Dear Emma,
What a week! On Monday (and into Tuesday due to some tight races), Canada elected a new government, and we in Toronto Centre elected a new MP. I want to congratulate Prime Minister Carney on his election. Canada needs strong leadership right now, and the work ahead will be difficult, but the NDP will be there to hold the balance of power, put forth solutions, and ensure the voices of the forgotten are heard. I also want to congratulate our new Member of Parliament, Evan Solomon. Representing the wonderful people of Toronto Centre is a great privilege and blessing. I look forward to collaborating with MP-Elect Solomon on the important work ahead.
I am very proud of the legacy of NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who led our federal party and forced the Trudeau government to create groundbreaking national programs such as dental care, pharmacare, $10-a-day childcare, and school nutrition for children. This represents the most significant expansion of Canada’s social safety net since the creation of Tommy Douglas’ medicare program (another NDP win). Jagmeet’s legacy is one of care and commitment to the people who need us the most, even at great personal cost. And I know that legacy will continue through the current federal NDP caucus and the incoming leader, whoever they may be.
The small but mighty federal NDP caucus holds the balance of power, as they did before the election, and I am excited to see how they hold the Liberals to account and push for progressive action at every turn.
I have saved the best for last: Dr. Samantha Green, our local NDP candidate. Samantha and her team ran a powerful campaign, speaking to over 14,000 community members and really understanding what the people of Toronto Centre need. The result was not what we had hoped, but I know Samantha will stand up for the people of Toronto Centre for years to come.
This week, Doug Ford blatantly and shamelessly attacked the independence of judges in Ontario, going on a Trump-style rant about how judges are “too ideological” and should not be able to challenge legislation passed by his government, even if it contravened legal precedent in Ontario. He went on to say that we should be more like the United States and elect our judges. These types of elections would challenge judicial independence, a foundational cornerstone of our democracy. The backlash from the legal community has been fierce as they call on Ford to stop undermining Ontario’s justice system.
You can watch the whole rant here. It is chilling.
Yesterday during Question Period, I asked the Premier why he would make these threats that undermine our judicial system instead of acting on the actual recommendations to fix the courts made by legal experts. The Attorney General, who answered on his behalf, dodged the question. When I followed up, asking if he could name even one legal organization in Canada that agrees with the Premier's politicization of judicial appointments, he was again unable to answer. The truth of the matter is that this government does not respect the rule of law. Their inability to follow basic rules and laws has landed them in an RCMP investigation over their Greenbelt scandal.
That same afternoon, the government tabled a bill that would, if passed, radically alter and speed up the judicial appointments process, among myriad other changes to our justice system. I will conduct a full analysis of the bill in the coming days and will bring you more updates shortly.
Yours in community service,
Kristyn Wong-Tam
MPP, Toronto Centre
| In This Newsletter |
- Nominations Open for the Toronto Centre Leadership Awards!
- ONDP Plan to support Buy Ontario, Combat Grocery Store Price Gouging
- Save Our TDSB Pools from Ford’s Cuts!
- NIP Seniors' Birthday Celebration
- Khalsa Day Parade
- OPSEU Rally - Our Time is Now
- SLNA &RPNA Neighbourhood Cleanup
- This Week’s Headlines
- Local Community Events
| Nominations Open for the Toronto Centre Leadership Awards! |
I am so excited to host my inaugural Toronto Centre Leadership Awards ceremony this spring! If you know a powerful leader in your community who you think deserves recognition, nominate them by emailing me at [email protected]. Please include the nominee's name, the neighbourhood they call home, a phone number or email address we can reach them at, and of course a description of why they are so wonderful and deserving of this award. I can't wait to see all of the names flowing into my inbox!
| ONDP Plan to Support Buy Ontario, Combat Grocery Store Price Gouging |
On Monday, I proudly stood in the legislature to share the Ontario NDP’s plan to empower Ontarians at the grocery store by labelling Ontario and Canadian products and implementing price transparency.
The motion would require large grocery stores and other big-box retailers to label products made in Ontario and Canada, as well as those imported from the United States, so that consumers can make informed choices.
Donald Trump’s reckless and baseless tariffs have united Canadians like no other moment. We are all choosing to vote with our dollars and proudly buy Canadian and Ontario whenever possible. I see people in the grocery store aisles every week reading the small print on product labels for their place or country of origin — it's tedious and time consuming.
