By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—Haldimand Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady was in Kenora last week for the first in a series of pre-budget consultations being held across Ontario from Essex to Timmins to Peterborough.
As a member of the Finance Committee, Brady is part of a small team of MPPs working together to listen to delegations from stakeholders regarding current bills that impact the Provincial budget. They use those delegations to form recommendations that will be presented to the House.
In addition to discussing this year’s budget with stakeholders, the Committee is also holding public meetings to hear from the public about the government’s new Bill 46, known as the Less Red Tape, Stronger Ontario Act, 2022.
Brady provided some clarity on how the pre-budget consultation project works: “Pre-budget consultations are similar to regular committee meetings but at this point, stakeholders are presenting what should be considered during the actual committees. For example, it could be hospitals asking for a percentage increase in base funding. Once pre-budget consultations are complete, the committee engages in report writing, which is presented to the government for final consideration in drafting the budget.”
She touched on the types of concerns typically brought forward during the in-progress meetings, explaining, “Oftentimes there is a common theme across the province. However, as was noted in Kenora, there are issues specific to different areas like the north. Another example would be a municipality appearing and asking for additional funding to combat opioid addiction in their community.”
Brady touched on Bill 46, which she says is focused on “increasing Ontario’s competitiveness and building a stronger supply chain and making government easier to interact with by cutting red tape.”
She said the bill would amend the following Acts in the provincial legislation: Animal Health Act, 2009; Courts of Justice Act, 1990; Innkeepers Act, 1990; Juries Act, 1990; Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act, 1990; Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998; Provincial Offences Act, 1990; Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act, 1990; and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.
“As the government puts it, ‘Out of the nine individual Acts, two Acts from two ministries have determined amendments to their individual legislation may result in environmental impact and have posted proposal notices on the Environmental Registry,’” said Brady on what she is seeing from her vantage point in regard to the bill.
She said the Finance Committee was recently given an hour with Minister of Red Tape Reduction Parm Gill to ask questions, but she said the meeting was sprung on the committee as a last-minute agenda change, leaving them without time to properly prepare.
She added that while she finds many of the proposed changes “common sense-type amendments,” she has concerns related to amendments in the Oil, Gas, and Salt Resources Act. She plans to delve into these concerns further, noting she has also requested further documentation on amendments to the Provincial Offences Act.
Brady believes the challenge facing any finance committee when dealing with annual budgets is making everyone happy: “You can’t give everyone anything they want.”
She said that as in all her other Legislative duties, she is “guided by the people of Haldimand-Norfolk” in her role on the Finance Committee. “They are figuratively looking over my shoulder. Being an Independent MPP, I have the freedom to comment and vote as my constituents have directed me, not along any party lines. That applies to my committee work also.”
She continued, “Hearing delegations from across the province provides an opportunity to bring back to the riding possible solutions to mutual problems. This committee affords me, as an Independent, the chance to hold the government to account regarding matters affecting the pocketbooks of constituents. I am a fiscal conservative, therefore I take seriously my role in ensuring the government is spending your money in the most effective way possible.”
To register or send a written submission for consideration by the Committee, and to view a schedule of upcoming meetings, visit ola.org/en/apply-committees.
