Press Releases

(VIDEO) Wilson congratulates Matthews House Hospice and asks government about funding for Hospice Georgian Triangle

(May 7, 2018) Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson is pleased that Matthews House Hospice is receiving $1.2 million in capital funding from the province, and, in the Legislature last Thursday, praised the community for their hard work on the project. 

"I wanted to begin by congratulating the staff and many volunteers of Matthews House Hospice in Alliston. I was pleased to participate in a funding announcement made by the member for Barrie last week where the hospice received $1.2 million to go toward the construction of their new 10-bed facility. This hospice is also to receive operational funding for all 10 of their beds, once open."

Wilson also questioned the government on funding for Hospice Georgian Triangle in Collingwood. 

“Hospice Georgian Triangle in Collingwood, who received no capital funding at all from the province for their ten bed facility, only receives operational funding for six of their ten beds. In fact, their four remaining beds are not allowed to be used and have already sat idle for a year,” said Wilson.

Hospice Georgian Triangle has submitted a number of proposals to fund these beds, Wilson noted. Including: using the beds in collaboration with Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, using them as respite beds or funding the beds themselves.

“All of their requests have been turned down,” said Wilson. “I find it unconscionable four in demand beds are sitting idle at the direction of this government.”

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(VIDEO) Wilson disappointed Minister has done nothing to fix farmers’ compensation

(May 1, 2018) Today in question period, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson pressed the government on compensation for farmers facing livestock loses.

“My colleagues and I have been raising concerns with this government about the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program since it was created,” said Wilson. “The minister has said he would review and fix the program, but farmers in my riding and right across the province continue to tell us that they face huge livestock losses and that they’re receiving no compensation.”

One in five claims for predation kills are currently rejected by the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program.

“I ask the minister, when will he fix this program and give farmers the compensation they’re entitled to, and will that compensation be retroactive, as the program has not been working for the last year and a half?”

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Wilson presents $2.3 million grant to The Blue Mountains

Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson was in the Town of The Blue Mountains last week to present a $2.3 million cheque for the design and installation of a landfill leachate forcemain and pumping station. Jim was pleased to participate in the funding announcement and says the project will bring significant fiscal and environmental benefits to the community. Over the past two years, there have 25,000 litres of leachate (about 700 truckloads) taken from the landfill for treatment. When finished, this system will take those trucks off of local roads.

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(VIDEO) Wilson asks for approval of hospital developments

(April 30, 2018) Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson took a new approach in question period today when asking the government about when much needed planning grants will be approved for Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston.

“Minister, as you know, for a great number of years, since the Liberals have been in office, my riding has been fighting for the redevelopment of two hospitals… your predecessor quite nicely gave us a bit of money for the planning process just about a month ago—$500,000 for each hospital—but as you know, each hospital has spent well over $1 million of their own money, front-line patient money, to go through the planning process,” said Wilson. “We don’t have approval yet. I was just wondering if over the last month there has been a change of heart at the ministry and you might see your way to approving these projects before the writ is dropped?”

Health Minister Helena Jaczek spoke generally about health care and could only say that she would look into the status of the grants again.

Wilson continued by asking if a funding announcement might be coming before the election is called next week.

“I think everyone would be very happy, including the Liberal candidate in my riding for this election, who is the Premier’s son-in-law. Maybe [Minister] if you want to keep your job over the next couple of weeks, you would announce these couple of hospitals.”

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Wilson wants planning powers returned to municipalities

(April 26, 2018) – Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson has reintroduced his Private Member’s Bill, the Restoring Planning Powers to Municipalities Act, 2016.

Wilson brought the bill back to the Ontario Legislature on April 26.

First introduced in 2013, the bill is part of Wilson’s effort to return to municipalities the authority to decide what renewable energy projects are built in their community, if any.

“In my riding of Simcoe-Grey, local residents, organizations and municipalities had to go to the Environmental Review Tribunal to defeat a proposal to build 500-foot wind turbines near two local airports,” said Wilson. “This process cost them $1.6 million. It never would have happened if local municipalities had planning approval over these kinds of projects.”

