march 27, 2026 Newsletter

Dear friend,

Ford and his PC government tabled their provincial budget yesterday, and it has totally failed to deliver on your priorities.

This budget was an opportunity to offer hope and relief to the people of Ontario while so many are struggling with sky-high rents, soaring grocery costs, and a job market that is more difficult to navigate each day. 

Budgets are about choices. And this budget just reinforces what we already know: instead of putting working people and families first, Ford and his PCs are choosing their friends and vanity projects. 

The Ontario NDP released their 2026 Budget Report Card, grading Ford’s latest budget on five key tests:

• Does it lower the cost of rent and groceries?
• Does it fix health care and education?
• Does it build homes you can afford?
• Does it create good jobs and opportunities?
• Does it spend your money responsibly?

It failed every single test. 

Instead of giving us all the hope and relief that we need, Ford decided to give us massive cuts to education, healthcare, housing, and job creation. He says there is no money for these priorities, but then turns around to fund his latest vanity project: an expanded Toronto Island airport and a new Ferris wheel. Talk about missing the mark. 

Ford could have scored clear wins with this budget: lower the cost of living, fix health care and education, build homes that folks can afford, and create good jobs. He failed on all counts. I don’t think he could have created a more out-of-touch budget if he tried! 

This budget cut nearly $150 million from education, $69 million from colleges and universities, $347 million from housing, and a whopping $486 million from job creation and training. At a time when unemployment in the province is at 7.6% and over 700,000 Ontarians are out of work, this government is cutting the very programs and funding people rely on. That is a disgrace and a disservice to our province.

• Lower costs: F
  • Nothing for renters, nothing on grocery prices, no real relief.
• Fix health care and education: F
  • Cuts to education and no plan to address staffing shortages.
• Build homes people can afford: F
  • $347 million cut and no plan to deliver affordable homes.
• Create good jobs: D-
  • $486 million cut to job creation and training, with no support for workers.
• Spend responsibly: F
  • Money for vanity projects while critical services remain underfunded.

Next week, I will have an opportunity to speak to the budget and bring your concerns directly to the government. If you have specific issues you want me to share, please reply to this email, and I will do my best to include your thoughts in my remarks. 

In addition to the budget, I was busy all week at the Legislature, speaking with students about OSAP cuts, defending judicial independence, welcoming the Ismaili community, and so much more (read on to hear all about it). If you have a few minutes, check out what I got up to this week in my “welcome back” video — our office intern told me that gen-z would love it! 

Yours with charisma,

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Ford’s Failing Justice System
• OSAP Rally — Interviewing Students
• Stop Ford’s Island Airport Land Grab
• Supporting Children with Autism
• Virtual Town Hall on Endometriosis
• Welcoming the Aga Khan to Canada
• This Week’s Meetings
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

Will this Premier make reparations to Ontarians denied justice by his mismanagement of the tribunal system and courts? Yesterday I asked this very question to the Premier, and he dodged it as usual. You can watch the full video here.

My question had two parts. The first highlighted the shocking and horrifying statistic that 97% of disability discrimination cases were denied the right to a full hearing at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. The Tribunal exists to provide Ontarians with fair and accessible hearings to determine violations of the Human Rights Code. When almost all disability cases are denied a full hearing, this government must be held accountable 

The second part of my question highlighted the crisis in our courts, with understaffing, delays, and mismanagement leading to dropped cases and Ontarians being denied justice. This is a disgrace; it is making our communities less safe, and it must be stopped. 

If you are passionate about justice in our province, you will want to make your voice heard on Government Bill 75! This omnibus justice bill, which does little to address the crisis in our courts or make our streets safer, is heading to committee for a measly one day of hearings. While this is not enough time, it does allow the public to share their thoughts on the bill with the government through “written submissions.”

If you would like to share your thoughts on this bill or any other that goes through the committee process, you can do so by sharing your submission here.

If you submit, please let me know to watch out for it by writing me an email at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing what you have to say. 

