Another Successful OPFFA Legislative Conference, 12/15/2008
The OPFFA held its annual legislative conference the week of November 24, 2008.
The Tuesday morning session opened up with an address from the Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, who was then followed by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. Peter Fonseca. Following Minister Fonseca's address was a very engaging speech by the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, the Hon. Rick Bartolucci.
Executive Vice-President McKinnon rounded out the lobby day preparations by briefing the delegates present on our willingness to be utilized more aggressively in the provision of EMS services at life threatening medical emergencies and the status of a Private Members Bill before the legislature on Residential Sprinkler legislation. Other speakers to address our delegates on Tuesday November 25th were:
Wednesday November 26th was our annual lobby day with approximately 90 OPFFA representatives fanning out to meet with almost all of the 107 Members of Provincial Parliament. After a productive day of meetings OPFFA representatives hosted a reception for MPP's, their staff and other key decision makers in the dining room in Queens Park. The reception was again a tremendous success as we once again hosted a full room.
Legislative Fact Sheets
|
Representatives from across the province joined us at the Courtyard by Marriott, downtown Toronto for our conference which kicked off on Tuesday morning with an agenda that was second to none in its line up of dignitaries.
On the educational side of the agenda, Secretary/Treasurer Quinn reviewed necessary information to bring our association representatives up-to-date on our No. 1 legislative issue, Mandatory Retirement for front line fire fighters. 
Speaker of the Legislature, Steve Peters who talked about what it is like to be the 'Mayor of Queens Park', so to speak, Peter Kormos representing the New Democratic Party of Ontario and the day was rounded out with remarks from John Tory, leader of the Ontario PC Party.
While the legislative conference has come and gone for another year, we continue to focus on our issues. Letters of support sent by MPP's to the Premier and Minister of Labour as a result of our lobby day continue to come in and we continue to follow up on requests for further information from some MPP's offices.
