05232024 May 23, 2024

ÉcoleSacréCœurstudentsstandoutattheFranco-OntarianChessTournament

Students from École Sacré-Cœur in

Chapleau distinguished themselves at the Franco-Ontarian Chess Tournament held from8to10MayinHaileybury.Ateamfromthe school played brilliantly and won the silver

medal. No fewer than nine students from the schoolwereselectedtotakepartintheprovincial tournament.

Thestudents'successistheresultofmany hours of practice, often during breaks and after the school day. We would like to extend our warmestthankstothetournamentorganisersfor their dedication. This rewarding experience enabled the students to demonstrate their talent andpassionforchess.

Lesélèvesdel'écoleSacré-Cœurà

Chapleau se sont distingués lors du Tournoi d'échecs francoontarien tenu du 8 au 10 mai à Haileybury.Uneéquipedel'écoleajoué avecbrioaremportélamédailled'argent.

Pas moins que neuf élèves de l'école furent sélectionnés pour participer au tournoiprovincial.

Lesuccèsdesélèvesestlefruitde nombreuses heures de pratique tenues souvent lors des pauses et après la journéescolaire.Noustenonsàremercier chaleureusement les organisateurs du tournoi pour leur dévouement. Cette expérience enrichissante a permis aux élèves de démontrer leur talent et leur passionpourleséchecs.

ChapleauCouncilpassesthe2024Budget

CHAPLEAU, ON, May 14,2024–Lastnightatthe Council Meeting of the Township of Chapleau, the 2024 Budget was passed with a 2.5% increase over lastyear.Thisfollowsa0% increase for water, waste water and refuse passed earlierintheyear.

This year, the Township was challenged witha7%reductionincombinedProvincialand Federal Funding from last year; fuel has increasedover7%,insurancecostsincreasedby

3%, and through a successful Collective BargainingAgreement,salariesincreasedby4%.

Justasthebudgetwasbeingcompletedbystaff, thebackhoehadamajormechanicalfailure.Itis notfeasibletorepairthe24-year-oldequipment. Due to prudent investments by our Treasurer, we were able to use the investment income earned this year to cover the cost of the backhoesothatnotaxpayermoneyisbeingused for this purchase. Our Operations Director was abletonegotiateanexcellenttrade-inonourold garbagetruck;weincluded this revenue in the current year; and there was a savingsduetotheunseasonablywarmwinter.

In the coming months, the sale of the Chapleau Public Utilities Corporation will be completedandtherewillbeaone-timeinfluxof muchneededfunds.“Councilisexcitedaboutthe opportunities that this money will bring to Chapleau, particularly the improvements to much needed infrastructure and heavy equipment” said Mayor Ryan Bignucolo, Township of Chapleau. “This is an opportunity forChapleauResidentsandwewanttomakesure thatwegetitright”.

For further information: Media can contacttheTownshipofChapleauat1-705-8641330.

OntarioTakingImpairedDriversOfftheRoad

Toughnewmeasures,includinglifetime licence suspensions, will protect families and keepcommunitiessafe

The Ontario government is cracking down on impaired driving by introducing legislation that, if passed, would impose stiffer penaltiesforthosewhodriveundertheinfluence ofalcoholordrugs–includingalifetimelicence suspension for those convicted of impaired drivingcausingdeath.

“Everyone deserves to return home to theirlovedonessafelyattheendoftheday,”said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Too many families in Ontario have had their lives torn apart by the careless and shameful actions of impaired drivers. That's why our governmentisintroducingtoughnewmeasures, includinglifetimelicencesuspensions,thatwill protect families and keep our communities safe.”

Additionally,thegovernment will require anyone convictedofimpaireddrivingto install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle and undergo mandatory remedial educationandtreatmentforfirst and second-time alcohol and drug-related offences respectively.

“Mothers Against Drunk Driving commends the Ontario government for taking steps to make roads safer and hold impaired drivers accountable,” said Steve Sullivan, CEO of MADD Canada. “Despite progress, too many people are still making the choice to drive impaired,andweneedtoensure sanctions hold drivers accountablewhilefocusingonreducing recidivism.”

The proposed legislation would also increase immediate roadsidelicencesuspensionsfor first and second-time alcohol and drug-related offences and clarify police authority to stop vehicles and/or administer sobriety tests for drivers on or

offthehighway.

In response to increasing instances of cannabis-impaireddriving,thegovernmentwill also work to provide additional tools and training to help police officers detect drug-impaired drivingandlaunchaprovince-widecampaignto highlightthe dangers of drug-impaireddriving, with a focus on cannabis and young drivers.

