Local hospitals must capitalize on new provincial funding By MPP Toby Barrett Ontario’s response to COVID-19 has been to support frontline workers, build healthcare capacity and invest in our hospitals. We continued to respond to the pandemic by creating more beds for example, Norfolk General Hospital (NGH) got a boost of $2.35 million for up … Continue reading “Local hospitals must capitalize on new provincial funding”
Category: Column Articles
By MPP Toby Barrett Recreational fishing is a $1.7 billion economic driver in Ontario. As such, the government is committed to supporting recreational fishing in Ontario. The commercial bait industry has a lengthy history with 1,100 commercial bait lincenses issued each year and a value estimated at $23 million. Some of Ontario’s popular fisheries – … Continue reading “Casting light on baitfish disease and invasives”
By MPP Toby Barrett Government and health experts have been asking people to stay at home for a reason – we are all dealing with a highly infectious disease. You cannot see it, you do not know whether you have it (only at the point of being tested) and you do not know whether you … Continue reading “COVID strains are variants of concern for a reason”
By MPP Toby Barrett We in this part of the world love our Great Lakes. Many of us enjoy spending a day on the water. However, over the years we have seen the impact municipal sewage and the use of nutrients in agriculture can have on algae growth in the lakes, including Lake Erie. Have … Continue reading “Better farming practices better for Lake Erie”
By MPP Toby Barrett Two extensive reports are now out analyzing the tragic results of the ruthless spread of the COVID-19 virus in Ontario’s long-term care homes. Both the government-requested Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission and the Auditor General’s Special Report exposed systemic issues that resulted from years of neglect and underfunding by the previous government. … Continue reading “Fixing years of long-term care neglect and underfunding”
By MPP Toby Barrett As government MPPs, we are heartened to see the federal budget shares the same priorities our government identified in our 2021 Budget last month – protecting people’s health and our economy. However, as the COVID crisis intensifies, we are disappointed to see there was no action announced in the federal budget in … Continue reading “A Tale of Two Budgets and of Two Governments”
By MPP Toby Barrett I continue to receive questions about the Stay-At-Home order resulting from Coronavirus caseload increases across Ontario. With spring upon us, many questions have been raised about marinas and boat ramps. Here are some answers we received from government ministries. Due to the changing nature of the variants and vaccine availability, this information may change. Please note the … Continue reading “Good weather to get outdoors, with caution”
By MPP Toby Barrett On Thursday, April 8, 2021, Ontario issued a Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home order requiring everyone to remain at home except for essential purposes. This includes going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including being vaccinated), outdoor exercise, or for work that cannot be done remotely. Recently, COVID … Continue reading “Ontario enacts Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order”
By MPP Toby Barrett On Thursday, April 8, 2021, Ontario issued a Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home order requiring everyone to remain at home except for essential purposes. This includes going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including being vaccinated), outdoor exercise, or for work that cannot be done remotely. Recently, COVID … Continue reading “Ontario enacts Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order”
By MPP Toby Barrett Protecting people’s health and the economy has been the Ontario government’s top priority since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is not just necessary to fight COVID-19 and save lives, it is also the most sensible economic and fiscal policy. After all, without healthy people, you cannot have a healthy … Continue reading “A budget for healthy people and a healthy economy”