A Canadian Christmas Tradition: The Queen’s Message

By MPP Toby Barrett Pre-Christmas debate in the Ontario Legislature provided me an opportunity to highlight upcoming changes in parliamentary protocol, and procedure with respect to the Crown. For example, a change to the Legislature’s Standing Orders will add a clause: “Following prayers on the first sitting Monday of each month, the Canadian national anthem … Continue reading “A Canadian Christmas Tradition: The Queen’s Message”

Ontario working to keep Ontario free of deadly deer disease

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 19, 2019 SIMCOE – The Ontario government has a plan to deal with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) – a progressive, fatal brain disorder that mostly affects deer and elk – if, and when, it is discovered in Ontario. If CWD were detected in Ontario, the legislative changes will allow the … Continue reading “Ontario working to keep Ontario free of deadly deer disease”

Ontario investing in critical hospital upgrades and repairs

Maintaining hospital infrastructure to ensure a safe environment for patients FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 18, 2019 SIMCOE – Hospitals in Haldimand-Norfolk will get a $3.2 million injection. The funding is part of a provincial investment in the health and safety of patients through urgent upgrades, repairs and maintenance at 131 hospitals across Ontario to help … Continue reading “Ontario investing in critical hospital upgrades and repairs”

Province allocating more than $500,000 for species at risk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 18, 2019 PORT ROWAN – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett was joined by conservation leaders to announce funding for the Species At Risk Stewardship Fund earlier today. ALUS Canada will receive $385,200 to work with farmers and local community partners to create, enhance, restore and manage on-the-ground habitat conservation projects. ALUS Canada … Continue reading “Province allocating more than $500,000 for species at risk”

Police services in Haldimand and Norfolk receive more than $30,000 to keep impaired drivers off the road

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 16, 2019 SIMCOE — Police services in Haldimand and Norfolk Counties will receive more than $30,000 in funding through the province’s Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) Grant to help detect impaired drivers and keep our streets and highways safe. This investment is part of the government’s investment of $2.4 million announced … Continue reading “Police services in Haldimand and Norfolk receive more than $30,000 to keep impaired drivers off the road”

Music makes much to herald the Christmas season

By MPP Toby Barrett My first morning of December this year was memorable. My wife Cari woke me up, at full volume, to “The Little Drummer Boy” – a recent music video by evangelical rock group For King & Country. This exuberant twist on the classic “Drummer Boy,” arrived hard on the heels of my … Continue reading “Music makes much to herald the Christmas season”

Ontario Supporting Research and Monitoring of Underground Gas

Taking action to maintain public safety NEWS December 17, 2019 The Ontario government is protecting public safety in Norfolk County by investing in research and monitoring to further understand the movement of underground gas to the surface. Ontario is partnering with Norfolk County to monitor a leaking gas well located on county-owned property. Monitoring will … Continue reading “Ontario Supporting Research and Monitoring of Underground Gas”

There is more work to be done on flood policy

By MPP Toby Barrett This fall, November didn’t bode well for Lake Erie property owners. To borrow a line from Gordon Lightfoot’s song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” “…the gales of November came early.” The stage was set for devastation with Lake Erie at record highs through much of 2019. This, combined with winds … Continue reading “There is more work to be done on flood policy”

Changes coming to the forestry sector

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 10, 2019 QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario’s newly redesigned Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program will benefit the forestry sector, which is important in both Norfolk and Haldimand Counties. Barrett’s question about the program, during Question Period at Queen’s Park recently, came on the heels of the recent announcement of its redesign. … Continue reading “Changes coming to the forestry sector”

Toby Barrett MPP hails proposed Bill to protect Ontario’s farmers, farm animals and food supply

Addressing the unique risks associated with on-farm trespass FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 3, 2019 Queen’s Park – A proposed Bill introduced in the Ontario Legislature will, if passed, better protect farmers, their animals, livestock transporters and the province’s food supply from on-farm trespassers. The proposed legislation would also require explicit prior consent to access an … Continue reading “Toby Barrett MPP hails proposed Bill to protect Ontario’s farmers, farm animals and food supply”