By MPP Toby Barrett There has been a great deal of talk across Ontario in recent months about animal welfare. Ontario is changing the way animal welfare laws are enforced. We passed the PAWS Act on January 1st, 2020 – a transparent and accountable measure that keeps all animals safe. Unless you are a farmer, … Continue reading “Protecting farm animals, farmers and our food supply”
Category: Column Articles
By MPP Toby Barrett Last spring the Ontario Government introduced temporary measures to ensure the welfare of animals, after the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals announced it was withdrawing enforcement. Temporary measures were necessary while the province worked with animal welfare stakeholders to develop a new provincial enforcement model. We have … Continue reading “The Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act is now law”
By MPP Toby Barrett Reflecting on the last six months of 2019, animals were the topic of discussion as we moved into summer. The OSPCA informed the Solicitor General it would no longer enforce the OSPCA Act. The OSPCA withdrew all responsibility for livestock and horse related issues and complaints. This triggered the implementation of … Continue reading “Wrapping up 2019 in the constituency and Queens Park”
By MPP Toby Barrett The year 2019 dawned with a six-month old majority government and an administration setting the stage for more accountable ways of conducting business. Since 2018, much has been accomplished but there is more to do. As a province, our potential is limitless. We are blessed with an abundance of natural resources … Continue reading “Governing and some of the action steps in 2019”
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”
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”
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”
By MPP Toby Barrett Over my years as an elected representative, one of the key frustrations I hear from people is with government waste-wasteful spending coupled with inefficiencies and lack of results. It is time to look at the public service and the broader public sector through a results-driven lens-to find efficiencies, to remove duplication, … Continue reading “A smarter, leaner government will put people first”
By MPP Toby Barrett A balanced and prudent approach is key to governing. In my view it boils down to the following – invest in essential public services, return Ontario to a sound financial footing, and return more money to people’s pockets. To set a target of balancing the budget in 2023 means financial relief … Continue reading “A balanced and prudent approach is key to governing”
By MPP Toby Barrett Our health care system, as the phrase ‘hallway health care’ suggests, has been facing capacity issues for many years, and we’ve been hearing examples of that across Haldimand-Norfolk and during debate at Queen’s Park. We hear so much about our growing population in areas like the GTA, and certainly the rapidly … Continue reading “Measures to cut waitlists and hallway healthcare”