Dear Reader,
Political victories under Doug Ford’s majority government can feel rare, and I’m sure you’ll agree that when they do happen, we need to celebrate them enthusiastically and proudly.
That’s what happened at 8:15 p.m. on Friday. Shortly after the Government of Canada’s survey deadline closed, we were given a political victory when they announced on social media, without any fanfare, that they would not support Ford’s Billy Bishop Island Airport expansion. Reportedly, over 87,000 residents responded to the federal survey, and 87% stated their overwhelming opposition to jets and the runway expansion. These results just can’t be ignored, at least not by any government hanging onto a razor-thin majority in Ottawa.
The conspicuous timing of the federal announcement and their dropping of the federal byelection writ on Sunday for the waterfront riding of Beaches - East York is not lost on me or anyone else closely observing politics. The federal government knew the issue of noisy, polluting jets over the waterfront could become a flashpoint that might cost them a seat. And so they blinked.
It’s important to note that the Federal Minister of Transport did not explicitly say never to jets, but definitely not now. In his statement, he shared, “at this stage,” the jets are grounded for now, and the safe operation of the airport is the government’s exclusive focus.
So take this for what it is. A win is a win, and it’s ours for now!
Since March 23, when Ford first announced his intention to take over the city’s interest in the tiny island airport, I’ve spoken to hundreds of you and read thousands of your emails. I shared your fear about what jets flying over our downtown neighbourhoods would mean. This is why I fought like hell alongside so many of you to save our waterfront and our city.
This victory was only made possible because Toronto banded together and acted with purpose and unity—a massive, heartfelt thank-you to everyone who took action. Because you signed petitions, filled out the survey, made a protest sign, attended a town hall, organized a press conference, marched in rallies, led a walking tour, wrote an op-ed, volunteered on phone banks, talked to neighbours and families, emailed or called their Federal Liberal MPs or rode the bus with us to Ottawa – you helped save our waterfront!
As we celebrate this win, we need to keep in mind that Ford's actions have not been fully undone. Here's what our community deserves to happen next:
- Ford must repeal Bill 110. This was the Bill that authorized the province to take ownership of the Toronto Islands and Little Norway Park. It empowered his government to sell or develop these lands. But Toronto made it clear that these lands belong to Toronto, and that is to whom they should be returned.
- The Federal government must take responsibility and rein in its federal public agency, the Toronto Port Authority (TPA), that operates the Billy Bishop Island Airport. The TPA was one of the main proponents of the runway expansion, and it recklessly encouraged Ford to take over the City’s ownership of Toronto Islands, Little Norway Park, and its interest in the tripartite agreement. The federal Minister of Transport nominates seven out of the nine-member Board of Directors. Currently, five of these positions are vacant, and it’s time to fill them with qualified, civic-minded directors.
- The Federal government must still abandon their plans for airport and seaport privatization. The expansion was JP Morgan's idea after its 2015 terminal purchase costs soured; lobbyists sold it to Queen's Park and Ottawa. If more airports are privatized, as Carney plans to allow, conflicts like this will happen again. You can sign a petition here to show you oppose this!
- Provincial and federal governments should repeal Bills 5 and C-5. Ford wanted to use Bill 5, which lets his government ignore labour, safety, and environmental laws for specific projects without any public debate or vote, to expedite his takeover. Bill C-5 was Carney's federal Bill that gave him similar powers. Both bills are anti-democratic and designed to sideline Indigenous consultation and community input and should be immediately repealed.
I know that Ontario's Transportation Minister, Prabmeet Sarkaria, says his government still "looks forward to advancing the expansion [of Billy Bishop]". This is bluster. Ford lacks the legal authority under the tripartite agreement. That said, I will be monitoring every move the provincial government makes next. We know Ford does not accept defeat gracefully, and he has a history of taking out his frustrations on Toronto.
Our win of the waterfront is a reminder that the Ford government can be held to account when we organize. Last week, we also saw ex-Minister Stan Cho officially resign from cabinet over $16,000 in taxpayer-funded hotel stays, despite living only 6 KM from Queen’s Park. This is a good start, yet with new disclosures revealing that Stan Cho was running a second, more ambitious hospitality program through his riding association, he should be resigning from more than just cabinet.
