Disabled Ontarians Facing Peak Energy Prices

Ontarians who need electricity 24/7 to power medical equipment ordered by their doctors will be hard hit by time-of-use electricity pricing. Many Ontarians require year-round temperature control, oxygen equipment and other medical devices.  They can’t wait until off-peak hours in order to use these devices. They will have no choice but to pay more. And this government has no plan to help them.  As you will know, when time of use (TOU) pricing comes into effect, peak power rates are 9.9 cents per kilowatt hour. That’s close to double the current rates. The prices will be monitored by the so-called “Smart Meters.”

In my view, the provincial government must take action that will protect disabled Ontarians from excessive electricity costs. Either this government has no plan to cover this situation or the government is ignoring disabled Ontarians altogether. In either case, the government’s lack of response is just not acceptable. The new HST Tax, along with various rate hikes and fees will increase the annual electricity bill for a typical household to over $2,000 by the end of next year. That’s a $350 increase. This is a tax by another means.

 Government MPPs Defeat Accountability Bill

Last week, the McGuinty government used its majority to defeat a private member’s bill that would have helped prevent future spending fiascos such as e-health. Under the Truth in Government Act introduced by MPP Lisa MacLeod, full disclosure would be required for all goods or service contracts over $10,000. The Act also called for full proactive disclosure on grants over $10,000 and disclosure of travel and hospitality expenses as well as the reclassification of positions.

 The proposed Truth in Government Act required all of this information to be posted online so that any citizen, journalist, elected official, business or community organization could read the details of virtually every government grant and contract.  Ms. MacLeod, PC Critic for revenue and government accountability, noted that similar disclosure rules are already in effect in Alberta and British Columbia.

This accountability legislation would have gone a long way towards preventing future surprises and scandals associated with government spending. One of the sectors most badly in need of new transparency laws are Ontario’s hospitals. They are currently exempt from Ontario’s Freedom of Information Laws.

Queen’s Park Ceremony Honours Fallen Officers

This year, Tribute to the Fallen plaques were presented to the families of four police officers. They included: OPP Provincial Constable Alan Hack; Ottawa Police Constable Ireneusz (Eric) Czapnik; Peel Regional Police Constable James Ochakovsky and OPP Provincial Constable Vu Pham. On May 2, the Province of Ontario remembered the fallen in a ceremony at the memorial. The Queen’s Park memorial is a fitting tribute to the courage and devotion to duty shown by each of the officers. The lives of 241 police officers are honoured on the Ontario Police Memorial at Queen’s Park. 

Private Member’s Bill Supports Fitness Day

Last week, I had the opportunity to introduce a new Private Member’s Bill to declare the first Friday in September of each year as Physical Fitness Day. If passed by the Legislature, my Bill would recognize coaches, educators, parents, volunteers, medical professionals and all Ontarians who strive to promote fitness. This first week of school is a good opportunity to encourage our youth to lead an active lifestyle. Recent studies have shown that people of Ontario are living an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and there are particular concerns about the level of fitness amount children and youth. I trust that Physical Fitness Day may help to reverse this trend. Including a moderate amount of physical activity our daily lives is one of the keys to a long, healthy and productive life.

New High Skills Majors for Secondary Schools

Ontario high school students can take courses that are aimed at preparing them for a career in one of 18 fields, including: agriculture, arts and culture, business, the environment, healthcare and hospitality/tourism.  Last week, the Province announced two new high skills majors programs have been created in the area of sports and non-profit agencies. These specialized secondary school programs help students earn certifications and focus on future careers through hands-on learning opportunities and workplace placement.  Not all high schools offer all programs. However, there are 1,000 specialist  programs in more than 530 secondary schools. More information is at the Ministry of Education web site, www.edu.gov.on.ca

 Toll-Free Info About Insurance

The Insurance Bureau of Canada is reminding Ontarians that changes under provincial auto insurance reforms are expected to come into effect on September 1, 2010. The proposed package of automobile insurance reforms would provide consumers with more choice and flexibility to purchase coverage that best meets their protection needs and budgets. However, consumers will need to make informed choices about their policies. The Insurance Bureau of Canada has a toll-free information centre open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Telephone 1-800-387-2880). The Insurance Bureau of Canada may also be reached at www.ibc.ca.

 Nursing Week May 10 – 16

The theme of Nursing Week 2010 is “Nursing: You can’t live without it.” Nursing Week gives us a chance to acknowledge skills, compassion, and dedication of nurses across Ontario. I look forward to participating in the Take Your MPP to Work Day, which is part of the annual Nursing Week events. I will be visiting the Uxbridge Collage Hospital and also the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.