Editorials, Letters & Political Commentary

Ontario families can’t afford higher hydro bills: NDP

As the Conservative government hikes hydro rates in the middle of a pandemic, Ontario NDP Energy critic Peter Tabuns said Premier Doug Ford’s failure to fix the electricity system is costing families. Thanks to Ford’s hydro rate hike, Ontario families will pay 12.8 cents per kilowatt hour starting today, up from 10.1 cents per kilowatt hour. “Ford promised a 12 ...

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Province must take over second Sienna long-term care home in Woodbridge: NDP

After another disastrous outbreak of COVID-19 at Vista Care Community, a Sienna-owned home in Woodbridge, the NDP is joining the frontline staff in calling for the government to take over management of the home immediately. Staff represented by SEIU Healthcare says staffing levels at the home are so dangerously low that the private manager can’t properly oversee the crisis and ...

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Horwath calls for takeover of many more than two care homes

Weeks late, the government has stepped in to take over two private for-profit long-term care facilities that are failing to protect their residents against COVID-19 — but NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says many more need to come under the direct management of the province. “For weeks, we have all heard horror stories about long-term care homes leaving residents with COVID-19 ...

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NDP to force vote on emergency funding for municipalities

NDP Municipal Affairs critic Jeff Burch will table a motion this week that would give emergency financial support to municipalities that have been deeply impacted by COVID-19. “Cities and towns throughout the province are on the verge of devastating cuts if the Ford Government does not step up and provide funding,” said Burch. Municipalities are not able to run deficits, ...

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More support needed as Ontario extends school closures

Marit Stiles, Ontario NDP Education critic, released the following statement in response to the government announcement that schools will remain closed through the end of June: “Schools should remain closed until it’s absolutely safe for kids to return, so we support the move to keep kids at home for the rest of the school year. But parents are now being ...

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Since pandemic began, all three big LTC corporations have hired Ford insiders to lobby government

Since the pandemic began, the big three for-profit long-term care corporations have hired close Doug Ford allies to protect their financial interests by lobbying Ford and his government. Since the pandemic began, at least four top Ford allies and senior staffers have registered to lobby the government on behalf of the big three: Extendicare, Revera and Chartwell. ●        Melissa Lantsman ...

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Horwath forces a vote on launching a full, independent public inquiry into Ontario’s long-term care system

On Tuesday afternoon, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario will vote on whether to hold a thorough, non-partisan, independent public inquiry — under The Public Inquiries Act — sparked by a motion by NDP Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath.   Since the pandemic began, more than 4,400 residents and staff at Ontario long term care homes have contracted COVID-19, with over 1,400 deaths ...

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Takeover of long-term care homes long overdue: Horwath

Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath said the government’s move to take over the management of long-term care homes in Ontario is welcome, but should have come much sooner, and the government needs to take action on it quickly. The NDP has been calling on the government to do this for weeks, as Ontarians watched in horror as COVID-19 swept through ...

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NDP calls for non-partisan select committee on Ontario’s economic recovery

Catherine Fife, NDP Critic for Economic Growth and Job Creation and Sandy Shaw, NDP Finance Critic, are calling on the Ford government to strike an all-party select committee on the economic recovery from COVID-19.   “An all-party committee on economic recovery would take partisan politics off the table and ensure that all voices are heard as Ontario deals with the worst ...

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Reality check: Under Ford’s plan, businesses may never reopen

The rent is due in three days, but business owners and advocates are worried that Ontario’s broken new rent relief program will only lead to more closed doors.  Here’s just some of what Ontario’s business community has had to say: “The main concern that I am hearing from our clients, is that the landlord may be reluctant to enrol in ...

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Province must save intercity bus service in Northern Ontario: NDP

In a statement, NDP MPP Judith Monteith-Farrell (Thunder Bay-Atikokan) has raised serious concerns about the recently announced decision by Kasper Transportation to suspend land based transportation services in Northern Ontario starting on May 2nd, 2020: “The intercity bus service is critical for seniors and rural communities in Northern Ontario who depend on it. This decision by Kasper Transportation to suspend ...

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Letter – L’opposition officielle écrit au premier ministre au sujet de l’accès des régions rurales et du Nord au large bande

  April 24, 2020 Hon. Doug Ford Premier’s Office Room 281 Legislative Building, Queen’s Park Toronto, ON M7A 1A1 RE: Accès des régions rurales et du Nord au large bande Cher Premier ministre, La réalité de presque tout le monde dans notre province a radicalement changé le mois dernier. Il est devenu évident que pour nous sauver de la COVID-19 ...

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