Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 1h

Ontario’s colleges are cutting 600 programs and laying off thousands after years of underfunding.

Meanwhile, Doug Ford’s giving hundreds of millions from his “Skills Fund” to friends, donors & lobbyists - including $6.5M to train bar staff.

Cuts for students. Cash for insiders. #onpoli

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 1d

This just keeps getting worse. The Ford government gave $2 million to a dental brokerage run by a PC donor connected to the minister’s family.

Doug Ford’s Skills Development Fund keeps looking more like a friends-and-family plan.💰 #onpoli

www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...

Millions from Ontario training funding went to dentists’ brokerage with ties to then-labour minister’s wife

Dentacloud received more than $2 million through the Ford government’s Skills Development Fund

www.thetrillium.ca

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Reposted by Tyler Watt

Laine Johnson @lainejohnson.bsky.social · 1d

Have you signed up for the Ward 7, 8, 9 Budget consultation? It's coming up soon: Oct 15, 6:30-8:30 pm via Teams.

RSVP at www.college-ward.ca/budget_2026

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 1d

Lobbyists tied to Doug Ford & his nephew helped clients secure $100M from a fund meant to train workers and build Ontario - a fund the Auditor General slammed as unfair & unaccountable.

This is a $2.5B slush fund for friends, donors & operatives. #onpoli

www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...

Clients of lobby firms connected to premier, his nephew given tens of millions in training funds

Groups represented by a lobbying firm owned by the premier’s campaign manager got more than $100 million in grant money, a Trillium analysis has found

www.thetrillium.ca

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 1d

The Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Community Resource Centre serves the largest population and territory of any Ottawa CRC—helping vulnerable residents access the supports they need to thrive. Honoured to meet with their dedicated team and discuss how we can help them keep making a difference.

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 5d

This is great news for Ottawa and access to urgent mental health care. It is desperately needed. Glad to see this coming to The Royal in April.

ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...

The Royal will resume urgent mental health care, 25 years after ER closed

The Royal brings back urgent mental health care 25 years after the hospital’s ER was closed as part of a Ontario-wide hospital streamlining.

ottawacitizen.com

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 7d

Today we honour survivors, the children who never came home, and all impacted by residential schools.

Reconciliation is action, accountability, and listening.

To Indigenous communities: we see you, we hear you, and we stand with you.

#TruthAndReconciliation #EveryChildMatters

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 13d

Today, on Franco-Ontarian Day and the 50th anniversary of the flag, we celebrate the important contributions of francophone communities across Ontario.

Votre langue, culture et traditions sont une richesse essentielle qui façonne l’identité de notre province. Bonne journée des Franco-Ontarien(ne)s!

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 17d

Grateful for the chance to gather with neighbours at our Nepean community BBQ today!

A special shoutout to the Nepean Raiders, and thank you to MPP Karen McCrimmon, and councillors David Hill, Wilson Lo, @seandevine9.bsky.social, and @lainejohnson.bsky.social for joining us. Community at its best!

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Reposted by Tyler Watt

Laine Johnson @lainejohnson.bsky.social · 18d

Great turnout for MPP @TylerWatt.bsky.social’s local barbecue. Very proud to stand beside someone who stands up for health care and education for Ottawa. And big thanks to the Nepean Raiders for serving the food! #collegeward

Councillor @seandevine9.bsky.social and Councillor Lo too!

Laine with MPP Watt and local councillors Lo and Devine.

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Reposted by Tyler Watt

Sean Devine @seandevine9.bsky.social · 17d

A fantastic afternoon spent at Nepean MPP @tylerwatt.bsky.social Community BBQ and Opening of his constituency office, right here in Ward 9. Tyler’s been a great provincial representative to work with so far.

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 19d

Doug Ford is the most expensive premier in Ontario’s history - but his record spending isn't actually helping Ontarians.

