July 16, 2026 Newsletter

Dear Reader,

Today, I co-hosted a press conference with MPP Chris Glover of Spadina-Fort York and MPP Alexa Gilmour of Parkdale—High Park to bring attention to the fast-approaching survey deadline of July 24, when the Federal government will close their “public consultation” on the future of the Billy Bishop Island Airport. 

We were pleased to be joined by MP Heather McPherson, NDP Transport Critic and Dr. Samantha Green, President of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE).

Please share this newsletter with your friends and family. Remind everyone you know that there is only one week left to tell Prime Minister Carney and his Liberal Toronto MPs that you do not support Ford’s land grab and noisy, polluting jets flying over Toronto’s waterfront. 

I began my remarks by expressing my strong support and solidarity with the First Nations communities and Northern Ontario residents as nearly 200 wildfires ravage their homes, placing them in imminent danger. You can check out the full press conference here. 

This so-called “public consultation” on the Billy Bishop Island Airport expansion fails to guarantee the City of Toronto a seat at the table. The City of Toronto has been clear and overwhelmingly voted against the expropriation of city land. City Council has voted twice, in March and again in April, to formally oppose Doug Ford’s land grab and even directed the City Solicitor to pursue every legal option to stop it.

My office, as well as many Toronto MPPs, have heard from thousands of constituents that Toronto does not support Ford’s island airport takeover. Yet, Prime Minister Carney is giving every indication that he is ready to rubber-stamp Ford’s plans. MP Heather McPherson reminded everyone that the island airport operating agreement is subject to two-thirds federal jurisdiction and can be terminated by the Carney government at any time. Instead, they are choosing to let Ford rampage our waterfront. A campaign that we should remember was designed to benefit America’s largest national bank, JPMorgan.

MPP Chris Glover highlighted that the expansion would impact over 80,000 Torontonians living by the waterfront. Back in 2013, Toronto published a report examining the potential health impacts of expanding the island airport. At the time, it was Porter Airlines that was looking to expand the airport to allow jets. And this report, commissioned by Toronto Public Health, found that the airport, in its current form, already contributes to health risks, including air quality and noise pollution. 

Today, these threats would mean that tens of thousands of people would need to have their homes retrofitted to seal their windows and balconies to protect themselves from increased pollution. And with the island airport at the bottom of a dead-end street just off Bathurst Street,  a massive increase in airport traffic would make gridlock worse across the waterfront, and for all of us. 

Too much is at stake. Ford is obsessed with his massive, recurring land grabs rather than making your life affordable. We have seen broad public anger and poor polling numbers force Ford to change course before; we need to build this pressure to make this happen again. 

The Ontario NDP is committed to real consultation and evidence-based decision-making. I love Toronto and our waterfront, and know that you do . Please sign my petition, and I will present it to the Ontario Legislative Assembly on your behalf.

Northern wildfires, poor air quality and the Billy Bishop Island Airport are not the only news stories making waves. It broke this week that the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming and Toronto-based Stan Cho, MPP for Willowdale, charged the Ontario legislative assembly $16,203 for “Toronto accommodation” according to publicly available disclosure records.

This is outrageous! Stan Cho lives in Toronto and owns at least 4 properties, including his primary home. He knew he didn't qualify for a housing allowance because he lives less than 6 kilometres from Queen's Park, but still pressed legislative staff to approve his suite life. A housing allowance is approved for MPPs living 50 kilometres or more from the legislature. Obviously, this was not the case for Minister Cho.

While thousands of Ontarians are working tirelessly to make ends meet, Ford’s tourism minister is selfishly spending over $16,000 in taxpayers' dollars on luxury hotel stays. As a minister, he already has a taxpayer-funded car and driver, so truly, why all of these hotel expenses? Minister Cho owes Ontario families an apology and must repay every nickel he took for his excessive stays at Toronto hotels.

What is worse? Stan Cho is not the only Toronto-based conservative MPP who is ripping off the system, nor is he the one who spent the money. At least 19 other Ford government MPPs with homes inside the legislative catchment area also have questionable expenses related to Toronto hotel stays. The Ontario NDP tallied up the bill, and it is hard not to see red!

