MPP Michael Mantha’s News from the Park
MPP Michael Mantha, Algoma-Manitoulin
This week in the legislature New Democrats delivered results with the passage of a Bill to create the Financial Accountability Office. This is proof that the Legislature can deliver results for people when they focus on the right priorities.
With the establishment of this office, accountability will remain a key priority. This office will provide transparency and careful consideration of how money will be spent, before it is spent. It will make government accountable and stop scandals before they start. New Democrats worked hard to have this office established and we’ll keep working hard to deliver results.
The last legislative session was plagued by scandals and the public lost trust in their government. During the budget negotiations New Democrats went across the province and listened to the public and what they wanted from their government. We brought back your suggestions and demanded the government include these measures in their budget so that we can start to re build some of that trust. The Financial Accountability Office will provide independent, forward looking cost assessments of proposals made by any MPP or the government.
Also in the legislature this week the Liberal government, with the support of Hudak Conservatives, adopted a motion to speed Bill 74 through the house. The Bill has drawn criticism, even from Conservative MPPs, for its unbalanced attempt to re-write labour laws to benefit a single company: EllisDon to break its contract with the people who work for the company.
EllisDon signed an agreement with its workers. The validity of this agreement was reinforced by the Ontario Labour Relations Board. It’s up to EllisDon to work with its employees to find a solution that works for everyone
We are ready to debate and vote on this bill in the normal course of business. But a bill that affects one company shouldn’t be given special treatment just because the company donated money to the government.
This bill isn’t about the broad construction industry. This is a bill that’s custom made for one company that happens to be a major donor to the Liberal and PC Parties, and we don’t think that’s right. Our priorities are to make life more affordable for all Ontarians not just one corporation.
As always, please feel free to contact my office about this issue, or any other provincial matters. You can reach my constituency office by email at mmantha-co@ndp.on.ca or by phone at 705-461-9710/1-800-831-1899.
Michael Mantha, MPP/député
Algoma-Manitoulin
