January 12, 2024 Newsletter

Dear Neighbour,

Get your orange horses ready! Yesterday, key rules for the federal NDP Leadership race was decided. A new leader will be named by the end of March 2026. Political junkies rejoice: over the coming weeks and months, you can expect swirling rumours, fresh announcements, and hot political gossip about who will lead the NDP at the federal level. I’ll be keenly watching and encouraging everyone to renew their membership. Thanks to the NDP’s unified party structure, our federal and provincial NDP membership comes with voting rights!

What: Education in Crisis Townhall

When: Monday July 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Where: Zoom — RSVP here

On the last day of school in June, the Minister of Education placed four more school boards under provincial supervision — including the TDSB. The authority of elected Trustees is now in the hands of the Minister of Education, who has appointed an un-elected supervisor. Join MPP Jessica Bell, MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, and elected Trustee Deborah Williams for updates and what provincial supervision means for our students, families, educators, communities, and our democracy. Everyone is welcome! Your voice matters! Please note, as of June 27, 2025 the TDSB is under Ministry of Education supervision and control. Provincial supervision has restricted the role of Deborah Williams, who is the Elected Trustee for TDSB Ward 10, University-Rosedale & Toronto Centre.

Failing to act on homelessness should be a political impossibility, and yet here we are, with homelessness in Toronto at crisis levels. Rates have more than doubled over the past three years, something I know isn’t a shock to anyone in downtown Toronto. We experience this humanitarian crisis every day at our doorsteps and in our neighbourhoods. 

The City of Toronto published their 2024 Street Needs Assessment report this week, and it is bleak. This report is a snapshot in time of homelessness in October 2024. Still, it gives us valuable insight into who is unhoused, what complexities are common, and which needs are going unmet (spoiler alert - it's most of them). The survey found that Indigenous, Black, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people are vastly over-represented in Toronto’s homeless population, as are people with unmet health needs and survivors of intimate partner or gender-based violence. We also know that surveys like these miss many “hidden homeless” people who are couch surfing, living outside in difficult-to-access areas, and those who are unwilling to participate in surveys like this. Cathy Crow, a street nurse and advocate for the unhoused, shared with CBC that every count of homeless folks is an undercount, especially of those living outdoors. 

The vast majority of respondents to the Street Needs Assessment survey stated that access to Rent-Geared-To-Income housing would have prevented or would end their homelessness. Many others stated that unmet health needs, like access to a family doctor, mental health supports, and/or addiction treatment, were all factors in their lack of housing. Another trend was that experiences of violence, especially gender-based and intimate partner violence, were high among respondents, and often were factors in their lack of housing. This phenomenon was echoed in another report published this week by the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, which found that gender-based violence was the leading cause of homelessness for women and gender-diverse people. 

Solving the homelessness crisis in Toronto and across Canada is possible. It will require a concentrated, collective effort by every level of government across our country. It will be difficult, but not impossible, as we already know how to end homelessness. 

Building affordable non-market housing and supportive housing are homelessness prevention and reduction strategies. Accessible, high-quality healthcare with low barriers is homelessness prevention. Doubling social assistance rates to a level that would actually lift people out of poverty and allow them to pay for housing is homelessness prevention. We also know that creating a justice system that works, investing in violence prevention and early-intervention programs for youth, are all homelessness prevention. Not only are these solutions to address homelessness, but they also reduce expensive and desperate alternatives such as shelter, hospital and correctional beds. Building a continuum of suitable and affordable housing for the broad needs of Ontarians reduces government costs, creates healthier communities and bolsters our economy. 

Yet the Ford government fails to implement them. This government does not have a plan to end homelessness and continually ignores the recommendations of its own housing task force.

The Ontario NDP will never stop pushing for a housing mix that meets everyone’s needs and includes non-market options, a healthcare system that is public and well-funded, violence-prevention and justice services that advance community wellbeing, and the prioritization of equity for underserved communities. I am so proud to be a New Democrat; to be part of a party that advances policies that make life more affordable, make our communities healthier, more connected and prosperous, and lead with compassion. I will never stop pushing all governments to do more for our communities. Ending homelessness is a responsibility that falls on every elected official and order of government. 

Despite being incredibly busy ignoring Ontario’s homelessness crisis, this week, Ford met with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to sign two non-binding Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on interprovincial trade. The MOUs focused on pipelines and rail transportation to transport critical minerals, oil sands extraction, and natural gas to markets. I can get behind more rail transportation and recognize the need to export our critical minerals (when they are responsibly mined and respectful of Indigenous sovereignty), but building new fossil fuel infrastructure like pipelines must come with rigorous environmental assessments and a clear business case, things I worry Ford would not provide. A resurrection of the Energy East pipeline, once proposed to carry Alberta crude from the oil sands to refineries in New Brunswick, even seemed to be on the table.

