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Dear Neighbour, 

Yesterday, the corrupt Ford government unexpectedly adjourned the legislature for an extended winter break, effectively shutting down further debate and accountability for their many offenses. The next sessional day at Queen’s Park will not be until February 20, after Family Day, and a whopping 76 days later.

This early break coincides with the release of yet another scathing annual report from the Auditor General, which raises more concerns over this government’s many, ever-deepening scandals. 

Doug Ford knew that if he and his government had to attend even one more Question Period with our strong NDP Official Opposition, he would face heavy scrutiny and be forced to answer more scorching questions about Ontario Place, his government’s underfunding of healthcare, education and preferential treatment of connected PC insiders.

I am grateful for the Auditor General’s thorough work, which paints a rich picture of a corrupt Conservative government abusing their legislative privileges to justify their deal-making schemes to enrich select insiders. Ford’s PCs are lurching from one terrible decision to another with complete disregard for the consequences. They don’t have a plan to help people who are struggling right now amid an affordability crisis.

The big takeaway from this report is that the Conservatives, like the scandal-riddled Liberals before them, keep getting caught in lies and cover-ups, forcing them to reverse course. These cover-ups and reversals have wasted a year of time and money. This behaviour is unacceptable, especially when Ontarians need a stable and solution-focused government more than ever. As the Official Opposition, we have worked hard to expose the deep rot in the Ford government. With your ongoing support, we have forced them to reverse some of their deceitful policies in a matter of weeks, including their Greenbelt grab and controversial urban boundary expansions.

The AG’s report highlights many failings and gaps from the Ford government, but the largest and most concerning are: 

ER closures: between July 2022 and June 2023, there were 203 unplanned ER closures. Patient wait times to see a doctor have increased to two hours over the past decade.

Ontario Science Centre: the government failed to consult key stakeholders on the Science Centre move and made the decision based on ‘incomplete’ and insufficient information, driven by the need to justify a publicly-funded parking garage for a private luxury spa company

Northern Healthcare: 10 Northern hospitals closed their obstetrics/maternal health services between July 2022 and September 2023. Four remain closed, and three were closed for more than a year.

This government shows every day that they think they don’t need to consult with anyone or provide proper care for Ontarians as long as it makes their own wealthy insiders even richer. 

Despite Ford shutting down the Legislature to hide from his horrible record of corruption and incompetence, you have my word that the Ontario NDP will keep working hard every day on the issues that will make life better and more affordable for everyone.

I am wishing a very happy Hanukkah to our Jewish community members who began celebrating the Festival of Lights last night, a celebration that continues until next Friday. The story of an enduring light at the darkest time of the year at the heart of this festival is something that we can all learn from to honour the survival of the Jewish people and the resilience of humanity.

Over two thousand years ago, Jews lit the Temple menorah even though they knew it couldn't possibly burn long enough. Over the next eight nights, they witnessed a miracle. I think we could all use a reminder of that hope and light right now. Happy Chanukah and Chag Sameach! 

Thank you for your resilience. It is an honour to serve you.

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

Join your neighbours and proud New Democrats at the 519 Community Centre on Thursday, December 14, for the TCNDP Holiday Party.

Get ready for a fabulous dinner, prize giveaways, entertainment, festive cheer, and, of course, surprise VIP guests! 

Date: Thursday, December 14, 2023

Time: 6 PM - 8:30 PM

Location: The 519 Community Center, 519 Church Street, Ballroom

All are welcome, including Santa’s little helpers. Please register here to reserve your seats.

On Tuesday, I sent a letter to Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism outlining the concerns of many Indigenous and racialized queer business owners, especially those in the Church-Wellesely Village. These business owners should be eligible for the Government of Ontario's RAISE Grant. Still, many are worried about their eligibility because their businesses, from pharmacies to clothing and specialty retailers, include references and products relating to sex, sexuality, and sexual orientation. The Ford Conservatives need to grow up and stop codifying sex-negative attitudes. You can read my letter here.

I also spoke to the CBC about the issue and how it is affecting Indigenous and Racialized queer business owners - you can read that interview here. 

On Wednesday, MPP Jessica Bell and I joined No Demovictions Toronto members and tenants at 25 St Mary Street to introduce a new NDP motion calling for a moratorium on demolishing purpose-built rental buildings.

I have spoken to Ontario renters living in purpose-built rentals and worry that a developer will soon purchase their home to demolish it, given the speculative nature of the housing market. These rent-controlled buildings are some of the last affordable housing options in the province, but they are disappearing at alarming rates, with unaffordable investor-driven condos replacing them. In Toronto alone, there are currently more than 80 large buildings, accounting for 3,225 rental homes slated for demolition. In the middle of a housing crisis, this represents thousands of families who face an uncertain future with no place to go. Across Ontario, the picture becomes even more bleak, with even more families and their homes under threat and living in cities with local tenant protection laws that are weaker than Toronto's.

The Conservatives need to protect Ontario families and their homes - not bulldoze them over.

The proposed moratorium on demovictions would remain in effect until the provincial government guarantees fair compensation for tenants during construction so they can rent an apartment nearby during the entire construction period and permit the tenants to return to their rent-controlled home once construction is complete.

These strong renter protections exist in other fast-growing cities around Canada, like Burnaby, BC, and should be the policy here. Development should not be a zero-sum proposition. We can meet our housing supply needs and protect renters at the same time.

Frequent readers of this newsletter will know that I work closely with Tribunals Watch Ontario, a citizen watchdog group made up primarilty of retired tribunals workers and adjudicators who are dismayed and fired up about the erosion of tribunals infrastructure.

One of those incredible activists was Ron Ellis, described by his colleagues as "the heart and soul of our Tribunal Watch Ontario Steering Committee". Ron passed away last Sunday. 

Alec Farquhar, another incredible member of Tribunals Watch, wrote a moving tribute to Ron. I would like to share part of it here: 

Ron Ellis was a giant in the field of administrative justice, especially around adjudicative tribunals.  He was the founding Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal, now WSIAT.  But he was so much more to worker advocates, to the legal community, and to all those who support access to justice in our country.  We offer our deepest condolences and support to Ruth Ellis and the rest of Ron’s family and to his many friends and colleagues who mourn his passing.

Always at the center of Ron’s work was a belief that everyone deserved an administrative justice system which would provide an expert, fair, transparent and independent process to all those with claims or appeals.  This was of course a reasonable expectation for those who need to resort our adjudicative tribunals, but the reality has often fallen far short of this, as Ron documented in his important book called Unjust by Design..  And Ron spoke truth to power on these issues, sometimes at great personal cost.  He took a stand in 1997 for the independence of WCAT and that ended his term as Chair.

Ron combined intellectual rigour and a mastery of public policy with the ability to structure and lead major institutions.  His work ethic was extraordinary.  And he was a marvelous human being, in his family life and relations with friends and colleagues, with a lively enquiring mind and a great sense of humour.

We strive to honour Ron with our own continuing advocacy for the integrity and independence of adjudicative tribunals in Ontario, and especially for the principle that those most vulnerable, such as injured workers, have a right to access to justice.

Toronto Queer Market is back indoors in The 519's ballroom for their two-day long Holiday Market on Dec 9th and 10th! We have an amazing roster of 40 vendors exhibiting their wares from 11 AM - 4:30 PM on Saturday and 11 AM - 3:30 PM on Sunday in the beautiful ballroom of The 519 Community Center.

There will be a drag show from 2-3 PM with Gay Jesus, Lucinda Miu, and Ryder Toole; drinks, food and so many goodies to come see! And best of all, admission is free!

