Mantha’s News from the Park : Labour Day
Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha
As the summer winds down families are getting ready for start of another school year, but first getting ready to enjoy the last weekend of summer. It’s important to note the importance of this long weekend, Labour Day, a why we celebrate it.
Labour Day is a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements of workers and the progress made by the labour movement. In Canada we have been marking the day since the 1880’s and have continued to celebrate where we have come in terms of workers’ rights but at the same time acknowledge that still much more needs to be done to protect workers on the job.
Many countries around the world celebrate this holiday with marches and parades, this Labour Day I encourage you all to participate in local activities as well as reflect on what is needed to improve the economic and social well-being for all labourers.
Also on the last weekend of summer I want to encourage folks to take advantage of their local farmers markets and foods. One of the best ways to enjoy Ontario summers is through the incredible foods grown here. Don’t forget local foods include a wide array of locally grown and processed meat, dairy, eggs, honey, as well as mushrooms, greenhouse produce and artisan food products, such as bread and cheese.
Ontario’s agri-food industry contributes more than $34 billion to the province’s GDP and supports more than 740,000 jobs.There are over 200 farmers’ markets in Ontario some of which are featuring VQA wines from local wineries and Ontario’s flower and vegetable greenhouse industry accounts MPP for approximately $1.34 billion of revenue.
I travel across Algoma-Manitoulin a lot, and one of my favorite things is enjoying our local food and supporting local farmers and businesses. Investing in our local economies benefits us all.
Due to the late sitting in July the legislature will be resuming later in October, which gives me more time to spend in communities across Algoma-Manitoulin.
If there are events in your communities, meetings, school activities please let me and my office know and I look forward to participating in more activities over the fall.
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.
MPP Michael Mantha, Algoma-Manitoulin
