Hello, and welcome to michaelprue.com. As the MPP for Beaches-East York, I have the privilege of being the representative for one of the most diverse and vibrant communities in the province. Our concerns span the broad interests of the people of Ontario and you require representation that brings the voice of Beaches-East York to Queen’s Park.

In order to be an effective voice for our community, I have developed this website as another means to engage the people of our riding. Here, you can find information about government services, local agencies and other happenings at Queen’s Park. Additionally, the site has been designed to garner feedback from you on the issues that matter to you, so don’t hesitate to send an e-mail, give us a phone call or visit the constituency office with your comments and insight.

I hope that you find the site useful, and please feel free to contact me with any concerns or recommendations that you may have. Thanks for visiting michaelprue.com, and please come back often to check out what’s happening in our community and at Queen’s Park.
Sincerely,
Michael Prue, MPP
Beaches-East York

Ontario can do a better job of creating jobs: Prue
Statistics Canada shows Ontario shed 7,700 jobs between March and April

 May 11, 2010

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Finance Critic Michael Prue says Ontario needs to do a better job of creating job s following a Statistics Canada report that Ontario shed 7,700 jobs between March and April.

“Ontario needs to do a better job of creating jobs. While other provinces are seeing real growth in jobs and more people going back to work, Ontario is lagging behind. We can do better,” said Prue. “With more job losses this month, there are now 575,000 people out of work in the province. We’re putting forward positive ideas to put them back to work. Our Job Creator Tax Credit would reward companies when they create jobs.”

This morning Statistics Canada reported that Ontario lost 7,700 jobs from March to April, and 30,000 more people are now unemployed. The unemployment rate went up from 7.4 per cent to 7.8 per cent.  Meanwhile, Canada as a whole gained nearly 60,000 jobs. The province of Quebec gained 23,000 jobs.

Prue noted that the New Democrats’ proposed Job Creation Tax Credit – modeled after a similar initiative by President Obama – would reward employers with tax credit for all full-time new hires. The tax credit would be funded from the existing $2 billion Jobs and Prosperity Fund, so as not add a nickel to the provincial deficit. The New Democrats are also pushing to ensure that Ontario’s natural resources are used to create value-added jobs by ensuring that raw resources are not exported if they can be processed in Ontario.

“People are looking to their elected representatives to work together to find solutions to joblessness. We’re putting forward constructive and reasonable ideas. Let’s get to work,” said Prue.

-30-

Media Contact: Marion Nader 416-325-2601

May 14, 2012

Queen’s Park – NDP Finance Critic and MPP for Beaches-East York Michael Prue has called on the government to make a clear commitment that a referendum will take place in Toronto and Mississauga on proposals for a casino. He also demanded to know why there has been no social impact study looking at the effects on the community of a gambling complex.

“Paul Godfrey, the chair of OLG, doesn’t seem to be interested in waiting until 2014 for a Toronto-wide referendum on a casino. Even though Mississauga council hasn’t officially weighed in on a casino, Godfrey said (quote) ‘We’ll build it in Mississauga or somewhere else first’.

“Will the Minister of Finance commit to the people of Toronto and Mississauga that they’ll be able to vote on a possible casino in their communities?” asked Prue, during Question Period at Queen’s Park today.

Prue continued,

“While the OLG’s Chair is talking up a casino on Toronto’s waterfront, a freedom-of-information request from OLG says it hasn’t conducted a social impact study yet because (quote) ‘no specific municipality has been identified for a new location’.

“Can the Minister explain why OLG seems to be moving full speed ahead on a casino in Toronto without conducting a social impact study?”

-30-

Media Inquiries: Eddy Evans, Ontario’s New Democrats, 416-325-1702

Help Michael Prue to ban tip-outs to restaurant owners and management!

Dear friends,

Thanks to all of you who have diligently been seeking the passage of Bill 114 to prohibit restaurant owners and managers from taking server’s hard-earned tips.

MPP Michael Prue has told all of you that he intends to re-introduce the Bill at his earliest opportunity since October’s election.

Michael will re-introduce this important Private Member’s Bill before the end of this session of Parliament recesses for the summer. We anticipate its introduction during the week of June 4-7^th.

We believe that introducing the Bill at this time will improve our chance of successful y banning unfair tip-outs to management. Summertime is peak restaurant season and will give us the most exposure.