Records show the former minister expensed nearly $100,000 ($84,000) in food and beverages over three years, every receipt filed as "meetings hosted." The meetings included $16,500 at a single restaurant. Another $10,500 went to a Japanese tapas bar, the largest known deployment of small plates in provincial history, and $6,055 to Moxies.
Also on the docket: a $6,970 meeting at a Blue Jays game, plus a $3,000 Rogers Centre suite during the 2025 election campaign.
In his resignation letter, Cho wrote that he never stopped to ask what his expenses would look like to a person in his riding who was working a double shift. This is disrespectful to taxpayers and to his own donors.
And let's not forget that former Minister Cho was not alone in his suite life adventures. PC MPPs billed taxpayers over $120,000 for their luxury hotel stays. MPP Hardeep Grewal spent nearly $30,000; Ministers Nina Tangri and Charmaine Williams also billed the taxpayer tens of thousands of dollars. They must also be held accountable for their unnecessary spending of taxpayers' money. It is also a deeply shameful abuse of the money that political donors entrusted to his riding association.
Yesterday morning, I was joined by tenants and several members of the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA) outside 191 and 201 Sherbourne Street to raise concerns about the health and safety risks posed by “makeshift rooms” in downtown high-rise apartment buildings.
Harrington Housing is a private company that profits by taking over multiple apartment units in buildings. Then it subdivides living and dining areas with bookshelves, partial walls and accordion doors without locks. They market these “rooms” mostly to students who pay weekly for the privilege of sleeping in small, ventless “personal zones” without any privacy, windows, or natural light. Despite this shoddy construction, there is no shortage of interested renters because of the housing crisis. You can see an example of this sort of room below.
Theo Centritto, who is currently occupying a room at 30 Charles Street East managed by Harrington Housing, said his apartment has the living room converted into additional bedrooms, leaving his roommates with no shared space other than the kitchen.
Yaroslava Montenegro, the Executive Director of the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Association (FMTA), emphasized the importance of strengthening tenant protections. The City of Toronto's Multi-Tenant Housing bylaw only applies to apartment units with four or more bedrooms. Harrington Housing has been setting up smaller rooming houses so they do not require a fire safety inspection.
The Ford government has once again failed to uphold the law. The Rental Housing Enforcement Unit (RHEU) was created to enforce the Residential Tenancies Act, but chronic underfunding and insufficient enforcement powers have left this provincial unit understaffed and ineffective. In 2022-2023, the RHEU received over 16,394 complaints from tenants and landlords from across Ontario. Yet only 219 complaints were investigated, resulting in 17 convictions—a poor result by any standard.
Before the conference, I, along with MPP Catherine McKenney, Shadow Housing Minister, sent a letter to the Ford Government calling on them to work with the Ontario NDP and to immediately fix the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit by:
- increasing staffing and funding for the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit
- giving the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit stronger enforcement powers
- ensuring tenant complaints are resolved within 30 days
My colleague, MPP Jessica Bell, brought a similar motion forward in December 2024, which the Ford government irresponsibly voted down. But this will not deter the Ontario NDP, as we will never give up on fighting for tenant rights in Ontario.
The RHEU should be a place renters can go for help with illegal eviction or maintenance issues. They shouldn’t be turned away; they shouldn’t get a busy signal – they should get a responsive bylaw office that will take steps to ensure they can live in safe and well-maintained homes.
This is well within the provincial government's scope, and I am committed to holding companies like Harrington Housing accountable. Everyone deserves a safe home. You can watch our press conference highlights here and sign my petition below!
Yours in community service,
Kristyn Wong-Tam
MPP, Toronto Centre
| In This Newsletter |
- Ford Failed to Prepare Ontario
- Hot By-Election Summer
- Brampton East MPP Under Scrutiny for Improper Spending
- Coffee with Kristyn in Corktown!
- Q Musicale at Sankofa Square
- Dixon Hall Receives Ontario Trillium Funding
- Meeting with Street Health
- A Visit to the Performing Arts Lodge!
- Kristyn in the Community
- What’s Making Headlines
- Local Community Events
| Ford Failed to Prepare Ontario |
My thoughts are with the First Nations and Northern Ontario communities who have been forced from their homes due to forest fires this month. I am so grateful to the wildland firefighters and community members working to keep their neighbours safe.
