smg2_politics

‘I think it’s outrageous’: constituency redistribution would eliminate Toronto MP from House of Commons

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OTTAWA — Toronto could lose some of its representation in the House of Commons due to faster population growth outside the city — and some local MPs say it’s an unacceptable decline in democracy for the greater metropolis of Canada. Under proposed new federal riding boundaries in Ontario, Toronto would drop from 25 to 24 … Read more

‘I’m optimistic this will erase a blind spot’: Who is Michelle O’Bonsawin, Canada’s first Indigenous Supreme Court justice?

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OTTAWA — In the Aboriginal Abenaki language, Michelle O’Bonsawin’s surname means “scout.” Now, the path she blazed as a child puts her on the verge of making history as the first Indigenous person appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his appointment Friday, the fifth appointment he has made to … Read more

Disputes between Ottawa police presidents say talks to end ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest were close to a ‘breakthrough’

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OTTAWA — The former chair of the Ottawa Police Commission says she was unaware of any negotiations that could have ended the so-called “freedom convoy” occupation around Parliament Hill last winter, and that the federal government was right to invoke the Emergencies Act to deal with the crisis. But others who have worked with protest … Read more

Disputes between Ottawa police presidents say talks to end ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest were close to a ‘breakthrough’

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OTTAWA — The former chair of the Ottawa Police Commission says she was unaware of any negotiations that could have ended the so-called “freedom convoy” occupation around Parliament Hill last winter, and that the federal government was right to invoke the Emergencies Act to deal with the crisis. But others who have worked with protest … Read more

Doug Ford Tories unveils health care changes to free up hospitals, but stress ‘Ontarians will still access health care with their OHIP card’

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After hinting at radical surgery for Ontario’s pandemic-ravaged healthcare system, Premier Doug Ford is opting for a series of more minor procedures. But Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Long-Term Care Minister Paul Calandra unveiled a series of changes on Thursday that have not appeased critics who fear increased privatization. “We are exploring opportunities to improve … Read more

Doug Ford touts stronger mayoral powers for other cities

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Premier Doug Ford promises municipal leaders across the province that their powers “will be expanded” under the new strong mayor authority for Toronto and Ottawa. Speaking at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa, Ford touted his bill that aims to speed up housing construction in the province’s two largest cities. “Like most … Read more

Support staff deal influences all other contracts, says Education Minister Stephen Lecce

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CUPE’s wage and other bargaining proposals are costly and would not be fair to taxpayers, said Education Minister Stephen Lecce. Speaking to reporters at Queen’s Park, Lecce said the demands made by the union representing school support staff were ‘astronomical, unreasonable and not in line with those footing the bill, that is the taxpayer’ . … Read more

A year later, Ottawa has failed to act on the opioid overdose crisis

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A year ago, the federal government was told that if it wanted to stem the tide of overdose deaths from a toxic drug supply, it had to regulate that supply. “Drug regulation will have the biggest impact on ending the drug death crisis,” the Government’s Substance Use Expert Task Force said in its final report. … Read more

‘They’re okay with us dying’: A year later, Ottawa failed to act on opioid overdose crisis

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A year ago, the federal government was told that if it wanted to stem the tide of overdose deaths from a toxic drug supply, it had to regulate that supply. “Drug regulation will have the biggest impact on ending the drug death crisis,” the Government’s Substance Use Expert Task Force said in its final report. … Read more

‘They’re okay with us dying’: A year later, Ottawa failed to act on opioid overdose crisis

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A year ago, the federal government was told that if it wanted to stem the tide of overdose deaths from a toxic drug supply, it had to regulate that supply. “Drug regulation will have the biggest impact on ending the drug death crisis,” the Government’s Substance Use Expert Task Force said in its final report. … Read more