We need more interprovincial trade - that is something that I fully support. However, Ford is using the cover of Trump’s trade war to push his regressive, anti-environmental agenda as far as it will go. Anything to help his rich buddies get richer!

The Energy East pipeline was killed more than ten years ago because it was too expensive, too logistically complex, faced massive opposition from Indigenous nations and environmental groups, and because the world is moving away from fossil fuels. Ten years later, the same barriers exist, renewables are cheaper, and Trans Canada (now TC Energy), which was going to build the pipeline, is no longer in the business of building pipelines. The only reason that Energy East was ever logistically or economically viable was because Trans Canada owned a natural gas pipeline that covered ⅓ of the proposed route, which they planned to repurpose. And even with that existing pipeline, the project couldn’t get off the ground! 

Instead of relying on the fossil fuel industry to create short-term jobs and short-term energy independence, we should go all-in on renewables. Renewables create great long-term jobs, energy independence that lasts for generations, and a cleaner planet we can all be proud of.

If Energy East is ever officially proposed, we need to be prepared to push for strong environmental assessments, true consultation with Indigenous communities, and an air-tight business case. Bill 5 has completely changed the regulatory environment, and we know that Doug Ford often pushes through projects that don’t make economic or local sense (see below for an update on the Ontario Place mega-spa). We must therefore be ready with strong arguments and stronger opposition to create an environment where building this pipeline is a political impossibility. I am ready. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Judge Upholds Bike Lane Injunction, Ford Flounders
• Ontario’s Tribunals Failing on Transparency
• Therme Downsizes Ontario Place Spa Again
• Cafe Zuzu Open After Impaired Driver Crash
• This Week’s Headlines
• Local Community Events

Another win for cyclists and an independent judiciary in Toronto this week! The Ontario courts have dismissed Ford’s request to appeal the injunction currently in place to prevent the removal of bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge, and University. This injunction is in place until the courts hear arguments and decide whether Ford’s legislation to remove these bike lanes is constitutional. Cycle Toronto argues that the law is arbitrary, puts cyclists’ lives at stake, and that the government lacks evidence that removing the lanes will reduce congestion. I couldn’t agree more. 

As a cyclist and a driver, I strongly support keeping these lanes for the safety and well-being of cyclists and drivers alike. Nothing is more stressful than drivers and cyclists sharing the same space on a busy roadway, no matter who you are! I will not stop fighting for safe streets for all road users. 

Yesterday, I sent two letters to the Ontario Ombudsman, Paul Dubé, asking him to investigate issues of transparency and consistency within the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), as well as the failure of three Tribunals to release annual reports for two years in a row. 

In my letter concerning the LTB, I ask why Tribunals Ontario and the Ombudsman’s office are reporting contradictory statistics concerning the LTB’s implementation of the Ombudsman’s Office’s recommendations for improvement. The Ombudsman’s 2023/24 Annual Report says that the LTB had taken action on 35 of 61 recommendations.  Meanwhile, Tribunals Ontario claims to have “fully addressed” 79 percent of the recommendations. This discrepancy is enormous. You deserve answers about what is really going on inside the LTB. Tenants and Landlords are waiting for egregiously long periods of time for hearings, much longer than they waited just six years ago. They deserve answers and a genuine commitment to improve wait times through evidence. 

My second letter concerned the failure of the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB), Health Services Appeal and Review Board (HSARB), and Consent and Capacity Board (CCB) to publish annual reports for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. This failure is consistent with the lack of transparency and increased insider appointments that have plagued the tribunal system throughout the Ford government’s tenure, especially after Ford appointed former PC candidate Sean Weir as Tribunals Ontario's Executive Chair in 2020. 

While these annual reports may not make for the most exciting reading, they are critical tools to understand how the tribunal is functioning, what the backlogs are, and to track trends in types of cases and case outcomes. If one kind of case suddenly skyrockets, that is a flag that something in our society is not working well, and the government should act to address it on a systemic level. If there is a sudden spike in dismissed cases, that is an opportunity to review adjudicator training and appointments, as well as materials and processes on the public side. Those are just two examples! These reports are critical for transparency, early response, and reflection by tribunal leadership. Failing to produce these reports and make them public undermines the effectiveness of the entire system. 

I am eagerly awaiting a response from the Ombudsman and will keep you updated.

The Ontario Place mega-spa is getting a little less mega — for the second time. This Tuesday, Therme released newly redesigned plans for its private spa on public land. These plans include a 13% reduction in the spa's size, following a 2023 redesign that saw the space reduced by 25%. 

These continual redesigns may mean more public realm space and less inaccessible public land, but they also point to chaos and a potential lack of financing behind the scenes. As we know, Therme lied continuously about their assets, allowing the government to believe that they owned and operated six large spas globally. When the Auditor General looked closely, they found that Therme only owned and operated one spa; the others were simply operated under the same model and the same name by a different company and owner, but not by the Therme that was making the application. That alone should be grounds for tearing up this horrible agreement.

