Political Opinions
Flood the Floor May 30th
Women across Ontario demand an end to harassment by elected officials
May 19, 2023 – Toronto, ON – The Women of Ontario Say NO is hosting a public event entitled “Flood the Floor” on May 30th for the second reading of Bill 5 -The Stopping Harassment and Abuse by Local Leaders Act. The public is invited to this family-friendly call on government to do the right thing and vote in support of basic human rights protection for all Ontarians.
To date, 112 Ontario municipalities, including 8 Upper Tier municipalities, are in support Bill 5, with unanimous support from Ontario Big City Mayors.
The proposed change in legislation will not only create a critical accountability framework for addressing harassment and abuse by municipally elected officials but will help prevent harassment in the first place. “When people know they can lose their jobs, they think twice before acting. This is as much about the pragmatism of the legislation as it is about the message it sends- the message to elected officials and community members alike that harassment will NOT be tolerated”, shares Emily McIntosh, Lead advocate. The effort firmly recognizes that without workplace safety, true diversity of voice will never be at the decision-making table, and this diversity is necessary for a healthy democracy. Emily McIntosh, lead advocate, adds, “We know there are people who have been harassed by sitting elected officials at the municipal level and do not feel they can come forward knowing there is no appropriate consequence for egregious acts of harassment. This reality needs to change now. And we can change it, together.”
This collective advocacy involves many community organizations, groups and private citizens, and is growing daily. Women of Ontario Say No encourages everyone to visit the website www.thewomenofontariosayno.com, and to follow their Instagram page @womenofontariosayno to learn more.
To register for ‘Flood the Floor’ on May 30th at 4:30 pm, visit
BILL 5 – FLOOD THE FLOOR Tickets,
Tue,, May 30, 2023 at 4:30 PM | Eventbrite
by Emily McIntosh
Update from Doug Shipley, MP Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte
Mitchell Hooper
May 19, 2023 – A Midhurst local was recently put on the international strongman map when Mitchell “The Moose” Hooper was crowned as The World’s Strongest Man! After five successful events in the competition, Hooper became the first-ever Canadian to win and brought the title home to Midhurst. I am lucky to have met with him recently at the Home Runs for the Hungry baseball game, where he was a celebrity player, to express our community’s excitement about this amazing accomplishment and present him with a congratulatory scroll.
Going up against nine competitors from the United States, Ukraine, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Australia in the finals, Hooper was named the Strongest Man Alive. On top of being the first Canadian to win The World’s Strongest Man competition, he is also the fourth person ever to win the Arnold Strongman Classic and The World’s Strongest Man title in the same year! After a very successful start to the year at the top of his game, Hooper isn’t looking to slow down. Eyeing up a grand slam victory for 2023 also means winning the Shaw Classic and Rogue Invitational. With two more wins to go, he’s currently in training mode and hoping to be the first person ever to win all four titles in the same year.
Despite his strongman build, Hooper is as humble as they come and he’s hoping to start changing the perception of strongmen in general. With a motto of “lift heavy, be kind,” Hooper assures that his competitors are as kind and as nice as they come. The way he speaks of his competitors makes them seem more like a community than anything else. Back at home, Hooper is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and is dedicated to training and coaching his clients.
Please join me in wishing Mitchell Hooper continued success as he strives to reach those goals, while making his hometown community proud.
Doug Shipley, MP
Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte
Springwater Council Approves Construction of New Fire Station
Township of Springwater / May 17, 2023 – During a special meeting on May 10, Springwater Council gave its approval for the construction of a new Fire Station in Midhurst. This station will be an integral part of the Township’s future Community Hub, to be located at 1132 Snow Valley Road.
During the May 10 meeting, Council members authorized the retention of the project architect, Masri-O Inc., to oversee the contract administration and field review processes. Berkim Construction Inc. was selected as the successful proponent for the design-build phase of the project. Council approved an additional $730,065, bringing the total project budget to $8,530,065. This budget includes expenses for architectural consultants, the design-build contractor, and furnishings and security features.
“Thank you to Council for giving staff the go ahead to proceed with construction on the new fire station in Midhurst,” says Fire Chief Jeff Kirk. “The new facility will provide much needed upgrades to our training, maintenance, and administrative functions. We look forward to seeing this project come to fruition so that we can continue to provide residents in the growing southern portion of our Township with the highest level of service our residents have come to expect.”
The new fire station will feature a four-bay apparatus area, support and vehicle maintenance sections, administration and training spaces, and residential areas, including a day room, kitchen, fitness space, and washroom facilities. Construction is scheduled to commence this summer, with an estimated completion date in mid-2025.
In addition to the new fire station, the future Community Hub is expected to encompass various amenities, including a recreation center offering both active and passive recreational opportunities, a library and creative space, meeting and activity areas, as well as a new Simcoe County EMS post. At the meeting, Council also discussed multiple options regarding the master plan for the Community Hub. Staff were instructed to collaborate with the consultants to review the presented options and report back with additional information in the near future.
