Category: Columns

Ontario Budget 2024 is one of missed opportunities

The newly-announced budget Building a Better Ontario, has an uninspiring title to an underwhelming document that misses multiple opportunities. I’m one who believes there is no monopoly on a good idea so off the top I will mention the good things I see. The budget says the government will move ahead with auto insurance reforms

Read More »

A car without tires cannot reach its destination

By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady Questions in the Ontario Legislature are like gold to me. Parliamentary privilege ensures I receive a question every eight sessional days. This week, one of my colleagues asked if I’d trade questions. I jumped at the opportunity to get something off my chest ahead of next week’s Ontario Budget.  By

Read More »

March Break is no time to stop thinking about education

By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady I hope all the young kids out there had a great March Break last week – the weather was amazing and as I drove around the riding, I saw many on bicycles and playing outside. As I drive, I do significant thinking about our education system because it is responsible

Read More »

Two opportunities to stand up for democracy

By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady As your Independent representative at Queen’s Park, I can truly say with pride that last week was one of the most eventful since my election in 2022. I campaigned on the idea of standing up for democracy and the taxpayer, and I got two opportune moments to do just that

Read More »

Spring planting awaits as winter farm meetings wrap up

By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady As winter draws to a close, it signals the winding down of farm meeting season and the approach of the new life associated with spring and planting.  Farm meeting season is a time I have come to appreciate and enjoy over my 25 years working for former MPP Toby Barrett,

Read More »

The implications of AI in the workplace and our lives

By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady Last week, I wrote about my committee work scrutinizing Bill 149, the Working for Workers Four Act, 2023. As I wrote, there was much to unpack from the legislation; therefore, I touched on the highlights, minus one crucial topic. Schedule 2 of the bill I felt deserved a column of its own

Read More »

Will Working for Workers Four work?

By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady I was back at the Pink Palace last week as a member of the Social Policy Committee. The bill under scrutiny was Bill 149 – the Working for Workers Four Act. The bill introduces several changes to Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA) and other employment-related legislation.  As evident in the title, this is

Read More »

Serious MTO woes need immediate attention

By Bobbi Ann Brady As I get older, my appreciation for adages like “Those were the days” and “It didn’t used to be that way” grow stronger. No where is this truer than my experience over the past 23-plus years dealing with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). Transportation was once considered a sleeper ministry, one

Read More »

The tangled web of contradictions:  international students

By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady The subjects of immigration and international students have been delicate issues for quite some time. I’ve been talking about it since the election.  Some people don’t like it, but we are at a crossroads where the discussion is vital. Therefore, I’m heartened to see over the past few weeks, these subjects have

Read More »

Keeping it real at ROMA

By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady Last week, I had the pleasure of joining my municipal partners in Toronto at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference (ROMA). The ROMA conference is a good opportunity for municipal politicians to meet with provincial government political leaders and key bureaucrats to discuss the issues and challenges facing their municipalities. 

Read More »