Make a day of it! We’ll also be at STACKT market (28 Bathurst St) from 1-6 PM on Saturday and Sunday as well with 25 different vendors each day. So head on over after to continue your shopping spree!

RSVP and receive updates about the market here!

Join the Regent Park community for the City's annual pancake breakfast at Regent Park Community Center! 

Enjoy pancakes and beverages, a visit from Santa Claus, kids crafts, and family games. 

When: Saturday, December 9th (tomorrow!) 10 AM - 2 PM

Where: Regent Park Community Center, 402 Shuter Street. 

Join Yonge Street Mission in bringing the magic of Christmas to over 450 families & 950 children facing hardship through YSM’s Toy Market

Donate online, mail in your toys, or drop them off in person. The deadline for donations is Wednesday, December 20.

Donate new toys in person or lend a helping hand at YSM’s Toy Market from Dec 14, 15 & 18-20 at 306 Gerrard Street East. Let's make this holiday unforgettable for every child!

Learn more about the toy market, preferred donations, and how to get involved here.

Be one of four people to Win 2 General Admission Tickets to Illuminarium Winter Wonderland at the Distillery. Compliments of the Distillery District Winter Village and the Corktown Residents and Business Association (CRBA).   

From Berkeley to River, Front to Shuter Streets: Historic Corktown main street businesses look forward to your visit and are ready to greet you.  

Contest Details: 

1. Follow @CorktownTO Instagram page
2. Snap a picture of your favourite decorated Corktown storefront (Berkeley to River Street) and tag @CorktownTO
3. Be notified via DM if you are the winner! Winners will be notified by December 18th, and tickets are valid until January 7th. 

Questions? Email [email protected] for more information.

Get into the spirit of giving with the 51 Division toy drive! Please bring new, unwrapped toys to be given to children in need in our communities.

Donations can be dropped off to 51 Division Police Station at 51 Parliament Street any time during the holiday season.

Join Friends of Regent Park for their Community Skate! 

When: Saturday, December 30, 1 PM - 3 PM

Where: Regent Park Ice Rink, 480 Shuter Street

FORP have reserved the City's skate lending library. Skates and helmets will be available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario is seeking nominees to fill the role of Poet Laureate of Ontario. Created in 2019 and named in memory of the late Gord Downie, this appointment is subject to the Poet Laureate of Ontario Act.

Ontario's Poet Laureate will be appointed for a two-year term as an Officer of the Legislative Assembly.

Learn More and Apply Here! 

The spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses is increasing as the weather gets colder and people stay indoors. Learn more about testing options near you here

This week, you likely heard about the “New Deal for Toronto” that Mayor Olivia Chow struck with Doug Ford. This historic agreement will go a long way to fixing the City’s budget shortfall and making long-overdue investments in Toronto. Mayor Chow secured new investments for transit, housing, and the unimaginable — uploading the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway to the province. The upload alone will save the city $1.2 billion in expenses over just the next three years. Previous Mayors have not been able to get a deal like this done. It is a testament to the strength of Mayor Chow that she has secured this victory for the City. 

If you would like to learn more about the New Deal for Toronto, you can read the joint press release, the full terms of reference document, and CBC’s thorough coverage.

But it wouldn’t be a week at Queen’s Park without Ford Conservatives trying to cover up their questionable dealings with controversial legislation. And so, the government tabled Bill 154, the “New Deal for Toronto Act,” on Monday. 

You might reasonably think that this proposed act codifies into law the recent terms of reference of the deal or the details broadly reported in the media. Alarmingly, Ford's Bill 154 confirms absolutely no new funding and makes no reference to uploading the highways.

Instead, this bill has two schedules. Schedule 1 requires that the Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto further discuss the themes of the New Deal for Toronto. It does not commit to anything, nor does it set out any agreements. You may be wondering, “Does the government need a bill passed in order to have a discussion?” The answer is, of course, no. Schedule 1 is window dressing meant to distract Ontarians from the actual point of the bill, which is Schedule 2. 

Schedule 2 gives this government extraordinary powers to sidestep and even break its own laws without any consequence in order to build a private luxury spa at Ontario Place. It also gives itself the power to limit the City of Toronto’s ability to sell or make other changes to the small part of Ontario place that the city owns. This confirms what we already knew: The fight for Ontario Place has always been at Queen’s Park. 

Bill 154 sets a dangerous precedent for how far Ford’s Conservatives will go to exempt themselves from provincial laws and avoid legal accountability. The bill focuses entirely on allowing Ford’s Conservatives to bypass various laws to fast-track the Ontario Place redevelopment while exempting themselves from any legal ramifications for damages they may cause.

• This bill exempts Ford's Ontario Place scheme from:
  • Environmental Assessment Act
  • Ontario Heritage Act
  • Environmental Bill of Rights
• It also prohibits lawsuits against the government with respect to anything done under this bill – including government misrepresentations, misconduct, misfeasance, bad faith, breach of trust or breach of fiduciary obligation
• Bill 154 gives the Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma the ability to issue Ministerial Zoning Orders, a planning-by-fiat power currently limited to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

I will be fighting this draconian and anti-democratic bill every step of the way. I debated against it in the Legislature yesterday and will continue to do so. 

I would love to hear your reactions to this bill as well as any stories you may have about Ontario Place. Please reply to this email with your stories – I will do my best to share them in the legislature. 

Its an honour to serve you, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

Join your neighbours and proud New Democrats at the 519 Community Centre on Thursday, December 14, for the TCNDP Holiday Party.

Get ready for a fabulous dinner, prize giveaways, entertainment, festive cheer, and, of course, surprise VIP guests! 

Date: December 14, 2023

Time: 6 PM - 8:30 PM

Location: The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church Street, Ballroom

All are welcome including Santa’s little helpers. Please register here to reserve your seats.

Yesterday, Ford’s Conservatives voted against giving Ontarians universal contraception. The bill, tabled by my colleague, MPP Jennie Stevens, was a common sense measure to lower barriers to accessing vital health care for so many, and a clear way to help lower costs amidst an affordability crisis.

Despite this setback, the fight for universal contraception access doesn’t end here. Your Official Opposition NDP team will keep advocating for this important measure until everyone in Ontario has access to the health care they need.

You can watch me speak in the Legislature about the importance of universally accessible contraception here. 

Yesterday was election day in Kitchener Centre and voters overwhelmingly rejected Doug Ford and his corrupt politics.

Our Ontario NDP candidate Debbie Chapman ran a strong campaign focused on the issues that mattered. Our NDP team from across the province turned up to support her, and we saw a huge number of students and university clubs come out because they all believe in Debbie and her values.

There’s always work to be done. As a team, we will reflect on the campaign. But the message from Kitchener voters is clear: After more than five years of Doug Ford, life has become harder and more expensive for everyone, except for his select insiders. 

Kitchener said no. They also said no to the Liberals, who held Kitchener Centre for 15 years before it went NDP orange in 2018. The Liberals fell to fourth place in yesterday’s by-election.

I join Debbie in congratulating Aislinn Clancy on her by-election win and look forward to meeting her in the Legislature soon.

Today is World AIDS Day, a chance to celebrate everyone working on the frontlines of HIV/AIDS and to recommit to do better for everyone living with HIV/AIDS. This World AIDS Day follows a year of rising homophobia and transphobia that has shown how tenuous gains towards social inclusion can be. Appropriately, the theme ‘Let Communities Lead’ stresses the importance of ensuring that the vulnerable communities overrepresented in the transmission of HIV/AIDS are the ones leading the delivery of service.

