Dear Emma,
Yesterday, I was officially sworn in as the MPP for Toronto Centre. This was my fifth time taking an oath of public office, but this time, I found myself feeling more nervous and emotional than I had during previous ceremonies. When I reflected on it later, I realized that it was the presence of so many friends, colleagues, and community members looking on that brought up these emotions. I so dearly want to do right by them and everyone in our community, and seeing all of their faces as I took the oath really brought that commitment home. The Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Trevor Day, who administered the oath, also reminded me of how very special this honour is. Since confederation, fewer than 2,000 people have taken the oath to become an Ontario MPP. To be one of them feels incredibly profound.
Every day, I feel honoured to hold public office and serve the people of Toronto Centre and the communities that I love. Yesterday was a beautiful ceremonial celebration of that honour, which I will always cherish. I want to thank all of the people who stood with me as I took my oath and everyone in Toronto Centre for putting their trust in me. I do not take it lightly and will work hard every day to live up to our shared ideals.
Jumping from one election to another, the Ottawa rumour mill has been spinning for weeks and now it seems to have settled - reliable sources are telling us that the federal election will be called this coming Sunday, in just two days, and that election day will be on either April 28 or May 5. Those details are still to be determined, as a federal election campaign lasts between 36 and 50 days in Canada.
Luckily, here in Toronto Centre, we are ready to go. Local resident and family physician, Dr. Samantha Green, our fantastic candidate, has been knocking on doors for almost a year already and has an amazing campaign team behind her. Meanwhile, the Liberals do not yet have a candidate after Marci Ien announced two weeks ago that she would not run again.
Samatha’s campaign is so prepared that they are having an office opening on Sunday, the day of the writ drop, and you are invited!!!
Join me, Samantha, community leader Danyaal Raza, and progressives in Toronto Centre at 1 PM this Sunday at 655 Dundas Street East to officially open Samantha’s office and ensure that we send a true progressive voice to Ottawa.
Yours in community service,
Kristyn Wong-Tam
MPP, Toronto Centre
In This Newsletter |
- Ford’s Cabinet Announcement
- Renewed Assault on Gaza
- Standing up for St Lawrence Co-op Daycare
- Ford: Canada as the 51st state is a “Compliment”
- Meeting with Peggy Nash’s Women in the House Students
- This Week’s Headlines
- Local Community Events
Ford’s Cabinet Announcement |
On Wednesday, Doug Ford announced his new cabinet. It is largely unchanged and fails to meet the moment Ontario is in. Now is a time for bright new thinkers to come up with creative solutions, not more of the same cut-and-privatize Ministers.
People are worried about the future of our province and our country. They are struggling to afford groceries; they can’t find a family doctor or an affordable place to live. Yet, this cabinet includes the same Minister of Transportation who couldn’t open a transit line, the same Minister of Health who downplayed the doctor shortage, and the same Minister of Infrastructure who spent weeks dodging basic questions. The cabinet includes 29 ministers and 8 associate ministers, making it one of the largest and most expensive in Ontario’s history.
While there was little change, one swap left me chilled to the bone: Paul Calandra will be the new Minister of Education. Political watchers will remember that Calandra was Ford’s Government house leader until last year and before that an MP under PM Stephen Harper. In both roles he was known as a political spin doctor, the kind of person who you wanted in your corner when you had to break some bad news and didn’t want to take any criticism. Calandra has the unique skill of being able to yell a bunch of nonsense at you in a way that is both intimidating and convincing until you take a moment to understand what he actually said, which is nothing. This appointment raises alarm about the kinds of cuts Ford conservatives will bring down on our public education system, which is already in tatters.
The Ontario NDP will soon announce our shadow cabinet, a team full of MPPs ready to rise to meet this challenging moment, by fighting rising costs, investing in building homes, hiring doctors, and building a tariff-proof economy. They can count on Ontario's Official Opposition NDP to keep up that fight at Queen’s Park and across the province to hold Doug Ford’s Conservatives to account every single day.