Under intense public pressure, Stan Cho has stated that he will now pay back the hotel costs. But we haven’t heard the same commitment from Ford’s other big spenders. This government has promised that the special accommodation rule will change, but this is only after warranted backlash. Who knows what they will try now with weakened FOI laws? Ford and his government only do the right thing when they are caught or their feet are held to the fire. Time and time again, his government is proving to be the most corrupt in our lifetime.

Last Wednesday was another anniversary of the Ford government’s corruption, marked by the 1,000th day since the Royal Canadian Mounted Police launched its investigation into Ford’s Greenbelt scandal. While the RCMP has recently said it will not provide an update as the investigation remains active, this means Ontarians have been waiting nearly three years for accountability from Doug Ford. 

During this time, Ford and his government have weakened Ontario’s Freedom of Information (FOI) laws — the same ones that helped unearth the Greenbelt scandal — to cover up his phone records and whatever else he's hiding. An honest government doesn’t change the rules to hide from the public.

That’s why the Ontario NDP and I will continue fighting these undemocratic changes. The province’s FOI process needs strengthening, not dismantling. At every chance, Ford and his team hide, redact, and delay information that Ontarians deserve about how their tax dollars are being spent, who the government meets with, and how we are being governed. 

FOI requests were instrumental in exposing Ford’s Greenbelt corruption and unreported lobbying efforts, and in forcing the government to change course on its policy failures. This is the exact point of FOIs. They are a necessary tool of good government and democracy, and the process should be strengthened, not gutted. Sign my petition to reverse any changes that would shield the Premier and his cabinet from FOI requests.

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Fatima Shaban Campaign Kickoff
• Wildfires in Northern Ontario
• Tragedy Strikes at Salsa on St. Clair Festival 
• Protect Renters from Extreme Heat
• “Click‑to‑cancel” Legislation
• Ontario loses nearly 17,000 jobs while Ford vacations
• Remembering the life of Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake
• Kristyn in the Community
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

Mark your calendar for Fatima Shaban’s upcoming campaign launch on Saturday, July 18! Doors open at 1 PM, and programming begins at 1:30 PM. RSVP by clicking the button below.

This is a great chance to meet our amazing new candidate, Fatima Shaban, and connect with Marit Stiles and New Democrats from all over Scarborough and beyond!

Photo from NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa’s post that you can see here.

The fires in Northern Ontario are absolutely devastating and a painful reminder of how urgently we need climate action. Collins has burned to the ground. The people of Collins (Namaygoosisagagun First Nation), Whitesand First Nation, Armstrong, Lac Des Mille Lacs, and surrounding areas are at terrifying risk due to encroaching fires. This is a tragedy, and we are grateful that everyone got out safely. Down the road, we need to create fire breaks to protect communities wherever possible.

I echo the urgent call from the Chiefs of Ontario and demand that Federal and Provincial governments immediately collaborate with First Nations Leadership on all response and recovery efforts. And for both levels of government to provide full and coordinated evacuation, transportation, accommodation, health, and emergency response supports.

NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa also shared this shocking video of what railway workers experienced during the ongoing fires. 

Extreme heat and the growing severity of weather events are indicators of climate change. We need both the Province and the Federal government to acknowledge this reality and treat these changes as the growing emergency they are.

I wanted to address the horrific news from Saturday night’s Salsa on St. Clair Festival. Shortly after 8 PM, gunfire erupted at the festival, leaving two men dead and sending four others to the hospital with gunshot wounds. 

I know that the Toronto Police have the resources that they need to find those responsible, and they will keep working around the clock to get guns off our streets. Thank you to the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Paramedic Services, and Toronto Fire Services for your swift response.

My heart is heavy thinking about the families grieving, those recovering in the hospital, and everyone affected by this terrible act of violence. 

Summer is a time for us to gather with friends, family and community to enjoy everything that Toronto and Ontario have to offer. However, this season also highlights the urgent need to protect Ontarians from rising indoor temperatures.

With several heat warnings already this year, temperatures have reached over 30℃. This kind of extreme weather has only increased in recent years and, unfortunately, has continued to put the lives of Ontarians at risk, especially of children, seniors, people with disabilities and low-income individuals. As the climate crisis escalates, we need to act now and establish a maximum-heat-limit bylaw across the province. 

The Ontario NDP is already doing this. We have been advocating to protect tenants from heat-related deaths for several years now. Most recently, my colleague MPP Catherine McKenny introduced their Private Member’s Bill 128, calling for landlords to keep rental units at or below 26 degrees during the summer. 