World AIDS Day reminds us that AIDS is not over. HIV/AIDS survivors deserve better public health education and ongoing mental, social, and medical support. People at risk need better access to testing and publicly funded pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Many communities need our government to do a better job at stepping up to mitigate and treat HIV/AIDS. Two-Spirit, Black, racialized, Trans communities, as well as women living with HIV/AIDS deserve better. Harm reduction advocates continue to struggle to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS without adequate government funding.

I, along with our whole Ontario NDP team, want the HIV/AIDS prevention community to know that we will continue to fight for you to get the funding and services you deserve. Thank you for all that you do and for all the lives you have saved.

Cabbagetown is an amazing community, so let's celebrate it! The Cabbagetown BIA is proud to present a day to celebrate the people and businesses that make Cabbagetown so special. We will be inviting the community to join us once again on Saturday, December 2nd, for Holiday in the Patch - a day of caroling, live music, photos with Santa, and lots of fun for the whole family! 

This fun FREE event takes place Saturday, December 2nd, 12 PM - 4 PM across The Cabbagetown BIA, along Parliament Street!

Visit Riverdale Farm for their annual holiday tree lighting tomorrow, Saturday, December 2nd, at 7 PM!

Light refreshments and abundant holiday cheer will be served. 

Enjoy an evening at Ontario’s Parliament Building! Enjoy guided tours, festive refreshments, merry meet-and-greets, holiday story time, and crafts. Take a photo by the trees and shop at the Legislative Assembly Gift Shop.

Monday, December 4, 2023, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Free. Registration required - click here to register now!

Questions? Email [email protected] 

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario is seeking nominees to fill the role of Poet Laureate of Ontario. Created in 2019 and named in memory of the late Gord Downie, this appointment is subject to the Poet Laureate of Ontario Act.

Ontario's Poet Laureate will be appointed for a two-year term as an Officer of the Legislative Assembly.

Learn More and Apply Here! 

Date: December 6th, 2023

Time: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Location: Daniels Spectrum

Do you have lived experience of homelessness? Interested in peer work but don’t have training or experience?

This winter, Dixon Hall and the Toronto Shelter Network are expanding their peer work program at Warming Centers. They have partnered with TSN’s Pipeline Project to offer free, low-barrier, paid training for anyone interested in working as a peer with warming center visitors. Once training is complete, participants will be able to work at Warming Centre this season.

To apply, simply attend the job fair on December 6th at Daniel’s Spectrum. Staff will help you fill out an application and answer any questions you may have. You do not need any prior training or experience to apply.

Do you or someone you know have long-COVID or never had COVID-19? Consider joining Sunnybrook’s Neurocovid study by completing the pre-screening survey here! Contact them at [email protected] or [email protected] with any questions.

The spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses is increasing as the weather gets colder and people stay indoors. Learn more about testing options near you here

Wednesday was National Housing Day and we had an incredible and action-packed day at Queen’s Park. 

My colleagues MPPs Jessica Bell, Chris Glover, and I were joined at the Legislature by more than 80 clients, workers, and advocates from affordable housing and shelter organizations. We held a press conference calling for the government to invest in deeply affordable housing, which you can watch here. 

During question period, the Ontario NDP caucus themed our questions around housing, asking about housing affordability, non-market housing solutions, and domestic violence shelters. You can watch me ask the government how they let the Landlord Tenant Board fall into crisis here. 

It is frustrating that this government is continuing to push the financialization of housing and cutting costs for for-profit housing providers without a dedicated plan to help non-profit or co-op housing organizations. Housing is a human right, not just an investment. We know that we need a mix of housing options that include deeply affordable, supportive, co-op, and non-profit models. We also need real rent control and to at least double ODSP and OW payments. 

So many of the pressures that we are experiencing in our communities and on our social services would be lessened if more of our most vulnerable and marginalized neighbours had secure housing and were lifted out of poverty. My ONDP colleagues and I will keep pushing for these proven solutions and lifting up the voices of experts like the ones we were joined by on Wednesday. 

Dreaming of housing and justice for all, 

Kristyn

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

Please save the date to join the Toronto Centre NDP for our annual holiday party on the evening of Thursday, December 14th. 

I will share details soon, but until then, get ready for great food, giveaways, festive cheer, and of course, excellent conversations with neighbours! 

There is a provincial by-election happening in Kitchener Centre right now and election day is this Thursday, November 30th! 

This is an NDP seat, but the race is going to be close. We need all the help we can get to keep Kitchener Centre Orange and elect Debbie Chapman. 

If you can make it down to Kitchener or make some phone calls from home for even an hour or two on Thursday it would be a huge help. If you need a ride please let me know by replying to this email. 

There is a municipal by-election happening in Scarborough Southwest right now! Advance polls are open this weekend and election day is this Thursday, November 30th! 

This race is incredibly important - it will decide whether the progressives and our mayor, Olivia Chow, hold the balance of power in at City Council. Our progressive champion in Scarborough Southwest is Kevin Rupasinghe. Kevin is an exciting young progressive who will be a strong voice for Scarborough. 

If you can make it to Scarborough or make some phone calls from home for even an hour or two this weekend or on Thursday it would be a huge help.

On Monday, a wonderful group of trans folks and their allies came to Queen’s Park to mark Trans Day of Remembrance by raising the Trans flag. On this solemn day, we remember those gone too soon and recommit to creating a world where every Trans person is valued and safe.

You can watch the flag raising here:

The Ontario NDP will always fight for the rights and respect our Trans community deserves. 

Thank you, Toronto Pflag, Cheri DiNovo, and our other guests for joining us. Your message of parents protecting Trans kids with love and support is more critical than ever.

Watch me ask Doug Ford to take action and protect trans communities here:

Soleiman Faqiri died while in the custody of the provincial correctional system after a mental health crisis. He was beaten, pepper sprayed, and restrained face-down, leading to his death. This violence is unacceptable and heartbreaking. His family is still waiting for truth and justice in his case. 

Ontarians deserve systemic change in our justice systems. And people in mental health crisis deserve help, not violence. You can watch me ask Doug Ford to fix our justice system so that another tragedy like this doesn't happen again here.

Internal government documents show that on November 19, 2021, the Attorney General was notified of an imminent judicial vacancy in Cornwall. Two years later, that vacancy is still not filled. Is the Attorney General stalling because his conservative candidate choice was not on the list of qualified recommendations?

This government has a shameful record of placing their less-than-qualified friends in cushy political appointments. It is frustrating to see this continue even after multiple bombshell scandals from this government. 

You can watch me ask the Attorney General why he hasn't filled this vacancy here.

Tenants at 30 Charles Street East are being renovicted and harassed by their horrible landlord. I was proud to join my colleague, MPP Jessica Bell, to stand alongside tenants and their call for justice. 

If you see Harrington ⁠Housing — a "student" housing provider ⁠— start to take over units in your building, contact my office at [email protected]. Harrington Housing is abusing tenant rights AND city bylaws ⁠— we must hold them accountable! 

Watch a video of the demonstration outside of 30 Charles St E here.

I am thrilled that on Thursday, our Leader, Marit Stiles, shared the Ontario NDP’s plan to expand OHIP to cover prescription contraception and remove cost barriers that limit people's ability to choose their reproductive health and family planning.

Do you have a story about how access to contraception affected your life? Or the impact that free contraception would have made for you? Share your story here!

Sign the petition to support access to free contraception here! 

I couldn’t agree more with Marit when she said, “This is an exciting and long overdue initiative that I’m so proud our NDP team is putting forward. This is a truly non-partisan and common-sense way to ensure that everyone who needs it has full access to reproductive planning and choices.”