The bill aims to amend the Planning Act, reversing previous amendments made by the Green Energy Act in 2009 that exempt renewable energy undertakings from the municipal planning process. If the bill is enacted, it would restore municipal planning authority and allow local leaders to make decisions that were taken away from them by the Liberals Green Energy Act.

“Before the disastrous Green Energy Act, local communities relied on their local councils to make these decisions. These kinds of proposals were required to go through a full public process allowing comments, input and amendments,” said Wilson. “It is absolutely disgraceful that the Liberals usurped the authority of locally elected leaders in favour of bureaucrats in Toronto making these decisions.”

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(VIDEO) Wilson once again questions Liberals over executive compensation at Hydro One

(April 23, 2018) Today in Question Period, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson was pleased to once again question the government over executive compensation at Hydro One.

You can watch a video of the exchange or read Hansard below. 

Ontario Hansard - April 23, 2018

                                                                                Executive compensation

Mr. Jim Wilson: My question is to the Minister of Energy. Yesterday Hydro One’s chair released a statement on their egregious $10-million severance package for their six-million-dollar man.

Did the Premier or minister instruct Hydro One to release that statement and did they coordinate the statement with Hydro One? Yes or no, Minister.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Again, the board is an entity that works on its own. I wasn’t aware that they were releasing that statement.

But when it comes to Hydro One’s governance agreement, Mr. Speaker, as I said, that’s also publicly available and we urge the Conservatives to read that.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Jim Wilson: Mr. Speaker, that’s the fourth question today in which the minister has been asked what he knew about the $10-million severance package for the six-million-dollar man, when he knew it, and whether this was a coordinated effort between Hydro One and the government. I can’t believe, as a former energy minister, that your hydro company wouldn’t inform you back in November about such a significant change in the rules of the game over there at Hydro One.

Minister, last week the Premier walked out and you ran away from a scrum. I want to know what you’re hiding, why you would walk away from a scrum and why you’re not being forthright with the people of Ontario.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please. The member will withdraw.

Mr. Jim Wilson: Withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I once again was very happy to answer questions to the media and stay there for about 10 minutes. The only person I know who is doing the Doug-and-dash, as it’s starting to get known within media circles, is the leader of the Conservatives, who makes sure he answers one question and then disappears in the bus or actually makes the announcement that he’s going to fire the CEO and then leaves it to the member from Prince Edward–Hastings to answer those questions.

I don’t have a problem actually talking about our government’s record of making sure that we brought forward the fair hydro plan that reduced rates by 25%. I know that they sneakily snuck that into their—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Answer.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Sneakily snuck; they’re new words.

They snuck it into the People’s Guarantee and then tossed it aside. You know what, Mr. Speaker?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. I try not to become emotionally involved in any of these kinds of things. That one got me.

New question? Member from Essex.

Wilson pleased with $1.2 million grant for Matthews House Hospice

(April 20, 2018) Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson was pleased to hear that Matthews House Hospice in Alliston is receiving a $1.2 million capital grant to assist with finishing the construction. This is excellent news for the community. Congratulations to Vice President of the Capital Campaign Marv Chantler, hospice staff, the board, volunteers and the thousands of supporters who signed my petition that helped secure this funding.

(VIDEO) Wilson questions Liberals over executive compensation at Hydro One

(April 19, 2018) Today in question period, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson questioned the Wynne Liberal government over approved changes to Hydro One’s executive compensation policy last year that increased the amount of severance paid to the CEO if he is fired after the board is replaced, or after the government passes any legislation aimed at either capping executive pay or that negatively affects Hydro One’s ability to meet its corporate performance objectives. The change gives the Hydro One CEO, who is already making over $6 million a year, an additional $10 million should he be fired.

Wilson called the move a slap in the face to people of Ontario and said that it shows a complete lack of respect for taxpayers who have to pay these millions of dollars.

Outside the Legislature, Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford called on the Hydro One CEO and Board the resign immediately. He has promised that an Ontario PC government will use every power at its disposal to remove the CEO and entire board at Hydro One.

(VIDEO) Wilson presents petition to keep Tree Seed Plant open to legislature

(April 19, 2018) –MPP Jim Wilson continues to introduce petitions from concerned citizens encouraging the provincial government to keep the Ontario Tree Seed Plant in Angus open.

