Recently I was sitting in a reception area for a meeting that was to begin in a few minutes. I was wearing one of my favourite light sweaters. As I sipped my coffee, I noticed a little thread of yarn hanging just under my elbow. I was about to pull it when in my mind I heard a sharp, “Michael!” ...
Read More »Editorials & Letters
NDP statement on education bargaining
Interim Ontario NDP Leader Peter Tabuns released the following statement (November 8th, 2022): “It’s inappropriate for Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce to attempt to take a victory lap. They need to negotiate a fair deal with education workers that guarantees our kids will have the support of caring adults in the classroom. If Mr. Ford and Mr. Lecce are serious ...
Read More »Not enough for Older Canadians in Fall Budget Update
The 2022 Fall Economic Statement, released November 3 outlines the government’s plan to “continue to help Canadians with the cost of living and building a Canada where nobody gets left behind.” CARP, Canada’s largest advocacy agency on behalf of Canadians aged 65 and above is concerned that very little in the update is directed at older Canadians. According to Statistics ...
Read More »Letter – The Wawa Christmas Hamper Fund Could Use Your Help
Wawa Christmas Hamper Fund October 20, 2021 Greetings Everyone! It is the season for the Wawa Christmas Hampers once again. The hamper program has been in Wawa since the early 1960’s and is used extensively during the holiday season. The year 2020 proved challenging due to COVID 19. We were able to provide 157 recipients with PPE equipment along with ...
Read More »Nouvelles du parc – Tout ce que j’ai vraiment besoin de savoir…
« Tout ce que j’ai vraiment besoin de savoir, j’ai appris à la maternelle. » Certains lecteurs reconnaîtront ce titre d’un livre écrit par Robert Fulghum. C’était son idéologie publiée ou une déclaration de croyances et de buts pour la vie. J’ai fait référence à ce livre dans des colonnes précédentes au fil des ans. En substance, Fulghum a expliqué sa conviction ...
Read More »News from the Park – All I Really Need to Know…
“All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” Some readers will recognize this title of a book written by Robert Fulghum. It was his published ideology or statement of beliefs and aims for life. I have made reference to this book in previous columns over the years. In essence, Fulghum explained his belief that by following some fundamental ...
Read More »NDP slams Ford for voting down motion to double ODSP rates, leaving Ontarians in legislated poverty
Peter Tabuns, Interim Leader of Ontario’s Official Opposition NDP, released the following statement in response to the Ford government’s decision to vote down the NDP motion to immediately double Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates: “The people living on OW and ODSP are asking for the basic right to live with dignity and respect, free from ...
Read More »NDP motion to end ambulance delays passes, Shaw pledges to keep fighting for hospital staffing
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 ...
Read More »Nouvelles du Parc – 31 octobre
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 ...
Read More »News from the Park – October 31
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, ...
Read More »Only Ford and Lecce can bring schools back from brink of disruption: NDP
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 ...
Read More »Only Ford and Lecce can bring schools back from brink of disruption: NDP
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 ...
Read More »NDP expresses Concerns about Ontario Medical System
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 ...
Read More »Ontario’s New Housing Supply Action Plan: Some Troubling Features
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 ...
Read More »NDP MPPs urge fair electoral representation for Northern Ontario residents
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 ...
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