Roughly 3,000 people from more than a dozen communities, including several First Nations, have been evacuated, and 180 fires are still burning. With over 7,250 burned square kilometres this year, Ontario is on track for its worst wildfire season ever.
First Nations leaders have said plainly that communities were left to organize their own evacuations, with little warning and little help. This is a preparedness failure.
OPSEU/SEFPO reports that Ontario is 34 crews short of the approved complement that Ontario knows it should have. And that Ontario needs at least 60 more fire crews to manage the climate-change-fueled wildfires that we are now seeing. Instead, Ford is focusing on photo-ops: the six new waterbombers the Premier is using to defend his failures are not expected to arrive until the early 2030s.
Ontario NDP Leader, Marit Stiles, and our northern MPPs have called for a public inquiry into the government's wildfire preparedness and response once the fires are out. I wholeheartedly support her call. Ontarians deserve to know how this happened, and our firefighters deserve a staffing model built for the fire seasons that we actually have.
To learn more, you can see these two videos I made about wildland firefighters speaking out against Ford, and explaining what real action to protect the North from fires would look like.
| Hot By-Election Summer |
After the Carney grounded the jets at the Billy Bishop Island airport, they announced a snap Federal by-election in the Toronto waterfront riding of Beaches–East York (BEY) on Monday, August 31. The seat opened up after the former MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith stepped down. Summer by-elections are low-turnout by nature, which means volunteering can have an outsized impact on the outcome.
You don't have to live in BEY to help. Canvass shifts, phone banks, data entry, driving on E-Day. You can sign up by clicking the button below:
A provincial by-election in Scarborough Southwest must happen a few days after September 3, 2026, where our fabulous and hardworking Ontario NDP candidate, Fatima Shaban, is running. I have been hitting doors for her and believe that with enough momentum from volunteers, we can keep this important riding orange! Sign up for a Scarborough canvass below:
|
Brampton East MPP Under Scrutiny for Improper Spending |
Last week, allegations surfaced that a Progressive Conservative MPP, Hardeep Grewal of Brampton East, used taxpayer dollars to purchase ads in a newspaper run by his father.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles has filed a complaint with the Office of the Integrity Commissioner, calling for an investigation into his potentially using tax dollars to enrich a business owned by an immediate family member.
The Ontario NDP has written to the Integrity Commissioner, requesting an examination of MPP Grewal’s spending habits due to a clear pattern of ads placed in a local paper owned by his father. If MPP Grewal’s family members are benefiting from tax dollars, the people deserve to know.
| Coffee with Kristyn in Corktown! |
This popular event is back, and we’re heading into beautiful Corktown. Join me at Forno Cultura this Friday, July 31 from 1 PM to 3:30 PM for another fun-filled edition of Coffee with Kristyn!
This is an opportunity for you to meet with me and share your thoughts, concerns, dreams and ideas in a welcoming community atmosphere, while supporting our beloved local small businesses.
Let me take you out for a cup of coffee. I look forward to seeing you on Friday. Let me know if you are coming by signing up at kristyn.ca/coffee_kristyn!
| Kristyn in the Community |
| Q Musicale at Sankofa Square |
Last week I was happy to join the Q Musicale Festival at Sankofa Square for the launch of Canada’s first-ever Queer Music Awards. Congratulations to INspired Media and the INspired Awards for your hard work in promoting and celebrating 2SLGBTQIA+ singers, songwriters, musicians, and music professionals through live music performances and community engagement.
Thank you to everyone who came to watch, perform and produce this amazing festival!
|
Dixon Hall Receives Ontario Trillium Funding |
Congratulations to Dixon Hall on your $71,600 Ontario Trillium Foundation capital grant! I am confident that this funding will enhance accessibility, security, and connectivity for a more inclusive space for countless youth at the Bill Graham Youth Centre in Regent Park. Toronto Centre is truly fortunate to receive such strong support from the foundation, and I’m proud of the ongoing great work of Dixon Hall and their entire team.
Find out more about the program at the Bill Graham Youth Centre here!
| Meeting with Street Health |
It was a pleasure to meet with Street Health’s new Executive Director, Christina Van Sickle.
