Published in the Windsor Star on January 19th, 2013

Rationality flies out the window when it comes to discussing labour policy with labour leaders. Since the PC Party and I launched our 'Paths to Prosperity: Flexible Labour Markets' white paper, union leaders have said our proposal to make union membership optional would make collective bargaining illegal, toss out the Rand Formula and lead to other evil deeds.

Although Queen's Park remains shuttered and silent since October, the wheels of government continue to relentlessly grind out more policies, laws and regulations even though the elected legislators are absent. It's important that you are aware of these new policies which will invariably impact us in the days ahead.

Published on January 17th, 2013 in the Frontenac News

by Jeff Green

The long-promised Ontario Algonquin Land Claim Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) was quietly released in early December, and comments about its implications have been somewhat muted since then.

To a certain extent this is due to the political focus on Chief Theresa Spence and the Idle No More protests against new environmental laws and proposed changes to the Indian Act.

The Ontario Liberal government recently created another arm’s length agency with legislated powers called the Ontario College of Trades. This agency is unelected and unaccountable not only to both the public and politicians, but also to all employees who must belong and pay fees to it.

I sat down with Ian Sutton on Lake 88 to discuss a number of issues including, the recently released initial draft of the Algonquin Land Claim agreement, my concerns with the new College of Trades agency, and the ongoing Ontario teacher's negotiations.