I joined hundreds of students this week at the Hands Off Our Education rally at Queen’s Park. We spent the afternoon calling on the Ford government to reverse the cuts to OSAP.

During the rally, I talked to high schoolers, university students, recent graduates and parents who are all saying the same things: they want youth to be able to access good jobs without being saddled with a lifetime of debt or foregoing post-secondary education altogether! 

See what the community has to say about these cuts by watching my interviews with students here.

On our first day back in the legislature, Marit Stiles moved a unanimous consent motion to reverse the cuts to OSAP. The Ford government refused. And in response to the rally, Ford called the unions supporting students “gangs” and claimed they were protesting a government “that’s giving ’em money.” Instead of addressing the affordability crisis students are facing, he is choosing to attack them.

Let’s be clear, this fight is not over. The Ontario NDP will continue to stand with students and their families. We have made this government back down before, and we will keep pushing to ensure public education and public services are accessible to all Ontarians. 

To get involved and grow this movement, visit www.kristynwongtam.ca/saveosap and let’s send Ford back to school.

When Ford’s PC’s passed Bill 5 last year, which gave them unprecedented power to suspend laws around “special economic zones,” we were all worried. Now he is using that power to attack Toronto again and again. Whether it’s burying a $100 billion tunnel under Highway 401 or taking over Toronto’s island airport to pave the lake for mega jet runways, Ford has never had his priorities straight.

Let’s be clear — Toronto’s waterfront belongs to the people who live in this city, not lobbyists. We need a Premier who isn’t cosplaying as Toronto’s mayor, but one who is laser-focused on the needs of Ontarians. I am proud to stand with the people who have been fighting for a responsible plan for Toronto’s Island airport for decades. You can watch me share more of my thoughts here. 

On Tuesday morning, I joined fellow Ontario NDP MPPs alongside the Ontario Autism Coalition for their rally calling for a safe, accessible public education system for all. We know that under the Ford government, our schools have been chronically underfunded, programs have been stripped of critical resources, and elected trustees, who are our advocates within our school boards, have been forcibly shut out. These cuts affect all students, but disproportionately impact students with autism and other special needs, who rely on consistent, well-funded supports to succeed. This crisis cannot continue.

Thank you to the Ontario Autism Coalition and all the organizers, educators, education unions, advocates, families, and students who showed up and spoke out! Your voices are driving this fight forward.

Thank you to everyone who attended my virtual town hall, Politics and Public Health: Endometriosis Edition. 

We had an amazing turnout of engaged folks, passionate about creating a provincial strategy for endometriosis care, treatment, and support. The Q&A portion of the townhall was so full of insightful and community-focused questions for our experts. They are working on creating a comprehensive document to answer the questions that we didn’t have time for, because there were so many good ones!

Above you can see the word cloud that participants created to answer the question "What services, programs, or legislation would you like to see to support people with endometriosis?" It is so powerful to see so many possible solutions displayed like this! 

If you missed the event, you can watch the whole recording here with the passcode: zzC!T7yn. 

Here are some other great action items and resources shared during the event: 

• Petition to the House of Commons regarding Endometriosis and Adenomyosis recognition, funding, and specialized care.
• Advocate Well's PDF resource package, referenced by Lesley Stoyan and Michelle Withers, can be found on AdvocateWell.ca or here.

Keep your eyes peeled for more action on this issue going forward. 

I was honoured to deliver remarks on behalf of the Ontario NDP at Queen's Park to mark the arrival of His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan in Ontario. The Aga Khan is here on his first official visit to Canada since assuming the role of Imam, or spiritual leader, to the global Shia Ismaili community. Watch me deliver my remarks here. 

There are many shared values between New Democrats and the Aga Khan's development work, including a strong commitment to human dignity, expanding access to healthcare, and promoting educational opportunities, to name a few.

Here in Ontario, the Ismaili community has carried those same values into action through service, volunteerism, and a profound commitment to the common good. Thank you to the leadership of the Ontario Ismaili community for your warmth and friendship. And once again, welcome to Ontario and Canada, Mawlana Hazar Imam!