Premier, it is time to put our money where your mouth is. It is way past time to start actually building homes, creating jobs, and helping Ontarians. #onpoli

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 20d

Today’s grand opening of the Nurse Practitioner–Led Clinic in Ottawa-Vanier means more people will get the primary care they deserve: community-based, patient-centred, preventative, and compassionate care. This is what a brighter future for care looks like in Ontario. #onpoli

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 22d

19 of 23 training centres funded by the Skills Development Fund are tied to labour groups that endorsed Ford & the PCs.

This is yet another example of Ford using his power to benefit his friends. We need a government that puts people first, not insiders. #onpoli

www.thetrillium.ca/news/educati...

Grant-backed training centres set to be fast-tracked are largely for endorsers of Ford’s PCs

Bill 30 would allow training facilities supported by Skills Development Fund Capital Stream grants to bypass typical approvals processes

www.thetrillium.ca

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 23d

Thank you Bonnie Crombie for your hard work, your leadership, and for getting our party to where we are today.

Liberals across Ontario are more energized than ever, and our party is better because of it.

You will always have my gratitude and I will never forget that. Truly.

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 26d

Today I met with ONA President Erin Ariss and CEO Andrea Kay to discuss the latest arbitration decision for hospital RNs, nurse-to-patient ratios, and the future of nursing in Ontario. I left inspired—there’s still so much to fight for. For our nurses. For our patients. For our province. #onpoli

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · 28d

Nepean MPP Tyler Watt has asked OSTA for a re-assessment on the school bus rules.

“Parents are right to be frustrated and worried, no child should be expected to walk nearly three km or cross major roads like Moodie Drive just to get to school” #onted

www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...

Parents push for review of school bus rules for students in Bells Corners

Parents in Bells Corners say safety is taking a back seat at the start of the new school year as some children as young as eight-years-old are required to walk, crossing a busy intersection just to ge...

www.ctvnews.ca

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · Sep 5

Ontario’s Conservatives starved our schools, then blamed everyone else. Let’s talk about what’s going on with school boards.

Nepean families deserve honesty, investment, and a government who puts students first - not politics. #onpoli #onted

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · Sep 3

RPNs should also be paid for the time it takes to give report for patient handover. Nurses have been doing this for free - by coming in early or staying late. Being paid for this time will ensure a more effective and safer handover.

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · Sep 3

It’s a win that RNs will finally be paid for report/ patient handovers, but the rejection of safe nurse-to-patient ratios is a huge loss.

Ford’s chronic underfunding sets the ceiling on care, leaving nurses unsafe and patients at risk. Ontario deserves better.

toronto.citynews.ca/2025/09/03/o...

Ontario hospital nurses awarded 5.25 per cent in raises, but decry lack of staffing ratios

An arbitrator has awarded Ontario’s hospital nurses pay increases of 5.25 per cent over two years, in a new contract their union calls disappointing. The terms of the contract as set by the arbitrator...

toronto.citynews.ca

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · Sep 3

Pouring out liquor on camera makes for great theatre. But while Manitoba & Quebec protected jobs, Ontario lost ours because Ford failed to strike a deal or build a real relationship with Diageo.

Ontarians deserve leadership that puts workers first - not simple PR stunts. #onpoli

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · Sep 2

Wishing students, families, and education workers a wonderful start to the school year!

May this year be filled with learning, growth, and new opportunities. 🍎📚 #onpoli #onted #Nepean

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · Aug 21

Congratulations to the Nepean Raiders on their successful golf tournament today! Part of the proceeds are going towards @alscanada.bsky.social - an incredible cause close to my heart. Thank you to everyone who came out to support both community sports and ALS awareness. 💜 #Nepean

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · Aug 20

It was an honour to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney, and councillors David Hill, Wilson Lo, and Sean Devine. We discussed challenges and opportunities for #Nepean. When all levels of government work together, we can build stronger, safer, more hopeful communities. 🇨🇦

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Tyler Watt @tylerwatt.bsky.social · Aug 19

Wrapping up my second day at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference here in Ottawa. I have learned so much during this event.

Great conversations with municipal leaders across Ontario about building stronger communities and tackling the challenges we face together. #AMO2025 #onpoli

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