- 864 - 2785
Trilliumjuniorboys'triumphantreturnfrom NSSSAAtournament
On November 7, École secondaire
catholique Trillium's junior boys' volleyballteamwonabannerduringthe NSSSAAtournament inWawa.Theirvictory is the result of tireless work, perseverance, discipline and coaching from Ms. Renée Weber and Mr. Dominique Thibeault. The sports event was marked with intense moments culminating
towards thrilling finals against the Marathon junior team. The intensity was at its peak when bothteamsfoughtwithcontinueddetermination toscoreeachpoint.Marathontooktheleadinthe firstroundwithascoreof9-2.However,Trillium showed resilience and doubled down on their effortstofinishtheroundwithascoreof26-24in favorofMarathon.Despitethischallengingstart,
Trillium never gave up. Thanks to their undeniable teamwork, the junior boys were successful in turning things around and claimed victoryinthefinalround.Theirperformanceisa source of great pride for the school and is a true testament of the passion and dedication of these young athletes. Congratulations to the junior boys'teamforthisrewardingvictory!
L'équipedegarçonsjuniortriompheautournoi NSSSAA
L'équipe de garçons junior de l'École secondairecatholiqueTrilliumaremportéunebannièrelorsdutournoiNSSSAA, quiaeulieule7novembreàWawa.Cettevictoire estlefruitd'untravailacharné,depersévérance, de discipline ainsi que de l'encadrement des entraîneurs,MmeRenéeWeberetM.Dominique Thibeault. Le tournoi a été marqué par des moments intenses, culminant vers une finale palpitante contre l'équipe junior de Marathon. L'intensité était à son apogée alors que les deux équipes luttaient avec une détermination continue pour marquer chaque point. Lors de la première manche, Marathon a pris une avance significative de 9 à 2. Cependant, l'équipe de Trillium a fait preuve de résilience, redoublant d'efforts pour terminer la manche avec un score serréde26à24enfaveurdeMarathon.Malgréce début difficile, les garçons de Trillium n'ont jamais baissé les bras.Grâceàleurtravail d'équipe, ils ont réussi à renverser la situation et remporter la victoire en finale Cette performanceestunesourcede grande fierté pour l'école et témoigne de la passionetdudévouementdecesjeunesathlètes.
4
Degaucheàdroite:M.DominiqueThibeault,ColtenCaron,
Bouchard,SkylerDesboisetChaseHoule
Fromlefttoright:Mr.DominiqueThibeault,ColtenCaron,LoganTaylor,AngeloMarchioni, MaximThibeault,PierreRiopel,ZachariasFotsoandMs.RenéeWeber
Frontrow:MaximBouchard,SkylerDesboisetChaseHoule
Félicitations à l'équipe de garçons junior pour cettegrandevictoire!
LoganTaylor,AngeloMarchioni, Maxim Thibeault, Pierre Riopel, Zacharias Fotso et Mme Renée Weber. À l'avant : Maxim
Postalworkersonstrike
Local624has78membersservingTimmins,SouthPorcupine,Chapleau,Cochrane,IroquoisFalls,MathesonandValGagné.
MembersoftheCanadianUnion of Postal Workers (CUPW) Timmins Local 624 picket in front of their workplace,theTimminsPostOffice,on
Friday, Nov. 15, the first day of the union’s strike action. From left: Jamie Judd-Birch, local vice president and suburban service mail carrier, Ed Yee, local president and relief letter carrier, andpostalclerksMoniqueChiassonand JacksonMarchand.Thelocal,whichhas 78 members serving Timmins, South Porcupine, Chapleau, Cochrane, IroquoisFalls,MathesonandValGagné, aredemandingalivablewagetocatchup fromthe2percentperyearincreasethey have been receiving over the last six years.Theyarealsodemandingthatnew employees have the same pension as existing ones. The workers have been withoutacontractsinceJanuary,2024
OBITUARY
James Joseph Petrosky
It is with heavy hearts that we announcethepeacefulpassingof JamesPetroskyonNovember11, 2024, at St Joseph’s General Hospital in Elliott Lake at age 37. Loved by all who knew him, James brought warmth, kindness,andunderstandinginto thelivesofeveryonearoundhim. Always taking the time to see the world from others' perspectives, heofferedsupportandencouragementtoanyoneinneed.Evenashefacedhis final journey, his strength and positive outlook never wavered. Throughout his life,Jamestouchedmanycommunities,includingChapleau,Waterloo,Midland, and his vast community of friends online. His love for dinosaurs and geology reflectedhislifelongfascinationwiththewondersofthenaturalworld.Although hewasunabletocrosstheRoyalTyrrellMuseumofPalaeontologyoffhisbucket list,hispassionforlearningandexplorationstayedwithhim.Hisloveoffoodwas just as deep; he delighted in sharing meals, sparking conversations about flavors,aromas,andcookingtechniques,andcherishingtheconnectionsthese momentscreated.Truetohisnature,heremainedhelpfuluntiltheend,always eagertolendhisskillstogetthingsworkingagain.