• Toronto Civic Employees Union Local 416
• Federation of Ontario Law Associations
• Western University’s Women in the House Program
• Street Haven at the Crossroads

Privacy commissioner challenges Doug Ford’s reasons for changing access-to-information rules

They were promised two-way, all-day GO train service. Confidential Metrolinx documents show these lines may actually get slower

Four premiers ask for more control over judicial appointments - The Trillium

This group of Ontario billionaires have a combined net worth of over $85B 

Major downtown Toronto intersections to reopen early after closure for repairs: mayor

LCBO revenue declining by hundreds of millions of dollars, Ontario 2026 budget reveals

‘20 other people just like you’: Why Toronto youth are struggling to find jobs

• renter
• roommate
• subletter

Survey details: https://www.surveyhero.com/c/ETP2026

• Short survey (17 questions)
• Available in 13 languages
• Confidential responses used only for research, education, and advocacy
• Participants who sign up for updates will be entered into a draw to win one of ten $50 gift cards
• Survey deadline: March 30, 2026

Your input will help shape:

• Tenant rights workshops
• Public legal education tools
• Advocacy to strengthen tenant protections and rights.

Is your family expecting a baby this summer? Roots of Empathy is recruiting families with babies who will be 2-4 months old in October for their classroom program. Roots of Empathy teaches elementary school students emotional skills by connecting with their “tiny teacher” and their parents. The program is proven to increase empathy, kindness, and inclusiveness, while reducing aggression and bullying.

Families are matched with a local classroom and visit nine times over the school year to connect with students.

To learn more visit their website here, or email Tahmina Khatun at [email protected]. 

Sick Kids Hospital is hosting a mental health drop-in at the St James Town Community Corner! 

This program’s child and family therapists support families from the prenatal stage through 18 years of age, assisting with pregnancy, parenting, and child development questions, behaviour concerns, school readiness, and access to resources. 

Drop-in Details:

Day and Time: Wednesdays, 10 AM to 12 PM

Location: The Corner, 200 Wellesley Street East

Contact: 416-924-1164 extension 8724 or [email protected]

Sick Kids Hospital, the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program, and TNG Community Services are hosting a free pregnancy nutrition program at the Wellesley Community Centre! 

Program participants will learn about nutrition from registered dietitians and other healthcare providers, meet other parents-to-be, receive grocery gift cards, and be connected to other free resources and supports. To register, call  416-924-1164 extension 8724 or email [email protected]. 

Program Details:
Day and Time: Thursdays, 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM

Location: Wellesley Community Centre, Room B2

Contact: 416-924-1164 extension 8724 or [email protected] 

The Order of Ontario is the province’s highest civilian honour, recognizing individuals whose excellence and achievements have left a lasting impact locally, nationally, and globally. You can nominate someone excelling in any field, from business, healthcare, education, arts, sports, science, and more. Nominees must be long-term or former Ontario residents, living at the time of nomination, and have made a major contribution to society.

Deadline for nominations is March 31. Details here.

Vendor applications for the 47th annual Cabbagetown Festival are now open! Click here to sign up! The festival runs from September 12-13, 2026 at Parliament and Carlton. 

This year’s festival will feature a new Rainbow Market,  spotlighting 2SLGBTQI+ makers and businesses! If your business is 2SLGBTQI+-owned or your products/services align with this space, apply now—Super Early Bird rates are on. 

Last year the festival welcomed 100,000+ guests and 250+ vendors. Come meet your future fans!

Dates and Times:


• Saturday, September 12, 11 AM – 8 PM
• Sunday, September 13, 11 AM – 7 PM

Apply: Visit cabbagetownto.com/festival-call-for-vendors

Do you know a phenomenal leader in your community who deserves recognition?

Kristyn Wong-Tam will present six people with the prestigious Toronto Centre Leadership Award in June 2026.

This honour recognizes individuals who have made a profound and lasting contribution to the Toronto Centre community in any field. This can include the arts, politics, community building, healthcare, and beyond!

Submit your nominee here!