The more we learn about Therme and their plans for Ontario Place, the more the entire agreement reveals itself to be a sham. It is disgusting that this government continues to double down on this failed plan, when we could be spending nearly $3 billion on a beautiful public realm project that suits the site and is open for everyone to enjoy. I am so thankful to the diligent Ontario NDP researchers and the array of journalists who have worked so hard to reveal Ford’s corruption for what it is. This story is continually evolving, and I promise to continue holding the government to account for it.

Last Saturday morning, an impaired driver crashed into the front of Regent Park’s beloved Cafe Zuzu. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, and Cafe Zuzu has been incredibly resilient. They are already open again and with their sense of humour intact. They are even hosting a “Door Crasher” community event today, inviting the neighbourhood to “bless this mess” and enjoy a special price on some of their most popular drinks. We love you, Zuzu!T

Ontario’s jail conditions are inhumane and disgraceful, judges say. Criminals are serving shorter sentences as a result

Coalition of parents, teachers, trustees speaks out against Ontario's school board takeover

Federal NDP plans to have a new leader by end of March 

Ontario asks feds to drop bill that would help provide clean drinking water to First Nations

Extreme heat is killing more seniors. Cities aren’t ready

Brace for layoffs, budget watchdog says, as Carney government aims to slash spending by $25B

New law that aims to protect Ontario gig workers falls short, critics say

Ontario child-care fees still at ‘high end,’ despite significant savings: report 

Ontario community colleges face up to 10,000 layoffs: union

York Region paramedic shouldn't have been fired over Israel comments: union, law experts

This man is running every street in Toronto. He’s not letting a brain cancer diagnosis stop him 

Registration is open for RAW’s Diversity in Design Summer Camp! Running August 25–29, this is a free, week-long camp for Black, Indigenous, and racialized youth in grades 6–12. The goal is to introduce young people to architecture and design through creative, hands-on workshops, walking tours, design challenges, and conversations about how design shapes our communities.

The camp includes:

• Daily workshops (10 AM–3 PM) at RAW’s studio near Ossington and Dupont
• Lunch, snacks, and TTC support as needed
• Mentorship from architects and designers
• Portfolio review and post-secondary prep for grade 11/ 12 high school students

Interested families or students can contact Carrie at [email protected] for more information and to register.

Celebrate the amazing Canadian Small Businesses that make our communities unique with the CFIB’s Big Thank You Contest! Send a thank you message to your favourite Canadian small business for a chance to win one of two weekly prizes consisting of $1,000 cash and a Big Thank You Gift Box valued at $500 of small business goodies from across the country! 

If you win, the business you thank also wins a cash prize of $3,000 and a Big Thank You Gift Box valued at $1,000 which includes small business goodies and a 1-year CFIB membership connecting them to advocacy, business support, and savings! PLUS! We’re giving the most nominated business a bonus prize of $3,000!

Click here to submit your thank you!

Time: 1 PM - 5 PM

Date: Saturday, June 12, 2025

Location: Regent Park Community Centre, 402 Shuter Street

All are welcome to take part in this free event for a taste of Caribbean food, drumming, Socacize, Caribbean and Latin dance, mask/headpiece making and games!

Under the Stars Opens Next Week!

Pre-show activities begin at 7:30 PM

Films start at sundown

Audiences are encouraged to arrive early, bring a picnic blanket, and gather friends and family to grab a great spot for opening night.

This year’s Under the Stars lineup has already earned rave reviews from Letterboxd users. From a bold reimagining of the Iranian road-trip genre to a charming rom-com featuring a meet-cute at a Hindu temple, the 2025 selection promises unforgettable stories and standout cinema.

Dates: July 16, 23 

Location: Regent Park

Get ready for another incredible summer of movies Under the Stars! Check out the local movie line-up here.

Are you a self-identifying woman aged 15–35? Join Mental Health Matters for an inspiring evening of networking, connection, and community. Enjoy a panel discussion, interactive networking, a Bloom Bar, and a photo booth — plus free food and refreshments.

Time: 6 PM - 9 PM

Date: Friday, July 18, 2025

Location: 150 River Street, Party Room, First Floor. 

Dress Code: Business Casual

RSVP Here 

Join us for an unforgettable evening as the Mike Field Jazz Quintet celebrates the release of their highly anticipated fifth album, Nashland!

Renowned for his bright, energetic sound and captivating performances, Mike Field returns with a vibrant collection of original tunes—two years in the making and brought to life by some of Toronto’s top jazz talent.

📍 Reid's Distillery (32 Logan Ave, just north of Lakeshore Blvd.)
📅 Tuesday, July 22, 2025
🕗 8:00–10:00 PM (Two 50-minute sets)
🎟️ Tickets: $15 in advance / $20 at the door
🎫 Get yours now at https://www.mikefieldjazz.com/dates

Set in the stylish setting of Reid’s Distillery, this special album launch concert promises an unforgettable night of fresh, fiery jazz and feel-good vibes.

