Latest news with #MaritStiles
Hamilton Spectator
24-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Ontario NDP leader says Doug Ford must respect First Nations' right to refuse development
Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles doesn't believe the province needs to scrap its regulatory regime to thrive through a trade war with the U.S. In an interview, she told Ricochet it needs to scrap its controversial Bill 5 legislation and 'boldly' reinvest in the social infrastructure a thriving economy needs. While Premier Doug Ford was meeting with his provincial counterparts in Muskoka this week, Stiles was on a tour through northern Ontario. 'I want to see some bold solutions. I want to see this as one of those post-world war moments where we invest, where we see the opportunity that's presented to us,' Stiles said, in an interview during her stop in Thunder Bay on Monday, part of her 'All In For Ontario' tour hitting a number of cities and towns across the province. 'When I talk to industry like forestry, mining – anybody – they will all tell you that they cannot attract people to come and work because there's not enough affordable housing. There aren't enough schools. They can't guarantee they're going to get the health care they need, there won't be a doctor. Those are the huge issues impacting our economy and it's time we stopped thinking of it like it's something we have to spend. This is an investment in our future.' The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario predicts a dip into recession this year, possibly into next year. Stiles is calling for Ontario to prioritize buying local lumber to build more homes, which would hold up an industry whose leaders estimate they stand to lose $2 billion from the loss of cross-border trade. She says the Ontario NDP is also keeping an eye on the upcoming New York City mayoral election, in which Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani is promising bold populist ideas, such as free buses and public grocery stores. Although not quite the same, Styles points to the ONDP's promise of a grocery store rebate . Any social solutions, Stiles says, must rise from local ingenuity. For example, a non-profit personal support worker program on St. Joseph's Island near Sault Ste. Marie has served 170 people since it launched in 2020, revitalizing home care services that hadn't existed in the rural area for over a decade. However instead of building on social solutions, Ontario has passed what Stiles calls 'ridiculous power-grab legislation' in Bill 5 . The law allows the government to identify 'trusted proponents' and designate 'special economic zones' in which environmental, labour, and municipal bylaws don't apply. First Nations leaders have been at the front of critical demonstrations, arguing the law violates their right to consultation and early July, Stiles rallied with farmers and residents of Dresden, a small town where the province has used Bill 5 — what the government has called 'mining legislation' — to allow proponents of a proposed landfill to dodge an environmental assessment. 'What I said to those people is, 'you are the canary in the coal mine… if it can happen in Dresden – which is basically Conservative country – it can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone.' And I fear that's the message we have to get out to people: it's your rights that are at risk,' she said. 'What's obviously getting a lot of attention right now is the steamrolling of treaty rights, which is terrible and is going to set us back generations, and is frankly going to hold up projects. It's going to hold up northern development. But I think we also have to recognize that it's everybody that can be impacted by this, because it does mean the suspension of any right, anywhere, anytime.' In her view, the legislation interferes with the ability for First Nations to independently strike their own partnerships with commercial and industrial proponents. While she expects resistance to Bill 5 'in the courts or on the land,' she says the setback to those relationships ultimately compromises Ontario's investment climate. She says First Nations have the right to walk away from the table and say no to development, and that an NDP government would lean into that right for stability.'I'm not going to impose anything on First Nations. I want First Nations' leadership to tell me, what's the best way you want to proceed with this?'In February, Ford was elected to his third consecutive majority government. Northern Ontario First Nation leaders have repeatedly asked to meet with him on infrastructure projects but he has refused, going back long before the introduction of Bill 5. Stiles says First Nation communities should have the right to refuse any development. 'They do currently and they should be able to [say no]. But I also think that for the most part, First Nations in Ontario want to be able to see good development happen, but they also don't want to have no say in what happens in their territories where they have treaties, and where they, frankly, know the land much better than anybody else.' Some northern communities, such as Neskantaga and Attiwapiskat First Nations, which have been waiting for years for clean drinking water and living under long-term boil-water advisories, are now being told that their territories are located in the so-called Ring of Fire region, a massive area north of Thunder Bar that contains mineral deposits suspected to hold more than $60-billion worth of critical minerals. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . 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CTV News
24-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Marit Stiles on All in For Ontario Tour
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles is spending much of the summer away from Queen's Park, hitting the road for an All in For Ontario Tour.