In Ontario, one in three roadway fatalitiesinvolvesimpaireddriving.

A2022roadsidesurveyfoundthatonein fivedriverstestedpositivefordrugs,alcohol,or both.

The percentage of drivers killed while under the influence of cannabis more than doubledbetween2012and2020.

Ignition interlocks are in-car alcohol breath screening devices that prevent the vehicle'senginefromstartingifitdetectsalcoholin thedriver'ssystem.

For alcohol and drug-related offences, theprovinceisproposingtoincreasethefirstand second-time roadside licence suspensions from three and seven days to seven and 14 days, respectively.

To keep communities safe, the Ontario governmentisalsocrackingdownonautotheft byintroducinglegislationthat,ifpassed,would 'suspenddriverslicencesforpeopleconvictedof thecrime.

Chapleau Moments

by MichaelJ. Morris

From the moment Chapleau was establishedin1885,andfamiliesstartedtoarrive, there were children about in the "cluster of homes",andparentswantedaschool,according toanarticlebyGeorgeEvans.

George, the long-time teacher, and assistantprincipalatChapleauHighSchool,who diedinacaraccidentonMarch18,2012,wrotea series of articles about Chapleau called 'SnapshotsofChapleauPast'.

In one called 'Reading, Writing and 'Rithmetic', George wrote that the first school wasinatentin1886,butwasmovedtoa"sturdier structure" in the vestry of the first Sacred Heart RomanCatholicChurch. Monthlyfeewas$1.00 perchild.

Thisschoolwasnottoosuccessfulsoby 1889itwasbacktoatentoveralowframewall and floor located about where Trinity United Churchistoday.

Here is George's glimpse into the "pioneerstudentsundercanvas".

"They sat on home-made wooden benches and used home-made wooden desks

GeorgeEvans

on'Reading,Writingand'Rithmetic' asschoolsestablishedinChapleau'searlyyears

arranged around a box stove. The teacher was responsible for cleaning and heating the school".

By 1890, it was realized that this school was not satisfactory, so a public meeting was called in February 1891 and Robert Holdingwas named chair of aschoolboard.

A school was establishedonPineStreetina wooden building beside St. John's rectory. School street wasestablished.

George noted that by 1893asecondroomwasadded for students "lusting after knowledge and wisdom".Theannualbudgetwas$1100.

fromthefirstpublicschool.

AccordingtoVincentCrichton'saccount, which George included in his article, this was Chapleau's version of the legendary pioneer schoolhouse.

"At the front of the class, the teacher presided behind a big wooden desk that had a large handbell on it. The students sat at new double-desks.Awaterpailwithatincupsatona chair near the woodstove. The girls were responsible for sweeping and cleaning the premises;theboysfilledthewoodbox,stokedthe stove,andcarriedouttheashes.Theteacherwas stuckwithgettingtoworkearlyenoughtogetthe fire in the stove going and thaw out the ink

bottles. One delicate matter is not mentioned in Vince's book and so we must assume that an outhouse or two were somewhere on the property.

Georgewrotethatin1901,"thesameyear thatthemunicipalitycameintobeing,theschool boardbuiltanewpublicschoolonthelotbeside St.John'sAnglicanChurch,justacrossthestreet

A fine, two-story, 4-room building with central heating, the new building brought Chapleau's public school into the 20th century, leaving behind the crude but romantic make-do arrangementsofthe19thcentury.'

This building was to play a long and distinguished career in Chapleau's educational history becoming Chapleau High School after it wasestablishedin1922.

George wrote that in the mid-twenties, a major transformation took place when two regularclassrooms,twolabs,andalow-ceilinged basement gym were added and the whole structure was given a brick exterior. This renovated building was the red-brick Chapleau High School that many people still fondly remember."

Chapleau Public School was built along PineStreetbesidetheoldTownHall.

ChapleauHighSchool,initsturn,leftthe old building in 1966 to migrate to its new home atopthehillonthewesternedgeoftownbutthe oldbuildinghadstillnotfinisheditseducational mission. It soon became the Senior Public School, housing the overflow from the Public School as the last of the baby-boomers began flowingthroughthesystem.

It was demolished in 1976 and the ChapleauCivicCentreisnowonthesite.

