March 2, 2015

Parliamentary Assistant Amrit Mangat
Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
77 Wellesley Street West, 11th Floor
Toronto ON  M7A 2T5

Dear Parliamentary Assistant Mangat:

As you will be aware, the Premier has appointed the new MPP for Sudbury, Glenn Thibeault, as a Parliamentary Assistant to me in my role as Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. Given this appointment, I am writing to clarify your Mandate.

As you know, our government has a plan to invest in the talent and skills of our people, build modern infrastructure, support a dynamic and innovative business climate, and provide better retirement security to people across the province. At the heart of this plan are partnerships with businesses, people and communities, which will help our government grow the economy, create jobs and implement solutions that have a meaningful impact on people’s lives.

This balanced and comprehensive plan is underpinned by a focus on fiscal prudence. The mandate letter I received last year from Premier Wynne reinforced our government’s commitment to balance the budget by 2017-18 and to pursue increased openness, accountability and modernization.

Parliamentary Assistants play a key role in delivering these priorities and have a responsibility to put our government’s plan into action.

Together, we will work to articulate and communicate the problem of climate change and the opportunities that Ontario has to play a role in addressing the climate crisis. We will take meaningful action to ensure we achieve our greenhouse-gas reduction targets in order to ensure a healthy planet. We will also work to protect our Great Lakes, improve the health of pollinators, protect Ontarians from toxics and work to improve the quality of drinking water for First Nations. We will continue to enhance polluter responsibility, will work to improve waste diversion, and we will support the development of the ring of fire.

As one of the Parliamentary Assistants to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, your specific responsibilities will focus on youth engagement and education and stewardship of Ministry bills in the legislature. Specifically I am asking that you:

  • Support the Minister with legislative and committee matters related to MOECC sponsored bills, with a specific focus on the Great Lakes Protection Act, and forthcoming legislation related to the waste sector, and other legislation as required.
  • Work with community groups and environmental non-governmental organizations with existing programs to engage youth, as well as the Ministry of Education and our Ministry, to educate children and youth about climate change and to help them understand what they can do to help keep our planet green by better supporting conservation efforts and climate change awareness at home.
  • Participate in meetings of the Ministers Table on Climate Change.

I am confident that together, working in collaboration with our partners in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, we can deliver on our commitment to the people we are privileged to represent and serve. I look forward to working with you to deliver our ministry’s mandate, build Ontario up — and help achieve a brighter future for every person in this province.

It continues to be an honour and a pleasure to have you serve as my Parliamentary Assistant and I look forward to working closely with both you and MPP Thibeault as we continue to make progress in advancing our government’s agenda.

Sincerely,

Original signed by

The Honourable Glen Murray
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change