This exciting project has been made possible with the funding support of the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.

A new self-guided walking tour exploring Cabbagetown’s rich history is now available through the free Driftscape app. The Mainstreet Walking Tour — Discover Cabbagetown’s Roots takes users through the neighbourhood’s lively commercial corridors, highlighting its architecture, notable historical figures, and independent businesses.

With stops along Carlton, Parliament, and Gerrard Streets, the tour allows participants to explore at their own pace, making it ideal for both residents and visitors looking to discover something new.

This year’s edition includes brand-new content and expanded locations, as well as a Scavenger Hunt feature that challenges users to solve clues at each stop—adding an engaging, interactive experience for all ages.

Tour Features:

• Historic landmarks and heritage homes featuring archival images
  
  
• Stories of local figures and hidden histories throughout the neighbourhood
  
  
• Scavenger Hunt with clues and prize entry
  
  
• Interviews with local business owners and community voices
  
  
• Audio guides, visuals, and offline access for convenience
  
  
• Insider recommendations curated by the Cabbagetown Preservation Association

The full experience takes 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the participant’s pace, and is available anytime until the end of the year.

Dear Emma,

This past long weekend was full of fun, excitement, and community connection as we celebrated Pride and Canada Day. 

On Canada Day, I was thrilled to see so many neighbours out enjoying the festivities organized by the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association. St. James Park was busy with locals and visitors soaking up the music, performances, historical reenactments, and kids’ activities. 

I truly believe that Canada is one of the greatest nations in the world and that everyone who calls Canada home has a responsibility to make life better for themselves and their neighbours every day. I am grateful that my parents chose Canada as our adopted home. I am proudly raising my family here and planting our roots as deeply as possible, giving back to my country and city in every way. I love Canada and am so proud to be Canadian!

Canada Day is not just a celebration, but also a time for reflection. Celebrating Canada authentically means recognizing how Indigenous peoples experience Canada, both historically and today. We can be proud of how much has been done to work towards reconciliation and documenting the true history of colonialism and genocide. However, as Doug Ford showed when he passed Bill 5, and as Mark Carney showed when he passed Bill C-5, colonialism never ended: it evolved. It falls on truly patriotic Canadians to see this, work with Indigenous communities, and demand better. 

July 1st is also an important day for Chinese Canadians, as it is the day we call “Humiliation Day,” when the Chinese Exclusion Act came into force, requiring that Chinese Canadians pay a “head tax” of $500 ($15,000 in today’s money) per person to immigrate to Canada. The head tax was a racially specific immigration tax, one that Canada has never asked another group to pay. The Canadian government finally apologized for this racist policy in 2006, after years of activism from the Chinese-Canadian community. 

Canada is an incredibly welcoming and diverse country, where people come from all over the world to seek safety, community, and a better life. We might have a long way to go, but I also cannot name a single country whose people aspire to be inclusive, just, and a force for good, the way that Canadians do. I am thankful to all of the people in our Toronto Centre community for creating strong neighbourhoods and support networks that make me proud to be Canadian! 

Thank you to the St Lawrence Neighbourhood Association for organizing this Canada Day celebration, as they do every year! It was great to celebrate Canada and reflect on our history together, alongside the tabling groups, performers, and attendees who made Tuesday a beautiful day! 

This week, Doug Ford was talking a big game about investing half a billion dollars in six new water bombers to fight wildfires in Ontario. The problem? Despite desperately needing more planes to fight wildfires, Ontario has water bombers sitting idle because the province has not invested in the staff to pilot them. The other problem? Ford has not allocated any money in the 2025-2026 budget to pay for these water bombers. Not to mention, the one facility that builds these planes is so backed up that any order placed now would not be delivered for nearly 10 years. 

On Wednesday, the Toronto Star released a report detailing the internal government documents they acquired, which showed that no money had been put aside to purchase new waterbombers, despite Ford’s claims. Even in the face of this report, he refuses to explain his comments to the public. 

People’s lives are on the line as these wildfires rage. They do not need empty promises that will be decades in the making (if they are even true). They need commitments that will improve their lives today, for the rest of this fire season, and for years to come. We all also deserve a government that takes climate change seriously, invests in reducing our emissions, and lowers our risk into the future. 

The Ontario NDP has been raising the alarm about the lack of wildland firefighters in Ontario and proposing solutions for years. Firefighters have been telling us what they need to recruit and retain wildland firefighters, pilots, engineers, and other frontline workers: better pay, presumptive WSIB coverage for fire-related long-term illnesses, the acknowledgement that one fire season of work is one year of work, and basic respect for the incredibly challenging and life-saving work that they do. 