He is survived by his parents, John and Cathy (nee Graham); his younger brothers, Will (Katie) and Joe (Shelly); his devoted partner, Alicia Lafaive; his cat,Thomasinandhistwofavouritepoodles,AnnieandBessie.Jamesandhis familyheldalivingcelebrationoflifethesepastmonthsinthehospicesuiteofSt. Joseph’sGeneralHospitalinElliottLake.Duringthistime,extendedfamilyand countlessfriendsvisited,offeringtheirloveandsupportandsharingmemories whileJameswasstillwithus.ThefamilyisespeciallythankfultohisauntNancy, Dr Athina Nelson, Dr Mike Stirling, and all the compassionate nurses and medicalstaffwhocaredforhimalongtheway
James was grateful to have spent his final days in the hospice suite at St. Joseph’sGeneralHospital.Inlieuofflowers,herequestedthatanyonewishing tohonourhismemoryconsideradonationtothehospital.Funeralarrangements areentrustedtoAlternativeFuneralServices.
Chapleau Moments
by MichaelJ. Morris
VictorPerpetebeganhislifeinCanadain Saskatchewanin1888buttenyearslaterhewas in Chapleau working as a fireman with the Canadian Pacific Railway He had come to Canada with his parents at age 16, according to Vince Crichton in his book "Pioneering in Northern Ontario" Mr Perpete came from Belgium.
In due course he married "the widow Turcotte"andtheydecidedtoexpandabusiness shehadestablishedbuttheonlylocationsuitable for their plans was three lots on Elm Street near the CPR station. Apparently, a hotel had been locatedonthesite,butithadburneddown.
Vincewrotethatin1908onthelotatthe cornerofElmandDufferinstreetsabuildingwas under construction which came to be known as 'Perpete's Store'. It was a small general store specializing in tobacco, drugs, confectionery, groceries,andfruit.
parlour, dance hall, hotel, rooming house and home,containedinonelargebuilding".
Onthesecondfloorwasa"LodgeRoom" werelocalandlodgerooms.
My mother Muriel E (Hunt) Morris and her sister Elsie were growing up in Chapleau in the early years of the 20th Century and Mom would tell me stories about attending dances in this room where she would sing, and my aunt wouldplaypiano.
Vince noted that it became known as "Perpete'sHallinthe1920s,afavouriteplacefor the"youngerset"toholdtheirpartiesanddances.
At one point they also had an ice cream parlour
VincerelatesthatthePerpetefamilywho had been living in the store, bought, and moved into a home which in 1975 when he wrote his book was 81 Dufferin Street. It was still there whenhewaswritinghisbook.
They also expanded the building and createdlivingquarterswhichwererentedbythe month to "regular railway employees such as mail clerks, conductors, and brakemen running intoChapleauonsteadypassengertrainrunswho found the proximity to the station ideal for a roominghouse."
He added that by the time the building was completed "it contained 23 rooms and 'Perpete's' was actually a store, an ice cream
Mr.PerpetehadlefttheCPRtobeafulltimemerchantbutleftthebusinesstoserveinthe armedforcesinWorldWarIandWorldWarII Mrs Perpete managed the business duringhisabsencesandcontinuedtodosoafter World War II when Mr. Perpete returned home butbecameillanddiedin1946.Shesoldthestore and moved from Chapleau. She died in 1966, at age89.
