FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 5, 2015 QUEEN’S PARK – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett took the government to task during Question Period for its energy policies that could be scaring business away from the area. Barrett’s question to the Premier came after he heard from a local industry saying it would likely move to the U.S. … Continue reading “Barrett concerned electricity prices driving out industry”
Year: 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 2015 SIMCOE – Farmers shouldn’t look for help from yesterday’s budget, according to Toby Barrett, Opposition Critic for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. On the program side, there is nothing new announced, just a restatement of existing programs. The good news for farms that have drying operations … Continue reading “No help for agriculture in budget: Barrett”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 23, 2015 QUEEN’S PARK – The Liberal government budget that was just released is not a substantive plan to get Ontario back on a firm economic footing and eliminate the deficit by 2017-18. “My colleagues and I can’t support this budget. In the last few weeks, we laid out five areas … Continue reading “Budget misses the mark”
By MPP Toby Barrett Long Point country comprises hundreds and hundreds of acres of healthy wetland habitat. Now, much of that is phragmites. The same is true at the mouth of the Grand, and in other wetlands, waterways and ditches across Ontario. A tall, invasive reed, phragmites spreads by both seeds and a hardy root … Continue reading “How should we be attacking invasive species?”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2015 QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario’s electricity rates are skyrocketing again. On May 1, the on-peak price of electricity will climb from 14 cents/kwh to 16 cents/kwh. That is a 14 per cent increase, and will be double the new off-peak price of 8 cents/kwh. The mid-peak price will increase to … Continue reading “Electricity rates up 14 per cent, May 1”
For Immediate Release April 17, 2015 Queen’s Park – Over the years, Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett has met with the committee trying to build a new health centre in Port Dover, as well as with Norfolk General Hospital’s recruitment team. Back in January the local MPP wrote to Ontario’s Health Minister to alert him to … Continue reading “Barrett/Hoskins discuss Norfolk doctor shortage”
By MPP Toby Barrett If ever there was a case for stressing math literacy in our schools, it would be the recent jumble of deficit numbers leading to this spring’s provincial budget. There have been some complimentary headlines recently on Premier Wynne’s handling of Ontario’s finances, such as, “Ontario’s deficit shrinks by $1.6B”. However, it’s … Continue reading “The Easter miracle of deficit cuts at Queen’s Park”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 15, 2015 QUEEN’S PARK – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett rose again in the Legislature to speak on the province’s Invasive Species Act. Barrett favours the spirit of the legislation, but spoke yesterday of his concerns and how the legislation could be improved. He questions the act allowing entry without a warrant. … Continue reading “Barrett has mixed emotion with Invasive Species Act”
By MPP Toby Barrett The Ontario government has been scurrying to add new taxes. The latest is a payroll tax to fund the proposed Ontario Registered Pension Plan (ORPP). Liberal messaging croons that “when we share a little, we gain a lot”, thus creating yet another phrase for tax. The reality is the ORPP will … Continue reading “Employees, employers dinged by proposed pension”
By MPP Toby Barrett Given the importance of citizen participation in our society, the last thing needed is the possibility that those who speak out should be subject to frivolous lawsuits. New legislation currently before the Ontario Parliament aims to change that. Bill 52, the Protection of Public Participation Act, is an Anti-SLAPP lawsuit bill … Continue reading “Speaking out without the fear of being SLAPPed”