2011-10-03 at 17:38
There is no question about it -- the Harmonized Sales Tax has made life more expensive for Ontarians.
But nowhere is this statement more true than in our communities right here in the Northwest. We are already dealing with high local unemployment and feeling the effects of a stalling... Read More
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2011-09-12 at 11:54
Like so many in Canada and around the world, in the spring of 1980 I was absolutely captivated by the courage of a young man named Terry Fox, running across Canada. As fate would have it, I watched him run on Highway 11-17 and saw him collapse. Little did I know then that his fight against cancer would... Read More
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2011-02-18 at 17:13
Only 5 per cent of Canada’s households live in non-profit housing or government housing – the smallest percentage of social housing of any western country, except the U.S. This is a growing problem for those too poor to pay market rates for shelter. Canada’s housing policy emphasizes ownership and... Read More
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2011-02-02 at 11:57
My recent January town hall tour included a week to Rocky Bay First Nations, Beardmore, Geraldton, Nakina and Longlac. The following week included stops in Pic River, Marathon, Terrace Bay, Schreiber, Pays Plat, Nipigon, and both Red Rocks. On my way to Marathon and Pic River I got to battle the combination... Read More
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2011-02-01 at 17:11
Popular speculation is that we may soon have a Federal election. Some Canadians are concerned that Stephen Harper may get a majority in the House of Commons and be able to run the country as he wishes, without checks or balances. One reason people are concerned is that our universal health-care system... Read More
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2011-01-28 at 15:12
There’s no doubt about it – Parliament needs to work better. The hostile theatrics that Canadians see at question period, which you’ve likely noticed is not called answer period, are just the tip of the partisan iceberg in Ottawa. Hostility and tribalism between parties are getting worse. Parties... Read More
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2010-11-26 at 14:25
On Nov. 16, the Conservatives called a surprise Senate vote on the country’s only federal climate bill and killed it. I worked on hard on C-311 for almost two years. After much consideration and debate it was passed by the majority of elected Members of the House of Commons and supported by the vast... Read More
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2010-11-22 at NOON
Two or three times a year the rumour mills awaken and the cry of "The election is coming!" rings from Ottawa across the land. So far, the moment has passed each time and Parliament gets back to work. Predicting election dates is impossible. Like guessing the weather 10 days ahead, or the score of the... Read More
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2010-11-12 at 11:29
A few weeks ago, I was honoured to spend a day with our reservists from Thunder Bay. About 50 of the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment (including some from the 18 Service Battalion) were in Shilo, Manitoba on a live-fire training exercise. I was impressed with the esprit de corps, the proficiency, and... Read More
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2010-11-02 at NOON
Recently I was invited, in my role as Tourism Critic for the New Democrats, to accompany the federal Minister of Tourism to Shanghai and Beijing on a Canadian tourism trade mission. As I have many critic areas besides tourism --small business, water, environment, national parks, climate... Read More
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