Vince noted that Mr and Mrs. Perpete were very civic minded. Mr. Perpete served on the township council and was a member of the Chapleau Brass Band They were willing to donate the hall to clubs and charities for fund raisingactivitiesespeciallyduringthetwoworld wars.
ThesiteisnowthehomeoftheChapleau PentecostalChurch
from OTTAWA Rapport d’Ottawa
by/par Carol Hughes Federal member of Parliament Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing
Being connected to the internet is more essential now than it has ever been, particularly in today's interconnected world, yet Canadians face someofthehighesttelecompricesaroundtheglobe. The cost of accessing telecommunications and internet services places a significant burden on families, businesses, and individuals alike This burden falls especially hard on rural and Indigenous communities, who have long struggled with exorbitant costs for vital services like internet and mobile connectivity. Many Indigenous communities stilllackreliable,high-speedinternet—abarrierthat stifles education, economic opportunity, digital literacy, and even cultural revitalization. For these communities, affordable and dependable telecom servicesarenotaluxurybutanecessity.
Rogers Communications, one of Canada's largest telecom providers, recently raised service costs without warning, even for customers with locked-in contracts. Using a clause hidden within many customers' contracts, Rogers hiked fees on equipment rentals like TV boxes and modems Signing a contract usually means stable, expected billing,butRogers'actionsshowhowtelecomgiants canexploitloopholestoincreaseprofits.Mergersand reduced competition were supposed to bring Canadiansbetterprices,accordingtoRogers,yetthey haveledtohighercostsandfewerchoices.
At the core of this issue is the lack of competition in Canada's telecom industry, which allows a handful of large companies to control the market and dictate price For Canadians, fewer choices of telecom providers mean higher prices for services. Last year's merger between Rogers and Shaw Communication is a prime example of how corporate consolidation only worsens this problem. When the government approved this merger, they placedcertain"conditions"onittosupposedlyprotect consumers.TheseincludedpromisesfromRogersto invest in expanding its network, maintain jobs, and freeze prices for Shaw customers for five years. However,thesewerewidelycriticizedasineffective, and today we see why. The merger hasn't improved competitionorloweredpricesforCanadians.Instead, ithasconsolidatedmarketpowerinfewerhands.The CompetitionBureau,whichtriedtoblockthemerger, raisedseriousconcernsthatsuchconsolidationwould inevitably lead to higher costs and fewer choices. Unfortunately,thegovernmentallowedittoproceed, andCanadiansarenowpayingtheprice.
ThePublicInterestAdvocacyCentre(PIAC) also stood firmly against this merger, urging the government to reject it. Similarly, the non-profit advocacy organization OpenMedia was strongly opposed, launching petitions and campaigns to raise awareness about the harms of reduced competition.
ActionNeededtoEndTelecomPriceGouging
Theywarnedthatthemergerwoulddriveupcostsand leave Canadians with even fewer choices. But their warnings went unheeded. The result? A monopoly thathashitCanadianshard—especiallythoseinrural and underserved communities, where options were alreadylimited.
Adding to Canadians' frustration is that the government awarded Rogers over $165 million in federal contracts in the past two years alone, despite the company's pricing practices that have negatively impacted Canadians. This raises serious questions aboutthegovernment'sprioritiesanditscommitment toprotectingconsumersfromcorporateexploitation. Why should a company that exploits its market position to overcharge Canadians benefit from taxpayer dollars? Companies that exploit consumers shouldn't receive lucrative federal contracts. Those contracts should be awarded only to companies that demonstrate fair pricing and consumer respect. This would not only protect public funds from being directed to corporations that fail to prioritize fair treatment for consumers but would also send a clear
messagethatabusingtheirdominantmarketposition toexploitconsumersisunacceptable.
It'salsohightimethegovernmentestablished mandatory low-cost internet and cellular plans to ensure that every Canadian can afford connectivity, regardlessofincomeorlocation.IntheUnitedStates, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) offers monthly discounts for low-income households, and Finland made broadband access a legal right over a decade ago, requiring providers to offer affordable, high-speed internet even in rural areas If these countries have implemented similar programs —so whyhasn'tours?
