Ontario Government Moves to Install EV Chargers Along Highways

In King City today, the Ontario Energy Minister announced the installation of fast EV chargers along the province’s busiest highways at Onroute locations. Wednesday’s news is the latest instance where the Government of Ontario has embraced the EV movement, and comes less a month after Premier Doug Ford announced in Guelph new support for building a home-grown EV supply chain. Continue reading “Ontario Government Moves to Install EV Chargers Along Highways”

As Ontario Crosses 10K COVID Deaths, New Report Shows Bigger Medical Impact

More than 4,000 people in Canada have died because of the effects of the pandemic on the normal delivery of healthcare in Canada. This grim news comes on the same day that Ontario has crossed the dark milestone of 10,000 deaths due to COVID-19, and in the background of the growing concern about the Omicron variant. Even without a new variant though, the Canadian Medical Association is making it clear we’ve got healthcare issues. Continue reading “As Ontario Crosses 10K COVID Deaths, New Report Shows Bigger Medical Impact”

Schreiner Re-Introduces Private Members Legislation

It seems like only yesterday (but it was actually February 2019) when Guelph MPP and Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner introduced his first private members bill. The Paris Galt Moraine Conservation Act made it past second reading, but when Premier Doug Ford prorogued the legislature this past summer, all bills in the works were cancelled. In fact, he’s daring the Ontario government to pass it. Continue reading “Schreiner Re-Introduces Private Members Legislation”

Ford Supports EVs in Guelph, Schreiner Not Impressed Though

Premier Doug Ford was in Guelph on Wednesday morning to do something that was once considered anathema to his brand, support for the development of electric vehicles. At a Linamar facility in town, Ford and Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli announced the second phases of their auto strategy to support domestic production of EVs and EV parts. Continue reading “Ford Supports EVs in Guelph, Schreiner Not Impressed Though”

Ford and Schreiner Fight Over Highway #413 in Duelling Announcements

In an announcement in Caledon on Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford lent his support, and that of the Government of Ontario, to the Highway #413 project. The controversial project needs all the friends it can get, because environmentalists, local municipalities, and all provincial opposition parties have lined up against #413, and one of those opponents, Guelph MPP Mike Schriener, was also in Caledon Wednesday for an announcement of his own. Continue reading “Ford and Schreiner Fight Over Highway #413 in Duelling Announcements”

Ontario Government Increases Access to Boosters, But That’s Not the Vaccine News Today

On Wednesday, the Government of Ontario announced that they are expanding the eligibility of third doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Starting on November 6, booster shots will be made available to additional groups of high-risk individuals, and that boosters will then be gradually rolled out for all age groups 12 and over. Good news, but it wasn’t the vaccine news that everyone was talking about on Wednesday afternoon. Continue reading “Ontario Government Increases Access to Boosters, But That’s Not the Vaccine News Today”

Schreiner Announces Private Members Bill to Create Carbon Budget Accountability

Governments talk a lot about balancing the fiscal budget, but what about a carbon budget. Well, Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner is bringing forward a private members bill later this week that will demand of the Ontario government that they adhere to an annual carbon budget as a way to attack global climate change. His plan, Schreiner says, will cut Ontario’s climate pollution in half by 2030 and get the province to net-zero by 2045. Continue reading “Schreiner Announces Private Members Bill to Create Carbon Budget Accountability”

Ontario Government Announces No More Capacity Limits on November 15

After a couple of weeks of pressure from restaurateurs and other business owners about the Government of Ontario’s seemingly random removal of capacity limits on cinemas and sports venues, it looks like all limits are coming to an end by the mid-point of next month. In a typical late Friday announcement, Premier Doug Ford said that more limits will be lifted on Monday with an eye to end all COVID-19 precautions by the end of March. Continue reading “Ontario Government Announces No More Capacity Limits on November 15”

Schreiner Pushes Legislature to Act on Climate and Housing Emergencies

When the Speech from the Throne was delivered in the Ontario Legislature on Monday, Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner called it an “uninspiring throne speech that sets no vision or path forward for Ontario.” While it dealt with the ongoing pandemic, Schreiner noted that there was no mention of either climate change or housing affordability, so it’s forced the Green Party leader to do what the Ontario government won’t, make these issues a priority. Continue reading “Schreiner Pushes Legislature to Act on Climate and Housing Emergencies”

Ontario Opposition Parties Have “To Do” Ahead of Throne Speech

The next session of the Ontario Legislature begins promptly at 9 am on Monday morning with the Speech from the Throne. The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, will read a missive outlining the Government of Ontario’s priorities for the rest of their mandate, but the opposition leaders have some priorities of the their own, and they recently shared them with the media. Continue reading “Ontario Opposition Parties Have “To Do” Ahead of Throne Speech”