Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medals, USW 1005 Food Drive, Automatic Sprinklers
Let me start this month’s column by thanking each one of you who has taken the time and energy to lend a helping hand throughout this year. I had the opportunity to express our appreciation to some of our stellar citizens with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. This paid tribute to their work and dedication to making our community the excellent place that we call home.
Many more of you, whether through our schools, churches, our workplace, organised charities, or as individuals, help students with school work; seniors with meals, housework or visits; coach, referee and guide our youth in many activities and give to our community every day.
Particularly during this festive time of year, I encourage each of you to take it one step further – commit random acts of kindness. It can be as simple as holding the door for the next person, to buying a coffee or tea for someone else in the Tim’s line, to volunteering at the food bank, the Christmas food basket drive or at a shelter for homeless Hamiltonians. Perhaps carry a couple of additional loonies in your pocket to help someone in need.
I also want to send a shout-out to my brothers and sisters at USW Local 1005. Even when there have been lay-offs, Local 1005 has continued with their annual food drive, which was held on December 5th.
Although the Legislature is not in session, we are still very busy dealing with issues that will need legislative approval once the Legislature is recalled. Our Queen’s Park staff is keeping a close watch on any activities occurring with respect to all Bills that were before the Legislature when it was prorogued, but particularly on the Bills that our Caucus members had tabled or were planning to table.
I have asked the Minister of Community Safety and Corrections Services for an up-date on the Technical Consultation that was undertaken to address issues such as those raised in my Bill to require automatic sprinklers in every retirement home in Ontario. The report was to have been tabled with the Minister in late October, but to date, we have heard nothing about it, other than that the consultation broadened the scope of my Bill to provide more safety for an even greater number of vulnerable Ontarians. My concern, as I’ve said before, is that in this current legislative situation, rules can be implemented or changes made through Regulations, without public scrutiny, or even public notice that they have been made.
Along with my NDP colleagues, we will continue to be vigilant about the many issues that face Ontarians every day. And we will do whatever we can to continue to represent your best interests, whether at Queen’s Park or in our constituencies.
I wish each of you the best of the season. Please think of those in greater need and have a very happy and safe holiday.
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