It's essential to prioritize the well-being of Canadiansovercorporateprofits.Let'smaketelecom fair, a
everyone because no one should be forced to choose between staying connected and making ends meet.Addressingthepricegougingbytelecomgiants is about ensuring equal opportunity and protecting every Canadian's right to stay connected without the burdenofexcessivecosts.
Besoind'interventionpourmettrefinauxtarifsexorbitantsdesservicesdetélécommunication
Être branché à Internet n'a jamais été aussi important, en particulier dans le monde interconnecté d'aujourd'hui. Or, les Canadiens paient certains des tarifs les plus élevés au monde Le coût des services de télécommunication et d'Internet représente un fardeau considérable, tant pour les familles que pourlesentreprisesetlespersonnes.Cefardeau estparticulièrementlourdpourlescommunautés ruralesetautochtones,quisontauxprisesdepuis longtemps avec des tarifs exorbitants pour des servicesessentielscommel'accèsàInternetetàla téléphonie mobile cellulaire De nombreuses communautés autochtones n'ont toujours pas de serviceInternethautevitessefiable,cequifreine l'enseignement, les occasions économiques, la littératie numérique et même la revitalisation culturelle. Pour ces communautés, des services de télécommunications abordables et fiables ne constituentpasunluxe,maisbienunenécessité. Récemment, Rogers Communications, un des principaux fournisseurs de services de télécommunication du Canada, a augmenté ses tarifs sans préavis, même pour les clients ayant descontrats.Pourcefaire,l'entreprises'estservie d'une clause dissimulée dans de nombreux contrats pour augmenter les frais de location d'équipement (p. ex. terminaux de télévision et modems). Habituellement, un contrat signifie qu'on peut s'attendre à une facture stable Toutefois, les gestes de Rogers montrent comment les géants des télécommunications tirentpartidesfaillespouraccroîtreleursprofits. D'après Rogers, les fusions et la concurrence réduiteétaientcenséessignifierdemeilleursprix pourlesCanadiens,maisellesontplutôtmenéà des hausses des tarifs et à une diminution des options.
Le fond du problème est le manque de concurrence dans le secteur des télécommunications du Canada, ce qui permet à quelques grandes entreprises de contrôler le marchéetdedicterlesprix.PourlesCanadiens, un moins grand nombre de fournisseurs de services de télécommunication signifie des servicespluschers.Lafusiondel'annéedernière entre Rogers et Shaw Communication montre bien comment le regroupement d'entreprises ne fait qu'aggraver le problème Lorsque le gouvernement a approuvé la fusion, il a imposé certaines«conditions»,soi-disantpourprotéger les consommateurs. Rogers a notamment dû promettred'investirdansl'agrandissementdeson réseau, de maintenir les emplois et de geler les prix offerts à ses clients pendant cinq ans Toutefois, les intervenants ont généralement reproché à ces mesures d'être inefficaces; nous voyons pourquoi aujourd'hui. La fusion n'a pas accru la concurrence et n'a pas non plus fait baisserlesprixpourlesCanadiens.Elleaplutôt concentré la domination du marché dans les mainsd'unpluspetitnombredefournisseurs.Le Bureau de la concurrence, qui a essayé d'empêcher la fusion, redoutait en particulier qu'elle mène inévitablement à une hausse des tarifs et à une diminution des options Malheureusement,legouvernementaautoriséla fusion,etlesCanadiensfontmaintenantlesfrais decettedécision.
Le Centre pour la défense de l'intérêt publicétaitégalementfermementopposéàcette fusion et a exhorté le gouvernement à la rejeter De façon semblable, OpenMedia, un organisme de défense à but non lucratif, s'y est lui aussi opposé et lancé pétitions et campagnes pour SuiteP.7
Centre culturel Louis-Hémon UCFO
Ensemble, soutenons le local durant les FêtesAvec le « rush » des Fêtes qui approche, c’est le moment idéal pour penser aux petites entreprises locales et aux organismes de notre communauté. En achetant local, non seulement vous trouvez des cadeaux uniques et de qualité, mais vous contribuez aussi directement à l’économie et au bien-être de votre région. Vous pouvez consulter la liste des organismes et petites entreprises sur le site internet de la ville ou les découvrir sur leurs pages Facebook. Il y a également
plusieurs marchés de Noël où vous pourrez rencontrer directement les artisans et commerçants locaux.
Soutenir les entreprises et les organismes de chez nous, c’est bien plus qu’un simple achat : c’est un investissement dans la vitalité de notre communauté. Chaque achat local contribue à créer des emplois, à financer des services essentiels et à renforcer les liens entre les citoyens. Ensemble, faisons des Fêtes un moment de solidarité et de soutien local !
Club Maria Chapdelaine
Les aînés, un portrait en pleine évolution
Il y a près d'un siècle, seulement une personne sur vingt avait 65 ans et plus.Aujourd'hui, grâce aux avancées médicales et au vieillissement des baby-boomers, cette proportion a triplé : une personne sur six fait désormais partie de ce groupe. Voici un portrait, tracé à partir des données du questionnaire court des Recensements du Canada de 2001 et de 2011, qui donne un bon aperçu de cette tendance démographique. Des « jeunes vieux » aux « vieux vieux »
La notion de vieillesse est complexe. À 65 ans, certains travaillent encore, tandis que d'autres profitent d'une retraite bien entamée.
Historiquement, cet âge marquait le début du troisième âge, un repère qui reste pertinent malgré des réalités diversifiées. Pour mieux comprendre, on divise la vieillesse en trois catégories : 65-74 ans, 7584 ans et 85 ans et plus. La population des « vieux vieux » (85 ans et plus) connaît une croissance particulièrement marquée, notamment chez les hommes. Entre
2001 et 2011, leur nombre a bondi de 85,2 %, contre 58,2 % chez les femmes.
Modes de vie et cohabitation
Au Québec, plus de la moitié (60,5 %) des aînés vivent avec un proche. Le plus souvent leur conjoint ou conjointe (52,6 %), avec un parent (père ou mère) ou un enfant (4,3 %), ou bien avec une « personne apparentée autre que le parent ou le conjoint » (3,6 %).
Une proportion importante, soit 39,5 %, vit cependant seule, surtout les femmes. La vie en couple évolue aussi avec l'âge : les hommes, qui vivent plus longtemps qu'avant, sont plus nombreux à se remarier ou à former de nouvelles unions après un veuvage. Les femmes, elles, choisissent souvent de rester seules, une décision prise par 34 % d'entre elles, contre 18 % des hommes. Certains vivent dans un ménage collectif de type institutionnel ou communautaire (10,2 %) ou avec une personne hors parenté (2 %). En somme, les aînés représentent une population diverse et en constante évolution, un groupe qui façonne et transformera encore notre société.
Lastweekssolutions
MOMENTS IN TIME
On Dec. 3, 1984, an explosion at a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, marked the worst industrial accident in history. At least 5,000 people died immediately, according to official estimates, while approximately 20,000 died over time and another halfmillionwereinjuredwhentoxicgasenvelopedthecity.
SuitedelaP.4
sensibiliser les gens aux effets néfastes d'une concurrence réduite. Ils ont averti que la fusion entraînerait une hausse des coûts et que les Canadiens auraient encore moins d'options. Ces avertissements n'ont toutefois pas été écoutés. Résultat : un monopole qui touche durement les Canadiens, en particulier ceux qui vivent dans des communautés rurales et mal desservies, où lesoptionsétaientdéjàpeunombreuses.
