Dear Neighbour,
Ford’s Inaction is Hurting Local Businesses |
This week a long-established and widely beloved hardware store — Dudley’s Hardware, Paint and Decor— announced they could close. The owner needs to see action from all orders of government on the overlapping crises of chronic homelessness, untreated mental health and addictions, and a failed justice system. I visited Dudley’s owner Steve Dawson to discuss what next steps he needs to rebuild trust with all levels of government and prevent his business from closing. I also joined a meeting convened by Councillor Chris Moise today with public safety, small business, and community stakeholders about enhancing local public safety. Thank you to the Church - Wellesley Neighbourhood Association, the Church - Wellesley Village BIA, 51 Division, community members, Progress Place, the 519, Toronto City Staff, Councillor Moise, and the team at Dudley's for joining to discuss what changes can be made over the short and long term for everyone who lives, works, and plays in the Village.
Ongoing decades of underfunding and downloading by the federal and provincial governments created the housing and homelessness crisis. The province is worsening public safety by not budgeting for new supportive and deeply affordable housing. I wrote to several of Ford’s Ministers, calling on them to make concrete changes and visit local stakeholders to hear firsthand what our communities need from our government. You can read my letter here.
I also spoke about this to City News Toronto yesterday outlining a strong emphasis on the mental health crisis and a need for bail reform, which you can find here.
Standards Committee Being Formed To Make Gender Affirming Health Care in Ontario More Consistent |
Yesterday, a constituent informed my office that Health Quality Ontario is forming a committee to make more consistent standards for gender affirming health care.
To be clear, this committee will not do the work of the committee proposed by the Gender Affirming Healthcare Act. This committee will specifically focus on establishing standards of care for healthcare professionals who treat Trans people. Consistent standards mean fewer differences between providers. Rainbow Health Ontario already has a best practices document. Still, formalized standards are a step toward progress.
The advisory committee proposed in the Gender Affirming Healthcare Act goes well beyond this to understand how access to care can be expanded, improved, sped up, and made more accessible. Nonetheless, Trans and nonbinary folks should make up most of the Health Quality Ontario committee. If you have lived experience, you can apply to be on the committee here by July 24, 2023.
Ford’s MPPs Should Return King’s Counsel Titles |
The Toronto Star reported this week that the head of Ontario’s legal regulator did not accept the government’s offer of a King’s Counsel designation because using the title may violate professional conduct rules for lawyers.
This government has caused absolute chaos in the courts, affecting Ontarians’ access to justice. It currently takes more than four or five years for a civil action to proceed from commencement to trial. We’ve even seen serious convictions tossed out due to delays.
Justice delayed is justice denied.
But instead of prioritizing fixes to the justice system, Ford's Conservatives reward themselves and their donors with fancy new titles.
I called for Conservative MPPs bestowed with the King’s Counsel title to return it voluntarily.
It is appalling for Ford’s Ministers to put a patronage scheme before real issues like bail reform or fixing Ontario’s tribunal system crisis.
Inflation for Whom? |
This week, Stats Canada released Canada’s June inflation numbers, which have fallen to 2.8%. Hidden in that number is the deeply worrying statistic that food inflation is continuing at 9% — an acutely painful rate for everyone living on a fixed income. I want to echo NDP leader Jagmeet Singh’s calls for a windfall tax on grocery chains. Massive corporations are making record profits while millions of Canadians struggle to eat. We must also remember that Ford needs to raise ODSP and OW rates so that some of our lowest-income community members can afford to eat.
I want to share some key statistics to help you decide what drives the problem.
1: Competition in grocery suppliers has decreased significantly in recent decades.
2: Massive grocery chains are raking in more profits than ever.
Mayor Chow Wins More Funding from the Federal Government |
Earlier this week, the Federal government committed to provide $97 million of the $157 million owed to Toronto to support settling refugee claimants. 62% of the funding Toronto deserves is a positive start. This shows how electing a progressive organizer as our Mayor is already winning new funding for essential services. In more good news, Mayor Olivia Chow’s first motion to open up more shelter spaces for refugee claimants passed Council on Wednesday with unanimous support.
