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Dear friend,

This week, Ford continued to push through his disastrous legislative agenda, trampling your rights and looking out for his friends. But what is new? We have only one more week in the Legislature before the winter break begins, and I plan to use every minute to hold this corrupt government to account. 

Speaking of accountability, the Ford Government received a massive dose of it this week in the form of the Auditor General’s Annual Report. This time, the AG’s reporting focused on government advertising spending, healthcare, recycling, and environmental rights. None of these reports were rosy for the government, and they must act to fix them now. You can watch me rant about the report here. 

If you have watched TV, gone to the movies, or ridden the subway recently, you have certainly seen a government-sponsored ad. You know the ones: they say Ontario is amazing, that we have so many jobs, and that nobody is struggling to find a home, a family doctor, or food to eat! 

These ads are shockingly out of touch, and I find them offensive to watch. Even more offensive is the fact that the Auditor General found that we, as Ontario taxpayers, paid over $111 million for these ads ahead of this year’s election. These ads would not have passed under the previous version of the Government Advertising Act because they had the primary goal of fostering a positive impression of the governing party. Frustratingly, the last Liberal government amended the Government Advertising Act to bolster their own public image, and now the current Conservative government is abusing the system in the very same way. This unjust practice must end. Ontarians don’t need propaganda. We need a government that works.

We especially need a government that delivers on healthcare. And yet, the Auditor General outlined how Ford and his government are failing to provide the care that people need, especially primary care doctors. The government has no plan. The AG noted that there is no reliable forecast of where family doctors are needed and no system to track whether new training seats turn into practicing physicians. To actually fix this, Ontario needs to fully fund team-based care, build a provincewide recruitment and retention strategy, modernize the outdated HealthCare Connect program, and set performance measures that reflect what patients need. 

Families need a government that recognizes the critical role of primary care in every Ontario community. On top of these gaps in family doctor access, Ontarians are struggling with increased privatization of our system and a few bad actor doctors over-charging OHIP for services with little oversight. 

To be healthy, people need a stable climate and an environment free of harmful substances. This is why Ontario has an Environmental Bill of Rights. But Doug Ford doesn’t care. The Auditor General reported that the Ford government continues to ignore legally required consultations, sometimes even passing laws before the processes are finished. This is all on top of the fact that the Conservatives have done away with climate targets altogether and are nowhere near on track to meet their 2030 emissions-reduction commitment. Ford has given up on tackling the climate crisis and is treating the rights and voices of Ontarians with contempt. We all deserve so much better.

I am committed to holding this government to account on these issues and more. We must speak up and let Ford know that he cannot get away with this blatant corruption. I promise to always bring your voices with me to Queen’s Park. If you are feeling fired up, please reply to this email and share your thoughts. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Ethiopian Heritage Month Proclaimed!
• Stop E-Bike Fires
• Inaugural Youth Council Meeting
• Standing Against Gender-Based Violence
• National Housing Day Rally in Toronto Centre
• World AIDS Day
• Lebanese Flag Raising at Queen’s Park
• Attending the TABIA Awards Night
• Professional Engineers License Certifications
• This Week’s Meetings
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

Amid all of this doom and gloom, yesterday was a bright spot in my week – September is officially Ethiopian Heritage Month in Ontario! The Ethiopian Heritage Month Act, a significant bill that I co-sponsored with MPP Doly Begum, passed in the Legislature yesterday. In a surprise move, the government agreed to pass a slate of bills to proclaim various weeks and months of significance, including Ethiopian Heritage Month. I am so glad that so many communities will be able to celebrate with official recognition from the province this year. 

It was so joyful to pass this bill and celebrate with Ethiopian community leaders who joined us in the chamber. I can’t wait for next September when we will celebrate this newly minted heritage month with the Ethiopian community, complete with music, food, community, and of course, coffee - first discovered in Ethiopia! 

Yesterday, I asked the Solicitor General when he will pass my motion to update fire safety rules and keep our communities safe from runaway lithium-ion battery fires. Lithium-ion battery fires are up 1200% from 202 levels because of unsafe e-bike batteries. These fires have already destroyed homes and left people injured in Toronto Centre.  

Instead of giving you the answers you deserve, the Solicitor General dodged my question and reverted to everyday fire-safety language, which is not always applicable to lithium-ion fires. 

My motion calls on the Government of Ontario to work with Ontario's fire services to update fire codes to address the novel risks posed by lithium-ion fires and keep the people of Ontario safe. Click here to sign my petition for safe batteries.

We had a great kickoff meeting with our first-ever Toronto Centre Youth Council! Youth voices are critical to understanding their needs in the province, and this council will play an essential role in shaping long-term community partnerships and contributing to upcoming legislation and projects. Thank you to all who joined—I look forward to working together and having your back at Queen’s Park!

