By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady
Last week, you may recall in this column I wrote about being accused by a government member of having the audacity of talking too much about Haldimand-Norfolk in relation to the good and not-so-good facets of Bill 68, Plan to Protect Ontario, Act (Fall Economic Statement). I reminded the member that our work as a MPP is all about doing what is best for our ridings and doing what the majority of voters in our ridings tell us to do at Queen’s Park.
I also used the oft-repeated, but eternally-relevant, Sir Winston Churchill quote he proclaimed as a critique of then UK Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s signing of the 1938 Munich Agreement, which was an appeasement to Nazi Germany. As history shows, the policy failed when Germany invaded Poland in 1939. Great Britain was soon to be on Nazi Germany’s hit list as well.
Getting back to the Fall Economic Statement (FES), I thought it contained oranges and lemons. But those I heard from, mostly businesspeople, told me they’d appreciate some of the items in the FES, so I voted in favour of it at Third Reading. Most also directed me not to stop telling the government what could be improved for future consideration—they want no appeasement.
On the orange side, I loved the part about “Protecting Workers and Businesses.” Yes, indeed the government had a fair bit right: protecting workers, businesses, industries, social safety nets, the $30 billion tariff relief package and the return of the WSIB funds to eligible employers.
On the lemon side, as I reminded the House, in Haldimand-Norfolk we have steelworkers that need protection. Premier Ford, how about protecting the steelworkers by ripping up the MZO to build a city of 40,000 on the Nanticoke Industrial Park? That concept of building homes in that industrial zone, threatening jobs and health is such a headscratcher to me.
The FES earmarked $400 million through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund to help rural and small communities build vital infrastructure. Hey, Minister of Transportation, it’s time you save lives by immediately making safer the intersection of Highway 6 and Haldibrook Road in Caledonia. Oh yes, and how about the long overdue reconstruction of the Argyle Street Bridge?
Bill 68 is an omnibus bill, which bundles multiple, sometimes unrelated, provisions, amendments, or repeals into one package. It makes it difficult to weigh the pros and cons. As I said, I voted in favour of this bundle but one of the items I’ll be contesting is the consolidation of Conservation Authorities (CAs). The government plans to restructure the 37 current CAs into seven. In my opinion, this is another attempt at centralized decision-making, further erosion of democracy as well as an attack on environmental protection.
The Rural Ontario Municipal Associations will be meeting in January, and I certainly hope this is the topic of conversation. Our local Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) has done an incredible job, for-nearly-80 years, protecting people, land, water, and wildlife through science-based decisions, local on the ground expertise, and long-term stewardship. The LPRCA is essential to flood prevention initiatives, watershed health, and habitat protection. I fear for the future of our education programs at Backus Mill. Full implementation of the new CAs is expected late 2026 or early 2027, so you can be assured this is not the last you will hear from me on this matter.
Bobbi Ann Brady is the MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk