QUEEN’S PARK, ON – NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is proud that members of the legislature unanimously appointed Stephen LeClair as Ontario’s first Financial Accountability Officer (FAO). “We’ve waited a long time for this moment, but I’m proud that we’ve finally appointed [Read more]
“Broadband access should be getting better instead of being threatened” says Hughes Rural Canadians concerned about the government’s failure to improve broadband internet in those parts of the country can add the potential negative impacts of an Industry Canada proposal that will [Read more]
Thursday, November 27th, at Queen’s Park, I was joined by the Ontario Lyme Alliance and their national and regional counterparts to bring attention — and to deliver a call to action — on a serious public health policy matter. The issue is the alarming increase in Lyme disease. As [Read more]
Manitoulin Family Resources is set to open their newly constructed food bank this month. While I am saddened that I will be in Ottawa and unable to join their celebrations for this achievement, I am more than a little frustrated that in a country as rich as ours the number of Canadians who rely [Read more]
“Government should come clean about public costs of Pan/Parapan Am Games sponsorships” says NDP QUEEN’S PARK, ON – Today NDP Finance Critic Catherine Fife demanded the government release the details about costs to the public for sponsorship of the Pan/ Parapan Am Games [Read more]
“The Liberal government must end the secrecy surrounding medical tourism in Ontario. Frontline health care professionals can see that the Liberals have quietly opened a backdoor to put profits ahead of patients, threatening to undermine the public health care system we all hold dear. Even the [Read more]
People who had been denied federal disability benefits were thrown a curve ball as new rules have stripped them of their right to have an appeal in person. Where in the past individuals were able to meet face to face with an adjudicator, they will no longer be legally entitled to this method of [Read more]
ALGOMA-MANITOULIN, ON – June 12th, Ontarians go to the polls to cast their vote and choose who will sit on their behalf at Queen’s Park. In Algoma-Manitoulin what, or rather who, are your options? Incumbent, New Democratic Party, Michael Mantha Liberal Craig Hughson Progressive [Read more]
QUEEN’S PARK, ON – “Today New Democrats made it clear that we have lost confidence in the Liberals and their endless waste. The Liberal budget is a desperate attempt to distract Ontarians from the countless scandals by making promises we know they won’t keep. “People in Algoma-Manitoulin [Read more]
It was a noteworthy week in Canadian politics despite the fact that it was a constituency week for MPs. What made it interesting were announcements that Olivia Chow and Jim Flaherty are stepping down to pursue other options. We know that Olivia is leaving to run for Mayor of Toronto, while Mr. [Read more]
This week marked another constituency week where I had the opportunity to tour the riding and offer clinics. I visited several communities in the northwestern part of the riding and heard many of your concerns. Unfortunately things are not improving for many families. Affordability continues [Read more]
As the Finance Minister worked his way through the budget speech last Thursday it became obvious that the advance press was true and we were receiving a do nothing budget. I had to wonder if we are living in the same country since the Canada I experience in my role as MP is defined by [Read more]
The ever ballooning Senate spending scandal has been instructive for political watchers as it highlights how our democratic institutions operate in a self-policing manner that can be secretive, self-serving, and difficult for people to make sense of. Amidst the understandable public outrage there [Read more]
We hear a lot about the disappearing middle class these days and we should be hearing as much, or perhaps even more, about the plight of seniors mired in poverty. Whether it is because of pensions that underperform or vanish altogether, more seniors are requiring assistance from the [Read more]
It is pretty easy to view drug companies as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type entities. For those who are relieved of symptoms or illness by proprietary drugs, they do good and important work. For those who struggle with side effects, receive little or no relief, have adverse reactions – or [Read more]