NDP MPP Jennie Stevens tabled this motion for International Women’s Day in 2023, which will be debated at Queen’s Park on November 29, 2023. Stay tuned for updates! 

If enacted, this change would follow in the footsteps of the provinces of British Colombia and Manitoba. BC launched their program recently, and in the first six months, it was accessed by thousands. Manitoba announced their plan just last week, and I am excited to hear about their outcomes. So many incredible advocates are working to make sure Ontario joins this leading initiative, and the Ontario NDP is standing with them to make it happen.”

Cabbagetown is an amazing community, so let's celebrate it! The Cabbagetown BIA is proud to present a day to celebrate the people and businesses that make Cabbagetown so special. We will be inviting the community to join us once again on Saturday, December 2nd, for Holiday in the Patch - a day of caroling, live music, photos with Santa, and lots of fun for the whole family! 

This fun FREE event takes place Saturday, December 2nd, 12 PM - 4 PM across The Cabbagetown BIA, along Parliament Street!

Get into the spirit of giving with toy drives happening in our communities. Please bring new, unwrapped toys to be given to children in need in our communities.

Drop off new, unwrapped toys to 51 Division any time during the holiday season.

OR 

Support the CP24 CHUM Christmas WISH toy drive to bring a little extra joy to children in our community this holiday season.

Help Santa and his elves by donating a new, unwrapped toy at Queen's Park Circle and Berczy Park during The Original Santa Claus Parade on November 26th. 

The 21st annual Regent Park Film Festival is finally here! The festival runs from November 23 - 26, so get out and see a film this weekend. 

See their full lineup and schedule and get free tickets through their website here.

On November 29th, join Café ZUZU for the Queer East Social Fa-la-la-bulous Festive Market will bring together local Queer & Trans organizations to mingle with like-minded individuals and support Queer owned and/or operated businesses while having fun!

Complimentary: Polaroid Photo Room & local Queer DJ spinning pure honey.

On the Beats: DJ ThirdEye

Special Drag Performance: Miss Renona & Miss Shay Dee

Artist Selection: Draw-A-Dot Programmed

Market open: November 29, 4 PM - 10 PM

Social & bar open: November 29, 6 PM - 10 PM

Location: Café ZUZU at 555 Dundas Street East

12+ artists, retailers, bespoke crafts-people, paired perfectly for the gifting season

Event is Rain or Shine

Register for a free ticket here!

November is Women's Abuse and Family Violence Prevention Month. If you or a woman you know is facing violence, the Assaulted Women's Helpline does incredible work to support women who are in violent or abusive situations. You can visit them at AWHL.org or by phone at 416-863-0511

Intimate Partner Violence has been declared an epidemic in 30+ municipalities, and I am working hard to have it declared Ontario-wide. If you have stories that you would like me to share in the legislature please reply to this email. 

Dear Friend, 

There are only four weeks left in this legislative session before the government recesses the Legislature for the winter holidays. This is always a chaotic time. The government is trying to get as many bills passed as possible in the next few weeks and I am concerned about what they will contain. They often save their most controversial and problematic legislation for this time of year because they know Ontarians are distracted by family and community commitments. During this time I will be using this newsletter to keep you updated on what the government is proposing and share ways that you can take action, so watch this space! 

The issues that have been keeping me up at night recently are public safety and the crisis in Ontario’s courts. In the past few months, we have seen multiple serious cases with a high degree of merit be thrown out because the trial was delayed for too long, and the accused was denied a decision within a reasonable timeframe (usually 18 months in Ontario). The cases thrown out include the sexual assault of a woman named Emily, who has bravely spoken out publicly, a sexual assault of a minor, and a drunk driving charge. This is unacceptable. Survivors who come forward are already re-traumatized by the legal process, and now they are enduring that trauma without the closure of a resolution to their case. If you would like to learn more about these cases and this issue, journalist Abby O’Brien has thoughtfully covered this story. Please note that some of the details of these cases are very upsetting. 

Court staff have been calling out this crisis for years, citing the amalgamation of courts into the Ontario Court of Justice Toronto, the lack of safety measures in the building, and especially inadequate staffing, as the reasons for these delays. Court workers have been telling the government for years that staffing would be a problem at the new courthouse, and the government is making investments to improve the issue, but it feels like a too-little-too-late reaction that should have started long ago.

I cannot overstate how important it is for people to have trust in their justice system. When people do absolutely everything right, like Emily did, and their case concerning the most brutal moments of their life is thrown out due to lack of staff and closed courtrooms, that trust begins to erode. This is wholly unacceptable and something I will continue to fight in the Legislature as your Attorney General critic. 

It is terrible that all of this is happening against a backdrop of rising hatred in our communities, especially as we all contend with the ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel. I continue to call for a ceasefire, peace in the region, and hope for the safety of everyone caught in between.

Instances of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, Transphobia, anti-Arab violence, and more are at record-high levels. And yet, the Ford government has no specific plans to counter the spread of hate in Ontario. Every impacted community should have their own unique action plan from this government, and those plans should be integrated to work together. We know that many of the disparate types of hate that are rising in our province stem from the same alt-right and radical conservative forces and that people’s intersecting identities often open them up to multiple types of hate at once. We need strategies that reflect those realities. 

I know many of you are experiencing rising hate in your communities. Doug Ford needs to hear about this. He will not take real action to address rising levels of hate unless he receives massive public pressure to do so. Please email him and CC my office with your stories, concerns, and calls to action. 

If you witness a hate crime, it is crucial that you report it. If instances of hate are not counted, action will not be taken. If you witness an emergency or life-threatening situation, please call 911. For anonymous, non-emergency reporting, you can create a report with Crime Stoppers. The City of Toronto has also helpfully consolidated many resources for countering hate here. 

We keep each other safe and must speak up when we see discrimination. Thank you to everyone supporting their communities during this challenging time. It is critical work. 

In solidarity, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

This upcoming Monday, November 20, is the Trans Day of Remembrance. It is a day to remember our Trans siblings who are no longer with us and to re-commit ourselves to the task of ending transphobia in our communities. 

The Ontario Legislative Assembly is holding a flag-raising at noon to mark the occasion, followed by a reception hosted by the Ontario NDP Caucus and PFLAG.

The public is welcome to join the flag raising, taking place at the flag poll to the west of the Legislative Assembly’s main doors. If you would like to join us for the reception afterward, please RSVP here.

I am grateful to Jagmeet Singh for supporting Trans Awareness Week by joining community members at the 519 on Wednesday. His commitment to amplifying these vital conversations is so uplifting. I know that together, we will create safer spaces, advocate for inclusive policies, and promote acceptance and respect for transgender and non-binary people. 

For Trans Awareness Week, White Ribbon Canada launched a powerful new campaign, Short Life Stories, which focuses on the intersection of transphobia and gender-based violence.

70% of trans youth report experiencing some form of sexual harassment or violence. I’m proud to support White Ribbon and its mission to end all forms of gender-based violence while promoting gender equity, healthy relationships, and a new vision of masculinities. Learn more about the movement here.

Free parking along Parliament Street during prayer times has been a long time coming, and now it is here!

Thanks to collaborative efforts with Councillor Moise, mosque attendees at Masjid Omar Bin Khatab and Masjidur Rahmah will no longer have to worry about getting a parking ticket while practicing their faith. This victory makes our city more equitable, as Christians have enjoyed free Sunday parking near their churches for many years. Congratulations to the community for your successful advocacy.