The North is on fire, and instead of respecting workers, Ford cut millions from wildland firefighting in the last budget and is now refusing to come clean about whether the government actually purchased necessary equipment.

I will continue to press the government to disclose whether or not these planes have actually been ordered and what concrete actions Ford is taking today to ensure our communities' safety. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Toronto Pride!
• 2026 Rent Increase Guideline will be 2.1%
• Justice Must Extend Behind Bars: New Maplehurst Recommendations
• Book Launch: Shame-Sex Attraction
• East African Experience in Regent Park
• This Week’s Headlines
• Local Community Events

Anyone who spent any time in Toronto Centre last weekend knows that we celebrated Pride all weekend long!

I had a blast marching in all three marches alongside new and old friends, and of course, my Ontario NDP family. 

Starting off Pride weekend with the Trans March always feels right. It is a time to celebrate 2 Spirit, Transgender, and Non-Binary people in our community, speaking up for our rights to be safe, happy, and loved. This year, more than ever, we need to stand with our Trans siblings. They cannot face attacks on their safety and personhood alone, and nor should they. I was so moved to see the massive crowd of Trans folks and our allies this year, who proudly proclaimed that Trans people are an integral and treasured part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. I was also overjoyed to march with my wife, Farrah, who spent days lovingly sewing a banner (with the help of my mother) that proudly proclaimed “A day without trans kids is like a day without sunshine,” paying homage and building on the legacy of this iconic pride banner honouring lesbians. It was an honour to carry this banner and speak up for Trans kids everywhere.

The rest of the weekend was packed with events, including family pride, the Dyke March (a personal favourite), walking through the community fair, the Greenspace Festival, Church on Church, Drag Brunch at Glad Day, and of course the Pride Parade!

Sunday’s Pride Parade, the grand finale of the whole weekend, was wall-to-wall joy. Supporters packed the NDP float, dancing to gay anthems and spreading happiness (and free hand fans) to everyone along the parade route. I can’t wait for next June to do it all over again! Until then, you can find me pushing my Queer and Trans Agenda for the other 11 months of the year. 

Cultural festivals like Pride are critical gathering places. They are also economic engines, bringing millions of dollars to our community and supporting thousands of workers. The Ontario government must come to the table with stable, predictable funding to support Toronto Pride and other significant cultural festivals across the province. It is a good deal for them! The province takes in significant tax revenue - to the tune of tens of millions of dollars - from Toronto Pride each year. They have much to gain from its success and should invest in its long-term viability as a festival. These investments are also just the right thing to do! Pride is critical to the social fabric of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and governments should invest in events like it that improve the lives of people in our communities. This funding is something that I have been pressing the government to commit to for years, and I will not let up! 

The Ford government recently announced that Ontario’s 2026 rent increase guideline will be 2.1%. It's good that this is the lowest increase in four years. But let’s be clear: this government is doing the bare minimum. Renters need more support.

Renters need the government to close control loopholes. Units first occupied after November 15, 2018, remain completely exempt from rent control. This means that every renter in new buildings could be hit by a 10% or more rent increase every year.

That's not the only loophole. Corporate landlords regularly take advantage of above-guideline increases. Tenants facing AGIs could see rent increases as high as 5.1% in 2026.

Ontario’s renters deserve real rent control that includes all units. They deserve protections from renovictions and AGI abuse. They deserve a housing system built around human rights.

I will continue fighting for full rent control — that includes vacancy rent control.

This week, a coroner’s jury released 23 urgent recommendations in response to the overdose deaths of seven incarcerated men at Maplehurst Correctional Complex. These deaths were tragic and preventable. 

The jury’s recommendations build on existing calls from inmates, their loved ones, and unions. None of these findings are new or shocking, all the more reason that we must act on them to save lives in our correctional facilities. 

Here are a few of the most urgent recommendations:

• Inmates and staff must be equipped with Naloxone (a nasal spray that quickly reverses overdoses) and trained to use it. 
• Inmates must have access to comprehensive addiction treatment services while incarcerated. 
• The Ford government must address dangerous staffing shortages that threaten the safety and freedoms of inmates and staff. 

Let me be clear: human rights continue when someone is incarcerated. I will be following the Ministry of the Solicitor General’s actions closely to ensure these recommendations are not shelved or ignored, but instead treated with the urgency that they deserve. 

We must build a province where healthcare and support, not punishment, is our response to addiction.

LGBTQ+ lives and stories are fundamental to our history, but hate, bigotry, and intentional erasure have hidden our people's stories for far too long. 

Last night, I was honoured to attend the launch of Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors' Stories of Conversion Therapy, an anthology edited by Lucas Wilson. 

New Democrats are proud to have led the charge to ban conversion therapy — provincially and federally. It is critical to document the history of abuse that 2SLGBTQI+ people endured so that we never go backwards. You can request this book and others like it at Glad Day Bookshop!

This past weekend, I spent an incredible evening at the third annual East African Experience in Regent Park!