Renewed Assault on Gaza |
Just like many of you, I have felt horror and grief as images of death and destruction have poured out of Gaza again this week. On Tuesday, Israel broke the ceasefire and resumed the relentless bombing of civilians, in addition to shutting of electricity, water, and aid trucks carrying food and medical supplies to the region.
The people of Gaza have been through far too much. They were just taking their first breaths, returning to their homes, and reuniting with loved ones. And now they have been plunged back into the horrors of genocide.
The ceasefire agreement must be honoured on all sides. But instead, the innocent civilians of Gaza, including thousands of children, are paying the price. Doctors are again being asked to make impossible decisions about which child to save and which to let die, simply because of a lack of resources. This is unconscionable and the Canadian government must stand up to Trump and Netanyahu. I am so proud of the NDP’s advocacy on this issue, but they need more voices to join them. I encourage you to write to PM Carney and local MPs to urge them to act and speak out for the people of Gaza who are experiencing relentless suffering right now.
Standing up for St Lawrence Co-op Daycare |
Toronto Centre’s St. Lawrence Co-op Day Care is facing challenges meeting the governments strict standards for permanent outdoor play spaces. This week, I wrote to the Minister of Education to request that the Ministry take into account the unique urban context in which the daycare is situated, and the fact that they are currently meeting the outdoor play space requirements, just with a temporary space.
I am hopeful that the daycare will be able to continue to operate, providing excellent care for our little ones and solutions for working families. You can read the full letter here.
Ford: Canada as the 51st state is a “Compliment” |
On Tuesday, Doug Ford said that the American threat to make Canada their 51st state is a “compliment.” This made my blood boil. How could a threat of hostile takeover and a lack of respect for our sovereignty ever be taken as a compliment?
I am proud to stand up for Canada, our values, our public assets, and our people. We are not simply resources, but a strong nation that deserves respect. We have many problems, the largest among them our historic and present lack of respect for the sovereignty of Indigenous nations on this land we call Canada, but that will never be solved by infringement on our borders by our southern neighbour. I will do absolutely everything that I can to hold Ford accountable and make sure that he is not giving anything up to the Americans.
Meeting with Peggy Nash’s Women in the House Students |
Yesterday I had the pleasure of sitting down for a conversation with three students from Peggy Nash’s Women in the House course. They asked such thoughtful and engaging questions which lead to a lively conversation about representation, justice, and human rights in our houses of government. It was so inspiring to engage with the next generation of leaders, and I so appreciated their curiosity and passion for learning. I can’t wait to see what they do next!
This Week's Headlines |
Removing bike lanes will likely worsen gridlock, lead to more collisions: government documents
Hudson's Bay hopes to save 6 stores, which could protect some of its 9,364 jobsNews
Toronto charity to open affordable housing for homeless women
Hundreds of nurses rally outside Ontario hospitals to demand safer staffing levels
TDSB to vote on controversial fundraising change some call a ‘tariff on parent donations’
Head of Canada’s high speed rail project wants it to run into downtown Toronto
Upcoming Community Events |
Black Mental Health Groups at Sherbourne Health |
Sherbourne Health is offering mental health support groups for Black, African, Caribbean, and Multiracial 2SLGBTQ+ youth. These programs provide a space to build community, explore mental health, and develop wellness strategies.
Program Details:
Resilient Roots
A five-session training for Black 2SLGBTQ+ youth with lived mental health or substance use experience. Participants will develop peer support skills and explore mental health, harm reduction, and self-care.
📅 Mondays, 6:00 – 8:00 PM | March 3 – 31
Rise & Thrive
A program designed to celebrate cultural foods, foster community, and explore mental well-being.
- Rise: 📅 Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30 PM | March 4 – April 15
- Thrive: 📅 Wednesdays, 6:00 – 7:30 PM | March 5 – April 16
Levelling Minds (Online Program)
A nine-week series offering stress management tools and mental health strategies.
📅 Thursdays, 6:00 – 7:30 PM | March 6 – May 1
For more details and to register, click here.
