Parry Sound-Muskoka Green Party

To genuinely listen to the opinions, concerns and ideas of the public and acknowledge their input by governing in accordance with them reflects participatory democracy.  The potential to empower the public in the decision making process of all sectors of government is a key component of what attracted me to Provincial politics.  However, we currently seem to be living in a dysfunctional system, in which our resident’s voices are only being heard, and not listened to.  This has never been more apparent than today’s conflict between the community of Burk’s Falls and Ontario’s government.  The people who live in Burk’s Falls have been told that an Urgent Care Clinic, Long-term beds, and other services are not necessary for their town.  Whereas, it is those very people who have rallied together to clearly express that they are extremely necessary.