Events like this show the brilliance and beauty that collides together in Toronto and Regent Park! The cultural richness and strength on display reminded me of the importance of the Ethiopian Heritage Month Act that I sponsored with Doly Begum.

Thank you to the organizers, performers, local vendors, and sponsors behind this celebration. I'm so grateful that you invited the whole community to celebrate with such generosity.

Competition Bureau warns Canadian landlords and property managers about illegal discussions on rents

How Toronto tenants took on their landlords—and won—with rent strikes

USAID defunding could lead to 14 million deaths worldwide from infectious diseases by 2030

Doug Ford said he ordered new waterbombers to fight Ontario’s wildfires. Budget documents show no money earmarked for their purchase

Thousands gather for Pride parade in downtown Toronto

GALLERY: Toronto Pride Parade a ‘really special’ experience for first-timers

‘We’re not letting it go’: Advocates say government needs to do more to ensure people aren’t living in scorching hot apartments

Moderna announces promising efficacy results from mRNA flu vaccine trial

Shingles, RSV vaccines may protect older adults from dementia

Maternal flu vaccine protects newborns, vaccination in kids also effective, studies show

Innovation At Internal House

Join Fred Victor for a fun pride wrap-up celebration featuring a Bollywood dance workshop, button making, music, and snacks! 

Time: 1:30 PM - 3 PM

Date: Wednesday, July 9

Location: 40 Oak Street

In Vaibhav Sharma’s workshop, participants will learn a fun Bollywood routine to “Main toh raste se jaa raha tha,” a lively song about enjoying life and being true to oneself. Vaibhav interprets it as a powerful Pride anthem — expressing, “I was minding my own business, loving whoever I want, and if that offends you, that’s not my problem.”

Under the Stars Opens Next Week!

Pre-show activities begin at 7:30 PM

Films start at sundown

Audiences are encouraged to arrive early, bring a picnic blanket, and gather friends and family to grab a great spot for opening night.

This year’s Under the Stars lineup has already earned rave reviews from Letterboxd users. From a bold reimagining of the Iranian road-trip genre to a charming rom-com featuring a meet-cute at a Hindu temple, the 2025 selection promises unforgettable stories and standout cinema.

Dates: July 9, 16, 23 

Location: Regent Park

Get ready for another incredible summer of movies Under the Stars! Check out the local movie line-up here.

Time: 1 PM - 5 PM

Date: Saturday, June 12, 2025

Location: Regent Park Community Centre, 402 Shuter Street

All are welcome to take part in this free event for a taste of Caribbean food, drumming, Socacize, Caribbean and Latin dance, mask/headpiece making and games!

Are you a self-identifying woman aged 15–35? Join Mental Health Matters for an inspiring evening of networking, connection, and community. Enjoy a panel discussion, interactive networking, a Bloom Bar, and a photo booth — plus free food and refreshments.

Time: 6 PM - 9 PM

Date: Friday, July 18, 2025

Location: 150 River Street, Party Room, First Floor. 

Dress Code: Business Casual

RSVP Here

A new self-guided walking tour exploring Cabbagetown’s rich history is now available through the free Driftscape app. The Mainstreet Walking Tour — Discover Cabbagetown’s Roots takes users through the neighbourhood’s lively commercial corridors, highlighting its architecture, notable historical figures, and independent businesses.

With stops along Carlton, Parliament, and Gerrard Streets, the tour allows participants to explore at their own pace, making it ideal for both residents and visitors looking to discover something new.

This year’s edition includes brand-new content and expanded locations, as well as a Scavenger Hunt feature that challenges users to solve clues at each stop—adding an engaging, interactive experience for all ages.

Tour Features:

• Historic landmarks and heritage homes featuring archival images
  
  
• Stories of local figures and hidden histories throughout the neighbourhood
  
  
• Scavenger Hunt with clues and prize entry
  
  
• Interviews with local business owners and community voices
  
  
• Audio guides, visuals, and offline access for convenience
  
  
• Insider recommendations curated by the Cabbagetown Preservation Association

The full experience takes 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the participant’s pace, and is available anytime until the end of the year.

Dear Neighbour,

I want to start by saying that my thoughts are with my colleague and Ontario NDP Deputy Leader Sol Mamakwa. His wife unexpectedly passed away this week. I cannot imagine the shock and pain he and his family are going through. I hope they are wrapped in love as they come together, grieve, and work to heal. 

You may have heard of Ford’s school takeover. Friends, I am furious.

Today the Ford government seized control of four democratically elected school boards. The list includes the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

He did this on the Friday before Pride and a long weekend because he wants you distracted.

Ford's move is a hostile takeover, dressed up in the language of “fiscal responsibility.” An unelected provincial appointee answering to Ford will now run each board. Trustees getting no pay or say in the public education that our children receive. It is another affront to public education and local democracy.