Georgenotedthathisarticlewasbasedin partoninformationcontainedinVinceCrichton's book 'Pioneering in Northern Ontario.' Just a note: Over the years there have been several accounts written about education in Chapleau includingadetailedonebyJ.M.Shouplongtime teacherandprincipalofChapleauPublicSchool. I am spending some time on the history of education. Please feel free to email me at mj.morris@live.caifyoucancontribute.

from OTTAWA Rapport d’Ottawa

by/par Carol Hughes Federal member of Parliament Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing

This year marks the 42nd anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms being signed. The Charter forms an enormous part of our Constitution, and carries with it the fundamental guarantees of our freedoms, includingthefreedomofassociation,expression, &religion,andofourrights,includingequality, mobility, & legal rights that form much of the backboneofourjudicialsystem.TheCharterisas fundamental to the Canadian way of life as the maple leaf, so much so that, in 2013, Statistics Canada collected data from Canadians through the General Social Survey (GSS) on what nationalsymbolswereimportanttoouridentity. The Charter topped the list with a 93 percent approval from Canadians, beating the national flagitself.

One part of the Charter, however, has always been controversial: Section 33, more commonlyknownasthenotwithstandingclause. WhatSection33oftheCharterdoesisallowthe temporarysuspensionofotherCharterrightsfor the provision of a law that would otherwise be deemed to be in violation of the Charter, specifically Sections 2 (regarding fundamental freedoms), 7 to 14 (the protection of Canadians' legal rights), and 15 (regarding equality rights thatpreventcertainformsofdiscriminationfrom theGovernmentofCanada).

Historically, the notwithstanding clause hasbeenusedratherinfrequentlybythemajority of provinces. While Section 33 charter rights havebeeninvokedmanytimesinQuebec,itwas previously considered an act of political suicide elsewhereinthecountry.Infact,therewereonly two provinces aside from Quebec who passed legislationusingthenotwithstandingclauseprior to 2005: Saskatchewan using it in 1985 to order government workers back to work, and the Alberta government in 2000 using it to affirm their homophobic belief that marriage was strictlybetweenamanandawoman(anissuethe SupremeCourtofCanadafoundtobeultravires (invalid) because marriage law is federal authority.)

Fordecades,itfeltliketherehasbeenno real appetite to use Section 33 to overrule portions of the Charter outside of it's use in Quebec,whereit'sbeenusedprimarilytoaffirm French-language laws. But recently, Premiers haveusedthenotwithstandingclausewithmore

FederalGovernmentDoesn'tNeedtoUsetheNotwithstandingClause

frequency,andindoingso,riskunderminingthe veryCharteritself.

In 2021, Ontario Premier Doug Ford pushed forward with Bill 307, designed to limit pre-election spending period for third party advertisersfromsixmonthstooneyear,usingthe notwithstanding clause because previous attempts to do so were ruled unconstitutional. Bill C-307 itself would eventually be ruled unconstitutionalbecauseitimpactedareaswhere the notwithstanding clause could not be used to override the Charter. His government also used the clause to attempt to quash teacher strikes through Bill 28, prompting a massive backlash from teachers' unions. Most recently, the Saskatchewan government used the clause preemptively on their so called “Parents' Bill of Rights”billaimedattransyouth,hopingthebill wouldnotstanduptoacourtchallenge.Having saidthat,itmayultimatelyendupintheSupreme CourtofCanada,asaSuperiorCourtdecisionhas

allowed an LGBTQ2+ rights organization to challenge the law despite the Section 33 invocation.

Section 33 remains an infrequently used toolbecauseweareanationoflaws,checks,and balances, and most of us understand that legislation must hold up to an appropriate legal challenge.Thisispreciselywhyithasneverbeen usedattheFederallevel.WhiletheConservative leader's office has implied that a Conservative governmentwouldmakeuseofit,nootherparty has ever floated it's use at the Federal level. In fact,inapollconductedbyAngusReidlastyear, a majority polled, 55 percent, would rather see Section33abolished.

It's up to us, as legislators, to pass legislation,anditisuptothecourtstomakethe determination that those same laws are Constitutional. Bypassing court challenges through the notwithstanding clause creates a dangerousprecedent.

Legouvernementfédéraln'apasbesoinderecouriràladispositiondedérogation

Nous célébrons cette année le 42e anniversaire de la signature de la Charte canadiennedesdroitsetlibertés.LaCharteforme une partie importante de notre Constitution et énonce les garanties fondamentales de nos libertés, notamment la liberté d'association, d'expression et de religion, et de nos droits, notammentceuxàl'égalitéetàlamobilité,ainsi quelesdroitsjuridiquesquisontengrandepartie lapierreangulairedenotresystèmejudiciaire.La Charte joue un rôle aussi fondamental dans le modedeviedesCanadiensquelafeuilled'érable, à tel point qu'en 2013, Statistique Canada a recueilli, dans le cadre de l'Enquête sociale générale (ESG), des données auprès des Canadiens sur les symboles nationaux qui revêtent de l'importance pour leur identité. La Charte est arrivée en tête de liste avec 93 %, devançantmêmeledrapeaunational.