As Ontario MPPs, we have a wonderful opportunity to support this citizen-led movement by standardizing and simplifying labelling. This would make it clear and easy for everyone to support our local producers and avoid tariffed goods.
The motion would also require big-box retailers to label products when their price increases by more than 2% over the course of one week, injecting transparency into the pricing process. Two percent may not sound like a lot, however, as these increases compound weekly, they add up quickly. These labels could also have a chilling effect on rising grocery prices, as corporations try to avoid posting them.
Unfortunately, the Ford government voted the motion down, but this doesn’t mean it is over. I am proud to be part of a caucus fighting to protect consumers shopping smartly, with their budget and our province in mind.
| Save Our TDSB Pools from Ford’s Cuts! |
This week, I have to share a sad update to last week’s news of the Toronto District School Board’s budget shortfall. The Ministry of Education is doubling down on its threat to take over management of the board if the TDSB are not able to meet its budget. Therefore, the TDSB is having to take a long, hard look at some of its expenses, including its pools.
One of the proposals, which would save the board over $12M per year, is to close all TDSB-owned pools that the board does not lease out to other groups. This would be a huge blow, not only to students who would no longer have easy access to lifesaving swimming lessons, but also to community members who rely on public access to those pools for exercise, social connection, and safety training.
Today, I sent an open letter to Education Minister Paul Calandra, sharing how important proper funding of public education is, and how critical these school pools are to our children’s health and well-being. You can read the letter here and sign my petition to save our pools here. If you want to get further involved in this campaign to save public education and our pools, reach out to your local school’s Parent Council!
Save Our Pools! Sign the petition here:
| NIP Seniors' Birthday Celebration |
Neighbourhood Information Post does an incredible job of bringing Chinese seniors together to strengthen their community bonds. On Friday, I was overjoyed to be the special guest at their monthly meeting and to celebrate the birthdays of three of their members!
If you are or know of seniors in Toronto Centre who need a little more community, connect with NIP here.
|
Khalsa Day Parade |
Sikhs from across Toronto and paraded through the streets last Sunday to mark Khalsa Day. Thank you to the Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwara Council (OSGC) for hosting! It was moving to see so many people in Nathan Philips Square to mark Khalsa Day and celebrate Sikh values like peace and community.
| OPSEU Rally - Our Time is Now |
On Saturday, I was proud to stand in solidarity with Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) members at their rally! Our public service workers are the backbone of Ontario—from healthcare to education to frontline support, they keep our province running.
We must respect our workers, protect good public jobs from privatization, and grow solidarity. I am so proud of OPSEU for doing all that work and more!
|
SLNA & RPNA Neighbourhood Cleanup |
Last Saturday, I was proud to work alongside Chris Glover, Ausma Malik, and many dedicated volunteers to give the St. Lawrence and Regent Park neighbourhoods a good spring cleaning! We picked up garbage, recyclables, cigarette butts, and more, all while meeting neighbours and strengthening community.
Thank you to everyone who participated in a community cleanup in their local area last weekend. You helped keep our communities clean, vibrant, and connected!
| This Week's Meetings |
- Canadian Parents for French (Ontario)
-
Housing Roundtable with:
- Home Opportunities
- Discovery House
- CMHA TVAMHS, Supportive Housing & Program development
- Muskoka Community Land Trust
- City of Toronto
- BGI group
- Constructors Guild
- SkyRise Prefab
- Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA)
| This Week's Headlines |
Ontario budget coming on May 15
Ford rants about 'bleeding-heart judges' who are 'overruling the government'
TDSB committee ponders big cuts to curtail $58M budget deficit
Ontario gets moving on Highway 401 tunnel feasibility study
Where to see Toronto’s cherry blossoms outside of High Park
Doug Ford’s attorney general says no to election of judges
Ford’s education minister demands changes from school boards
Ontario to crack down on councillors who harass staff
Ontario measles: 223 new infections
| Upcoming Community Events |
| Craft Pre-Apprenticeship Program |
Exciting opportunities are being offered through the CRAFT Pre-Apprenticeship Program, a paid 16-week carpentry training initiative open exclusively to residents of Toronto Community Housing (TCH).
Virtual Information Session:
- Date: May 6, 2025
- Time: 12:00 PM
- Location: Online (registration required)
This session will provide details about the paid training program, including eligibility requirements and application steps. Participants must be prepared to submit the following documents:
- Government-issued Photo ID
- SIN Card
- Canadian High School Diploma or Ontario Grade 10 Transcript
This program is a partnership between Daniels, the College of Carpenters and Allied Trades, Carpenters Local 27, Toronto Community Housing, and Building Up.