Street Health has been supporting homeless and street-involved residents in Toronto for over 40 years. They do difficult and tremendous work, and despite the provincial government’s underfunding in supportive housing, mental health services, addiction medicine and their recent shutdown of overdose prevention sites, Street Health has continued to provide healthcare for the most vulnerable in the Downtown East.
Community health and safety are always top of mind, and I’m pleased to say Street Health is a committed partner in supporting our neighbourhoods and all of its residents.
| A Visit to the Performing Arts Lodge! |
Thank you to the residents at the Performing Arts Lodge (PAL) for hosting me for another visit last week.
Many PAL residents were deeply concerned about the threats posed by Ford's Billy Bishop Airport expansion plans to our waterfront communities. As longtime arts and culture champions, they have helped shape Toronto's cultural landscape, and they, alongside their waterfront neighbours, deserve to live peacefully without blaring dirty jets flying overhead.
I am sure that many who live there are sighing in relief after the federal government's recent announcement that it will not allow the runway expansion at the Billy Bishop Island airport!
| This Week's Headlines |
Toronto residents push back on proposed 56-megawatt AI data centre
Berlin Pride attack suspect killed in confrontation with police, officials say
Carney calls August byelections for 3 ridings in Ontario, Quebec and B.C.
Federal government grounds Billy Bishop airport expansion
Regent Park’s New Model for Addiction and Mental Health Care
Toronto Moves to Expand Community Crisis Response Across TTC as City Backs Care-Based Approach
New research affirms construction workers are disproportionately affected by opioid deaths
Police locate man with stab wounds in Toronto's downtown core
What happened to $3.3M from the Skills Development Fund? Defendant says he gave it away
Ontario MPP charged riding association for restaurants, hotels and limo rental
| Upcoming Community Events |
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Toronto Outdoor Picture Show at Corktown Common! |
This Thursday will be the last TOPS event 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.
|
Taste of Regent Park & Under the Stars |
Join Taste of Regent Park today at 620 Dundas Street East! They will be having patties, and don't forget to have a tasty treat from the bake oven — the first batch will be ready around 5:45 PM.
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Voices for Change Concert |
Voices for Change has a concert on August 22 from 6 to 8 PM at 300 Lonsdale Road, Toronto! This event advocates for students with special needs and marginalized school communities while creating a space where everyone is included and can come together to share the joy of music. The main goal of this concert is not to fundraise, but 100% of funds raised will go directly towards supporting the mental health, well-being, and education of marginalized students across the TDSB, including Nelson Mandela Park PS.
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The Post Podcast from NiP! |
A new episode of The Post Podcast is here, and it's a good one. This time, they sat down with Tanya, the founder of Bikes Without Borders, a Toronto charity that has spent over 15 years putting bikes into the hands of people who need them most. From newcomer and refugee families getting their very first bike, to youth learning how to build one from scratch, Tanya shares the full story of how a small idea grew into a program that touched thousands of lives across the city.
Click here to listen on YouTube!
|
Cabbagetown Around the World Popups |
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario is hosting the Ontario Women’s Parliamentary Forum: Pathway to Parliament this fall!
This free, full-day immersive leadership and civic engagement program will take place on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, and is designed to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders. Focused on active citizenship, education, and engagement, the Forum offers participants a unique behind-the-scenes look at Ontario’s parliamentary process, along with opportunities to connect directly with prominent women leaders and key parliamentary figures.
The program is open to 124 women and gender-diverse individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 from across Ontario. Accommodation for one night and transportation costs will be covered for participants who live more than 50 km from the Legislative Building. Breakfast, lunch, and an evening reception will also be provided. Applications are open until August 20, 2026.
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Regent Park's Cultural Bazaar |
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.
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Moss Park Summer Festival |
The Moss Park Summer Festival this year is going to take place at the green space at Ontario St. and Queen St. East on August 8 from 11 AM to 5 PM. My team and I will be there to set up a tent, say hello and give out some cool swag! Click here for more details.
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Dixon Hall Employment Services |
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Grassy Narrows River Run Rally |
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.
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Identify 'N Impact Grant Program |
Apply before September 15, 2026, at 12:00 PM! More Information can be found here: Identify ‘N Impact Grant Program – City of Toronto