Une partie de la Charte, cependant, a toujourssuscitélacontroverse:l'article33,plus connusouslenomdedispositiondedérogation. Cet article permet la suspension temporaire d'autres droits garantis par la Charte pour l'application d'une loi qui serait autrement considéréecontraireàlaCharte,enparticulierles articles 2 (les libertés fondamentales),7 à 14 (la protectiondesdroitsjuridiquesdesCanadiens)et 15(lesdroitsàl'égalité,quiempêchentcertaines formes de discrimination de la part du gouvernementduCanada).

Historiquement, la majorité des provinces ont peu recouru à la disposition de dérogation. Si l'article 33 de la Charte a été invoqué à de nombreuses reprises au Québec, il était auparavant considéré comme un acte politiquesuicidairedanslerestedupays.Enfait,

seules deux provinces, outre le Québec, ont adopté des lois en recourant à la disposition de dérogationavant2005:laSaskatchewan,quil'a utiliséeen1985pourordonnerleretourautravail des fonctionnaires, et le gouvernement de l'Alberta,quil'apoursapartutiliséen2000pour affirmer sa croyance homophobe selon laquelle le mariage était strictement entre un homme et unefemme(unequestionquelaCoursuprêmedu Canadaajugéeultravires(invalide)parcequela loi sur le mariage relève de la compétence fédérale).

Pendantdesdécennies,ilsemblequ'iln'y avaitpasderéellevolonté,endehorsduQuébec, de faire appel à l'article 33 pour annuler des parties de la Charte. Par ailleurs, le Québec l'a principalement invoqué pour confirmer des lois sur la langue française. Or, depuis peu, les premiersministresyrecourentplussouventet,ce faisant,ilsrisquentdefragiliserlaCharte. En2021,lepremierministredel'Ontario DougFordaprésentéleprojetdeloi307afinde faire passer la période pendant laquelle les annonceurs tiers peuvent engager des dépenses préélectorales de six mois à un an; il avait invoqué la disposition de dérogation, car ses précédentes tentatives en ce sens avaient été jugées inconstitutionnelles. Le projet de loi C307 a lui-même été jugé inconstitutionnel, car il portait sur des domaines où la disposition de dérogation ne pouvait pas être utilisée pour déroger à la Charte. Le gouvernement Ford a égalementrecouruàcettedispositionparlebiais duprojetdeloi28pourtenterdecasserlagrève des enseignantes et enseignants, ce qui a provoquéuneréactionmonstredelapartdeleurs SuiteP.7

YouthEducationAwardsevening

The Royal Canadian Legion, Harry SearleBranch5,wishestothanktheteachers and parents who have supported students in thecompetitions. SpecialthankstoComrade

JimApsey,1stVicePresident,forrunningan excellent Poppy Campaign. Prizes for our Remembrance themed competitions are made possible through our Poppy funds.

Over 150 Chapleau students took part in Legion Youth Education events this year. Congratulations to all participants and winners!

Soiréedesprixd'éducationdelaJeunesse

La filiale 5 de la Légion royale canadienne, Harry Searle, souhaite remercier tous ceux qui ontsoutenulesétudiantsdanslescompétitions. Un merci spécial au camarade Jim Apsey, 1er

vice-président, pour son travail en tant que présidentdePoppy. Lesprixpournosconcours surlethèmeduSouvenirsontrenduspossibles grâce aux fonds du coquelicot. Plus de 150

élèves ont participé aux activités d'éducation des jeunes de la Légion cette année. Félicitations à tous les participants et aux gagnants!

LegionChessClubchampion: SydneyBernier,Grade3student,ÉcoleSacré-Coeur. ChapleauHighSchool

ChapleauElementary

ÉcoleSacré-Coeur

Lastweekssolutions

MOMENTS IN TIME

OnJune5,1956,ayoungElvisPresleyperformed "Hound Dog" on "The Milton Berle Show" with a gyrating enthusiasm that set off a scandal. Critical reaction was almost universally negative. In fact, one writer described Presley's hip-swinging as "tinged with the kind of animalism that should be confinedtodivesandbordellos."

