08/19/2026
That’s a wrap for !
We would like to extend our thanks to Minister Paul Calandra of the Ministry of Education (MEDU), Minister David Piccini of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD), Parliamentary Assistant Anthony Leardi of the Ministry of Health (MOH), Parliamentary Assistant Lorne Coe of the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES) and of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), and Associate Minister Graydon Smith of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) for meeting with our representatives over the past two days.
The Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB Board Chair - Kevin Burke, Board members - Al MacNevin, Roger Landry and Paul Branconnier, Chief Administrative Officer - Donna Stewart, and Member of Provincial Parliament - Bill Rosenberg, met with Ministers and Parliamentary Assistants to discuss a variety of issues that impact the residents of our districts.
Topics included the following:
MMAH
1) The need for predictable, multi-year Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) funding; and
2) Increased, predictable, multi-year Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) funding and Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) funding.
MEDU
1) Review the Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) requirements for the licensed child care sector; and
2) Review the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) utilization framework to better reflect the operational realities of licensed child care programs.
MCURES
1) Strengthen the Learn and Stay Grant Program for northern paramedic workforce stability.
MOH
1) Non-Urgent Patient Transportation Program funding equity.
MCCSS
1) Establish a dedicated, ongoing provincial fund to support District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSABs) serving remote, rural and low-tax-base communities.
MLITSD
1) Changes to employment-related financial supports and record suspension eligibility; and
2) Streamlining employment verification across multiple data management systems to reduce duplication and improve client experiences.
Our goal was to bring attention to these important issues and lobby for change. We will continue to advocate on behalf of our residents and work collaboratively with the various Ministries to create sustainable systems for years to come.
Paul Calandra David Piccini Lorne Coe Graydon Smith