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
NDP slams Ontario school board takeovers as ‘power grab,' say parents have no voice
Opposition critics are slamming the Ontario government's decision to take over four Ontario school boards, including the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), calling the move a 'power grab' that silences elected trustees. 'Doug Ford is playing political games with our kids' futures instead of focusing on the future of our schools and what's best for students,' Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said. Stiles and a coalition of teacher unions and trustees held a news conference Thursday to call attention to the move. She accused Education Minister Paul Calandra of 'forcing through a political power grab' that shuts parents' voices out of the classroom. The province announced on June 27 that it would be appointing supervisors to take over four school boards, citing investigations into their finances. In addition to the two Toronto boards, the province also appointed supervisors to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB). The ministry claimed the boards had 'failed' in their responsibility to ensure student success and said it planned to address 'concerns regarding growing deficits, depleting reserves and ongoing cases of mismanagement.' A report on the TDSB released by Ontario's auditor general in December found that 'financial and capital resources are not consistently allocated in the most cost effective or efficient way' at the board. However Stiles said the decision 'was about control' rather than improving schools. 'This decision had nothing to do with improving our classrooms and everything to do with control,' she said. 'It's about shutting out families. It's about a power grab, and it's about political gains and what Ontario schools actually need is real investments.' Trustee says parents don't have voice now TDSB Trustee Matias de Dovitiis also spoke at the news conference. He said he's been instructed by the ministry not to respond to complaints from the community while the board is under supervision. 'The role of trustee is to be the voice for a community. So it's not about the individuals that are currently elected; it's about a democratic tradition that goes back to 1849,' de Dovitiis said. 'We've had elected trustees in this province before Canada became a country.' Chandra Pasma, the NDP's shadow minister for education, said trustees provide an important link between parents and the school system. 'What we've seen in those provinces that have done away with elected trustees is that there's incredible parent frustration because they've lost their ability to have a say in their children's school system,' Pasma said. De Dovitiis said the province has chronically underfunded schools, putting them in a position where they're being asked to slash services the community wants. 'The supervisor created a report and gave it to the minister. It said, basically, we didn't follow 40 per cent of the recommendations from staff,' de Dovitiis said. 'The recommendations from staff that we didn't follow were to close down pools, fire principals, fire safety monitors, to reduce outdoor education and to do away with the many things that make school education, public education better for our kids. We weren't prepared to do that because we represent our communities, and our communities don't want us to do that.' Michelle Teixeira, president of the Toronto branch of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), also spoke at the news conference and said the move is a distraction from underfunding. 'It is an affront to local democracy and community voice,' she said. 'The recent takeover of four school boards – including the largest in Canada, the TDSB – is evidence of this. The investigations into these school boards were nothing more than a ruse designed to distract from the fact that they are willfully underfunding education in this province.' She cited a report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which estimated Ontario underfunded education by $6.3 billion since 2018. That report pegged underfunding for the TDSB since 2018 at nearly $900 million. She also noted that the TDSB continues to make up a large portion of the school repair backlog in the province, which stands at around $17 billion. 'Focus on your mandate, or step aside' In an email to CP24, Education Minister Paul Calandra said he's unconcerned with the opinions of trustees. 'I am focused on listening to parents and teachers about how we can set students up for success, and less concerned about the opinions of trustees that have failed in their most basic responsibility: putting students first,' Calandra wrote. 'We are restoring accountability in Ontario's education system and putting all trustees on notice: focus on your mandate, or step aside.' He accused the opposition parties of defending 'broken boards' and opposing accountability. 'While they fight to support out-of-touch school board trustees, we will fight for students, parents, and teachers,' Calandra wrote. Calandra's office did not say what process parents should follow for communicating their concerns while school boards are under supervision.
