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Monday, December 30, 2013
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The ice storm that swept through the region on Dec. 20-12, 2013 coated
cars, roads and sidewalks with close to an inch of ice, making for a crisp
walk anywhere just before Christmas. The giant chunks of ice all over
local lawns were something to see for 2.5 -year-old Macey Farrish and
11 -month-old Lyndon Gillespie both of Lucknow.
Huron -Bruce
MPP reflects
on the year
that was
Dave Flaherty
Goderich Signal Star
To call 2013 a tumultuous year in
the Ontario Legislature may be an
understatement.
The governing Liberals have been
under scrutiny on a number of
issues including cancelled gas
plants, the Green Energy Act and
labour issues with elementary and
secondary school teachers.
Huron -Bruce MPP Lisa Thomp-
son was at a loss for words when
asked if she felt the Liberals got
anything right in 2013.
"I really can't find one thing,"
Thompson said.
She said Premier Kathleen
Wynne told PC leader Tim Hudak
that once the Legislature recon-
vened in September, she would be
willing to wipe the slate clean and
bring some attention to the issues
of job creation and the economy.
"Since then, they've brought in
bills, that while important in their
own context, have not addressed
those issues at all," she said.
Thompson said there is a huge
void of jobs in both the urban and
rural areas of the province.
She expressed her dismay in the
increase of membership fees, or
what she called "the trades tax",
through the Ontario College of
Trades.
"We have to stop the burden on
small businesses," Thompson said.
Thompson criticized the Liberals
for "gouging Ontario taxpayers"
whether it be increasing hydro rates
or proposing increases to gas taxes.
Locally, Thompson said the
bureaucracy of health care has
really been felt in rural areas such
as Huron -Bruce.
She said hospitals are struggling
and not enough focus is being put
on care that helps people stay in
their homes longer as they age.
Thompson said the Liberals are
also squeezing down on
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