QUEEN’S PARK – Queen’s Park was truly a hotbed of questions and issues this week as MPPs returned to the legislature following a constituency week. On Tuesday I had the privilege of making a statement on Lyme disease here on Ontario. May was identified as Lyme Disease Awareness Month. I used this opportunity to highlight the tireless work of the many local, provincial and national organizations as we work to raise awareness and promote Lyme disease research, education and treatment. It is unfortunate since my Private Members Motion was passed over a year and a half ago; the Liberals have yet to keep their promise to develop a comprehensive Lyme disease strategy.
This week New Democrats raised the Liberal’s horrendous mismanagement of the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board. My colleague Percy Hatfield asked when the government plans to stop WSIB unfunded debt liability on the backs of injured workers and their families. Under their watch the Liberals have knowingly chosen to reduce the board’s $12 billion debt load on the backs of the most vulnerable, sick and injured in our society. They do this through a comprehensive offensive approach by reducing awards for claims, forcing workers to return to work before they are medically capable, ignoring professional medical advice and an uncaring attitude to resolving incredible backlogs of cases and appeals. Thousands of families have experienced financial ruin which in turn adds even more emotional and societal strain. The government is willfully turning their backs on injured workers and their families. The Liberals can and must do better.
On a positive note, the NDP’s motion to protect pensioners received unanimous approval in the Legislature this week. The motion, put forth by NDP MPP Jennifer French calls on the Government of Canada to ensure that benefits owed to pensioners is given top priority in the event that a company files for bankruptcy. No worker in Ontario should be forced to wonder whether or not their pension will be there when they retire after a lifetime of working. We can all celebrate that the government has chosen to raise pensioners from the bottom rung of priority and provide the support and security that they deserve.
On the weekend I was thrilled to host my first Michael Mantha’s Walk for Food Bank Awareness. I was joined by many enthusiastic locals as we marched 26km on Manitoulin Island to remind people that some individuals and families are forced to rely on food banks all year round. This inaugural event was to support the Manitoulin Family Resource Centre. The event served as a reminder that we need to support our food banks year round, not just at Christmas. We were so pleased to collect many generous donations from local residents along the way. I urge you to remember to support the local food banks in your community. I hope to hold similar events in the future in other communities.
As always, please feel free to contact my office about these issues, or any other provincial matters. You can reach my constituency office by email at mmantha-co@ndp.on.ca or by phone at 705-461-9710/1-800-831-1899.
Michael Mantha MPP/député
Algoma-Manitoulin
