Editorials, Letters & Political Commentary

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 ...

« 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 ...

“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 ...

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 ...

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 ...