Register for the session here.
For questions, contact Fatima Saya at [email protected]
|
Supporting Students with Autism: Community Forum |
Trustee Deborah Williams invites community members to a thoughtful and informative panel discussion on the supports available for TDSB students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Event Details:
🗓️Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
📍Location: Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, 711 Bloor Street East, Toronto (near Castle Frank Station)
RSVP here!
This forum will explore how families can navigate supports such as the Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) and Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Panelists will share insights on advocacy, school resources, and system navigation. Updates from the Trustee and Superintendents will also be shared.
Childminding and light refreshments will be available.
Accessibility supports, interpretation, and additional accommodations can be arranged upon request during registration.
| CWNA’s 15th Anniversary AGM and Celebration |
The Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association invites the community to their 15th Annual General Meeting — an evening to connect, renew memberships, and celebrate local leadership.
🗓️ Thursday, May 15, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 The 519 Ballroom, 519 Church Street
Evening Schedule:
-
6:30 PM: Registration and Membership Renewal
-
7:00 PM: Business Meeting (Board of Directors elections; members in good standing are eligible to vote and run)
- 8:30 PM: 15th Anniversary Celebration and Cake Cutting
Questions? Contact [email protected].
| Community Violence and Healing Workshop |
The 519’s Health Justice Program invites community members to an important discussion on Community Violence and Healing, part of the Talking Justice series.
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
- Time: 6 – 8 PM
- Location: In person at The 519 (519 Church Street) or virtually
-
Tickets: Free (Presto tickets and snacks provided)
Bianca Braganza, MSc, JD/BCL, Pro Bono Lawyer with The 519’s Combatting 2SLGBTQ+ BIPOC Hate and Racism Program, will lead a conversation exploring:
- Community and structural violence
- Social determinants of health in relation to crime and justice
-
Alternative approaches to safety and justice
The 519 is a fully accessible space with all-gender washrooms. Additional accessibility supports are available upon request during registration.
| Winchester Park Residents' Association AGM |
The Winchester Park Residents Association is hosting its Annual General Meeting!
Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Hugh Garner Co-op (550 Ontario Street, 8th Floor Meeting Room).
This annual gathering brings neighbours together to reflect on local developments and shape the future of the community. The evening will include:
- Guest speakers
- Presentations from local representatives
- Board elections
- Updates on housing and development in the area
- A Q&A session for community members
Residents interested in serving on the board are encouraged to submit a nomination in advance. To apply, send your name, address, length of residency, and a brief note on your interest to [email protected]. Community members from all housing backgrounds— renters, owners, co-op members, or otherwise—are welcome to apply.
| Regent Park Film Festival Call for Submissions |
The Regent Park Film Festival is now accepting submissions for its 2025 festival!
Regent Park Film Festival (RPFF) is an award-winning, community-based, non-profit organization, and Toronto’s longest-running, FREE film festival.
RPFF’s mission is two-fold: to amplify and center marginalized communities and their stories, providing a platform for the work of emerging and established artists, while opening up access to the film and television industry; and to ensure art is free and accessible to everyone, regardless of financial status.
📅 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.
| TDSB’s International Languages & African Heritage Summer Program |
The Toronto District School Board invites families to explore the International Languages – Elementary & African Heritage Summer Program, designed to celebrate cultural heritage and support multilingual learning.
Program Dates:
July 2 – July 25, 2025
Location: Charles E. Webster School, 1900 Keele Street
International Languages Program
- Time: 9:00 – 11:30 AM, Monday to Friday
- Languages Offered: Amharic and Tigrinya
- Grades: Senior Kindergarten (as of Sept. 2025) to Grade 8 (TDSB and non-TDSB)
- Cost: $20 materials fee
- Note: More languages may be offered if 25+ students register per language.
- Break: Supervised break from 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM for students continuing into the PM program.
African Heritage Program
- Time: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, Monday to Friday
- Focus: Explores the legacies, cultures, and histories of African descent through inquiry and experiential learning
- Grades: Senior Kindergarten (as of Sept. 2025) to Grade 8 (TDSB and non-TDSB)
- Cost: $20 materials fee
Registration Details
- Deadline: June 22, 2025
- Register Online: ereg.tdsb.on.ca/public/ilelogin.aspx
- Requirements: Ontario Education Number (OEN) and OHIP card
Contact: Grace Ocloo at 416-788-2180 or [email protected]
