Lord, love a duck, what a year! Five months ago we trustees took our oath of office with a spirit of cooperation and fellowship – 11 new trustees and 11 incumbents. A good mix for a new beginning. Enthusiasm ran high and people were full of hope and new ideas. Then BAM!!! The province swept […]
Tag: politics
Reducing greenhouse gas pollution in Ontario
Ontario has taken another bold step toward addressing climate change. Premier Kathleen Wynne and Glen Murray, the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, announced that the province will be implementing a carbon pricing program that will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in our environment. Our government is introducing a cap and trade system which […]
Politics isn’t always ugly
A few weeks ago, I was asked to say a few words at an Earth Hour event in a public park in our riding. I said, “Yes please, and thank you!” of course. I took with me a petition in support of my private member’s bill, the Climate Change Accountability Act. My thought … anybody […]
It’s not either freedom or security – it’s both
The morning of Oct. 22 gunshots rang out. I hit the floor, my back to the wall, bracing a table across a door into our caucus room. Bullets flew on the other side of the door. It was very real for a few moments. It seemed very real for much longer, fueled by rumours, guarded […]
Reviving Queen Street, and enjoying the season
Walking along Queen Street East in the Beach, you can’t help but notice the empty storefronts. Perhaps your favourite local mom-and-pop shop has closed, maybe you see the ‘For Lease’ signs in windows, or you have observed a new restaurant arrive and then, just as quickly, disappear. There has been a visible change. Some of […]
Readers ask for more Sir John A.
Since I wrote my last article on Sir John A. Macdonald, and whether we should reward his memory with a plaque or by naming a park after him, I have been told by many people that they think something along those lines would be appropriate. Others wanted more information about Sir John A., his life […]
Building a capacity to care for each other
The phone call came on my way home from Ottawa for Thanksgiving. “We’ve called an ambulance to take your mom to the hospital.” And (back) down the rabbit hole of senior health care we went. The ongoing experience comes on the eve of that most active time for giving, sharing, volunteering. It has been a […]
Getting an early start in politics
Pop quiz – name the Ontario minister for seniors’ affairs. Need a hint? Just ask 13-year-old Kate Beverly. Before she started a month-long stint as a page in the Ontario Legislature, the Grade 8 student memorized all 107 Members of Provincial Parliament by name, face, riding, and title. Beach Metro News recently spoke with Kate […]
Farmers feed cities, and cities enrich farmers
I was honoured this summer when Premier Kathleen Wynne named me parliamentary assistant (PA) to the minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs. After all, the premier had personally served as the minister of agriculture and food right up to the recent election. Many have asked, however, why would a downtown MPP from Beaches-East York […]
Four more years for incumbents
Mary-Margaret McMahon had to stand on a chair and shout her thank-yous over the cheering crowd of supporters who packed Kingston Road’s Grover Pub on election night. “This is a clear, strong, solid message to Ward 32 that we have done great work in the last four years!” she said. A rookie when she was […]
