April 27, 2026 Newsletter

Dear friend,

This newsletter is coming to you a few days later than normal. I wanted to send this out on Friday, but the news was evolving so rapidly that, no sooner would I finish writing than my draft would become out of date. I always want to share the most accurate information with you in my newsletter, so it’s coming to you on this beautiful Monday instead. 

On Friday, Doug Ford laid out his plans to take over a huge swath of Toronto’s waterfront and almost all of the Toronto Islands. This is shocking. We all know that Ford likes to pretend that he is the Mayor of Toronto, but a land grab on this scale is still way more than anyone expected. 

On Friday morning, I joined Mayor Olivia Chow, MPP Chris Glover, MPP Alexa Gilmour, and waterfront community members at a press conference to speak out about this land grab. We gathered at Little Norway Park, a 2.4-hectare park at Bathurst and Queens Quay West, which Ford is planning to take over to facilitate the expansion of Billy Bishop Airport to allow jets to fly over Toronto’s waterfront.

Ford’s new legislation, Bill 110, enables him to forcibly take over city-owned lands and the City’s interests in the Tripartite Agreement that governs the small island airport. This agreement was signed in 1983 by the three landowners: Toronto Port Authority, an arm’s-length federal entity (operating as PortsToronto and owning approximately 78% of the land), Transport Canada (approximately 2%), and the City of Toronto (approximately 20%).

Further to the island airport takeover, Bill 110 also lists other prescribed properties by Property Information Number that the province will seize. These additional lands include Little Norway Park on the mainland, Hanlan’s Point, Ward’s Island, Centre Island, Olympic Island and Muggs Island. The map below shows the islands the province plans to unilaterally take over from the City of Toronto.

Ford and his Ministers tell us that they will take only the land they truly need to expand the airport, and that most of the islands will be left alone. I simply don’t believe them. Whenever this government says, “Just trust us, we will behave responsibly,” it does not keep its word. 

The bill explicitly states that this purchase is not an expropriation, despite all the trappings of one. This is because, if this change were an official expropriation, it would require an appeals process that they do not want. This is evil and incredibly disrespectful to everyone who loves the Toronto waterfront. 

Additionally, on Friday afternoon, the Premier announced plans to build a new OPP detachment at Ontario Place, complete with a mounted unit. This is something nobody asked for and will take up a huge swath of Toronto’s beautiful and precious waterfront. 

The Premier is clearly lifting from the playbook of many anti-democratic leaders who came before him by “flooding the zone.” Now that the public is upset about his private jet deal, he is overwhelming us with as many pieces of horrible legislation as possible, all at once. Some residents are feeling powerless and may want to give up. But we are not going to do that. We are going to fight back! 

I will continue working with my colleagues, the City Council, and local residents to fight for our waterfront. Just this morning, I attended a strategy meeting to plan our response. 

Toronto’s waterfront is more than just land and water. It is a historical and present-day community. The people who live on the islands deserve safety and predictability. The families who flock to Centre Island every summer deserve a fun place to play and learn. Swimmers, sailors and paddlers deserve safe waters and clean beaches. And the generations of Queer and Trans people who have found refuge and community at Hanlans Point deserve continued access to their historical safe place. Taking any of these things away, let alone all of them, is unacceptable. I will fight tooth and nail alongside all of you to save our islands and waterfront. 

At Queen’s Park, the Ontario NDP and I will use every tool available to stop Bill 110 and hold Ford accountable. He cannot be allowed to use your taxpayer dollars to cover his corrupt tracks. This fight is nowhere near over; in fact, it’s just begun.

The Premier needs to get back to his real job, providing high-quality public services like healthcare and education, while ensuring that Ontarians have access to good jobs and affordable necessities like groceries and housing. It is so frustrating to see him abdicate these responsibilities over and over in favour of his vanity projects. I wish this Premier were focused on his own job instead of playing pretend as the Mayor of Toronto and the fairy god-premier to all his rich friends and lobbyists. This isn’t a game. 

Doug Ford acts out on every bad idea that comes into his head when thinking about Toronto’s waterfront. From Ferris wheels, monorails, shopping malls, luxury spas, tearing down trees, destroying Ontario Place and paving the lake to land jets at the island airports, Ford continues to act out like a petulant child on a tear. 

On Wednesday night, I was at the Legislature late into the night, debating the Ford Government’s budget bill. After I left the Legislature, I recorded this video to share my unfiltered thoughts. You can watch it here.

In addition to crippling cuts to healthcare and education, this budget also sneaks in changes to Ontario’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. These changes mean that FOI requests, including those currently in process, will not include any documents from the Premier’s Office or the offices of any member of Cabinet (Ministers and Parliamentary Assistants). Information from these offices is the only reason that we were able to uncover the Greenbelt Grab! The current RCMP investigation into Doug Ford’s corruption relies on FOIs to access the Premier’s phone records. I had the opportunity to speak about the government’s cover-up in the Legislature this week. You can watch that video here.

Now that this FOI-restricting legislation has passed, we need to become louder than ever. We know Ford is embarrassed about this Legislation – why else would he force us to debate it under the cover of darkness? Join me in this fight by going to ReleaseDougsTexts.ca and taking action!

I will continue to fight for our city and province every day.

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Fund Ontario Prides Now!
• Ford Sold His Private Jet - But Where are the Receipts?
• RSVP: My Education Townhall
• Scarborough Renters Town Hall
• 2SLGBTQI+ Family Building Symposium
• Sikh Heritage Month Reception
• Toronto Waterfront Town Hall
• Big City Mayors Caucus Reception
• Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada Lunch
• Right to Food Sumac Community Food Centre Grand Opening
• What’s Making Headlines
• This Week's Meetings
• Local Community Events

Pride festivals across Ontario are vital: they provide safe and fun spaces for people to be themselves, strengthen community connections, and they are economic engines! Yet this government is failing to adequately fund Prides big and small across Ontario. 

This week, the Ontario Pride Coalition came to Queen’s Park to request a very modest investment of $1.5M per year for three years as part of a dedicated Pride Fund that all Prides in Ontario would share. Their pitch was passionate, well-reasoned, and full of joy. I am hopeful that the meetings they had with the government will secure the funding they need. 

I asked the government in Question Period whether they would commit to this funding on the spot. They gave me a non-answer. You can compare the lived realities of Pride organizers against the Minister's claims in this video.

This modest funding for Prides funding would be an excellent investment! In 2023, Toronto Pride contributed over $500 million to the GDP, generated over $230 million in tax revenues, and created almost 5,000 jobs. In our Church-Wellesley Village, small businesses rely on Pride tourism to take them through the lean winter months. Without Pride, those businesses, the jobs they create, and the queer spaces they foster are under threat. 

And that is just Toronto! Ontario has Prides big and small across the province, creating massive economic and cultural impact, supporting individuals to become their full selves while shopping local! 

However, Prides are becoming more expensive to run each year, with rising inflation and the high cost of security. The Executive Director of Capital Pride in Ottawa spoke about how, due to declining corporate sponsorship and inadequate public funding, they have had to reduce the number of stages where they program performers. Despite this reduction in programming, they have seen their attendance grow year over year, prompting them to grow their festival footprint, which itself creates more costs. 

I found the story of Fierite Timmins Pride especially moving. Their Executive Director spoke about how they are the only 2SLGBTQIA+ organization in the area. Many people who grew up in Timmins come back for Pride each year and tell her that they never imagined, when they were growing up, that their city would celebrate Pride. It means so much to the Queer and Trans folks living in smaller communities to be seen and celebrated where they live. 

Funding Prides and other cultural festivals is a good investment, yet this government is dragging their feet on measly grants and placing these events under threat. I am pleased to continue to work alongside Ontario Prides big and small as they fight for the funding that they deserve!

After massive public backlash, Ford was forced to sell his newly acquired private jet. He says that he sold it for the same amount it was purchased for, $28.9 million. But how do we know for sure? And what were the additional costs?

I am proud to join Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition, in calling for the Auditor General to do a value-for-money audit and secure transparency for taxpayers about the Premier’s shopping spree. 

We all deserve to know exactly how much this ‘mistake’ cost us. Government spending is a well-documented process. Many people must sign off, and I am certain that lots of staff time was spent on this purchase. I want to know all the costs, down to the penny, that Ontarians are on the hook for. 

Families are being told to tighten their belts, while this government wastes millions behind closed doors. Every dollar lost on this deal is a dollar that could have gone to hiring nurses, building homes, or helping people afford groceries.

It's time for real accountability now!

Join me, MPP Jessica Bell, MPP Alexa Gilmour, as well as parents, experts and advocates for our Education Townhall!

We all need to rally together to fight against $900 million dollars in cuts and stand up for high-quality public education in Ontario. 

Date: Monday, May 4, 2026

Time: 7:30 PM

Location: Zoom - RSVP for the link

Click here to RSVP! 

Last weekend, Marit Stiles, Catherine McKenney, and I hosted a community renters’ town hall in Scarborough Southwest, where residents shared the daily struggles they face: rising rents, increasing grocery prices, and the growing affordability crisis.

It was such a treat to connect with renters and share ways they can get involved with local advocacy and support organizations, including TAIBU Community Health Centre, South Asian Women’s Rights Organization, and the Toronto Tenant Union, to build collective power!

Now more than ever, Scarborough Southwest needs a strong NDP representative to continue advocating for what our communities need at Queen’s Park, and to ensure nobody is left behind. Visit SSWNDP.ca to sign up for a volunteer shift, donate, and join the movement!

It was my pleasure to speak at the Family Building Symposium hosted by 2SLGBTQ+ Family Building Canada. I was grateful for the chance to share my experiences growing my family and navigating parenthood. The event was filled with community members, parents, and advocates who told me about the joys and challenges of their family building journeys. I also met care providers and healthcare professionals supporting 2SLGBTQ+ families and helping them navigate the complex medical landscape. 

I am so grateful for these conversations and excited to continue to advocate for equitable, accessible and dignified support systems for 2SLGBTQ+ families!

I had a great time at the Sikh Heritage Month reception at Queen’s Park! The Sikh community has been a vital part of Canada’s history since the late 1800’s, and has shaped the political landscape and sociocultural fabric of our country. The values from Sikhi, such as equity, honourable work, and seva, or selfless service, are values that we as New Democrats carry with us and strive to act upon every single day. Thank you to all of the community organizations for such a warm welcome, and happy Sikh Heritage Month!

Last Monday night, I joined MPP Chris Glover and fellow members of the NDP Caucus,  alongside Toronto City Councillor Asuma Malik, No Jets Toronto, and Waterfront For All TO for a Waterfront Town Hall. Residents came together to share a clear vision for their neighbourhoods; one that prioritizes livability, sustainability, and a healthy waterfront for future generations.

Little did we know what was coming this week! That said, I am proud of what we accomplished at the townhall and the community that we built that will be vital as we fight this land grab! 

We all know that Ford’s billion-dollar runway expansion and increased jet traffic would bring serious air and noise pollution to surrounding neighbourhoods. His proposal puts corporate and personal interests ahead of communities every time and must be stopped. 

This fight is just getting started. Toronto Liberal MPs have the power to stop Ford in his tracks, and they need to hear from residents now. As Norm Di Pasquale, Chair of No Jets Toronto, Ontario Place for All, and former school board trustee, reminded us: we’ve protected the waterfront before, and together, we will do it again.

The community is informed, organized, and ready to defend the future of Toronto’s waterfront! I couldn’t be more proud. 

Bright and early on Tuesday morning, I joined members of the Big City Mayors Caucus for their first ever advocacy day breakfast reception at Queen’s Park. The reception brought together mayors from all across Ontario, from Leamington to Toronto. It was such a treat to see my colleague from my time on Toronto City Council, Paul Ainslie, and speak with Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe, Deputy Mayor of Ajax, Sterling Lee, and Mayor of Guelph, Cam Guthrie. 

In my remarks, I highlighted the carefully crafted pre-budget submissions prepared by Ontario municipalities, which the Ford government has chosen to ignore. Increasingly, services and responsibilities are being downloaded onto municipalities while the province claws back municipal power. Cities should not have to take on provincial responsibilities with slashed budgets. I will continue to use my voice at Queen’s Park to fight for municipal autonomy and legislation co-created with the affected municipalities.

“The Imam asked not what his creed or his opinion was, but if his neighbour had eaten.” 

It was an honour to join the Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada to celebrate their Eid al-Fitr reception at Queen’s Park. I was moved by the words of Imam Ibrahim Hussain and his message of pluralism, neighbourliness, and unity. 

This year, APMC celebrated their 27th annual lunch at Queen’s Park. They hold this lunch yearly because they believe there is more that unites than divides us – that true pluralism and acceptance know no political boundaries. In celebrating Eid, we reflected on the themes of community and compassion, the same values that bring people together and strengthen the social fabric of our province. At a time when Islamophobia continues to rise, the work of APMC becomes more important than ever in building understanding and advocating for justice.

Congratulations to Right to Food on the opening of Sumac Community Food Centre, their new National Headquarters right here in Toronto Centre! It was my pleasure to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony and see so many familiar faces from Regent Park. Food insecurity is crushingly difficult. However, Sumac Community Food Centres connect over 450 organizations across their nationwide network, creating dignified spaces for people to grow and cook food together. These programs and knowledge sharing networks give participants a priceless sense of belonging and security. At Sumac, people are never “processed” – they are greeted and welcomed in their full humanity. My sincerest congratulations go to CEO Nick Saul and Dr. Kwame McKenzie, as well as other members of the Right to Food Board. This grand opening is the culmination of years and years of hard work and perseverance in the face of challenges and setbacks. I am so excited to officially welcome Sumac to the community!

• Ontario Pride Festivals Meeting
• Canadian Credit Union Association Meeting
• Meeting with Right to Food CEO, Nick Saul
• Friends of Caribbean, African, & Black Youth of Sexual and Gender Minority communities

Ticketmaster delists resale tickets in Ontario ahead of price cap

Doug Ford regularly worked from home after ordering civil servants back to office 

Ontario hospitals announce job cuts, nearly three-quarters of hospitals in deficit

Manitoba set to become 1st province to ban social media for children

What can trustees even do anymore? Why would anyone run? Inside a changing role, and why some still see hope

The number of Toronto homeless encampments has fallen by 70%. City Hall says that’s progress — but others aren’t so sure 

FIFA makes more World Cup tickets available, but soccer fans criticize lack of transparency

Police tout progress on reform after Bruce McArthur case, but LGBTQ+ groups say distrust persists

‘He was considered family’: Toronto firefighters mourn loss of beloved unofficial member

The iconic Forsythia Festival is around the corner! And they need people like you to volunteer! If you are interested in volunteering, email Katie at [email protected]. 

The Forsythia Festival has been held annually on the 1st Sunday of May at Wellesley Park for over 50 years! It’s free for all to attend, and people come from all over the city to join in the fun.

This year, the festival will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2026. 

There’s fun for all the family, including a parade, food and drinks from local retailers and pubs. Plus lots of activities for kids of all ages!

Inspirations Studio invites you to their Spring Market pottery sale!

Dates and Times:

Friday, May 8, 4-7 PM

Saturday, May 9, 12-4 PM

Sunday, May 10, 12-4 PM

Location: YWCA’s Toronto Inspirations Studio – 389 Church Street

Meet the makers, find beautiful gifts that give twice, and enjoy lollipops and lemonade. Come celebrate Mother’s Day at Inspirations Studio.

Inspirations Studio is a unique, low-barrier ceramics program for women and gender diverse people who have experienced marginalization.

YouthWorx is seeking enthusiastic individuals aged 14-18 to join their summer team! This is a fantastic opportunity to engage in community cleanups, light repairs, painting, and beautification projects.

If you have any questions, email [email protected], visit the TCHC website, or call 437-228-3947.

Save the date for Riverdale Farm's Spring Celebration!

Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026

Time: 10 AM - 3 PM

Location: Riverdale Farm, 201 Winchester Street

There will be sheep shearing, carding, spinning, and weaving demonstrations, as well as crafts, a playroom, and refreshments. 

The event is from 10 AM - 3 PM, but the farm will be open from 9 AM to 5 PM.

The Toronto District School Board’s Summer International Languages Elementary & African Heritage Programs are open for registration!

Languages include Amharic, Somali, Cantonese, simplified and traditional Mandarin, Ukrainian, Spanish, Arabic, Tamil, and more!

Click here for more information and to sign up.

Applications are now open for the RISE Program by Apathy is Boring.

This is a 15-week program where young people (ages 18–30) work in a small cohort to co-create and launch a community project, with strong support along the way. Whether you’re new to civic engagement or already involved, this is a great entry point for building skills and bringing your ideas to life.

What does the RISE program do?

RISE supports participants by guiding them through a 15-week program that provides access to training, skill-building workshops, mentorship/networking opportunities, and a $ 4,000 budget! We encourage all youth to apply, especially those who are new to civic engagement. It is a great opportunity to gain transferable skills and serves as an entry point to further civic and community engagement.

Here’s a rundown of what participants can expect in the program:

• Weekly (evening) in-person meetings (located at CSI-Spadina), facilitated by the RISE Program coordinator.
• Free dinners at every weekly meeting
• All expenses paid national conference August 7th-9th, where they get to meet other passionate youth across Canada (Location TBD)
• A $4000 budget to make their project a reality
• Skill-building and networking opportunities
• 1:1 support and mentorship from the RISE Program coordinator

The upcoming RISE cohort runs from July 6 to October 12, 2026. Applications are currently open until this Sunday, May 24th. Click here for the application form.

They also have a referral program! If you have someone in mind that you think should apply, refer them, and you will receive a gift card from Apathy is Boring if they become one of the summer 2026 RISE ambassadors. Refer someone here.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to this email:

[email protected]

There will also be an information session happening on May 2, 2026, from 7-8 PM EST (youth can sign up here!).

Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Toronto provides mentorship and positive relationships for young people in our communities. In addition to brothers and sisters, they are recruiting Big Siblings to mentor 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, Big Couples (couples over 25 years old in stable relationships), and Big Gs (retirees aged 55+). There are so many ways to get involved! 

450 children and youth in Toronto are waiting to be matched with a mentor! Sign up today!

Learn about their programs and sign up here.

Do you know a phenomenal leader in your community who deserves recognition?

Kristyn Wong-Tam will present six people with the prestigious Toronto Centre Leadership Award in June 2026.

This honour recognizes individuals who have made a profound and lasting contribution to the Toronto Centre community in any field. This can include the arts, politics, community building, healthcare, and beyond!

Nominations are due by April 30, 2026. Submit your nominee here!

Are you looking to honour human rights heroes in your community?

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Daniel G. Hill Human Rights Awards, presented by the Ontario Human Rights Commission during its 65th anniversary year.

The Daniel G. Hill Human Rights Awards commemorate the legacy of human rights trailblazers by honouring them in the name of the organization’s first Black Director and Black Chairperson.

The awards are an opportunity for the OHRC to share, recognize, and celebrate achievements that advance and foster human rights in Ontario.

In 2026, the OHRC will present the Daniel G. Hill Awards in three categories:

• Young Leaders: to be awarded to a person under age 30 (as of December 31, 2025) for their outstanding contribution to advancing human rights in Ontario.
• Distinguished Service: to be awarded to an individual for outstanding contribution to advancing human rights in Ontario.
• Lifetime Achievement: to be awarded to an individual for significant contributions over their lifetime to advance human rights in Ontario.

If you or someone you know is doing great work to support human rights, please consider a nomination. Nominations are open until May 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST. Find out more here.