On Thursday, we marked Louis Riel Day. We remembered his legacy and his contribution to Canadian history and the North-west Resistance for the Métis peoples. I was honoured to participate in the Métis Flag Raising at Toronto City Hall alongside Mayor Olivia Chow and representatives from the Toronto & York Region Métis Council and the Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario. Thank you for welcoming me so warmly.

It was a genuine honour to witness the name unveiling of the new Dr. Gordon Chong Park at 60 Howard Street in St James Town. Dr. Chong was a veteran politician and community leader. Sharing this occasion with his family, friends, community members, Park staff, and Councillor Moise was especially meaningful.

On November 29th, join Café ZUZU for the Queer East Social Fa-la-la-bulous Festive Market will bring together local Queer & Trans organizations to mingle with like-minded individuals and support Queer owned and/or operated businesses while having fun!

Complimentary: Polaroid Photo Room & local Queer DJ spinning pure honey.

On the Beats: DJ ThirdEye

Special Drag Performance: Miss Renona & Miss Shay Dee

Artist Selection: Draw-A-Dot Programmed

Market open: November 29, 4 PM - 10 PM

Social & bar open: November 29, 6 PM - 10 PM

Location: Café ZUZU at 555 Dundas Street East

12+ artists, retailers, bespoke crafts-people, paired perfectly for the gifting season

Event is Rain or Shine

Register for a free ticket here!

Inspired by the West African festival which is a masked performance in veneration of the society’s ancestral mothers, "Gélédé Queens" is a multi-media experience that emphasizes gender-bending, “African Drag” and Vogue as an artistic expression. Using documentary, fashion and performance, Destinie Adélakun rebuilds and explores the truths that have been denied and the apparency of gender nonconformity in West-African mythologies. The work celebrates self-expression and the commonalities of the diaspora that were lost in the oceans during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

When: Wednesday-Saturday until December 30, 2023, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Where: The Market Gallery  95 Front St E, 2nd Floor

Cost: Free

Join the Toronto History Museums as Jenn Forgie (Métis/Settler woman, artist, writer and coach born and living in Tkaronto) leads you in a journal-based workshop aimed at giving you the tools to express your thoughts, emotions, dreams and fears in meaningful, nurturing ways. The practice of journaling is a sacred one. It supports our mental, physical and emotional well-being and it can be the reminder, companion, confidante we need for honouring our own light within, especially during the darker times of life. This workshop is for anyone who wants to tap into their creativity and build confidence...all through journaling by handwriting. All levels are welcome.

Toronto History Museums delivers a series of programs from November 1, 2023, to January 8, 2024, designed to embrace the spirit of light, love, joy and celebration through light-based public art activations, music, workshops, food, culture, storytelling, and events as part of the Lots of Light programming

When: Thursdays, November 30 and December 7, 2023

Event Time(s): 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Where: The Market Gallery,  95 Front St E. 2nd Floor

Cost: Free

Reservations / Advance Tickets are required

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (416) 392-7604

Are you a high school student living in TCHC housing? Do you want to work in medicine or cardiac surgery? Register for TCHC’s high school mentorship program that supports the next generation of students in grades 10-12 who see themselves as future surgeons!

Register for the info session or apply directly before the deadline.

When: January 6 to February 17, 2024.

Where: Virtual and in-person at St. Michael’s Hospital

Info session: Saturday, December 2, 2023, 1 PM - 2 PM

Registration contact: Stacy Golding - 416-989-6932

Application Deadline: December 15, 2023.

Click here to apply now! 

Unity Roots is a group of people from minority communities that come together, participate, collaborate, build connections through educational workshops, and to discuss issues that arise in our communities. 

Drop-in programs run from November 3 to December 22, 2023, on Fridays from 10 AM - 11:30 AM at 40 Oak Street, Toronto.

For more information, call or email Isharelle McIntosh at 647-4234 x 274 or [email protected]

Just yesterday, the Ontario Government tabled their Fall Economic Statement. It was incredibly underwhelming and does nothing to meaningfully address the cost of living, housing, and healthcare crises that we find ourselves in. It maintains the status quo when what people in Ontario need are bold solutions to help us through these tough times. 

Instead of making investments in our schools, hospitals, public housing, or social supports, Ford decided to add $2.5 billion to his contingency slush fund, bringing the fund up to $5.7 billion. 

Ontarians expect and deserve more from their government, and this budget simply doesn’t meet the moment. 

I, along with my colleagues in the Ontario NDP, will continue bringing positive solutions to the Legislature to show this government what is possible with political will and the wellbeing of Ontarians in mind. 

In Solidarity,

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

The horrors and violence persist in Palestine and Israel this week. I have spent this week watching the images pouring out of the region with grief, rage, and a heavy heart. This week, I spent many hours speaking with constituents who called my office to share their thoughts on the conflict and personal connections to the region. My thoughts are with everyone with family and friends in Israel and Palestine. I can only imagine what it is like to fear for the safety of your loved ones every day, let alone receive horrible news, and live with that pain from so far away. 

I am very proud of my Federal NDP colleagues who have taken the boldest, most humanity-first stance on this conflict, calling for a ceasefire since October 11. The NDP remains the only major party in North America to do so. I continue to echo their calls, including their most recent ones, that the Federal government do the following:

• Call for an immediate ceasefire
• Demand unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza
• Ensure all Canadians can safely leave the region
• Support ICC and ICJ investigation into the situation in Israel and Palestine
• Halt arms sales to Israel and work with partners to end illegal arms transfers to Hamas
• Advocate for an end to the occupation of the Palestinian territories and work toward a two-state solution
• Continue to work with partners to counter-terrorism in the region
• Invest in building a just and sustainable peace for Palestinians and Israelis

Email the Prime Minister and all Conservative and Liberal MPs to demand that your voice be heard. In Toronto Centre, our local MP is the Hon. Marci Ien.

My Ontario NDP colleague, Deputy Leader MPP Doly Begum called for a ceasefire – I encourage you to watch her heartfelt message here also released an excellent letter to Justin Trudeau today that I wholly echo. Here is just one part of the powerful letter: 

“As a country, we have a responsibility to acknowledge the current and violent campaign of collective punishment against innocent men, women, and children in the Gaza Strip. Doing so would allow us to address the decades of suffering under an illegal occupation in Palestine. Israelis and Palestinians have a right to live in peace and mutual self-determination, and as peace-loving Canadians who enjoy democracy and freedom, we have an obligation to be a voice of reason and work towards lasting peace in the region and an end to the ongoing and decades-long siege of Gaza.”

By this time, many of you will have seen the resignation letter published by the Director of the New York office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. I am deeply concerned about what Mr. Mokhiber had to say and we should all strongly heed his words. I am encouraged to see so many of my constituents engaged on this issue and I hope that you continue to raise your voices for a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid, immediate release of hostages, safe passage home for all Canadians, and more. 

We are also seeing the ripple effects of this violence right here in Ontario, where Jewish, Arab, and Muslim communities have seen a rise in hatred. There is no excuse for harassment and targeting of Jewish-owned businesses and community members. Muslim residents, especially women, should never have to worry about harassment while walking in their neighbourhoods. Mosques and synagogues must be defended equally against threats of violence. Reports of hate speech and hate crimes must be stopped and not allowed to spread. As Ontarians, we must stand together against antisemitism, anti-Palestinian racism, and anti-Muslim hate. Thank you to everyone who is doing their part during this horrific time. 