Register your Fruit Tree & Fight Food Insecurity |
Regent Park Eid Bazaar |
The Centre of Learning & Development, in partnership with Mothers of Peace, Arthubs, and the City of Toronto, invites the community to the Eid Bazaar at Daniels Spectrum. This Eid celebration will showcase local vendors offering henna, jewelry, clothing, food, and more while bringing the community together.
📅 Dates: March 6, 12, 19, 26
⏰ Time: 2:00 – 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St E)
For questions or vendor inquiries, contact Sureya at [email protected] or 647-493-2462 ext. 112.
Connect Fundraiser for Gender-Affirming Care |
Connect Fund is hosting live music and performance to raise money to help pay for gender-affirming care not covered by provincial health care. Help them raise funds for folks who need help. All proceeds from ticket sales and merch will go directly to people who need care.
Across Canada, 2SLGBTQ+ people face higher levels of poverty. They face a lack of culturally-competent healthcare providers. They face long wait times to get care. They can face discrimination when they do receive it. With the Connect Fund, at least they won’t have to worry about how to pay for care on top of all of that.
📅 Thursday, March 28, 2024
🕕 6:00 PM – Late
📍 The Great Hall, 1087 Queen Street West
- Celebrate queer culture and community impact
- Enjoy drag performances, DJs, dancing, and more
- Funds raised will support Connect’s ongoing gender affirming care work
Free Repair Cafe |
TNG Community Services and St. James Town Community Corner invite community members to a Free Repair Café on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 12:00 to 4:00 PM (registration closes at 3:00 PM). The event takes place at 349 Ontario Street, Toronto, and is wheelchair accessible.
Skilled volunteers will help repair broken household items, including:
- Computers
- Small appliances
- Home electronics
- General housewares
- Clothing and jewelry
- Bikes and toys
- Books and paper items
(One item per person)
Volunteers with repair skills are also welcome to participate.
For more information, contact:
- Touhida Choudhury: 416-925-4363 x2521 or [email protected]
- Alaa: 416-964-6657 x240 or [email protected]
Free Art Class with Benny Bing |
Neighbourhood Information Post invites young artists to a free art class with renowned Toronto-based artist Benny Bing! This is a great opportunity for youth to explore creativity and learn from a celebrated contemporary artist.
📅 Wednesday, April 23, 2025
🕟 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
📍 Benny Bing Studio, 35 Tubman Ave, Suite 103, Toronto, ON M5A 0T1
👩🎨 For youth ages 10 to 16
- Learn from Benny Bing, known for his bold use of colour and artwork exploring Black identity, gender, and humanity
- Hands-on creative experience in an inspiring studio environment
- Free to attend, registration required
📩 Register here
📞 For more information, contact 416-924-2543 ext. 224 or email [email protected].
Community Development Training Series |
Yonge Street Mission is hosting a Community Development Training Series, offering practical tools, strategies, and insights to support community development efforts and strengthen impact. Sessions will be facilitated by YSM Community Development Specialists and cover key topics in engagement, evaluation, and facilitation.
📅 Dates & Topics:
- April 29 – Measurement & Evaluation
- June 24 – Meeting Facilitation
⏰ Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM
📍 Format: Hybrid (In-person location TBC)
📌 Registration deadline: One week before each session.
For more details, contact [email protected] or click here to register on Eventbrite.
Regent Park Film Festival Call for Submissions |
The Regent Park Film Festival is now accepting submissions for its 2025 festival!
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024
🎥 Open to: Canadian and international filmmakers
📍 Submissions accepted online
- Welcomes films from Black, Indigenous, and racialized creators, as well as those from marginalized communities
- All genres and formats considered, including features, shorts, documentaries, and animation
- Free to submit
The festival prioritizes stories that reflect social justice, community, and the realities of those living in underrepresented spaces.
The festival is also hiring! Click here for Job Opportunities, and Call for Board Members.
Mental Health Support with Family Service Toronto |
Are you looking for free or affordable mental health support? Family Service Toronto offers just that! They are part of Family Service Toronto network, the only network in Ontario that provides free and low cost couples and family therapy in addition to individual counselling.
To learn more about their resources and get connected to support visit ontariocounsellingfinder.ca.