Please help us by doing the following:

Contact the Premier at: www.premier.gov.on.ca then click “contact” and tell him that the Bill must pass!

Contact the Minister of Labour, Linda Jeffrey at:  ljeffrey.mpp@liberal.ola.org    and tell her to do what is right and pass the Bill!

Contact your MPP – you can find out who this is by clicking and entering your address and/or postal code. http://fyed.elections.on.ca/fyed/en/form_page_en.jsp

Tell your colleagues, family and friends to get involved by keeping in touch with us and doing the same as above.

When we work together for the rights of servers, we can all win!

Sincerely,

Michael Prue, MPP

BEACHES-EAST YORK

Tips are for servers, not management!

Families have been telling me in recent months that their biggest concerns are jobs, healthcare and the cost of living. The budget announced by the Liberal government does not do nearly enough to address these priorities.

There are nearly 600,000 people looking for work in this province, and yet the budget lacks solutions to create them. In fact, the government’s decision to cancel construction of new hospitals, cutbacks in health care, and selloffs of Ontario Northland will lead to even more job losses. Unfortunately, the government has been ignoring practical solutions, like rewarding companies when they create jobs and making sure what we mine in Ontario is processed here.

Families struggling to pay the bills will be disappointed that the budget lacked help, like the New Democrat plan to remove the HST from home heating bills.

On healthcare, seniors and families will still face a broken home care system with long waits for care and aggressive cutbacks to health care funding will hurt services across the province.

Many Beaches-East York residents are passionate about the environment. This budget will reduce an already anaemic Environment Ministry by reducing resources by ten per cent.

Our community members also want us to help the poorest Ontarians and those with disabilities. How does a budget with a freeze on income from Social Assistance who live in deep and continuing poverty seem fair? Why is the Child Tax Benefit Allowance being delayed? Why are Children’s Aid Societies being pared by $16 million?

The government seems to be finally admitting that no-strings-attached corporate tax giveaways aren’t creating jobs. Unfortunately, the province has already blown billions on these handouts and plans to do more as soon as we have the money.

When people elected the minority government, they sent a clear message to politicians: work together to find solutions to their day-to-day challenges.  It’s disappointing that the government hasn’t taken that approach with this budget, and instead appears more interested in political posturing and chest thumping.

That won’t be the New Democrat approach. We’re going to listen to the people who sent us to Queen’s Park.

We have to vote on the budget – and because it’s a minority government – voting against it could lead to an election.

This is a difficult decision that must be taken seriously. And a serious approach means asking people what they think for a change.

That’s why I am encouraging readers to contact me and share their take on the budget. Tell us:

• Do you like the budget introduced by the McGuinty government? What do you like about the budget?
• What do you dislike about the budget introduced by the McGuinty government?
• Because voting against the budget may trigger an election, would you support an election at this time?

I plan on knocking on doors, emailing my constituents and getting on the phone to speak directly with people in Beaches-East York. I hope to speak to as many of my constituents as possible, and very much welcome letters, emails and calls to get feedback and ideas from you about what’s best for Ontario’s families as we negotiate a fairer budget, that focuses on jobs, healthcare and making life more affordable.

Surely there are better solutions. We know that your advice will lead to them.

March 22, 2012

Queen’s Park – NDP Finance Critic Michael Prue has introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the Legislature to reverse the unfair changes made to the way people get their tax refund, offering seniors and families a choice as to whether they receive it as a lump sum or monthly.

“This Bill will give Ontarians of modest means a choice as to how they wish to receive provincial income tax credits,” said Prue. “The government’s changes were made without consulting those affected, caught thousands by surprise, and made life harder for many low and modest income people.”

Provincial tax credits were previously made as a lump-sum payment. Many people, especially seniors, have depended on a lump-sum payment to pay property taxes, purchase larger ticket items, or do home repairs.

Without consultation, the government changed the system so that tax credits are paid out monthly. Prue’s bill would give people the choice between receiving the money upfront or monthly.

“I’m looking for all-party support so that we can move these changes ahead quickly,” said Prue. “It’s time to reverse the government’s wrongheaded decision.”

Prue noted his office has received hundreds of complaints about the change.

-30-

Media contact: Eddy Evans, Ontario’s New Democrats, 416-325-1702