Ford created this funding crisis so that he could take more power away from our communities. For years, Trustees have been rightfully crying out for more provincial funding. Trustees were a vocal thorn in Ford's side as they fought for adequate staffing levels, smaller classrooms, supports for special education and more resources for students' well-being. That's because they were doing their job. Ford should absolutely be afraid of the power our Trustee Deborah Williams was working to build with students, parents, caregivers and education workers.

Paul Calandra, the Education Minister is a brazen media hitman deployed to bully public servants and attack public services. That's why I warned our community to watch out when he became Education Minister. He is trying to blame Trustees for inflation, downloading, and chronic underfunding. But he knows damn well that his government made the crisis.

We must start organizing now to fight the critical service cuts that will be coming. Trustees were trying to protect programs such as special education, mental health supports, and access to school pools. Now they’re being punished for refusing to make budget cuts that would hurt our children.

And soon, a provincial appointee with less understanding of how vital programs support our kids will wield the axe instead. Buried in his announcement, overdue curriculum updates to literacy, history, and STEM will be delayed — again.

We must not be silent. We must fight for transparency, for our young students, and for local democracy. We must demand that the Minister and Ford fix the real problem: their underfunding of our schools.

This week, Ontario’s Ombudsman released his annual report. His findings are clear: what happened at the Maplehurst Correctional Complex is not an isolated incident. There it is a widespread, systemic failure in Ontario jails that is getting worse under Doug Ford.

The Ombudsman has recorded a record-breaking 55% increase in complaints over the past year. That's the highest in the Ombudsman's 50-year history. Every complaint is a cry for help — and complaints from youth in detention have more than doubled from 202 to 423 last year alone. Investigators visiting 12 correctional facilities saw conditions deteriorating in real time with indefinite lockdowns. Facilities regularly fail to provide access to basic healthcare and mental health supports. How does this rehabilitate inmates, foster health or make Ontarians safer?

It’s time to call balls and strikes: Ford's policy failure in the corrections system is akin to subjecting Ontarians to state-sponsored torture.

As the Ombudsman said: “When we fail to uphold the basic dignity of people in custody, we do more than inflict harm, we erode public trust, degrade working conditions for staff, and weaken the very foundations of our justice system.”

The crisis in corrections impacts all of us. These conditions put everyone at risk — staff, families, communities, and the public at large. Many cases that law enforcement workers are advancing to keep the public safe are at risk. Judges are weighing time and mistreatment in corrections heavily when determining case outcomes.

The Premier can't call himself tough on crime when he's endangering our community’s safety.

Like the Ombudsman, Ontario New Democrats are demanding meaningful, systemic reforms. Subjecting inmates and corrections workers to unsanitary and unsafe conditions won't improve moral character or make the public safer. Correctional facilities must be places where rehabilitation is able to happen.

It's Pride weekend in Toronto! This is a great moment to uplift for our community and local businesses!  Again, if you spot me, don’t be shy and please say hi! I will be at the NDP’s Pride Table in the Community Fair and other iconic Pride events — all listed in this newsletter. Happy Pride!

You can sign up and join fellow supporters and I at Pride events using the button below:

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Join Me at Pride Marches this Weekend!
• 2025 AIDS Vigil
• Living Long in the Distillery District
• Touring the Hassle Free Clinic
• LAUFT Event
• A Successful Market St. Pride
• This Week’s Headlines
• Local Community Events

Toronto Pride lets our community celebrate who we are, remember our history, and recommit to the fight for liberation. Ontario New Democrats are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with 2SLGBTQI+ communities every step of the way.

You can march with us in this year’s Pride! Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, you are welcome — with your flags, bells, signs, sparkles, and righteous indignation.

🏳️‍⚧️ Trans Rally and March

🗓 Friday, June 28

📍 Rally 7:00 PM | March: 8:00 PM

📌 Location: Church & Charles Street

RSVP

🌈 Dyke Rally and March

🗓 Saturday, June 29

📍 Meet-up time: 1:00 PM | March: 2:00 PM

📌 Location: North side of Church & Hayden

RSVP

🎉 Pride Parade (NEW location this year for meet up)

🗓 Sunday, June 30

📍NDP contingent Assembly time: 1:30 PM

📌 NEW Location: Yonge St & Aylmer Ave(north of Bloor & Davenport)

RSVP

Let’s show Ontario what solidarity looks like. Let’s march for queer joy, for trans rights, for racial justice, for public healthcare, and for a future where no one is left behind.

Every Pride Month, the AIDS vigil is one of the most important moments for our community. At the AIDS vigil this year, our community remembered those we lost, those we love, and the work ahead. There is tremendous power running through the ongoing history of HIV/AIDS. 2SLGBTQI+ communities have stared apocalypse in the face and come out the other side. The political present — no matter how scary or hateful — is vincible. Our elders took command of their destiny when the odds were stacked against them and grief was everywhere. Our community can win impossible fights again because we have won impossible fights before. Thank you to the 519 and those working year-round supporting those with HIV/AIDS and keeping our history alive.