L'irritation des Canadiens est encore aggravée par le fait qu'au cours des deux dernières années seulement, le gouvernement fédéralaoctroyéàRogersdescontratstotalisant plus de 165 millions de dollars, malgré les pratiques de tarification de l'entreprise aux lourdes conséquences pour les Canadiens. Cette situation soulève de graves questions sur les priorités du gouvernement et sa volonté de protégerlesconsommateurscontrel'exploitation par les sociétés. Pourquoi une entreprise qui utilisesapositionsurlemarchépoursurfacturer des services profiterait-elle de l'argent des contribuables?Lesentreprisesquiexploitentles consommateursnedevraientpassevoiroctroyer de lucratifs contrats fédéraux Ces contrats devraient uniquement aller aux entreprises qui ont des prix équitables et qui respectent les consommateurs. Cette mesure permettrait non seulement d'empêcher que des fonds publics ne soient versés à des sociétés pour lesquelles un traitement équitable des consommateurs ne constituepasunepriorité,maispermettraitaussi de bien leur faire comprendre qu'il est inacceptable d'utiliser leur domination du marchépourexploiterlesconsommateurs. Il est aussi grand temps que le gouvernement impose des forfaits Internet et cellulaires à faible coût afin que tous les Canadiens aient les moyens de se brancher, peu importeleurrevenuoul'endroitoùilssetrouvent. Aux États-Unis, l'Affordable Connectivity Programoffredesrabaismensuelsauxménages àfaiblerevenu.Desoncôté,laFinlandeafaitde l'accèsauserviceàlargebandeundroitjuridique il y a déjà plus de dix ans et exige que les
abordables et à haute vitesse même dans les régionsrurales.Sicespaysontpumettreenplace desprogrammesdecegenre,pourquoileCanada nefait-ilpasdemême?
Il est essentiel de donner la priorité au bien-être des Canadiens plutôt qu'aux bénéfices dessociétés.Faisonsensortequelesservicesde télécommunication soient équitables, accessiblesetabordablespourtous.Personnene devraitavoiràchoisirentredemeurerconnectéet joindre les deux bouts S'attaquer aux tarifs exorbitants des géants des télécommunications viseàgarantirl'égalitédeschancesetàprotéger le droit des Canadiens d'être branchés savoir avoiràpayerdescoûtsexcessifs.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND
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ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (A.A).Open discussion meeting every Monday evening. Brunswick House First Nation Band office lounge 7pm.NarcoticsAnonymous(N.A)everyTuesdaysameplacesametime. NNADAPWorker@864-0174info.
CHADWIC HOME, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE. Offers shelter, emotionalsupport,andinformationforwomenandtheirchildrenwhoarein crisissituations WehaveaTollFreeCrisisLinewhichisstaffed24hoursa day WecanarrangeforfreetransportationtotheCentreforwomenwho liveintheAlgoma/Chapleauarea Wealsooffersupporttowomenwholive in the communities of Chapleau, White River, Dubreuilville, and HornepaynethroughourOutreachProgram OurOutreachWorkertravels tothosecommunitiestomeetwithwomenwhoneedemotionalsupportas wellasinformationabouttheirrightsandoptions Ifyouneedtospeakwith 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
Iregularlyusethiscolumntospeakabout themeat-and-potatoesissuesthataffectpeoplein Algoma-Manitoulin. Issues like the healthcare crisis, the need for better highway and road maintenance in the North, our crowded school system, or the lack of affordable housing in our provincearewhatIhearaboutmostfrompeopleI meetwithday-to-dayandaretopofmindforme whenIaminthelegislature.
Theseissuesarewhatpeopleexpect,orat least hope, politicians to be addressing in a meaningfulwaywhentheymeetatQueen'sPark to discuss legislation. It is what I want to be talkingabout,andwheneverIgettheopportunity to speak in the legislature, I try to relate the realities of people in Northern Ontario to the subjectmatterbeforeus.
This week, I am writing about an issue thatmayseemremoteordrytosomereaderswho are not caught up in the "Queen's Park Bubble," butaffectsallofusdeeply,whetherwe'reaware ofitornot.ThatisthisProgressiveConservative government'sdisdainforthedemocraticprocess.
Some will recall that the Ford government decided to recess the legislature early last June and hold it in recess until late October. What this means is that for nearly 5 months, no legislation was passed, no debates were held, and MPPs could not question the governmentonitsactionsorbringforwardtheir own pieces of legislation to highlight issues importanttotheirconstituents.