This legislation would simply be the right thing to do. Sign my petition in support of the Hot Days, Cool Homes Act, which caps apartment temperatures at 26℃ and requires landlords to treat cooling as a vital service to their tenants. 

Have you ever heard of “Click to Cancel”? It’s about making it fairer for people to cancel subscriptions. This week, my colleague NDP MPP Tom Rakocevic introduced a motion to do exactly this. 

Signing up is often fast and easy—sometimes just one click—while cancelling can be the exact opposite, and often by design. Many companies hide cancellation options behind multiple steps or require customers to contact customer service, trapping people in services they no longer want. During this affordability crisis, people are already struggling to afford necessities every day. The last thing we need is to be trapped into paying for subscriptions they don’t want or use.

“Click to Cancel” is simple: if you can sign up online in a few clicks, you should be able to cancel just as easily. Find out more about this motion by clicking the button below. 

Statistics Canada recently reported that Ontario lost 16,700 jobs in June during Ford’s first month of summer vacation.

Hard-working people are struggling to put food on the table for their families or to keep a roof over their heads. But before our eyes, good jobs are disappearing. The situation is growing increasingly bleak, especially for Ontario’s young people who are most impacted. 

This is why the Ontario NDP has taken action by putting forward a motion to establish a new Youth Summer Jobs Program. This would help young people find work and create paid summer jobs and training opportunities through municipalities, non-profits, public agencies, and small businesses across Ontario.

In the face of American tariffs, people are worried about what the future holds, whether they’ll lose their jobs or if things will become even more expensive than they already are. The Ontario NDP has been vocal about our plan to support Ontarians: 

• We will defend Ontario families, jobs, businesses and our economy. We will partner with Ontario industries and unions to protect the jobs and pensions of Ontario workers.
• We will accelerate housing and infrastructure that can start immediately.
• We will buy Canadian and build Canadian. We will secure family incomes with a federal-provincial income assistance plan to protect any worker who loses their job as a result of any tariffs.

To learn more about the Ontario NDP job plan, click here!

Sadly, J. David Wake recently passed away on July 6, 2026. Originally a lawyer, then a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice, presiding in Brampton, he worked in several remarkable roles throughout his lifetime. This included serving as the Associate Chief Justice of the Court in 1999 and as the Executive Director of the Canadian Council of Chief Judges from 2004-09. From 2013-16, he served as Vice Chair of the Social Security Tribunal in Ottawa. 

Most notably, David was appointed as the Ontario Integrity Commissioner in February 2016 and reappointed in November 2020 to another five-year term. During that time, he conducted many investigations, including a consequential report on the government's decision to remove land from Ontario's protected Greenbelt. David was a warm and kind man with a sharp legal mind. He will be missed by many friends and adoring family.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the Canadian Red Cross Society or Doctors Without Borders.

The Toronto Swahili Festival is a beautiful event in our city that showcases the rich and diverse cultures and traditions of the Swahili community and the diaspora here in Toronto! I was honoured to be invited to this year’s festival to speak on our new Bill 135, recognizing July as Swahili Heritage Month in Ontario, and to help recognize exceptional leaders in the community! 

Thank you to the Swahili Cultural Centre for organizing such a beautiful event, bringing the community together in such a large capacity. I look forward to celebrating Swahili Heritage Month every July with all of you. 

Help support our Swahili Heritage Month Bill by signing here!

Thank you to Isorine Marc and Iris Unlu for welcoming me to the Jamii Hub this week! 

It was such a pleasure to see the space so activated with children on their way to summer camps and seniors taking their movement class. Your space is truly one of a kind, and I can't wait to see what other programs and events you will host this year. Find out more about Jamii here! 

Congratulations to the exceptional artists, arts orgs, publishers, tastemakers and exhibitors at the 65th Annual Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. I was immensely impressed by the high calibre of contemporary art across nearly every medium on display this year. Every year, the curatorial direction grows stronger. It was great to reconnect with mega-talented artists, Sandra Tarantino, Ross Bonfanti, and Dave Bagley. Francesco Paonessa & Elicser Elliott.

Thank you to the Art Dealers Association of Canada for hosting the My First Artwork booth with smaller pieces and more accessible artwork for new collectors and young buyers. My son purchased his first artwork by fine art photographer Steve Kean, and this mama, a former gallerist and ADAC member, couldn’t be prouder!