Legouvernementfédéraln'apasbesoin derecouriràladispositiondedérogation

SuitedelaP.4 syndicats. Plus récemment, le gouvernement de la Saskatchewan a invoqué cette disposition à titre préventifdanslecadredesonprojetdeloivisantles jeunestransgenres(Parents'BillofRights),jugeant que le projet de loi ne résisterait pas à une contestationdevantlestribunaux.Celadit,ilsepeut que la Cour suprême du Canada soit saisie de la question, car une décision de la Cour supérieure a permisàuneorganisationdedéfensedesdroitsdes personnes LGBTQ2+ de contester la loi même si l'article33aétéinvoqué.

L'article 33 reste donc un outil peu utilisé, car nous sommes un État de droit, de freins et de contrepoids, et que la plupart d'entre nous comprennent que les lois doivent résister à une contestation judiciaire recevable. C'est précisément pourcetteraisonqu'iln'ajamaisétéinvoquéparle gouvernement fédéral. Bien que le bureau du chef conservateuraitlaisséentendrequ'ungouvernement conservateur serait prêt à envisager de recourir à cette clause, aucun autre parti n'a jamais évoqué cettepossibilitéàl'échellefédérale.Enfait,dansun sondageréaliséparAngusReidl'annéedernière,la majorité des personnes interrogées, soit 55 %, ont ditsouhaiterquel'article33soitaboli.

Il nous appartient, en tant que législateurs, d'adopter des lois, et il appartient aux tribunaux de

déterminersicesmêmesloissontconstitutionnelles. Se soustraire aux contestations judiciaires par le biais de la disposition de dérogation crée un dangereuxprécédent.

needtospeakwith the Outreach Worker when she is in your community, you can call the Centre at any time to set up an appointment. You do not need to be a residentoftheCentreinordertouseourservices.Ifyouneedsomeoneto talktoorifyoujustneedsomeonetolisten,callourTollFreeCrisislineat1800-461-2242oryoucandropinattheCentre.Wearehereforyou.

Highway 17 North P.O. Box 1033

Wawa, ON. P0S 1K0

Business 705-856-2775

Fax 705-856-4862

tgendron@northernlightsford.ca sales@northernlightsford.ca

I am a firm believer in taking a balanced approach in life. Whether discussing healthy lifestyles, marriage and relationships or education, a balanced approach will most likely lead to success. The need for balance is even greater when it comes to policy or decisionmakingatagovernmentlevel.

The people I talk to in my work understandthisneedforbalanceandappreciateit when policy is discussed from the average Ontarian's perspective. I'm no Rhodes Scholar, butratheragraduateoftheschoolofhardknocks. In my lifetime, I have lived in many places and benefited from numerous employment experiencesandleadershiproles.

As readers know, many politicians are well-schooled in the legal field or political sciences.Thisisagoodthing.Weneedpoliticians who know how to read, interpret and create legislation. However, we also need input from otherperspectivestoensurethatlawsandpolicies willbenefitthepeopletheyaremeanttogovern. So there must be space for a wide range of perspectives at the table, speaking for average Ontarians.

I've worn many hats in my lifetime, including as a negotiator. My approach in these situations has been to speak honestly and demonstraterespect.

As our moms taught us, we should treat othersthewaywewanttobetreated.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has been negotiatinganewPhysicianServicesAgreement (PSA) with the Ontario Medical Association (OMA),whichrepresentsthedoctorsofOntario. The negotiated PSAwill determine how doctors willbecompensatedoverthenextfouryears.At the beginning of March this year, the parties agreed on most parts of the PSA. However, One section that went to arbitration was the compensationforphysiciansunderOHIP.

Part of the arbitration process is for each negotiating party to provide the arbitrators with arguments that support the bottom-line offers theyhaveputforward.

The OMA submission is based on the argument that Ontario is in the midst of an absolute healthcare crisis because there are in excess of 2 million Ontarians in the province without primary care right now. The sheer number is dangerously high and frightening, especially if you or a loved one is among the 2 million. Steps to avoid catastrophe are long overdue,andweareoperatingonborrowedtime.

VillageMedia's digital news, The Trillium.ca,summarizedtheOMAsubmissionas a "catch-up" increase that would compensate

PremierFordcan'tseetheforestforthetrees

them for historically high inflation over the period of their previous contract. It would also help to make up for what they argue they were denied due to wage restraint Bill 124, which the courts ruled was unconstitutional. The doctors claim the law limited their negotiating power eventhoughtheyweren'tstrictlycoveredbyit.

