Tag: Government of Ontario

GUELPH POLITICAST #322 – Education is an Issue

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Covering education issues has been weird the last couple of years during the pandemic; while keeping schools open for in-person learning was a priority, teachers felt that their concerns weren’t being heard. Now, education is struggling to be made an election priority, and education workers have been trying to put their concerns back on the frontburner since March 2020, so this seems like an interesting place to begin a provincial campaign. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #322 – Education is an Issue” →

Healthcare Improvements Are the Priority in NDP Platform

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We’re 37 days away from the Provincial Election that’s not yet been officially called, but there doesn’t mean that campaigning is not hitting a fevered pitch. All the main opposition parties had major announcements on Monday morning, but only the Ontario New Democrats released a whole platform, and the focus was on two planks: expanding healthcare and increasing affordability. Continue reading “Healthcare Improvements Are the Priority in NDP Platform” →

Government of Ontario Extends Last Mask Mandates to June

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While there was no word on bringing back mask mandates this Friday, there was an announcement concerning the ones that remain. All remaining masking requirements in Ontario were scheduled to be lifted on April 27, but in the wake of the increased number of cases without a more general mask mandate, and the spread of the BA.2 variant, the Provincial government is now waiting till June 11 to get rid of those other mandates. Continue reading “Government of Ontario Extends Last Mask Mandates to June” →

Schreiner Recaps a Busy Four Years in Last Member’s Statement Pre-Election

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Almost four years, Guelph made history by sending the first Green Party Member of Provincial Parliament to Queen’s Park. Last week, Mike Schreiner rose to give his last member’s statement in what he hopes is his first term in the legislature. Member’s statements are usually reserved for comments about special occasions or special mentions from one’s constituency, but this statement was phrased like a recap. Continue reading “Schreiner Recaps a Busy Four Years in Last Member’s Statement Pre-Election” →

Dr. Moore Reappears to Try and Calm Fears Around the Sixth Wave

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Over a month since the last time he appeared in front of reporters, Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario Dr. Kieran Moore returned to the media studio at Queen’s Park to respond to the sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. While he proposed no new mandates, there was a potential for the reconsideration of lifting future mandates at the end of the month, plus the expansion of therapeutics. Continue reading “Dr. Moore Reappears to Try and Calm Fears Around the Sixth Wave” →

Ontario Government Announces Second Min. Wage Hike in 6 Months

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For the second time in a year, the Ontario government has announced an increase to the minimum wage. Phrased as an eight per cent bump to “help workers keep up with rising costs and inflation”, and as another positive pre-election announcement from the government, the exact amount of the increase is 50 cents, which means that starting on October 1, the minimum wage for Ontarians will now be $15.50 per hour. Continue reading “Ontario Government Announces Second Min. Wage Hike in 6 Months” →

Ontario Has a Plan to Stay Open Now, Plus a New Benefits Panel

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People are probably pretty aware that Ontario had to struggle to respond to the pandemic when COVID-19 broke out here in March 2020. With the pandemic in recline, it seems appropriate to start talking about the future, and the Government of Ontario announced Tuesday morning their “Plan to Stay Open”, a series of measures meant to make sure Ontario’s healthcare and procurement systems are ready for the next pandemic. Continue reading “Ontario Has a Plan to Stay Open Now, Plus a New Benefits Panel” →

Ontario Finally Joins $10/Day Childcare Club with $13.2B Investment

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It’s a clean sweep nearly a year in the making! Last, but certainly not least, Parliament Hill and Queen’s Park have finally reached a deal to provide $10 per day childcare for working parents by 2025. The $13.2 billion agreement was announced at a jubilant joint media availability at a Brampton daycare centre, as the Prime Minister, the Premier and their ministers enjoyed this “Mission: Accomplished” moment. Continue reading “Ontario Finally Joins $10/Day Childcare Club with $13.2B Investment” →

Mask Mandate Removal Reaction is Generally Very Concerned

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Mask mandates are done in Ontario as of March 21. The new broke yesterday, and with all things COVID-19 there was an immediate reaction that was far from universal. While some people are looking forward with relief and optimism that the worst is over, there are still a lot of people raising the red flag that the province could be in danger in the short-term without masking mandates. Here’s some of the reaction from politicians, educators, and health workers. Continue reading “Mask Mandate Removal Reaction is Generally Very Concerned” →

Confirmed: The Mask Mandate is Mostly Over March 21

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When Ontario students return from March Break they won’t be mandated to wear masks in the classroom anymore, and neither will anyone else. In an anticipated announcement from Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore, the provincial mask mandate will be lifted on March 21 with some limited exceptions. Keeping each other safe from COVID-19, Moore said, is now in our own hands. Continue reading “Confirmed: The Mask Mandate is Mostly Over March 21” →