On November 27, I was proud to stand in solidarity with MPP Alexa Gilmour and her motion to end gender-based violence and ensure women’s economic security and safety. Forty-four percent of Canadian women will experience some form of intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime. This crisis has only worsened with the chronic underfunding of social services, which creates immense barriers for those trying to leave abusive relationships, with nowhere safe to go.

Cruelly, the Ford government voted this motion down. But I know that the Ontario NDP will never stop striving for women’s social, economic, and physical wellbeing. This is far from over.

On November 22, we marked National Housing Day, which coincided with the weekend before the Ford government brought their anti-tenant Bill 60 for its final vote. My kiddo and I joined the York South–Weston Tenant Union, Toronto ACORN, No Demovictions Toronto, and the Encampment Justice Network for their National Housing Day Rally.

Bill 60, which has now passed, will set a terrible precedent for tenants in Ontario. Here in Toronto Centre, that means over 70% of our population will be directly affected by this legislation. None of the changes proposed in Bill 60 will make housing safer, more affordable, or better maintained. Instead, the bill will only speed up evictions for our most vulnerable tenants, worsening homelessness in Toronto and across Ontario.

Ford needs to know that Ontario is not for sale—especially to his corporate landlord buddies. Residents were encouraged to visit stopbill60.ca to make their voices heard.

Every year on December 1, we mark World AIDS Day. This year, I reflected on how Ontario's history shows us that we can face horrifying odds and transform our government’s response. We must do so again.

This World AIDS Day was also different because of the earlier announcement by the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) that after 42 years of community service, they will permanently close their doors on March 31 next year. This announcement must be a wake-up call to all levels of government that AIDS organizations are facing a financial crisis that has been decades in the making. 

You can read my entire statement on behalf of the Ontario NDP by clicking here.

The Lebanese community has contributed significantly to the social fabric of Ontario and Canada for almost 150 years, and we proudly celebrate the strength and resilience of its people, along with their beautiful and vibrant culture and traditions. I was so happy to join members of my caucus and the Lebanese community to raise the flag at Queen’s Park and mark November as Lebanese Heritage Month in Ontario.

It was a joy to join the Cabbagetown BIA as a guest at the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas Awards Night on Tuesday! BIAs like Cabbagetown, Downtown Yonge, Old Towne, Bloor-Yorkville, Financial District, and Church-Wellesley Village are at the heart of our communities and do much of the work behind the scenes alongside our cities to ensure local small businesses in our neighbourhoods thrive! When doing your holiday shopping this year, make sure to support local businesses!

On Wednesday, I was honoured to attend the Professional Engineers Ontario East Toronto Chapter engineers licensing ceremony, where they received their License Certifications. 

Engineers are an integral part of (both figuratively and literally!) building our province. The work of engineers keeps our province running, and helps shape an accessible, innovative and transformative Ontario for all. Thank you to Sarah Ayub, Miyadah Babulla and all the board members for inviting me to take part in the licensing ceremony!

• Film Ontario
• Eastern Ontario Mayors Caucus
• Ontario Real Estate Association
• Ontario Public Transit Association
• Toronto Drop-In Network
• African Centre for Refugees in Ontario-Canada
• Canadian Civil Liberties Association

Toronto Public Library announces location of new District Library

Success rate for injured applicants at Licence Appeal Tribunal continues to plummet

How Toronto could build more than 20 km of new bike lanes — despite provincial restrictions

Blue bin complaints? Starting next month, they're not our problem, say Toronto officials

EAQA scores reveal insufficient progress, Ontario education minister says as he announces new plan

Group of Toronto buildings to be torn down for huge condo tower

Ontario education minister to make decision on school trustee elimination in early 2026

TTC considering flip-book style advertising on subway tunnel walls

Eglinton Crosstown expected to open ‘in the coming weeks,’ province says 

Join Friends of Regent Park and TSHC for a seniors holiday pancake breakfast! 

Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025

Time: 10 AM - 12 PM

Location: 252 Sackville St, 7th Floor

Join Friends of Allan Gardens for a festive Holiday Market on December 7th from 10 AM to 7 PM!
 Discover local vendors, seasonal treats, and holiday treasures — and don’t miss the City of Toronto’s stunning Poinsettia Flower Show inside the Conservatory.
 Come together with friends, family, and neighbours to celebrate community, creativity, and the beauty of the season, all in the heart of downtown Toronto.
Keep an eye out for our vendor list in the coming weeks!
 Date/Time: Sunday, December 7, 10AM-7PM
 Location: Children’s Conservatory at Allan Gardens on the west side of the park by Jarvis and Carlton.
 Address: 19 Horticultural Ave, M5A 2P2
 Come ready. Come early. The most desirable products go fast!
 Come on foot, or take transit.  There is NO parking on site. There is street parking along Carlton St. and Gerrard St., as well as a Green P parking lot at 405 Sherbourne St.
 Bring your own bags and packaging to reduce waste, including a way to keep your plants warm while you travel home!
 Cash, debit, and credit are accepted. Each vendor will have their own point of sale.