I know many of you are feeling hurt and confused about the removal of MPP Sarah Jama from the Ontario NDP Caucus. She brought crucial perspectives to our caucus that deserve to be heard, and I would encourage a facilitated way forward that would be agreeable to all involved. A week is a long time in politics, and anything can change when good people sit down to work on solutions together. Teamwork is always based on the foundational principles of trust and mutual respect.

I want to clarify that MPP Jama was removed from caucus because she broke trust with the Leader, not because she called for a ceasefire, as the provincial caucus joined the Federal NDP in those calls. Despite repeated best efforts to work together, and with continued support from the Leader, her senior staff, and the house team, MPP Jama acted independently of them, which had a detrimental impact on our collective work as a caucus. 

MPP Jama will continue to represent Hamilton Centre as an Independent MPP in the legislature, and she should be allowed to speak in the parliamentary chambers. It’s why our entire caucus voted against the Conservatives’ extreme motion of censure. We do not believe the government should use its majority to strip MPP Jama of her right to speak on behalf of her community. Not a single provincial Liberal voted to oppose MPP Jama’s censure. The Ontario NDP caucus is the only one who voted to protect MPP Jama’s right to speak. MPP Jama does not deserve what Doug Ford and his Conservative government did to her. 

I will continue speaking honestly with constituents, party members, and friends about this issue to understand their concerns and share more about my understanding of the situation. That work is ongoing and I understand that the harm caused by this persists. Ford's Conservatives want to see our party divided and distracted from their corruption. They will be disappointed, as we will work hard daily and without rest to ensure New Democrats and our supporters know our caucus will strive to improve and build upon the strong foundation of our party's founders and contributing members.

This week, 7,000 pages of internal documents were obtained by an FOI filed by Environmental Defence and Ecojustice. These documents show an alarming level of political involvement in land use planning policies in Ontario. They also question the Premier and former Minister Clark’s testimonies to the Integrity Commissioner and Auditor General. These documents prove that a culture of corruption and collusion prevailed in the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to appease developer requests.

From the beginning, I and your Official Opposition NDP, have said that the rot goes all the way to the top. Unfortunately, these documents bear that out. 

These documents show stunning evidence of political staff – not bureaucrats – directing Greenbelt land removals and land-use planning policies against the advice of planning experts and the desire of municipalities. This is an incredibly inappropriate level of political involvement in land use planning decisions.

The Premier’s hand-picked Chief-of-Staff, Ryan Amato, instructed senior Housing Ministry staff to “keep their mouths shut” as media began reporting on Greenbelt land removals. It is absolutely clear that there is no way Mr. Amato did what he did without the Premier’s knowledge or authorization. This scandal lies at the feet of the Premier. 

This massive trove of documents raises many questions. The most important one is: Did Doug Ford or his former Housing minister lie to the Integrity Commissioner and the Auditor General under oath?

In more government scandal news, the Ontario  Auditor General just announced that they are conducting a value-for-money audit on Ford’s $650M+ luxury spa plan for Ontario Place. The audit was requested by Ontario Place For All, Waterfront For All, and Architectural Conservancy Ontario. I am proud that the Ontario NDP wrote to the Auditor General in support of this request. 

I agree with my colleague Chris Glover that the news of the audit means the site preparation underway should be paused. The Conservatives must immediately halt the destruction of more than 850 trees and critical habitats for species-at-risk. All bulldozing must be halted until the audit is complete. 

I am thrilled that after a year of successful pilots, Toronto Community Crisis Services is expanding to cover the whole city by the end of 2024, becoming the fourth municipal service, along with Fire, Paramedic, and Police services. 

This innovative program launched in early 2022, the TCCS is a non-police-led alternative model of crisis response for Toronto residents. The 24/7 service provides a response that is community-based, client-centered, and trauma-informed, to support non-mental health crisis calls and wellness checks.

Key first-year TCCS program data includes:

• Successfully diverted 78% of calls received from 911, with no police involvement.
• Crisis teams completed 2,936 post-crisis follow-ups with clients and connected approximately 40% (1,160) of service users with ongoing case management supports.
• 95% of clients were satisfied or very satisfied with the service they received when the TCCS responded.
• 90% of clients indicated that the service positively impacted their perception of community safety and wellbeing.

Thank you to aloof the community members who lobbied and organized for this critical community service to be created!

Last week I joined No Demovictions Toronto to call on Doug Ford to stop the mass displacement of tens of thousands of working-class tenants across Toronto and Ontario. 

The Conservatives, through Bill 23, have made it easy for speculators to demolish perfectly good apartments, evict thousands of people, and replace them with luxury condos. Demolitions are not solving the housing crisis; they’re making it worse.

Watch the press conference and hear directly from tenants here.

Bail is broken in Ontario, and Ford won’t fix it. This week, I stood up in the Legislature to share how a more robust and well-funded provincial bail and justice system would improve community safety and access to justice in Ontario. 

Ford loves to blame the Federal government for our poor bail system, instead of implementing provincial solutions that have been laid out for him

People on ODSP, OW & GAINS receive an expensive bill in the mail every time they use an ambulance. It is unjust for some of the poorest people in our province to be paying for this service. 

Thank you to fellow Toronto Centre resident, Katias Yee for organizing and collecting signatures for the petition. It was important to share your story and advocate for vulnerable people punished by an indiscriminate system.

Last week, 4 people including 3 children aged 6, 7, and 12, were fatally shot in an act of intimate partner and family violence.

I stood up in the Legislature twice this week to ask Doug Ford why he won’t listen to survivors & adopt the Renfrew Inquest recommendations by declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic TODAY. Already 63 municipalities have done so. Ford must follow their lead. 

Last week I asked the Ford government to increase permanent, sustainable funding for Pride festivals across Ontario. Prides bring joy, community, and significant economic gains to their host regions, and yet are forced to deal with unpredictable and inadequate funding year to year. 

Permanent and sustainable funding is needed now more than ever as we see the rise of 2SLGBTQI+ hate across the province. 

Calling all Bloor East residents. The Bloor East Neighbourhood Association is hosting it’s annual AGM virtually on November 8 at 7 PM. All are welcome and I look forward to speaking with you then.

Register HERE

Join BENA and hear from Toronto Center and University-Rosedale politicians, as well as updates from Post Media Place, Rogers. St. Andrews United Church, and the BENA President (e.g. neighbourhood projects, including redevelopment) 

AGM details and documents are posted on the BENA website

Want to submit questions or comments? Please email them to [email protected].

The Annual Cabbagetown Remembrance Day Ceremony will be held by the Cabbagetown BIA next Saturday. 

Date: November 11, 2023

Time: 10:15 AM (ceremony to begin promptly at 10:30 AM) 

Location: East corner of Carlton St. and Parliament St. in Cabbagetown, Toronto

Program: Readings, Trumpet performances, and moment of silence, followed by light refreshments. 

Following the ceremony, Gilles Huot of the Cabbagetown Preservation Association will invite those interested on a tour of military graves at the Toronto Necropolis, where people can respectfully dispose of their poppies on the graves of fallen soldiers.

I will be participating in another Remembrance Day event at old City Hall at the same time, where I will be laying the Ontario wreath at the cenotaph. However, you choose to honour the fallen soldiers and those in service please do take a moment on November 11 to give gratitude and reflections to their sacrifice. Lest we forget.

The Ontario Legislature’s Youth Arts Program celebrates the incredible artistic talents of young Ontarians aged 12-18. 

Each year, youth from across the province are invited to display their works of art throughout the Legislative Building, showcasing their creativity and diverse artistic abilities. Artwork submitted consists of various media, including photography; sculptures; ceramics, and pottery; drawings in ink, pencil and charcoal; acrylic, oil and watercolour paintings.

