Editorials, Letters & Political Commentary

Sometime in November 2018 Canadians started to notice that more and more of their fellow Canadians started to wear Yellow Vests. I have also taken notice and have been watching this unfold over the past few months. This wearing of the “Yellow Vest” has become synonymous with the events taking place world wide – albeit, in Canada we are relatively ...

The Official Opposition Health Care critic, France Gélinas, says the pervasiveness of kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies to pharmacies — designed to push their generics over those of competitors’ — affirms Ontario’s need for universal pharmacare, a prescription drug plan that covers everyone.   This weekend, CBC’s investigative news program The Fifth Estate reported that the practice of drug companies paying ...

On Monday afternoon, Doug Ford delivered a shocking and disturbing admission that he believes the head of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to be a “political appointment.”   “The police are not political,” said NDP Community Safety and Correctional Services critic Kevin Yarde. “We require these brave officers to preserve the integrity of Ontario’s police force, and they need to ...

First, let me thank the organizers of the Christmas Hamper, they do a wonderful job of organizing and carrying out this event every year. However, I have spoken to many people this year and most have voiced the same concern – they felt humiliated when they went to pick up their baskets. I can understand the committee asking for identification, ...

Dear Brenda, It’s a bit rich for Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Rob Phillips to be touting the government’s progress on the long-term sustainability of our vital drinking water resources at the same time as the Government of Ontario has introduced Bill 66. The proposed bill would allow municipalities to circumvent planning requirements and land use restrictions under ...

On Tuesday, Doug Ford tried to smear Deputy Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Commissioner Brad Blair with a claim that Blair broke the law by voicing concerns he had with the conduct of Ford’s office, including the attempt to install Ford’s close friend and ally, Ron Taverner, as the province’s top cop. On Thursday, NDP Community Safety and Correctional Services critic ...

There are already questions about Doug Ford trying to inappropriately influence Ron Taverner, after a news report revealed Wednesday that Taverner knew of — and defended — Ford’s demand that the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) secretly buy him a custom camper van. The Toronto Sun reported the story Wednesday. “I am told it’s not a camper van but an extended-size ...

Michael Mantha, MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin and NDP critic for Northern Development and Mines, urged the Ford Conservatives Thursday in question period not to pass up an opportunity to bring jobs to northern Ontario.   The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation recently released its interest in a long-stagnant mill in Chapleau. But despite Indigenous and forestry industry interest in the mill, ...

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says that Doug Ford and his Conservatives spent their first six months in the legislature making things worse for everyday people. “The Liberal government let us down,” said Horwath. “But, in six months at Queen’s Park, Doug Ford has made things even worse for people. This is a government that makes decisions in back rooms, ...

As today’s politicians move lock-step to appease big business, it’s worth remembering not all benefits must slide toward corporations. CN Rail is a company forgetting that. Examples abound that CN views those impeding maximum profit as a nuisance, regardless of legal right or argument. Carry this point forward – CN Rail recently made the highest quarterly profit in its 99-year ...

Frequent readers of this column well know how much I value holding regular constituency clinics in communities across the riding. Having the opportunity to talk face-to-face with individuals to listen to their concerns is one of the most effective ways for an MPP to stay in touch with what is going on in the lives of their constituents. Not only ...

Ontario’s Auditor General has released a report that paints a grim picture of just how badly the Liberal government let Ontario down — but is also a foreshadowing of what’s to come, because where the auditor flags major problems, the Ford Conservatives have been making things even worse.   “The auditor really lays out a picture of a Liberal government ...

NDP Environment and Sustainability critic Ian Arthur released the following statement in response to news that Hydro One’s deal with Avista Corp has been scrapped by Washington state’s regulator due to Doug Ford’s political meddling: “Today’s decision (December 5th, 2018) makes it clear that Doug Ford’s political meddling has sent shockwaves through the business community and increased the risk of ...

Joel Harden, NDP critic for Accessibility and Persons with Disabilities, released the following statement on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities: “On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I want to commend the work of the disability rights movement for making Ontario a more inclusive place. It is thanks to the movement’s tireless campaigning that we have an ...

The NDP’s Anti-Racism critic Laura Mae Lindo is pointing out that, with Indigenous children far more likely be in care than non-Indigenous children, Doug Ford needs to reverse his elimination of the Child Advocate’s office to avoid putting up another discriminatory barrier for Indigenous youth. “In my riding of Kitchener Centre, Indigenous children are five times more likely to come ...