Upon the return of the legislature, the government decided to cut the debate short on fivedifferentpiecesoflegislationandnotallowa
DougFord'sfearofscrutinyiscreatingchaos
full discussion in the legislature They also drastically reduced the time that these bills can spendincommittee,cuttingtheamountofpublic commentarythatcanbereceived.
These bills included the fast-tracking of massive highway projects by exempting them from envi
a
nt, the government's fall economic update, and an overhaul of Ontario's energy system. All these piecesoflegislationareextremelycomplex,and their effects will be far-reaching. Each of them will have consequences for Ontario that will outlive this government. Pushing them through thelegislaturewithlittledebateorpublicinputis not only undemocratic but also downright irresponsible.
This is part of a larger trend with this government, which has decided that because it controlsamajorityofseats,itdoesnotneedtobe heldtotherulesandpracticesofourdemocratic system.We'veseenthistimeandagainwherethe government has cut debate short, changed the 'StandingOrders'(therulesofthelegislature)to cut out and limit opposition tools to hold them accountable, and in the most serious cases, has passed pieces of legislation by enacting the "notwithstandingclause"oftheCharterofRights and Freedoms which suspends certain constitutionalrights.
I understand that to many people, this seems like a somewhat obscure issue with little bearing on daily life. But that is not the case. Because a government that governs in an unaccountable manner creates chaos and dysfunction.
Take, for example, some of this government's most publicized headaches since theirelectionin2018:
evenhaveitsowninternalprocesstocometoits decisions before rushing them through the legislature.
Bringing up these examples is not just a waytobashthisgovernmentbuttopointoutthat there is a reason behind the way our democracy worksinCanadaandinOntario.
Allowing for a fulsome and thoughtful debate and using the committee process to get public and expert input on bills before we pass them is meant to be a way to make better decisions that will stand the test of time. When that process gets rushed, and the government is deaf to criticism or constructive feedback, they end up getting it wrong more often than they otherwisewould.
I have to say that in my 13 years as an elected official, this government stands out as onethatissocertainthatitdoesnotneedtoheed the opposition, its critics, or, in many cases, the public. They have changed the Standing Orders more times than any government before them, using their majority to keep scrutiny to a minimum. They are allergic to ideas that do not come from their own ranks and must be pulled back from their worst impulses, kicking and screamingbythepublicwhentheygotoofar.
We are worse off because of this as Ontarians.
Iunderstandthedesiretogetthingsdone quickly Governmentsareonlyelectedforafouryearmandate,andthentheymustgobacktothe people and ask for another. However, there is a line between being expeditious and being unaccountable that this government has crossed in its effort to control the legislature. As we've seen,whenyouplayitfast-and-loose,youendup regrettingitquickly
The government drastically interfered in the Toronto municipal election, cutting the number of councillors it would allow the city to have. Ford's Conservative government passed Bill 124 to put a cap on public sector workers' salaries,whichtheyhadspentmillionsdefending in court before it was deemed to be unconstitutional.Theuseofthenotwithstanding clause, which was created to force education workersbacktowork,hadtoberepealedaweek later. Their Greenbelt legislation allowed developers close to the Premier to unfairly benefit from land speculation, which they were alsoforcedtorepeal.
Thesearejustthemostnotableexamples where the government blatantly circumvented thenormsofourdemocraticprocessandrammed through legislation without reflection or public input. There are also many cases, such as the Greenbeltscandal,wherethegovernmentdidnot
There is a saying that goes, "Democracy is a slow process of stumbling to the right decision instead of going straight to the wrong one."As the Premier continues to publicly mull anearlyelection,continuestousehismajorityto push through legislation without debate and avoidspublicscrutinywhereverhecan,Ithinkhe shouldreflectonthosewords.
Takingcriticismisneverenjoyable,butit is a necessary component of our democratic system that should not be taken for granted. At theendoftheday,Ibelievethatthisgovernment wouldmakefarfewererrorsiftheytookthetime todothingsrightinsteadofrushingintowhatever theythinkisbest.
Asalways,pleasefeelfreetocontactmy office about these issues or any other provincial matters.Youcanreachmyconstituencyofficeby emailatmmantha-co@ola.orgorbyphoneTollfreeat1-800-831-1899.