Applications will be accepted from October 10 to November 8, 2023.

From November 6 to 12th, Met Radio is holding their annual Fund Drive to raise funds to support new and creative live programming at the station. With your help, they will be able to provide workshops, training, and additional support to volunteers who create this programming as well as honorariums to artists who perform at the station. You can learn more and donate at funddrive.ca, and tune in to 1280 AM or at metradio.ca all week long to hear lots of special live radio programming!

Do you enjoy working with and inspiring youth? Are you passionate about building equitable STEM futures? The Canadian Association for Girls in Science is recruiting volunteers to support its STEM programs.

CAGIS is an award-winning not-for-profit organization that supports interest in Science, Technology, Trades, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) among girls and gender-diverse youth, ages 7-17. CAGIS Volunteers are parents, teachers, post-secondary students, STEM professionals, and other interested members of the community. They support our work by helping to plan, organize, and run our programs.

Find out more and sign up HERE

This past week has been horrifying, complicated, and scary for so many people in our communities. 

I am mortified and heartbroken by the violence in Israel and Palestine. I am grieving alongside everyone who has been affected during this week of brutal violence. My own sister, an employee with Air Canada, was working in Tel Aviv during the initial hours when the war broke out. Panic and fear gripped me as over the phone she relayed the awful experience felt on the ground. She and her colleagues participated in their hotel's safety drills along with other guests as they awaited an aircraft to bring them home. Our family was relieved when my exhausted sister returned home on the last Air Canada flight out of Tel Aviv on Sunday night.

The terrorist attacks by Hamas on thousands of innocent Israeli civilians are unjustifiable. I am shocked by the brutality, missile attacks, kidnappings, and targeting of civilians including the elderly and children. These are war crimes and must be prosecuted. I call for the immediate safe return of all hostages and call on the government of Canada to do everything in its power to ensure the release of Canadians among the captives.

Israel’s military operation into Gaza commenced several days ago and continues now. Innocent civilians in Gaza are caught in a horrific cycle of violence; like the Israeli civilians killed over the past few days, Gazans are victims of Hamas’ brutality. Israel’s bombardment of civilian homes and infrastructure in Gaza, where over half the population are children, has killed hundreds of Palestinians with entire families wiped out. Israel’s total blockade of Gaza, stopping the flow of food, fuel, water, electricity, and medical supplies, as well as the lack of a humanitarian corridor out of Gaza, is causing massive suffering and casualties. Canada must urgently insist that Israel respect international law and protect the lives of innocent Palestinian civilians who bear no responsibility for Hamas’ terror.

Jewish Canadians and Palestinian Canadians are terrified, devastated, and worried for family and friends. I share that despair and worry what the days to come may bring.

In the past few days I have also seen people around the world, including some here in Canada, celebrate attacks on civilians. This is abhorrent and has profoundly hurt Jewish and Palestinian members of our community. Violence against civilians is never justified. Community spaces important to Toronto’s Jewish communities have been threatened. We have seen racist anti-Palestinian vandalism and messages equating all Palestinians to Hamas and encouraging genocide, including shocking calls by members of the Israeli Parliament for a new Nakba. This too is unacceptable. In these dark times, we must treat each other with compassion and empathy and recognize our common humanity.

A decades-long cycle of violence has already taken the lives of too many Palestinians and Israelis. This year has been brutal for all in the region; with an extreme right-wing Israeli government and the absence of real democratic Palestinian leadership, and with the dangerous influence of external states like Iran, there is no clear pathway to peace.

Canada and the international community must urgent push for a ceasefire, a humanitarian aid corridor to save innocent lives, and work towards a sustainable solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace, security, and mutual self-determination.

And that solution can only be political. There is no possible military solution to this decades-long conflict.

I am calling on our federal government to do everything in its power to ensure the protection of civilians and respect for international law. Canada must now support international justice efforts by the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes by all military actors in Israel-Palestine. All war crimes, by all parties to this conflict, must be prosecuted.

Our collective focus must now go to building the conditions of a just peace in the region. The international community, Canada included, must work towards a credible peace process that will finally bring peace and security to all in the region, while respecting the humanity and rights of all civilians, Israeli and Palestinian.

I stand with all people in Israel and Palestine who yearn for peace, freedom and security.

May we achieve this peace in our lifetimes.

Kristyn

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

Today I joined with local business owners and advocates to call on the Federal government to fix the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program. You can watch the full press conference here.

During the height of the pandemic, CEBA was a lifeline for small businesses. It allowed small businesses to stay solvent, paying their rent and keeping their staff employed. On September 14, 2023, the federal government – after a long wait – announced an 18-day extension to the forgivable loan deadline from December 31 to January 18. If businesses do not repay their loan in full by this deadline, they are no longer eligible for the up to $20,000 in loan forgiveness offered by the Federal government for on-time repayment.

An 18-day extension is utterly useless. Small businesses across Ontario are still struggling. COVID-19 lockdowns hit them hard, even as communities rallied around them. This botched announcement has been an enormous letdown to the small business community. Julie Kwiecinski, CFIB’s Director of Provincial Affairs for Ontario shared that 87% of small businesses that took out a CEBA loan told CFIB they need this extension

The federal government has upended the helpful and timely CEBA program and I am asking them to fix it. Graham Hnatiw, owner of the Old Spaghetti Factory said it best: “The reality is that the government is telling businesses that can’t repay the loan in the next 100 days to take on another loan from a bank at a much higher interest rate and overall payment in order to secure the forgivable portion. This is not realistic or fair.”

I was glad to be joined by small business owners and advocates here today to flesh out the true cost of not extending these loans. Right now, CEBA is a life raft for small businesses.  As a provincial representative, I cannot stand by and watch it become a deadweight that drags our main streets underwater and into further debt. 

Watch and share my full press conference here! 

In response to an Ontario NDP request, the office of the Auditor General has confirmed that they are investigating the Ford Conservatives’ process for selecting and approving Ministerial Zoning Orders (MZOs). I welcome the eventual report that will help shine light on this process.

I believe that Ford’s routine use of MZOs has created a “two-tier” planning system where certain favoured insiders can bypass the normal rules and due diligence required of everyone else.

With Ford’s Greenbelt grab, we’ve seen a troubling pattern of corruption and preferential treatment for well-connected land speculators. People have questions about whether that pattern extends to other decisions – such as urban boundaries and this government’s frequent use of MZOs. I am committed to answering these questions and bringing ethics and transparency back to Queen’s Park.

The RCMP has launched a criminal investigation into the Ford government’s $8.3 billion Greenbelt land swap. This is a huge victory for all Ontarians who pushed back against the removal of lands from the Greenbelt and won! 

I am proud that Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles and our team have kept up the pressure on this issue. Our requests launched the Auditor General and Integrity Commissioner's investigations into this corruption scandal. And now the RCMP will be able to use their considerable scope to investigate even further. 

It is shameful that Ontario’s Premier is under criminal investigation – that there is enough evidence that this investigation was launched. This Conservative government is spiraling out of control. 

For over a year, sign after sign has pointed towards a cash-for-access culture of corruption and collusion at the heart of how this government makes decisions, putting the private interests of a select few of their insiders ahead of everyone else. I hope that this investigation will get us even more answers. 

This week I spoke to the Investigative Journalism Foundation to share my insights into the patterns I have seen with this Conservative government’s patronage appointments. I have been pointing out for months that the majority of tribunal appointees have close ties to Ontario’s Conservative Party. I am glad that the pattern is beginning to be recognized widely. 