Congratulations to the team at La Passerelle-I.D.E. on the grand opening of Cafe du Jardin at Allan Gardens. Nestled in the beautiful gardens behind the Palm House, this social enterprise serves espresso-based drinks, chilled beverages, and authentic French pastries. Visit them for the strong coffee and stay for the cool French vibes!

Stan Cho, tourism minister and Toronto MPP, to repay $16K in city hotel expenses

Toronto-area PC MPPs have billed taxpayers over $100K for Toronto overnight stays

Court rules one of Canada’s largest landlords overcharged Toronto tenants on rent increases 

Ontario loses 16.7K jobs in June, wiping some previous gains

Ontario says naming ministers whose vehicles sped would reveal ‘travel habits’

OP-ED: Jets at Billy Bishop on collision course with health and safety

TCHC audit reveals rising staff expenses, including an 800 per cent increase for its CEO

A new art gallery is opening in Regent Park this weekend

Church Street pedestrianization pilot project getting warm reviews from residents and businesses

Canada has lost millions of hectares of farmland. Where is it all going?

This Toronto father is just 37 and has aggressive cancer. A breakthrough therapy is approved in Canada — but he can’t access it 

Cyclist struck by driver of cement truck in downtown Toronto

Overdose calls to paramedics on the rise in several Ontario cities, CBC analysis shows

Every Thursday from July 2 to July 30, 2026, TOPS will be hosting movies at Corktown Common! Journey to one of Toronto’s loveliest parks in the east end, nestled between the Distillery and the Don, with an unbeatable view of Toronto’s skyline. As always, attendees are treated to excellent short films by local and Canadian filmmakers paired with each feature.

Find all the films screening at Corktown Common here, and sign up for TOPS’ newsletter to receive weekly programme reminders throughout the summer.

You can also support Toronto Outdoor Picture Show's free, accessible cultural programming with a tax-deductible donation by clicking here.

Join the final two Taste of Regent Park events this year on July 22 and 29 at 620 Dundas Street East! Next week will be Mac and Cheese, and don't forget to have a tasty treat from the bake oven — the first batch will be ready around 5:45 PM.

And after you finish your baked treat, enjoy a movie Under the Stars, courtesy of the Regent Park Film Festival. The next showing will be of My Father’s Shadow directed by Akinola Davies Jr.

The survey is open to autistic self-advocates, parents, caregivers, and family members across Ontario who are accessing—or attempting to access—services and supports, including:

• Ontario Autism Program (OAP) services
  • Diagnosis and assessment services
  • Special education supports
  • Respite services
  • Adult services and supports like housing, employment, and community living services

While governments can provide statistics on waitlists and service utilization, only the people directly impacted by these systems can tell us what those numbers mean in practice. This survey is designed to capture the lived experiences behind the data and document the realities facing autistic people and their families across Ontario.

In addition to quantitative questions, the survey includes opportunities for respondents to share their experiences, concerns, and recommendations in their own words. The results will be compiled into a public report and shared with the autism community, community partners, elected officials, and the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

From June 11th to July 19th, immerse yourself in the global culture of one of Toronto’s most historic neighbourhoods. Discover a curated series of interactive workshops, global food tours, live music, and outdoor markets. Whether you're a local or a traveller, your adventure begins right here in Cabbagetown.

Check out the calendar of events and plan your adventure here!

The wait is over. 

Back in Regent Park, all summer long, is the hugely popular Cultural Bazaar. There will be a diverse range of vendors offering exclusive, handmade products, delicious food, and unique cultural clothing. Taking place in the Big Park next to the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre, every Friday starting June 26 to August 28, from 3 to 8 PM.

The Moss Park Summer Festival this year is going to take place at the green space at Ontario St. and Queen St. E on August 8 from 11 AM – 5 PM. Click here for more details.

Dixon Hall’s employment services are ready to help you with your job search! Reach out to them to connect with employers who are looking to hire immediately. 

Click here to learn more.

Join Grassy Narrows youth and community members to show that you are with them on their path to achieve mercury justice and freedom! 

Grassy Narrows people are powerful leaders in the movement for Indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice. They have shown that together we can fight for justice against all odds and make real gains. But so much is still needed to right the wrong of mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows.

RSVP to say that you will show up in solidarity and walk with them in their fight for justice on Wednesday September 23, 2026 in downtown Toronto.