New laws would increase organ donations and would protect workers’ rights
News from the Ontario New Democratic Party
Posted March 30th, 2017 on Niagara At Large
The late Niagara, Ontario poltical maverick Peter Kormos, former Welland Riding MPP, Welland city councilor and Niagara regional councilor.
QUEEN’S PARK – This March 30th, NDP MPP France Gélinas re-introduced two private member’s bills in honour of her former colleague, Peter Kormos, to mark the fourth anniversary of his death.
“Peter made an enormous contribution to public life as the MPP for Welland for 23 years – both because he was a tremendous advocate for his constituents and because of the skill he displayed in respectfully using the parliamentary process to enhance debate and improve legislation,” said Gélinas, MPP for Nickel Belt.
“To me, Peter was a friend who provided sound advice, and I am proud to bring forward these two pieces of legislation that I believe are good for the people of Ontario, and that honour Peter’s memory,” she noted.
Increasing organ donation
The Peter Kormos Memorial Act is modeled on The Trillium Gift of Life Network Amendment Act, which was first introduced by Kormos in 2006 and was re-introduced several times before he stepped down from the legislature in 2011.
The bill permits presumed consent for organ donation and aims to ensure the 1,525 Ontarians currently on a wait list for an organ transplant will make it to the top of the list quicker.
Peter Kormos, on the campaign trail in Niagara 18 years ago with then Ontario NPD leader Howard Hamption
Transparency in labour relations
Amending The Labour Relations Act, Gélinas’ bill would require employers to provide information on the use of replacement workers in the event of a strike or lockout in a workplace in Ontario. That change was part of a larger bill on labour relations introduced several times by Kormos.
“It was an honour and a privilege for me to work with and learn from Peter,” Gélinas said. “I hope that my introduction of these two private member’s bills will spark discussion and debate on these important issues – and I’m pleased to be able to do that in his memory,” she concluded.
Audio:https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19807208/Gelinas%20Introduction%20of%20Bills%20Mar%2030.mp3
Video:https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19807208/Gelinas%20Introduction%20of%20Bills%20Mar%2030.mp4
PETER KORMOS: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19807208/Kormos%20Photo_ORIGINAL.jpg
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Niagara At Large 
Peter was an incredible politician, a warrior for so many downtrodden, forgotten, marginalized, individuals. He was relentless in the pursuit of a more just society. Once when I was devastated on a cause I had worked on that went sour he quipped, “Capitalism, how do you like it so far?”
Thank-you to France Gelinas for these two bills in memory of the late, great, Peter Kormos.
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