A couple of weeks ago, the Ministry of Natural Resources quietly announced serious cuts to its “Bear Wise” program, including the cancellation of the trapping and relocation component that deals with nuisance bears. At the time of the announcement, the MNR suggested the program was ineffective in dealing with wayward […]
Sarah Campbell – From Queens Park
In recent years, privatization has been a buzzword used by various governments to demonize our public servants. Whether it is the provincial or federal government, the public service has become a scapegoat for reckless government spending, including hundreds of millions of dollars that are wasted on well-connected consultants each year. […]
Last week, Cliffs Natural Resources announced its plans to locate a chromite smelter, which will be used to process raw ore from the so-called “Ring of Fire,” in Sudbury. While many are disappointed that the smelter—and 450 potential jobs—will be located in Sudbury, Cliffs Natural Resources is a privately-owned company […]
Sometimes legislation, no matter how well-intentioned, falls short of its goals. A good example of this is the Healthy Foods For Healthy Schools Act, which is intended to help promote healthy eating habits in students by banning trans-fats and other food choices that are deemed unhealthy by the government. There’s […]
Last week, I joined my caucus colleagues in making the decision not to defeat the Liberal government over the 2012 budget. It was a difficult decision to make, but I firmly believe we made the right decision. After reviewing the hundreds of responses to my budget survey, dozens of letters, […]
Local business is the backbone of our community yet sometimes we forget the significant impact our purchasing decisions can have. By purchasing goods at local shops, farmers’ markets, and craft shows, or other items that have been produced in our region, we help keep jobs in our communities. This money […]
I would like to start off by thanking the hundreds—if not thousands—of people who submitted feedback on the provincial budget, whether by returning my “Riding Report” survey, sending letters and e-mails, or taking part in the Ontario NDP caucus’ survey. While I’m fully aware that we need to reduce spending, […]
Over the last couple of months, I’ve been fortunate enough to have my weekly column printed by many of our local newspapers and online media outlets—and for that I’m truly grateful. It has given me a chance to reach out to you and keep everyone up to date on the […]
By Sarah Campbell
With Queen’s Park in the midst of its winter break, normally this time of year is quiet on the provincial front. That’s not the case this year, however, as the media is abuzz with the highly-anticipated report on the province’s finances by economist Don Drummond. The report is expected to […]
By Sarah Campbell
The New Year is upon us, and with it comes a sense of renewal as we look forward to 2012 and the opportunities it brings. While the 2011 election brought change to Queen’s Park, and with it a desire for parties to work together, there have been some bumps along […]
By Sarah Campbell, MPP
As I’m writing this week’s column, snow is falling outside my window. It never fails to amaze me how lucky we are to live in the north, and enjoy peaceful surroundings that bring us so much joy and comfort. I know many of you will be looking forward to the […]
After much anticipation, MPPs returned to Queen’s Park on Nov. 21 for the fall sitting of the Legislative Assembly—and it was a very busy week. The 40th Parliament formally began with the Speech from the Throne, in which the government’s plans for the upcoming session were outlined. While the speech […]