I also want to share the AIDS Memorial Story-telling project. This initiative by the 519 aims to document peoples’ lived history and create a multimedia record that can be layered on to the existing monument. If you want the legacy of someone you know or loved who died of HIV/AIDS included in this project, you can share their story here. 

Congratulations to the Gooderham and Worts Neighbourhood Association on receiving a government grant to support your project Living Long in the Distillery District!  I was thrilled to join you this week and learn about how there will be more support and programming for older adults coming to Toronto Centre! Our community is stronger because of your work to build a more inclusive and age-friendly Toronto.

Thank you to the Hassle Free Clinic for inviting me to tour your beautiful facility at 66 Gerrard Street East! 

The Hassle Free Clinic provides free sexual and mental health services to 2SLGTBQI+ folks and community members at risk because of marginalization. If this is your first time hearing about the hassle free clinic, you can check them out at https://www.hasslefreeclinic.org/ if you or someone you know would benefit from their low-barrier services!

The way in which people work continues to rapidly change. The rise of remote work quickened during COVID when opportunities to physically meet were limited. It brought unique challenges that are still being addressed and understood today. I was honoured to join Founder and CEO, Graham Wong of LAUFT for Toronto Tech Week at their 95 King Street East office and event space.

LAUFT creates flexible coworking spaces for people who want the benefits of remote and flexible working locations without missing out on in-person collaboration opportunities. Community and connections make for successful places to work. Thank you for choosing to make Toronto Centre your home!

Thank you St. Lawrence Market, Pride Toronto, and Old Town Toronto BIA for organizing another fabulous Market Street Pride last weekend! I’m very proud to have initiated the pedestrianized of Market Street years ago at City Hall with the Old Town Toronto and the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association. The extra public space enabled performances and unique vendors while highlighting the small businesses and community ties that keep Toronto's Pride movement growing across the city. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hi and pick up a new tote bag!

Ombudsman sounds alarm about 'growing state of crisis' in Ontario jails

Creating a safe space for 2SLGBTQ+ seniors

Toronto renters see little mandated relief as temperatures soar

With Ford’s government in one corner and city officials in another, will Toronto’s green homebuilding measures survive?

More than 100 households on rent strike await their fate after four-day eviction hearing ends

Toronto woman waited 12 hours for police's non-emergency line — but didn’t get through

Scorching temperatures keep hammering GTA, heat warning expected to end Tuesday night

St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Presents CANADA DAY at St. James Park

July 1st, 2025 from 11:00am – 3:00pm.

FREE: T-shirt colouring, temporary tattoos, and perforances!

Every year, the 519's Green Space festival has some of the most fabulous Pride programming. Green space lets community members party for a cause, with all proceeds supporting the 519's work in our community! You can check out their programming here. 

It will soon be Pride weekend in Toronto Centre! You can check out Pride Toronto's Pride Guide to see the fabulous line-up of events in our community. Remember to shop local and support Toronto Centre businesses where you can throughout Pride weekend!

A new self-guided walking tour exploring Cabbagetown’s rich history is now available through the free Driftscape app. The Mainstreet Walking Tour — Discover Cabbagetown’s Roots takes users through the neighbourhood’s lively commercial corridors, highlighting its architecture, notable historical figures, and independent businesses.

With stops along Carlton, Parliament, and Gerrard Streets, the tour allows participants to explore at their own pace, making it ideal for both residents and visitors looking to discover something new.

This year’s edition includes brand-new content and expanded locations, as well as a Scavenger Hunt feature that challenges users to solve clues at each stop—adding an engaging, interactive experience for all ages.

🔍 Tour Features:

• 🏛️ Historic landmarks and heritage homes featuring archival images
  
  
• 📍 Stories of local figures and hidden histories throughout the neighbourhood
  
  
• 🎯 Scavenger Hunt with clues and prize entry
  
  
• 🎙️ Interviews with local business owners and community voices
  
  
• 📞 Audio guides, visuals, and offline access for convenience
  
  
• 💬 Insider recommendations curated by the Cabbagetown Preservation Association
  
  

The full experience takes 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the participant’s pace, and is available anytime until the end of the year.

The Downtown Yonge BIA is celebrating summer by giving away a $300 prize pack EVERY WEEK from June until September!

There are 2 ways to enter:

1) Submit a photo of any purchase made in Downtown Yonge
AND/OR
2) Submit a photo you took at a Downtown Yonge event. Check out their full list of events

Prize packs include show tickets, restaurant and shopping giftcards and more!

For full contest details, please click here.

I want to help amplify Black People United for Change’s official petition! Black People United for Change has come together to stand up to the Canadian Government to address the lack of protection afforded to Black Canadians.