now by listening to our lowest-paid ...

  October 5th, 2022 Honourable Stephen Lecce Ministry of Education 315 Front Street West, 14th Floor Toronto, Ontario  M7A 0B8 RE: CHILDCARE CRISIS OPEN LETTER Dear Minister Lecce, Of all provincial government responsibilities, child protection, health and education are among the highest priorities. Even so, a crisis is brewing here in Ontario, growing at an alarming rate. Its effects will ...

Sol Mamakwa, Ontario NDP critic for Indigenous and Treaty Relations, released the following statement in support of the three First Nations who filed a claim against Ontario to protect their Treaty rights under Treaty No. 9: “I stand with Chapleau Cree, Missanabie Cree, and Brunswick House First Nations in their fight to defend their traditional ways of life. The Ontario ...

MPP France Gélinas (Nickel Belt), Health Critic for the Official Opposition released the following statement after news that an emergency room in Chesley, Ontario will be forced to shut its doors for eight entire weeks: “Closing an ER for any length of time can have dire consequences, especially in a rural community where people are already driving long distances to ...

On Tuesday, Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced that New Democrats used their power to help families and their budgets by giving families with children under 12 $650 a year, per child, to get their teeth fixed and by putting money in people’s pockets with $500 to pay their rent and up to $467 to pay their bills. It’s clear ...

NDP Health Care critic France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) is calling for urgent action after new Ontario Health data revealed that patients spent over 20 hours on average waiting in the ER for admission this July, with only 24 per cent of patients being admitted within an eight-hour benchmark. Gélinas released the following statement: “We can all imagine the agony of ...