The OMA proposal is for 15.2 percent over4years,whilethegovernment'sbottomline is 3 percent. So, the spread of the discrepancy is significant and will be a challenge for the arbitratorstoresolve.

With the above in mind, I was shocked when I heard Premier Ford and Health Minister Jones supported and echoed the arguments submitted bytheMinistry.

A May 8, 2024, CBC News article entitled"Noconcernabout'diminishedsupply'of doctors"reported,"TheOMAisproposingafive percentgeneralpriceincreasefortheyear,a10.2 percent "catch up" to account for inflation and "low price increases" since 2012, as well as 7.7 percent to be directed to various health system programs."

Thegovernment'ssubmissionstatesthat, from their perspective, there is no need for any "catch-up." They wrote, "The average physician income adjustments compared favourably with othersettlementswhereretentionandrecruitment is not a major concern." They added also that "Ontariohasenjoyedagrowthinphysiciansthat faroutstripspopulationgrowth."

The Ministry's submission argues that while physician incomes have risen and the numberofdoctorspracticingintheprovincehas outpaced population growth, their surveys indicatethatpatientaccesstofamilydoctorshas worsened. So, the Premier and Minister Jones have determined that the blame is on doctors because they must not be working hard enough. To state this in the Ministry's arbitration submissions is like crossing paths with a bear in thebush,believingthebeststrategytotweakthe bear's nose. The trajectory of their arguments is incomplete and misleading, and the tactic is misguided if they want to come to a fair and reasonable agreement that all parties can live with. It is not an election in which there is a winner and a loser. Ultimately, it's not about the government or doctors "winning"; it's about ensuringthePeopleofOntariowin.

I can't help but ask if the Ministry's submission meets the level of speaking honestly anddemonstratingrespectandsincerity.Theyare puttingdownonpaperthatthereisnoshortageof physiciansnowandnoconcernforthefuture. Ontariansknowthatthisisnottrue.

InOntario,thepopulationofpeopleover 80isexpectedtodoubleby2050.Youdon'tneed tobeadoctororanalysttounderstandthemedical services and treatments that people of that age increase.So,itshouldbeofnosurprisethatasour

population ages, the amount of time a physician must devote to any one patient will increase, meaning they will have less time to see other patientseachyear.

OMA President Dr. David Barber says thatthegovernment'sapproachandargumentsto arbitrationareoffensivetodoctors."Thenumbers are one thing, right, but ... the government's approach here is their briefing essentially says there'snothingwrong.Igetthere'sposturing,but this is actually quite dangerous posturing on the sideofthegovernment."

On May 10, 2024, The Trillium News confirmed Barber's comments, reporting, "The government's position doesn't actually deny that patients' access to physicians is worsening — it just blames doctors for it, saying they may be seekingabetter"work-life"balanceandarepaid enough not to work as hard as they used to."

Members of the Ontario Union of Family Physicians were so outraged that they began to circulate a petition calling for the Minister's resignation, calling the accusation a slap in the faceofOntarians,especiallythe2.3millionwho donothaveaccesstoafamilydoctor.

TheabovearticlealsoquotedHealthcare economist Boris Kralj, who believes the Ministry's attack tactics are unwise. Further, he said,"TheMinistrywentoutofitswaytokindof disparage, or slag, physicians…it's frankly ridiculous.Iwasjustshockedthattheywoulddo that,andtheydoitinapublic,writtendocument.I can see them doing that in a closed room, but I can'tseethemputtingitonpaperforeveryoneto seewhattheythink."

Premier Ford prides himself on having long-term experience running a very successful familybusiness.Consideringthathehasendless research,strategists,andnegotiationresourcesat his fingertips, it is bad enough that the governmenthadtoresorttobindingarbitrationto resolve outstanding PSA issues with Ontario doctors. However, this inexcusable fumble can only damage the government's reputation and relationship with the medical profession. In the end, it will be the People of Ontario who will suffertheconsequences.

It'sentirelyunderstandableforaministry advisororofficialtooperatefromtheperspective of their portfolio. But when you are a cabinet minister or the premier, you must commit to seeing things from several perspectives, especially from the standpoint of doing what is rightforthePeopleofOntario.Itisthevoicesof such people that I will continue to take into the OntarioLegislature.

As always, I invite you to contact my office about these issues or any other provincial matters.Youcanreachmyconstituencyofficeby emailatmmantha-co@ola.orgorcallToll-free1800-831-1899.