. . . at Queen's Park, across Ontario and elsewhere.

* New Democratic MPP Cindy Forster announced Friday that the Ontario New Democrats are launching a grassroots protest campaign called MPPs Back to Work that will attempt to put pressure on Premier Dalton McGuinty to recall the legislature.

People are encouraged to sign the petition, use the hashtag #MPPsBackToWork on Twitter, email and call the Premier and organize on Facebook to discuss the government's decision to prorogue the House, she told a press conference.

“We believe in our party that things happen at the grassroots,” Forster said.

“It doesn’t happen with an expensive advertising campaign. We’ll be knocking on doors, attending events (and) rallying the troops to get their voices heard to lobby McGuinty and the Liberal government to bring us back to work.”

Toronto area MPPs Jonah Schein, Peter Tabuns, Michael Prue and Jagmeet Singh joined Forster for the announcement.

* Heads of the CAW and CEP unions are urging the provincial government to stand firm and defend the “buy local” provision of the Green Energy Act should the World Trade Organization rule against it next month.

“Domestic-content rules under the Green Energy Act are intended to spur local economic development and help us live up to our responsibilities in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” CAW President Ken Lewenza and CEP head Dave Coles said in a written statement.

“We urge both the federal and Ontario governments to defend this crucial policy and file an immediate appeal of the decision, should it come to pass.”

* Superior Court Justice Robert Scott has ruled in favour of a group of independent school bus operators who said the procurement process set up by three Belleville-area school boards for awarding bus routes was unfair.

* Economic Development minister Brad Duguid was in Campbellford Friday morning to announce the Southwestern Ontario and Eastern Ontario Development Funds are now open and accepting applications.

* An “explosion of Ontario Municipal Board appeals” is responsible for a $450,000 increase in Guelph’s legal services in 2012, according to city solicitor Donna Jacques. Costs for legal fees are typically $400,000 but the increase in OMB appeals saw that total jump to $850,000 in 2012 because the city lacks an in-house lawyer.

* European farmers' losses could mean a good year for Ontario grape growers.

Some parts of Europe have lost up to 10 per cent of their crop. Ontario's crop is thriving, although slightly smaller than last year. The European losses coupled with union unrest among winery workers means the Old Country could produce much less wine this year than normal.

Ontario's won't be sending any of its grapes over to Europe for bottling, but Wine Council of Ontario president Hilary Dawson told the St. Catharines Standard that it offers an opportunity for local wines to increase their market share.

Seen, heard, happening . . .

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