Housing Inflation Underscores Need for Rent Control and Vacancy Rent Control |
This week, new data from the Canadian Real Estate Board showed that rent price inflation is skyrocketing. At the same time, a study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives showed that policies favouring profit over housing security are driving the housing crisis. I cannot stress enough how important vacancy rent control is — and I want to thank my predecessor Suze Morrison for her successful advocacy, ensuring vacancy rent control is enshrined in NDP policy. Vacancy rent control means rent control applied between tenancies — or, more simply, a new tenant will pay the same rent as the last tenant. Vacancy rent control can end the incentive for demovictions and renovictions. It is not a silver bullet — tackling the housing crisis requires a constellation of policy responses, many of which you can read about here. But vacancy rent control is one of the lowest cost/ highest impact housing policy tools available.
Nominations are open for the 2023 Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards! |
The Ontario Heritage Trust is honouring the achievements of those who have shown leadership, commitment and the best and most creative approaches to heritage conservation this year. If you are interested in nominating an exceptional individual, the deadline is October 15, 2023.
Learn more about each of the four categories of awards here:
Regent Park Islamic Resource Centre |
This week I met with Toronto Community Housing and staff from Councillor Moise’s Office to advance an exclusive use agreement for the Regent Park Islamic Resource Centre (RPIRC) at 246 Sackville Street. I recognize the importance of dedicated space and culturally-appropriate programs for the Muslim community in Toronto Centre. The RPIRC has hosted numerous Eid celebrations and many after-school programs for the local students. As their former councillor and current MPP, this wonderful organization and community hub is a source of pride for me in Toronto Centre. I look forward to seeing them expand their services for a growing community in the years to come.
Food Donations to 129 Peter Street |
Today, with the help from the Regent Park community members, I was also able to help provide 50 hot meals to refugees and asylum seekers at 129 Peter Street. While it was a small part from my end, real solutions for this can only come through immediate actions from the federal and provincial governments.
I talked more about the situation at 129 Peter Street in my previous newsletter, which you can read here.
My Meeting with Grey-Bruce-Owen Sound Pride |
Today I met with the coordinators of Grey-Bruce-Owen Sound Pride. They shared how their festival is being targeted by this new wave of violent anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate and the lack of support that they feel from our Provincial government. They have a petition calling for their municipal government to do more that you can sign to show your solidarity with them! This government lacks coordination and real programs to support communities being targeted by hate-motivated violence and harassment. I have heard this feedback from Pride organizations across Ontario, but particularly from smaller towns and rural areas. Queer and Trans people in Ontario should feel safe and be supported by their governments no matter where they live. I will continue to press this government to invest in the safety of our communities.
Upcoming Events |
Queer East Social at Café Zuzu |
Queer East Social is coming to Toronto Centre’s Café Zuzu this Wednesday, July 29 from 6PM to 10 PM. This wonderful event is an opportunity for any 2SLGBTQ+ members and allies to celebrate and be together.
Enjoy an evening of mingling with Queer & Trans organizations and support Queer owned and/or operated businesses by RSVPing for the event here!
Free Outdoor Screening of Amelie from the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show |
The Toronto Outdoor Picture Show is bringing Toronto Centre a screening of Amélie directed by Jean=Pierre Jeunet. There will be a short film Arlo Alone, directed by Nicole Dorsey, screened just before the main event.
The screening will be held on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at the Corktown Commons — enter at Bayview ave and Mill Street (155 Bayview Ave). The admission is Free/PWYC (no ticket required to attend) The event will begin at sun down, with eats and treats before at 7 PM. Guests are asked to bring their own blankets and chairs. The movie will have captions.
Free/PWYC Bike Safety Checkup From Charlie’s Freewheels |
Until August 19th, Charlie's Freewheels will be bringing their Bike Safety Check Station to the Summer Saturdays at the Moss Park Market from 11 AM to 2 PM. Their teams of mechanics will perform safety checks and minor adjustments, and provide air and oil to your bike. The service is free for youth under 25, or Pay-What-You-Can for adults over 25.
Meet Historical Reenactors in Old Town Toronto |
On Saturdays, June through August, find historic reenactors and artisans in Old Town Toronto. This friendly group tours the area 12 noon to 3pm Saturdays, and are happy to chat with you about historic facts, their period specific attire, or snap a selfie.
Their route/timing may alter week-to-week, however, their casual itinerary is:
12pm – 1pm: St. James Park for a stroll then off to Berczy Park for a picnic.
1pm – 2pm: Market Street where they demonstrate different things such as quill writing, knitting, whittling, polishing buckles.
2pm – 3pm: Back through St. James Park, where they just might invite you to partake in a game of croquet.
Thank you to Friends of St James Park for sharing this event with us!
Yours in community service,
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MPP, Toronto Centre