While tribunals across the province continue to experience high backlogs of cases and increased wait times for people seeking justice, this report reveals that six out of nine appointed chairs of Ontario’s tribunals have either donated money to, served as a high-ranking staffer for, or run for political office under the banner of a Canadian conservative party.

Ford is continuing to prioritize cronyism and the bank accounts of his friends over helping everyday Ontarians. Stacking Ontario’s tribunals with Conservative insiders is eroding people’s trust in the fairness of our tribunals system. I will not stand by while that happens.

The Ford government has been corrupting the political process ever since they took office in 2018. This is not new, but it is deeply concerning. I am glad to continue to stand with Tribunals Watch and to join them in calling for an independent Adjudicative Tribunal Justice Council. Yesterday’s report only makes this call more urgent.

Next week I will be proud to join my colleagues in the Ontario NDP in the Legislature to table a motion to save Ontario Place. I will update you on the outcome in my next newsletter and will be posting information about the motion on my social media accounts throughout the week. 

I am looking forward to speaking to this motion. Ontario Place deserves to be saved. It’s true that it deserves some love, care, and investment to live up to its full potential, but the government is going about it all wrong. This government should listen to the people of Ontario by holding public consultations about the direction of Ontario Place. That is what we need. What we don’t need is a massive private, for-profit spa on public land, subsidized to the tune of $650 million public dollars. 

We also don’t need a government that makes deals in back rooms, refuses to release business cases, or cares more about making their friends wealthy off of public assets than about creating a province where everyone thrives.

Join me and Ontario Place for All on Monday, October 16th from 2:30 PM- 4 PM for their rally on the South Lawn of Queen's Park 

Sign the petition to keep Ontario Place Public here! 

Information is becoming more clear about how to get a new COVID-19 booster dose in Toronto. My office has heard multiple anecdotal reports of community members who successfully walked in to the Metro Hall vaccination clinic and received a new updated booster shot without an appointment. I obviously recommend that everyone book an appointment, but feel this information is worth sharing. 

Pharmacies are expected to begin receiving the new booster shot ⁠— this new shot closely matches the COVID-19 variants circulating in Ontario ⁠— over the next week. 

Starting on Oct. 31, all Toronto residents will be eligible to receive their updated COVID-19 vaccine and annual flu shot at the same time at fixed-site vaccination clinics, pharmacies, or with primary health care providers. Members of the general public will be able to book an appointment through Toronto Public Health starting on Oct. 25 and only one appointment will be required to get both the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot.

Toronto Public Health encourages all Torontonians to get their COVID-19 and flu vaccines as soon as it is their turn. Getting vaccinated is an easy and effective way to be protected. Both vaccines are free for people six months of age and older who live, work or attend school in Ontario. 

Public health confirmed that while an OHIP card is not required at TPH clinics, it may be requested by other health care providers. 

The provincial government’s Housing Services Act is requiring housing providers to review eligibility of applicants and to take action to cancel applications if there is no response from applicants to outreach attempts. In order to help applicants to streamline their application process, complete annual reviews, view housing options, and connect with the City of Toronto’s RGI team, the city has created an online portal called MyAccesstoHousingTO.

The City is working to connect with applicants to ensure they register and are active on the portal. There are approximately 30,000 applicants who aren’t yet registered on the online portal, leaving them at risk of having their applications cancelled. If you need assistance with registration, please go to Help for RGI Applicants.

With the motions adopted on September 28th by the Planning and Housing Committee meeting, Access to Housing will not cancel any unregistered RGI applications until City Council has considered the proposed deadline of January 31, 2024.

If you are having trouble registering for the portal, please reach out to my office and my staff will direct you to appropriate resources. 

I was thrilled to join both Muslim Welfare Canada at 40 Oak and Salvation Army at their Harbour Light location to serve Thanksgiving dinners. My favourite way to celebrate this holiday is by sharing a meal with the community. I am thrilled that I was able to do so twice!

School Community Safety: Supporting Student Achievement, Well-being & Mental Health

DATE: Thursday, October 19, 2023
TIME: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
LOCATION: Nelson Mandela Park Public School (440 Shuter St)

Please join us for a Ward 10 Forum with Trustee Williams to discuss School Community Safety. We will also have updates from the Trustee and Superintendent. Everyone is welcome. Refreshments and childminding are provided.

Please RSVP here for the Ward 10 Forum

Deadline Extended!

Calling all youth in grades 7 and 8 in Regent Park, Moss Park, and St James Town! 

Join the Dear Future Me 2023-2024 Resilience Program to meet new people, attend enriching workshops, fun trips, and more!

Eligibility for the program:

• In grade 7 or 8
• Reside in Regent Park/Moss Park/St. James Town
• TCHC resident
• Available one Saturday every month from October to March

Register here

Toronto's First Post Office will lead a quill-writing workshop on October 14th — write a letter as they did in the Town of York in the 1830s! The event is free with a Pay What You May donation option, and 100% of proceeds go to material costs for the program. Don't forget to bring an address!

RSVP here for a ticket, as spaces are limited. All ages are welcome.

Join the Friends of Regent Park next Sunday, October 15th, from 10 am-12 pm for a Community Clean Up of the Big Park at 620 Dundas Street East! 

No registration required; meet at the Bake Oven. 

The 519 is hosting a free self-defense workshop next Sunday, October 15th, from 1:00-4:00, facilitated by Chris James! Register here to join! 

This is part of their monthly self-defense workshop series; more information can be found on their website here! If you sign up and are unable to attend, please email [email protected]

The City of Toronto is hosting virtual and in-person public consultation on the Short-Term Rental Bylaw - attend to share your opinions and learn more about the proposed changes to the bylaw. 

Virtual consultation: Tuesday, October 17th, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Location: Online Webex meeting

Click HERE to register for the virtual event

In-person consultation: Tuesday October 24th, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Location: Metro Hall (55 John St, Toronto, ON M5V 3C6) in Room 308/309

Click HERE to register for the in-person event

The location for the in-person consultation is fully accessible. Please email [email protected] or 647-632-4073 at least 72 hours in advance to help ensure availability.

The Law Society of Ontario’s Action Group on Access to Justice is hosting their annual Access to Justice Week from October 23-27, with a mix of online and in-person sessions. Their calendar for the week is packed with events that will be interesting to community advocates and individuals in addition to legal professionals. I encourage you to register for sessions that interest you. 

See their full calendar here

David Crombie Park is being revitalized and Phase 2 is currently underway. The City will be working on the park revitalization alongside cycle track improvements on The Esplanade for a seamless integration of the park and public realm.

Public Meeting: Thursday, October 26

125 The Esplanade (the Tent)

• Session 1: 3 PM - 4:30 PM
• Session 2: 6 PM - 7:30 PM

The same information will be shared at both sessions.

Register here.

Join the Friends of Regent Park for their annual October Funfest! 

Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023

Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Location: The bake oven in the "Big Park"

This event includes a halal BBQ, pumpkin carving, music, dancing, candy, and apple crisp from the bake oven.

The City of Toronto is hosting a Small Business Forum on Monday, October 30 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This free, full-day, in-person event supports Toronto small businesses by providing them with access to information, connections and resources to build and grow their enterprises. Register here.

When: Monday, October 30th, 8:30am-4pm

Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, Level 800, Exhibit Halls F & G

The Forum will focus on the theme “Future-Proofing Businesses through Innovation & Sustainability” and will feature leading entrepreneurs as keynote speakers, panel discussions on trends facing small businesses, concurrent programming sessions and a trade show area. The Forum will also provide information about government resources and links to small business experts, product providers and other tools and services to assist small business.