“I want to thank Charles Bruce-Thompson, president of the Toronto Field Naturalists, for sending me this petition,” said Wilson. “It’s entitled: Wynne: Save Ontario’s Tree Seed Facility and Seed Bank.”

The Liberal government announced the closure of the Tree Seed Plant in September of 2017. The decision was made without any consultation with the industry.

Since the announcement, Wilson has continued to hear concerns about the closure from constituents working in the industry.

The petition reads:

“To Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

Whereas the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is closing the Ontario Tree Seed Facility in September 2018;

“Whereas both public and private sector forest restoration experts have disagreed with the internal government decision and have expressed their concern;

Whereas Ontario’s forest restoration practitioners had expected that the MNRF seed services would not only continue, but be enhanced, in service to Ontario’s forests, which face the triple threats of overdevelopment, invasive alien species and climate change;

Whereas this decision is in opposition to other Canadian and global jurisdictions who support seed processing and banking as an essential social service to help forests adapt to climate change;

We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

That the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry take immediate action to put on hold any actions on the closure of the Ontario Tree Seed Facility and begin a comprehensive public review to explore innovative ways to revitalize government support for native tree seed services, as per the Ontario Tree Seed Coalition’s letter to Minister Kathryn McGarry dated October 13, 2017.”

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(VIDEO) Kathleen Wynne continues to campaign on the taxpayer dime

(April 17, 2018) Despite it being an egregious abuse of tax dollars and the public trust, Kathleen Wynne continues to shamelessly campaign on the taxpayer dime.

Today in Question Period, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson raised the issue, questioning the Wynne Liberals on their use of tax dollars for no less than 30 campaign-style announcements over the last couple of weeks. 

The typical announcement costs $7,500, which means the Liberals have spent $225,000 in taxpayer money campaigning.

CTV News picked up the story. To watch their news story please CLICK HERE.

You can find Hansard of Wilson’s question below:

ONTARIO HANSARD – April 17, 2018

Government spending

Mr. Jim Wilson: My question’s for the Premier. Yesterday, the Liberals hosted four campaign-style events, and there are three more scheduled for today. They are clearly campaigning on the taxpayer dime each and every day. So I ask the Premier: Will the Liberal Party reimburse taxpayers for their campaign-style events?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, I say to the member opposite, I completely understand why he doesn’t want me to be talking about a fair wage policy in this province. I completely understand why he doesn’t want me to be talking about child care, care for seniors or more funding for hospitals. None of those things would be possible under their leader, Doug Ford, because he’s going to cut across government.

Mr. Speaker, every year we bring in a budget, we go out into the province and talk about that budget. That is what we are doing. That is what their party did. That is what the third party did. That is what governments do, to make sure people understand what is in the budget so that they will know what to expect. That’s how it works, and I know the member opposite knows that.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke is warned. And a few other, maybe.

Supplementary.

Mr. Jim Wilson: Back to the Premier: Premier, you have told the people of Ontario that the budget you just presented in this House is your campaign platform, so that means every event you have is promoting your campaign platform, using your own bloody logic. Stop doing it. It’s wrong and repay the taxpayers. The Liberal Party owes the taxpayers for thousands and thousands of dollars on these campaign-style events. Will you do the right thing and pay back the taxpayers?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please. Be seated, please. Thank you.

Premier.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Government House leader.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: The Premier of this province is the elected leader of the province and of the government. In her capacity, she attends many events. In her capacity, she is out talking about important government policies that are going to improve the lives of Ontarians every single day. In that capacity, Speaker, she will speak about the budget that is providing a plan for care and opportunity.

I totally get why the opposition is all worked up on this because they know they will be cutting all those important programs. They know that if they come into government, they’re going to cut OHIP+ that is going to provide pharmacare for youth under the age of 25 and for seniors over 65. If they’re in government, they’re going to cut funding for our hospitals, so that they can reduce wait-times. If they’re in government, they will cancel the OSAP program. That’s why they’re worked up and they want the Premier to talk about government promises.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.

New question.

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