CBC
10-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Opposition calls Ontario school board takeover 'power grab,' as trustees say they've received little direction
Social Sharing Since the Ontario government took over the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) two weeks ago, elected trustee Matias de Dovitiis says he's only received two emails with directions from his province-appointed supervisor. One of those directions was to refrain from communicating with the community members who elected him, de Dovitiis, who represents Humber River-Black Creek, said at a news conference Thursday. "To think that we can take away those 22 community voices … and just put out a 1-800 number and have people be able to navigate this massive institution is just not realistic," he said. De Dovitiis was joined by Ontario New Democratic Party Leader Marit Stiles, as well as education advocates, parents and other trustees at Fairmount Park, where they spoke out against the Progressive Conservative government's decision. Last month, the province appointed supervisors to the TDSB, the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board. Since the takeover, de Dovitiis said that parents are being redirected to a general email, which he's not sure is getting them answers. Support is starting to disappear, said Kamin Peyrow, a mom of two boys, one of whom is a kindergartener in a wheelchair. "I voted in my election for my local school board trustee. And now I feel like my vote has become silenced under supervision," she said. "This shouldn't be a fight. All children deserve to be supported consistently and with dignity." The move to take over school boards came after Education Minister Paul Calandra said financial investigations into the boards showed growing deficits and depletion of reserves. The province is working to restore accountability in the education system, Calandra told CBC Toronto in an emailed statement Thursday. "I am focused on listening to parents and teachers about how we can set students up for success, and less concerned about the opinions of trustees that have failed in their most basic responsibility: putting students first," he said. He also said the New Democratic and Liberal parties are choosing to side with trustees, rather than students. "They protect broken boards and oppose accountability. While they fight to support out-of-touch school board trustees, we will fight for students, parents, and teachers," he said. But NDP Leader Marit Stiles called the move a "power grab," accusing Premier Doug Ford of "playing political games with our kids' futures." "Now local schools are being run by inexperienced political insiders, while elected local school board trustees are forbidden from talking to parents about their kids' education," Stiles said. CBC Toronto emailed Calandra's office several questions Thursday, that included asking him to respond to Stiles' claims the takeover was a power grab, but the minister did not directly answer them in his statement. Ottawa MPP Chandra Pasma, who is the NDP's education critic, claimed the appointed supervisors are affiliated with the Progressive Conservatives. "They appointed four supervisors with no expertise in education whatsoever, with no experience in children's psychology or well-being," she said. "Their only qualifications are that they are Conservative insiders, that they've made donations, that they've run for the Conservatives before." Rick Byers, who was appointed to supervise the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, is a former PC MPP. His background lies in finance and auditing. Ottawa-Carleton District School Board supervisor Robert Plamondon ran federally for the Progressive Conservatives in 1988 and currently serves on several audit and governance committees. Frank Benedetto, who was appointed supervisor of the TCDSB, is a legal professional who works with Ontario Environment Minister Todd McCarthy's private law offices.
CTV News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Residents, Ont. NDP leader rally against Dresden landfill
Residents continue to fight against a proposed Dresden landfill. CTV Windsor's Robert Lothian has an update. A community effort to keep a landfill out of Dresden was met with support on Thursday by the leader of the Ontario NDP. Marit Stiles backed the cause at a rally against the landfill and the provincial government's passing of Bill 5. 'This is a prime example of a government and a premier making another promise and commitment and breaking it,' Stiles told those at the rally in Dresden. Led by Stiles, a crowd of more than 100 people chanted 'kill Bill 5,' which paved the way for a long-dormant landfill to be revived without the need for an Environmental Assessment. 070325 Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles met with Dresden residents and stakeholders against the revival of the dump site. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) The Ford Government pushed through the 'Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act,' at the tail end of the spring sitting. On Thursday, representatives from Walpole Island First Nation, the Kent Federation of Agriculture and PSAC spoke openly against the legislation. 'You are going about this in bad faith, and you are not proving to us that you are a trusted proponent,' said Leela Thomas, Chief of Walpole Island First Nation. York1 Environmental Solutions is seeking to revive an old landfill site on Irish School Road on the northern tip of Dresden, supposedly for a construction and demolition materials recycling facility. Rhonda Jubenville, the area representative for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent said they have had little correspondence with York1. 'They haven't applied for any zoning applications or anything, so we've heard zero, nil, nothing,' Jubenville said. In recent weeks, construction equipment was dropped off at the landfill site. Chatham-Kent has instructed by-law officers to monitor the site for any potential infractions. 070325 Chatham-Kent residents Wendy Lewis, left, and Dawn Ostler attended a rally in Dresden against a proposed landfill. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) 'I do worry for the people of Dresden and the surrounding area, along with the impact of the land and farms, the tributaries like the Sydenham and Molly's Creek and the air and all of the wildlife who call these places their home,' Jubenville noted. Absent from the crowd was Steve Pinsonneault, the Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP, who represents Dresden. Pinsonneault has previously spoken out against the proposed landfill on social media but has faced backlash for his frequent silence since the Ford government's reversal . He chose to abstain from voting on Bill 5 rather than casting a vote against it. 'Steve Pinsonneault, show up and do your job buddy, we're waiting,' yelled Stefan Premdas of Dresden C.A.R.E.D, standing beside Stiles. A spokesperson for the MPP's office told CTV News in an emailed statement Pinsonneault had funding announcements and scheduled committee meetings in London. 'While he was not able to be there in person, MPP Pinsonneault remains engaged with the concerns raised by the community and continues to monitor the situation closely,' said Michelle Dwyer, his executive assistant. While the legislation has passed, Stiles encouraged residents to continue their fight against the landfill until it is permanently stopped. '[Doug Ford] introduces a bill, he lies, he lies again, and then we build the public pressure, and he repeals the bill, so this is what we've got to do again,' Stiles said.
