As an elected official during the COVID crisis and the third Ontario lockdown, my office’s primary focus remains on stopping the spread of COVID and protecting our community — efforts which I have written about previously. However, despite the pandemic, the original duties of being an MPP have not changed, and chief among these has been exploring legislation to support our … [Read more...] about We can do better in supporting wine industry
Gates calls on province to fix glitches, pay for sick days
The news of the newest round of lockdowns has exasperated us all. Despite Premier Doug Ford’s misplaced hopes that the vaccination process would outpace rising infections, we have returned to an untenable cycle of infection and lockdown. On April 1, we had more residents of Ontario in hospitals on ventilators than at any time before in this pandemic – the vaccine rollout has … [Read more...] about Gates calls on province to fix glitches, pay for sick days
Year in review, and light at the end of the tunnel
When I look back at the last year, I look back with a heavy heart. It’s been so hard on so many residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and especially those families who are grieving the loss of their loved ones. I know I speak on behalf of our entire community when I say that we grieve with you. Whether you are in Virgil, Queenston, Glendale, St. Davids or the Old Town itself, … [Read more...] about Year in review, and light at the end of the tunnel
Long-term care needs complete provincial overhaul
COVID-19 did not create the long-term care crisis, but it has exposed to everyone what family members and advocates have been saying for years. Successive governments have failed our seniors, and refused to invest the necessary money to maintain our long-term care homes and invest in new beds. For years, seniors have been lying in hospital beds, desperately waiting for access … [Read more...] about Long-term care needs complete provincial overhaul
Gates pushes for long-term care reform
Long-term care is a humanitarian crisis, in our community and in this country. As awful as it is to read about the outbreaks, we cannot turn away from the facts: seniors are being forced to cry out and to beg for food and water, while they’re left vulnerable to deadly infection. Loved ones are dying in long-term care – with more outbreaks than we saw even at the height of … [Read more...] about Gates pushes for long-term care reform