By MPP Toby Barrett Last week I waded into the Queen’s Park furor surrounding alleged bribery in the Sudbury by-election. During Question Period, I asked the Premier why she had not removed her deputy chief of staff Pat Sorbara, who is accused of bribery, and backroom operative Gerry Lougheed Jr., who was also involved in … Continue reading ““Premier . . . if charges are laid, will you step aside?””
Category: Column Articles
On February 28, nine years ago, Janie Jamieson and Dawn Smith led a blockade shutting down construction of Caledonia’s Douglas Creek Estates. The subdivision has been occupied by native activists ever since. Over the ensuing nine years, protests and demands have had an impact on traffic, construction and plans for future transportation projects in the … Continue reading “The bypasses and bridges of Haldimand County”
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be.” – my grandmother By MPP Toby Barrett In a recent column, I reported that Ontario’s Auditor-General, Bonnie Lysyk, has asked the people of Ontario to commence a serious conversation about paying down the debt. She has recommended Ontario work to cut Ontario’s debt-to-GDP ratio back to its pre-recession … Continue reading “Leaving debt to our children is morally wrong”
If disabled can work, why take away their money? “I don’t want to be at home. I want to work.” ~ ODSP recipient By MPP Toby Barrett Prior to last spring’s election, Premier Wynne pegged social justice as her top priority. Immediately after winning, she promised “better support” for those on social assistance. But those … Continue reading “If disabled can work, why take away their money?”
By MPP Toby Barrett It was over 11 years ago that I reported into Shortt’s Garage, just up the road, for an expected ‘dressing down’ as our government had just lost the election. The consensus that day was a rueful, “hang on to your wallet”. And in relatively short order, newly-minted Premier McGuinty brought in … Continue reading “Hang on to your wallet – more tax hikes coming”
By MPP Toby Barrett One nasty piece of business that will need to be dealt with when the Legislature returns in February is the ongoing natural gas plant scandal. In an admission of guilt, the Premier has apologized, and the Liberal Party has repaid the $10,000 of taxpayers’ money used to cover up the $1.1- … Continue reading “Questions remain about natural gas plant scandal”
By MPP Toby Barrett Ontario’s Auditor-General, Bonnie Lysyk, has thrown out a challenge to legislators, government and people in Ontario – it is time to “start a conversation” about paying down Ontario’s debt. Her concern – interest rates will eventually rise, meaning the interest cost to service Ontario’s debt will rise dramatically. By way of … Continue reading “Ontario’s Auditor-General red flags doubled debt”
By MPP Toby Barrett When sea lamprey became entrenched in the Great Lakes, the impact on native fish was tremendous. Decades later, we are still battling lamprey, but Asian carp are waiting at the door with ramifications that will make lamprey look tame. Fallout on ecosystems and native species is often severe, and sometimes irreversible. … Continue reading “Invasive species legislation needs more work”
By MPP Toby Barrett As a recent grandfather, the safety of children and society’s most vulnerable, remains of utmost importance. Just before the Ontario Legislature broke for Christmas, a host of legislation was rammed through, including Bill 10, the so-called Child Care Modernization Act. This childcare law has been met with a great deal of … Continue reading “Ontario’s not-so modern child care legislation”
By MPP Toby Barrett The latter half of 2014 commenced with the swearing-in, on July 2, of duly-elected members of Ontario’s 41st Parliament – a majority government of 58 Liberals, 28 Progressive Conservatives and 21 New Democrats. The commencement of the 41st Parliament wrapped up the duties of Ontario Lieutenant Governor David Onley’s seven-year term … Continue reading “Mid-2014 ushered in Liberal majority government”