The provincial legislature will hold a summer sitting.
Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP) will gather on Monday, August 8th at Queen’s Park with the Speech from the Throne set to be delivered the following day by Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell.
Kevin Holland (Thunder Bay-Atikokan) told Acadia News Friday that Northwestern Ontario will be included in the speech, including the Ring of Fire.
“The critical mineral strategy to provide the materials needed for the electric vehicles in the south, so for the first time in Ontario’s history, we’re seeing a connection between the minerals and raw materials in the North being used in our auto sector in the South,” Holland added.
Lise Vaugeois (Thunder Bay-Superior North) is curious to know if there’s any commitment in the speech to bump up payments through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
“We’ve received over a thousand letters asking us to ask the government to double ODSP rates,” Vaugeois said Friday. “People are in crisis, and the amount of money that they receive is not enough to live on or get even the most minimal housing in some cases.”
While campaigning in June, Premier Doug Ford promised to raise the rates by five per cent and introduce legislation to tie annual increases to inflation.
Throne Speech
In the last speech in October of 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic was front and centre as Dowdeswell promised a commitment to an economic and a fiscal recovery that is fueled by economic growth and not painful tax hikes or spending cuts.
The speech only promised one new piece of legislation aimed at improving care in the Long Term Care sector.
The governing PC’s are expected to re-introduce the same budget that was unveiled in April, with a hope to balance the budget in time for the next provincial election in 2026.
Finance Minister Peter Bethenfalvy reported at that time that the deficit will be $19.9 Billion, which is a decrease from an estimated $21.5 billion in the 2021 Fall Economic Statement.
Vaugeois stated that the NDP campaigned against that budget, which she feels underfunds both health care and education.
“I see these as moves towards privatization, which ultimately will cost everybody a lot more money in the long run. You have to calculate in the profit margins, which we don’t have to do when they are publically owned,” mentioned Vaugeois.
An April report from the province’s Financial Accountability Office (FAO) on fiscal results during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic found that Ontario’s total per person program spending was the lowest in the country, with the least amount in health spending.
Extending The Olive Branch
Holland has been reaching out to several parties locally and will meet this week with officials with the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) as well as those with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC).
“(My focus has been to) bring in all of the agencies that have a hand in addressing the problems in Thunder Bay, and try and find way that we can work better together to address the problems collaboratively,” shared Holland.
Vaugeois notes that she has spoken with Holland about working across party lines, adding “We are both willing to do whatever we can to improve the situation in the region, so I’m really happy about it. We have had a few conversations so far, and we’re just looking for the chance to have an actual meeting.”
Holland has also had conversations with several ministers in cabinet, who have promised him a trip to Thunder Bay to solve the pressing issues of the region.