By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady
As Ontario MPPs reconvened at Queen’s Park, the corridors of power felt less like the halls of breakthrough policy and more like a political pressure cooker. The agenda can best be described as a Fast and Furious movie: an omnibus bill, which includes a lane change by this government — ban speed cameras; proposed labour-mobility reforms, urgent demands on homelessness and housing, and a Minister under fire for favouring insiders, and more criticism on the fatally-flawed municipal bill, Bill 9.
Following is a small glimpse into my week as your MPP. I spoke to Bill 9, Municipal Accountability Act, 2025. I warned while the intent of the bill might be commendable, in reality its impact will undermine democracy rather than strengthen it. You might recall I wrote about this legislation a few weeks ago and highlighted that my biggest concern was councillors being granted power to remove colleagues for “egregious” breaches of the code of conduct. The term egregious, as written in the bill, is alarmingly vague and susceptible to political weaponization. This legislation has received a great deal of pushback from municipal officials, but I see it passing through the House as is.
Wednesday, I attended a breakfast reception where Dr. Anthony Dixon spoke about the need for government to study the evidence when it comes to expanding PSA testing for men in Ontario. Aside from being a doctor, he is a father, husband, brother and cancer survivor. Not so long ago he had a patient arrive in his ER with severe back pain – after a battery of tests, it was determined this gentleman had bone cancer, spread from undiagnosed prostate cancer, which is the third leading cause of death for Canadian men. When Dr. Dixon asked this patient if he’d been offered a prostate test, the patient responded that five years prior he had been but could not afford it. A simple blood test, covered by OHIP may have saved this man’s life.
I stood in the House after hearing Dr. Dixon speak and once again called on the government to commit to protecting the men in our lives. Quite some time ago, MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara) and I joined forces regarding this; we hope to eventually win the day.
That same morning, I also took aim at Premier Ford, reminding him he has no control over steel tariffs and that he should focus on the fact domestic steel producers currently only serve 35 per cent of the Canadian market with imported steel making up the remaining 65 per cent. In my supplementary question, I reminded the Premier that Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZO) are also in his wheelhouse, and if he wanted to protect the 1,200 steelworkers at Local 8782, he should rip up Empire Homes’ request for a city of 40,000 at the Nanticoke Industrial Park. See the Premier’s response at:
Thursday, I was up bright and early to join a group near and dear to my heart – the Ontario Autism Coalition (OAC). I told those at the morning reception Ontario was failing some of our most vulnerable. The Premier in 2018 vowed to clear the waitlist for the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) – at the time the waitlist sat around 23,000 and today it nears 65,000. We have gone from bad to worse. In attendance was Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services; I urged him to make good on Premier Ford’s commitment, and I encouraged OAC to keep fighting: “I know the days are long and many of you simply feel like throwing in the towel, but we can’t. Together, change is possible especially when people come together with passion, compassion and conviction.” I assured them I would work across party lines to get the best for their loved ones and their families.
As I settle back into my seat at Queen’s Park, time will tell whether the fall session will be one of forward-thinking bold change, or business as usual under the watchful eye of an anxious public and a restless press. If it’s business as usual, don’t count on life becoming easier or more affordable any time soon.
Bobbi Ann Brady is the MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk