December 20, 2024 Newsletter

Dear Emma,

The new year has come in like a lion! We may now be facing a provincial and federal election before the month of May. Now is the time to hold on to your hats, stay informed, and get involved in your local communities. 

As I’m sure you have heard by now, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that he will resign. He has also prorogued, or suspended, parliament until March 24. After that date, a federal election could happen at any point, especially since both Jagmeet Singh and Pierre Polievre have said they will table non-confidence motions as soon as possible and will not vote to support the government. 

The NDP have done incredible work at the federal level over the past several years, bringing dental care and pharmacare to Canadians. Our federal party did the hard work of starting up those programs to bring dental care and access to medications to those who need it the most. These programs represent the most significant expansion to our healthcare system since Medicare and bring us several steps closer to true universal healthcare. The NDP also passed the Early Learning and Child Care Act to lower the price of child care along with anti-scab and sustainable jobs legislation to protect workers. These strides would never have occurred if the NDP had not held the threat of an election over the Liberals every day. All of those measures were opposed by both Liberals and Conservatives until the NDP forced the Liberals to enact them.

However, the NDP never intended the supply and confidence agreement to last forever. Eventually, the Liberals showed their true colours, as they always do, and the NDP couldn't look past their scandals and mistakes. It is time for a new government in Ottawa, and I am so glad that the NDP has already shown the kind of caring and effective government they will be. 

At the same time as all of this drama is taking place at the Federal government, President-elect Trump is threatening to slap massive 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, providing Doug Ford with the cover he needs to seek a new mandate from Ontarians and send us back to the polls. This could happen any day now, as it is advantageous to Ford to have Ontarians go to the polls before the Federal election begins. But all of this is pure speculation. Only Ford and his insiders know when Ontarians will go to the polls. 

Regardless of what the government decides, the Ontario NDP caucus and I are ready to run a campaign filled with positive, practical and ready-to-go solutions. The only thing that would make our campaign in Toronto Centre better is YOU! 

Campaigns run on people power. I would love to see each and every one of you out knocking on doors with me. Let’s tell your friends and family about the significant policies of the Ontario NDP. Speak out on social media about the importance of getting out the vote, especially for first time voters. Let’s work together to elect the Ontario NDP and fix the things that has been broken by 30 years of Liberal and Conservative rule in the province. 

Amidst all of this turmoil, we also need to take a moment to gather with our friends and neighbours. In that spirit, I’d love for you to join me in celebrating the possibilities of the year ahead at my New Year’s Levee.

Here are the details for your calendar:
When: Sunday, January 26, 2025
Time: 2 – 4 PM
Where: Daniels Spectrum
585 Dundas Street East
Toronto, ON M5A 2B7

Google map and directions

We’ll have a selection of refreshments and snacks. The venue is wheelchair accessible, including washrooms.

Let’s celebrate the year ahead, including the Lunar New Year, with hope, positivity, and our shared power to create change. I can’t wait to see you there.

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Jarvis Collegiate Repair Backlogs
• Supporting Small Business - Wanda’s Pie In The Sky
• 2024 in Review
• Regent Park Community Centre’s Pancake Breakfast
• Ford Fails on Housing and Homelessness
• Pride Toronto’s 2025 Theme - ALL IN!
  
• This Week's Meetings
  
• This Week’s Headlines
• Local Community Events

On Thursday, I returned to Jarvis Collegiate with ONDP Leader Marit Stiles and Trustee Dee Williams. Principal Stephen Bain highlighted the vibrant school community and revitalized the library and gym. 

Ontario students deserve safe, fully operational and staffed schools so that they can receive the best education and learn about all career paths. I am so grateful to the principal, educators, and students we met, especially the grade 10 civics class, who are passionate about politics and asked the best questions!

We also observed important facilities that have been shut down for a decade or more, including two science labs, a greenhouse, an art room and a full industrial kitchen. Ontario’s Fiscal Watchdog, the Financial Accountability Office, warned in their December report that the Ford government was underfunding capital repairs needed in schools by $12.7 billion. What we saw at Jarvis CI is symptomatic of chronic Liberal and Conservative government underfunding in public education, leading to 85% of TDSB schools falling below the state of good repair.

Wanda’s Pie in the Sky is a longtime and beloved bakery in Kensington Market. I’ve known the owners, David and Wanda Beaver, for years. In fact, they used to be one of my suppliers when I owned a Timothy’s World Coffee franchise on Church Street. They’re responsible business people and exceptional pie makers. So when they reached out for assistance in December to correct an issue with City Hall, I was happy to lend my support as the Small Business Critic for the Ontario NDP.  

At issue was an addition built during the pandemic to provide safe distancing for indoor dining. City Hall at that time was gripped with delivering rapid responses on critical issues during the extended state of emergency. Issuing permits was not one of the urgent core functions as City Council redeployed planning, building, transportation staff to shelter, housing and public health departments to fight the spread of COVID-19. 

Caught in the middle of all this was Wanda’s Pie in the Sky who has been ordered to take down an expensive addition. Except the City’s notices were sent to their landlord and property owner but never forwarded to Wanda’s Pie as the commercial tenants. I asked David and Wanda not to tear down the addition, so we can work with the City to find an alternative solution. Thanks to Mayor Olivia Chow’s personal involvement, City staff will now be working with Wanda’s Pie to conditionally approve the addition. This is a big win! Thank you to everyone who came out to sign the petition, call their Councillor, enjoy a slice of pie, and support Wanda’s Pie in the Sky. It’s a great Toronto news story for the start of 2025!

2024 was a huge year, and I am so proud of all we have accomplished together as a community. At the end of last year, my team and I put together a year in review to capture all of the big events. You can view the entire thing here.

A few of my favourite moments of the year include when we: 

• Moved second reading of the Gender Affirming Healthcare Act (which Ford voted down)
• My Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act passed second reading after Ford was forced to support it by community pressure
• Helped to save St. Bartholomew’s Children’s Centre
• Ontario NDP cracked open the Greenbelt scandal, revealing that Ford’s office used codewords to avoid detection
• Supported St James Town tenants through flooding, power outages, and landlord negligence
• Fought Ford’s sudden closure of the Ontario Science Centre, removing fencing by hand
• Worked alongside the community to bring Rastafest to Regent Park
• Listened to 100+ expert witnesses who affirm IPV is an epidemic in Ontario
• Rode my bike from Toronto to Montreal in support of HIV/AIDs research
• Lead community consultations around the Our London Family Act and countering Islamophobia
• Hosted a Small Business Roundtable to hear directly from business owners about the support they need
• Hosted a massive National Housing Day event at Queen’s Park, bringing over 200 advocates together
• Tabled my bill to fix Ontario’s tribunal backlog at the Landlord Tenant Board

I am looking forward to everything that 2025 has in store! I know it will be a year of bringing community voices forward, fighting for access to justice, and bringing forward new ideas to make our neighbourhoods stronger. 

Thank you to the City staff and volunteers at the Regent Park Community Centre for cooking up a delicious pancake and waffle breakfast for the neighbourhood. It was so much fun to make waffles and chat with everyone who attended. 

The breakfast was about connection, community, and belonging for everyone during the winter season. Let’s keep showing up for one another this new year - it's what community is all about!

On Thursday, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) published its Municipalities Under Pressure Report, a searing indictment of the conservative government’s inaction on homelessness. 

We in Toronto Centre know the realities of encampments and homelessness. We see our neighbours out in the cold every day. Each person sleeping unsheltered is a failure of government, and yet this conservative government doesn’t have any concrete plan to tackle homelessness. I have asked the government over and over to produce this plan, and they have refused. 

The number of unhoused Ontarians grew by 25% over the past two years, with more than 81,000 people identified as experiencing homelessness in 2024. Without significant intervention, that number is expected to triple by 2035.

A future in which hundreds of thousands of people live without stable housing should be unimaginable in a province as prosperous as Ontario, but instead, it is a very real possibility. 

Luckily, the Ontario NDP does have a homelessness plan and is committed to making meaningful investments in mental health care, taking back provincial responsibility for shelters and homelessness prevention programs, and building affordable and supportive housing.

This week, Pride Toronto announced their Pride 2025 theme: ALL IN! You can watch the announcement video here. 

I am so excited about this theme, which brings solidarity and community connection to the forefront of our pride celebration. This unity is something we need now more than ever as the alt-right tries to separate LGB people from their Trans and Non-binary siblings. A threat to one of us is a threat to all of us, and we must stand strong together. 

I can’t wait to celebrate pride together in June, emphasizing love, solidarity, and joy!

• Rainbow Health Ontario
• Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
• The Harm Reduction Collective
• FAIR Association

After refusal to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic, PCs curtail study 

YorkRegion.com reporters wrote about intimate partner violence in 2024 in response to local murders 

TTC board debating 2025 budget that's set to freeze fares, increase service | CBC News

Norovirus cases are on the rise. Here's what you need to know about this nasty bug | CBC Radio

CBC investigation uncovers grocers overcharging customers by selling underweighted meat

Huge tent next to Toronto landmark may finally come down after a decade

Neighbourhood Information Post is offering exciting workshops at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts for youth under 18. Participants can explore ceramics, filmmaking, printmaking, and photography in two after-school sessions:

• Dates: January 14, 2025, and February 4, 2025
• Time: 4:30 to 7 PM
• Location: Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, 711 Bloor St E, Toronto, ON M4W 1J4

Transportation and a gift certificate will be provided, with all supplies offered by the school. For more details, contact Seyon at 416-924-2543 x0. 

Click here to register.

ArtReach invites Toronto-based arts programmers aged 13–29 to attend an info session for the 2025 Community Arts Programming Grant. This session will provide guidance on grant applications and strengthen submissions.

Details:

• Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
• Time: 6–8  PM
  • 6–7 PM: Overview of guidelines and Q&A
  • 7–8 PM: Walkthrough of the application package
• Location: Online via Zoom

The grant application deadline is February 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM. For more information, visit artreach.org/workshops.

The Yonge Street Mission is supporting entrepreneurs in Regent Park with its 2025 Micro-grant Program. This initiative offers financial assistance and coaching to help individuals grow their businesses.

Program Details:

• Grant Amount: Up to $4,000 (disbursed in two payments based on progress)
• Eligibility:
  • Must be a business owner or aspiring entrepreneur in Regent Park or surrounding areas
  • Eligible to work in Canada
  • Proficient in English and computer skills
  • Involvement in YSM programs is a plus

Timeline:

• Application Deadline: January 24, 2025
• Coaching Sessions: March – May 2025 (8–10 sessions)
• Grant Interviews: May 2025
• Final Report Submission: August 2025

To apply, click here or email [email protected] for further inquiries.

The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association (SLNA) Waste Reduction Group is hosting its 12th annual REmarket, a two-day event for recycling and donation.

Event Details:

• Dates:
  • January 29, 2025 (10 AM–7 PM):
    • Donation collection, recycling services, and hazardous waste drop-off
    • FreeMarket: Guests can donate or take items for free (non-commercial purposes).
  • January 30, 2025 (10 AM–6 PM):
    • Donation collection, recycling services, and hazardous waste drop-off
    • Repair Café Toronto and CultureLink Bike Hub (11 AM–3 PM):
      • Repair Café: Fix clothing, jewelry, electronics, appliances, and more.
      • Bike Hub: Conduct small bike repairs and safety checks.
• Location: St. Lawrence Market Tent, 125 The Esplanade (at Market St.)

Items Accepted:

• Recycle: Dental waste, cigarette butts, batteries, damaged textiles, disposable razors, and more.
• Donate: Household items, books, mobility aids, toys, clothing, and accessories.

For full details and accepted items, visit slna.ca/remarket-guidelines or email [email protected].

Dear Neighbour,

2024 has been an incredibly eventful year. Let's look back on everything we did together. 

As always, it is an honour to fight for you and our communities,

Kristyn Wong-Tam

p.s. We are nearly at our fundraising goal — can you help us get over the finish line? 

Dear Emma,

Yesterday, the Legislature rose for the winter break. We will not sit in the chamber, pass legislation, or hold Question Period until March 4th, 2025. This is a long break and one that may not end since rumours of a spring election continue to swirl. 

As you can imagine, this past week was not without Ford’s usual schemes. He was at it again, dividing and distracting Ontarians, doing everything possible to enrich his friends behind our backs. 

Instead of focusing on helping everyday Ontarians connect with a family doctor or secure affordable housing, Doug Ford is more concerned with sending people in crisis to already overcrowded jails with no pathway for rehabilitation or recovery. 

Just yesterday, at the last possible moment, the PC Government tabled a new bill that would further criminalize homelessness and stigmatize the most vulnerable people in our communities. This bill would further criminalize sleeping in public parks and the use of illegal substances in public places, things that are already illegal, without providing any new funding to support alternatives. I don’t know where this government thinks unhoused people are supposed to go. The shelters are full, and the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is close to $2,000 a month across Ontario. People only sleep in tents in the winter when they have no other option. These folks need support to become and stay housed, but this bill does nothing to create supportive or affordable housing. 

This government needs to pass the Ontario NDP’s Homes Ontario plan and get back into the business of building housing in order to end encampments in our province. 

Before the Legislature rose, the government did do one nice thing, though. They passed a bill I tabled!

The government decided to bundle together and batch-pass ten bills proclaiming various days, weeks, and months as times of significance to raise awareness of issues and celebrate cultures. These are not official holidays but are recognized as important times of the year in Ontario. And one of the bills, The Persons Day Act, was one that I co-sponsored tri-partisanly with my fellow MPPs Mary-Margaret McMahon and Aislinn Clancy. 

The Persons Day Act recognizes October 18 as Persons Day in commemoration of the hard-won struggle by the Famous Five and other feminists for the Canadian government to recognize women as Persons. Before this case, the word “persons” meant men in Canadian legal contexts. After they won their case, “persons” always meant both men and women. This case did not grant legal personhood to Indigenous or Asian women or recognize gender non-conforming people, but it did pave the way for further progress, and for that, I am very grateful. 

I also had the opportunity to speak in support of the passing of the Chinese Heritage Month Act. As a person of Chinese heritage, it was heartwarming to speak to the importance of this day and reflect on how Chinese people have been treated by the Canadian government, from building the Canadian Pacific Railway for incredibly low pay in unsafe conditions, to the Chinese Head Tax, to the beautiful communities that Chinese-Canadians created and continue to hold together in cities across Canada. You can watch me speak in the Legislature about the importance of this month here: 

Here are all of the new times of significance in Ontario: 

• Chinese Heritage Month - February
• Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day - February 22
• Orthodox Christian Week - beginning on Orthodox Easter Sunday
• Seniors Month - June
• Injured Workers Day - June 1
• Group of Seven Day - July 7
• Ukrainian Heritage Month - September
• Persons Day - October 18
• Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week - beginning the first Monday of November
• Skilled Trades Week - first full week in November

I am very glad that all of these communities have special times for commemoration, awareness, and celebration in our province. You can see all of Ontario's currently proclaimed times of celebration and commemoration here. Don’t see your community represented? It might be time to organize within your community, start a campaign, and contact my office about tabling a bill! 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Join Our Phone-banking Team!
  
• Ontario Renters Deserve Predictability
• Cabbagetown Holiday in the Patch
• PCs Overfunding their Buddies, Underfunding Key Services
• Ford Failing Skilled Trades Workers
• Seniors in LTC Deserve Better
• This Week's Meetings
• This Week’s Headlines
• Local Community Events

Our phone-banking team is looking for volunteers and has many opportunities for you to get involved. Calling is an easy way to volunteer — you can do it from the comfort of your own home with just a tablet or laptop and headphones! My team hosts zoom trainings before ech shift to show you how to make calls through your device. We would love to have you join us!

Volunteer on Thursday December 19 at 6 PM

Volunteer on Thursday January 9 at 6 PM

On Wednesday, we had the opportunity to bring rent control back to all rental units in Ontario via my colleague MPP Bhutila Karpoche’s Private Members Bill. But the government voted it down. 

I was thrilled to speak to this bill. Rent control keeps renters' housing costs predictable and allows people to remain in their homes, building healthy and strong neighbourhoods. 

When this government scrapped rent control for new builds in 2018 it created confusion and imbalances in the rental market. All of a sudden, landlords can raise the rent on their tenants to any amount they like, creating a path for de-facto evictions without a hearing. This is wrong. We need to restore rent control in Ontario and work towards vacancy decontrol, where rental prices are controlled even when an old tenant moves out and a new one moves in. 

Last weekend, I had the best time attending the Cabbagetown BIA’s annual Holiday in the Patch celebration! 

Supporting local businesses and celebrating the festive spirit with our vibrant community is the most joyful way to ring in the holiday season. 

And the fun isn’t over yet - this weekend, stroll on over to historic Cabbagetown and finish up your holiday shopping and the wonderful local businesses on Parliament Street ☃️🎁

Over the past week, I have had time to examine the Financial Accountability Officer’s latest expenditure report, which tracks government spending and compares it to planned expenditures.

This most recent report shows that this government is systemically underfunding education across the board. Their strategy is to set up our colleges and universities to fail and to let our public schools languish. While the Premier remains laser-focused on schemes and scandals and ponying up billions for a private Austrian luxury spa, the people of Ontario are getting less and less for their taxpayer dollars. 

Instead of funding our schools, here is what the Ford government decided to splurge and save on: 

• Hundreds of millions of dollars in back-pay to workers because of unconstitutional Bill 124. 
• $87 million to get beer in convenience stores ahead of schedule.
• $123 million less than planned on education and $229 million less on colleges and universities.
• Not to mention the $400 per household the government is spending to subsidize a luxury spa at Ontario Place that most Ontarians can’t afford to visit. 

My office has been inundated with calls from skilled trades workers ready to work building homes in Ontario. Many of them have job offers in hand. 

But instead of heading out to job sites, they're stuck in Ford's mismanaged Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, waiting for a work permit. We must fix this backog to get people working and homes built in Ontario. 

This week, I asked the government what they would do to fix this backlog. As usual, they played the blame game and refused to take responsibility.

This week, I spoke about our seniors in Long-Term Care and the devoted workers who care for them. I shared reflections about my own grandmother, the parents of my constituents, and stories from PSWs who have written to my office. Click here to watch my full speech. 

Our seniors deserve properly funded care, not just piecemeal measures rushed through the Legislature.

This week I met with: 

• Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
• Paramedic Services’ Chiefs of Ontario

Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Rose Avenue Public School, 674 Ontario Street, Toronto

Event Highlights:

• FREE Toys for Kids
• FREE Household Items
• FREE Groceries / Food Bank
• FREE Admission – ALL ARE WELCOME!

Celebrate with Us!
Join us for this annual community event as Freedom City continues to serve the St. James Town neighborhood for over 10 years.

More Information:

• Website: www.freedomcity.ca
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @freedomcityorg

Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Wellesley Community Centre, 495 Sherbourne Street, St. James Town

Event Highlights:
This holiday market is designed to celebrate women, self-care, and community. Here's what you can look forward to:

• FREE Beauty Services: Makeup, nail polishing, and hair styling to help you feel pampered and refreshed.
• Incredible Vendors: Discover affordable products, including jewelry, clothing, and handmade items, from hardworking women in the community. Support local and treat yourself!
• Educational Resources: Learn and connect at interactive tables featuring a nutritionist, financial advisor, sexual health professionals, and a mental health workshop.
• Delicious Food and Treats: Enjoy delicious meals and baked goods prepared with love by talented chefs and bakers.
• Inspiring Performances: Witness powerful spoken word, soulful singing, and captivating dance performances that celebrate talent and sisterhood.
• Kids Zone: A fun and safe space for children with face painting, storytelling, arts and crafts, hair braiding, and more!

A Celebration of Sisterhood and Self-Care:
Take this day to celebrate yourself and the women around you. Come in feeling appreciated and leave feeling empowered.

Registration and Contact Information:

• Register: Click here to sign up
• Walk-ins are welcome!
• Email: [email protected]

Celebrate, connect, and be part of a beautiful community event created just for women!

When: Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: The 519 (519 Church St., Toronto, ON)
Details: Workshops available both in-person and online. TTC fare and snacks provided.
Registration: Preferred via this form.

Workshop Topics:

December 18
Navigating Long-Term Care as a 2SLGBTQ+ Person
Presenter: Jane Meadus, Advocacy Center for the Elderly (ACE)

Trustee Deborah Williams invites families and community members to the Ward 10 Forum: School Councils Engaging Families - School Improvement & Student Achievement. This hybrid event offers an opportunity to connect, share best practices, and discuss strategies to support student success and well-being.

Details:

• Date: Thursday, December 19, 2024
• Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Location: Online via Zoom or in person at Central Technical School, 725 Bathurst St, Toronto

Childcare and light refreshments will be available. Interpretation and accessibility accommodations can be requested. Please RSVP by clicking here.

Daily Pet Food Bank:
Providing essential food and supplies for pets, ensuring no pet goes hungry or is separated from their family due to financial challenges.

Community Day Events:
Monthly events offering:

• Pet food
• Pet supplies (bowls, leashes, apparel, carriers, gates, toys, beds, and blankets)

Pet Food Bank Hours:

• Monday: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Wednesday: Closed
• Thursday: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Contact Information:

• Website: www.torontohumanesociety.com/pet-services/community-day 
• Address: 11 River Street, Toronto, ON
• Phone: (416) 392-2273

Friends of Regent Park are hosting a pancake breakfast on Saturday, December 21 at the Regent Park Gymnasium and Banquet Hall. 

From 9am-1pm it is sure to be an exciting morning of pancakes, crafts, games, and more. Santa is expected to make the rounds and lots of new friends are to be made! 

Ho ho hold the date!

Looking for fun during the winter break? The Friends of Regent Park will host a Community Skating event.

Date: Saturday, December 28, 2024

Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Location: Regent Park Ice Rink (480 Shuter St.)

Skates, helmets and skating aids will be available for free on a first-come, first-served basis (courtesy of the City of Toronto's Skate Lending Library).

ArtReach invites Toronto-based arts programmers aged 13–29 to attend an info session for the 2025 Community Arts Programming Grant. This session will provide guidance on grant applications and strengthen submissions.

Details:

• Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
• Time: 6:00–8:00 PM
  • 6:00–7:00 PM: Overview of guidelines and Q&A
  • 7:00–8:00 PM: Walkthrough of the application package
• Location: Online via Zoom

The grant application deadline is February 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM. For more information, visit artreach.org/workshops.