Editorials, Letters & Political Commentary

Dans la chronique de la semaine dernière, les lecteurs se souviendront peut-être que j’ai soulevé des préoccupations concernant la disparité entre les niveaux d’entretien hivernal des routes du sud et du nord de l’Ontario. Malheureusement, sous les gouvernements libéraux et conservateurs successifs, il s’agit d’un problème permanent auquel aucun des deux gouvernements n’a voulu se pencher, même brièvement. J’ai soulevé ...

In last week’s column, readers may recall that I raised concerns about the disparity between winter maintenance levels on highways in Southern Ontario and Northern Ontario. Unfortunately, under successive Liberal and Conservative governments, this has been an ongoing issue to which neither government would give even brief consideration.  I raised this issue recently in the Legislature and in last week’s ...

NDP MPP Michael Mantha (Algoma-Manitoulin) called out Doug Ford for failing to clear northern highways, putting the safety of northern drivers at risk and leaving people stranded, after snowfalls forced the closure of sections of Highways 17 and 11. For the residents of Dubreuilville, lack of road closure notices meant they drove in dangerous conditions only to be forced back. ...

Following Tuesday’s Throne Speech, local NDP MP Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing) is urging the Liberal government to move past empty promises and to make immediate changes to help Canadians. Hughes says Justin Trudeau has failed to get Canadians the help they need to recover from the pandemic, take urgent action on the climate crisis or take meaningful steps to help families afford ...

Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP, Carol Hughes delivered a message of support for people in Constance Lake First Nation in the House of Commons today as that community deals with multiple cases and suspected cases of blastomycosis – a rare infection caused by interaction with naturally occurring fungal spores. “I want to send a message of condolences and healing thoughts to the community ...

La députée d’Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing, Carol Hughes, a livré un message de soutien aux membres de la Première nation de Constance Lake à la Chambre des communes aujourd’hui, alors que cette communauté est aux prises avec de multiples cas et cas présumés de blastomycose – une infection rare causée par l’interaction avec des spores fongiques d’origine naturelle. “Je tiens à envoyer un ...

J’ai dit à maintes reprises que l’une des plus grandes joies de mon travail en tant que député provincial réside dans les nombreuses occasions que j’ai chaque année de rendre visite aux élèves dans leurs salles de classes. Les questions des enfants sont beaucoup plus difficiles que celles de la plupart des journalistes, car je ne sais jamais ce qu’ils ...

I have said many times that one of the greatest joys in my job as an MPP is the many opportunities I have each year to visit students in their elementary and secondary classrooms. Kids’ questions are far more challenging than most news reporters are because you never know what is coming at you.  Moreover, kids have no agenda to ...

MPP Michael Mantha called on Doug Ford to stop ignoring the opioid crisis in Northern Ontario and declare a public health emergency to stem the increasing number of hospitalizations and deaths in Algoma-Manitoulin. Mantha told the legislature that last week seven white crosses went up in M’Chigeeng First Nation. Each cross representing a community member who lost their life. Since ...

Northern Ontario New Democrats are fighting for families dealing with lost Canada Child Benefits (CCB) based on their acceptance of pandemic supports.  According to local NDP MPs Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing) and Charlie Angus (Timmins – James Bay) accepting the supports temporarily raised many household incomes enough to affect their regular CCB payments.  Now that the CERB and CRB have expired ...

Les néo-démocrates du Nord de l’Ontario se battent pour les familles aux prises avec la perte de l’Allocation canadienne pour enfants (ACE) au motif qu’elles ont perçu des soutiens pandémiques. Selon les député·es néo-démocrates de la région, Carol Hughes (Algoma–Manitoulin–Kapuskasing) et Charlie Angus (Timmins–Baie James), recevoir ces soutiens a temporairement augmenté les revenus de nombreux ménages au point d’affecter leurs ...

The Superior East Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is reminding motorists that winter is on its way. Snow and ice will soon be covering our roadways, and that means adjusting your driving habits. Keep a survival kit in your vehicle, with items including: warm clothes, gloves, booster cables, small shovel, windshield wiper fluid, first aid kit, snow brush, ...

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath released the following statement in response to media reports that pharmacies will be tapped to do testing of people who are symptomatic for COVID, and who have had close contact with people who are COVID-positive: “Pharmacies need to be safe for seniors, immunocompromised people and parents with unvaccinated little ones, who all need and deserve to ...

It is common and the norm for politicians to receive large quantities of phone calls, letters, and emails about particular issues in the headlines.  Those who read this column last week will understand why I think this is a good thing.  Readers will recall that my staff and I see this as a means of keeping our fingers on the ...

Il est courant et normal que les politiciens reçoivent de grandes quantités d’appels téléphoniques, des lettres et courriels sur des problèmes particuliers qui apparaissent dans les journaux. Ceux qui ont lu cette chronique la semaine dernière comprendront pourquoi je pense que c’est une bonne chose. Les lecteurs se souviendront que mon personnel et moi voyons cela comme un moyen de ...