A pre-Christmas wake-up call from Ontario’s AG

By MPP Toby Barrett As your Ontario Legislature wrapped up for Christmas, an important document landed on MPP’s desks – the Auditor General’s 2013 Annual Report. I sit on Public Accounts – a Standing Committee charged with reviewing and facilitating the Auditor General’s work. The report from recently-appointed AG Bonnie Lysyk describes value-for-money audits ranging … Continue reading “A pre-Christmas wake-up call from Ontario’s AG”

Trillium locomotives wind to a halt today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 20, 2013 SIMCOE- Trillium Railway locomotives have ground to a halt today. Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett was hopeful a solution can be found to keep rail service alive in the riding after the short line ceased to operate on the Canadian National tracks between St. Thomas and Delhi. The track reverts … Continue reading “Trillium locomotives wind to a halt today”

Bring back the spring bear hunt: Barrett

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 19, 2013 SIMCOE – One of the last pieces of business before Queen’s Park wound down for Christmas was passing the second reading of legislation that will bring the spring bear hunt back on a limited basis. Bill Mauro’s Private Member’s Bill would allow a two-year pilot spring hunt near major … Continue reading “Bring back the spring bear hunt: Barrett”

Christmas is about much more than just shopping

By MPP Toby Barrett In reviewing statements from the Ontario government recently, one might assume Christmas is only about electrical safety and holiday shopping – that Christmas is only about the cash register and the commercialization of our Christmas holidays. And, in truth, over the decades, we have seen a continued secularization of Christmas – … Continue reading “Christmas is about much more than just shopping”

Time to scrap Drive Clean: Barrett

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 18, 2013 SIMCOE – The time is long overdue to scrap the Drive Clean program, Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett said in the wake of an announcement Drive Clean fees would be reduced. “Reducing the Drive Clean fees won’t cut it for Ontario drivers who’ve been forced to fork over their hard-earned … Continue reading “Time to scrap Drive Clean: Barrett”

Why a rehash of the Smoke Free Ontario Act?

By MPP Toby Barrett Often times when a government runs out of steam it attempts to spin old ideas into new ones. Ten years after the Smoke Free Ontario Act was implemented, government proposes to debate it once again. They also want to debate the coal ban all over again. Such repetition results in poor … Continue reading “Why a rehash of the Smoke Free Ontario Act?”

There is an alternate to gas tax hike: Barrett

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, December 13, 2013 SIMCOE – A Government proposal to hike gas taxes up to 10 cents across the land to pay for Toronto transit is dampening Christmas spirit faster than Scrooge stealing presents. “It’s ridiculous to have all Ontarians pay higher gas taxes to solve a Toronto transit problem,” said Haldimand-Norfolk … Continue reading “There is an alternate to gas tax hike: Barrett”

Barrett calls on government to keep rail alive in Norfolk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 10, 2013 QUEEN’S PARK – MPP Toby Barrett is fighting to keep the last rail line servicing Norfolk County alive. On Friday, Trillium Railway announced it would be ceasing operations on Dec. 20 due to the cost of upgrading bridges that are a part of the line. Due to the nature … Continue reading “Barrett calls on government to keep rail alive in Norfolk”

Schools need policy on peanuts, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy…

For Immediate Release December 6, 2013 Simcoe – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett feels it is time the Ontario government pass legislation that will put in place school policy on peanuts, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and whatever else may be ailing children. The local MPP spoke in the Ontario Legislature to his colleague Jeff Yurek’s Private Member’s … Continue reading “Schools need policy on peanuts, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy…”