Join Riverdale Farm as they light their tree. There will be carolers, crafts, cookies and hot chocolate.

Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025

Time: 6:30 - 8:00 PM

Location: Riverdale Farm (201 Winchester St.)

Tree Lighting: 7:00 PM

Join Focus Media Arts and the University of Toronto for an info session about a collaborative course to learn about the Downtown East Identity. Gain skills to make your own documentary! 

Information Session: 

Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2025

Time: 6 PM

Location: Daniels Spectrum, 3rd Floor

Apply here!

The Black Student Summer Leadership Program is a paid summer internship for Black TDSB high school students. Participants gain hands-on job experience, mentorship, leadership development, and opportunities to build confidence, skills, and community connections. 

Please note: This program is open only to students attending Toronto District School Board schools.

Important Dates

• Application Period: December 8, 2025 – January 9, 2026
• Interviews: February 2026

Offer of Employment: March 2026

The TDSB Learn4Life Adult General Interest and Seniors Day programs, Winter 2025 term is now open for registration. The TDSB also has over 50 languages and African Heritage classes for elementary school aged children!

 Browse Courses & Register: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/adult-learners/learn4life

Join for a meaningful community conversation focused on youth safety, wellness, and leadership in Regent Park.

Event details:

• Date: Wednesday, December 10
  
  
• Food Served: 5:00 PM (Halal meal provided)
  
  
• Event Start: 5:30 PM
  
  
• Location: Regent Park Centre of Excellence, Regent Park Community Centre
  402 Shuter Street, Toronto
  
  
• Audience: Open to all youth residents of Regent Park
  
  

Speakers:

• Omar Abdelgawad — Resident of Regent Park, law school graduate, currently articling for Kim Schofield’s office.
  
  
• Deluxson Yogarajah — Gestalt student-therapist in training with 8+ years of experience as a youth worker specializing in youth violence prevention and mental health.

Click here to register.

Join the St James Town Residents Council for their Safety Summit and Social and enjoy a multicultural food fair, community resources, and a chance to connect with service providers and neighbours. 

Date: Friday, December 12, 2025

Time: 10 AM - 2 PM

Location: Wellesley Community Centre, Multipurpose Room F, 2nd Floor

United Way Greater Toronto and the University of Toronto’s School of Cities are launching this year’s Leading Social Justice Collective (LSJC) - a unique, cross-sector leadership program for changemakers across the GTA. As our communities face growing inequities and complex challenges, we need leaders from all sectors – community, public, and private - to come together to reimagine and rebuild our systems.

LSJC equips participants with the mindset, tools, and networks to drive long-term, systems-level change rooted in equity and social justice.

Applications are now open until December 12, 2025: [Apply here] 

Birthmark is hosting an Ontario Arts Council–supported initiative: Here, Hold My Grief, an arts-based workshop series designed for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals who have experienced grief during family building.

Workshops will take place in Toronto between January–April 2026 and offer a supportive, creative space for reflection, healing, and community connection.

For more information: [email protected]

Nominations for the 2026 Rosemary Brown Racial Justice Awards are now open until January 15. If you know a changemaker in your community who deserves recognition, please consider submitting a nomination using this form.

Who Can Be Nominated:

There are four categories: Individual, Group, Women, and Youth (under 25). Any Ontario resident, or Ontario-based organization, group, or initiative may be nominated. This includes educators, writers, community workers, social and political activists, social action groups, trade unions, youth organizations, multicultural organizations, schools, coalitions, professional associations, media, and service clubs.

The award ceremony will be held in March 2026.

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

Kristyn Wong-Tam will be awarding six people with a prestigious Toronto Centre Leadership Award in June 2026.

This honour recognizes individuals who have made a profound and lasting contribution to the Toronto Centre community in any field. This can include the arts, politics, community building, or healthcare.
Submit your nominee's information here, and we will go through them to make an informed decision on who to award.

Dear friend,

I’m dropping you a quick note to let you know your big weekly newsletter will be back next Friday.

I have been working around the clock for the past week to prepare a dissenting report for the Standing Committee on Justice Policy’s Study on Intimate Partner Violence. It’s been years since my university days, when I last had to pull an all-nighter. With many cups of coffee coursing through my veins, I submitted the report in the nick of time. I gave the dissenting report everything I had and then some, so I just can’t deliver the high-quality newsletter you expect this week.

As you read in my last newsletter, the Committee’s report writing process devolved into something that neither I nor my NDP colleagues could stand behind. So we walked out. But we didn’t want the voices of the notable survivors and IPV advocates who presented to the Committee to go unheard. So a dissenting report was written and submitted on behalf of the Official Opposition in just six days. I believe with all my heart that we did everything possible to honour survivors' testimony in our report.

I am calling the dissenting report a “part 1” because I intend to welcome community and stakeholder feedback in part 2. No report on this complex and multi-dimensional topic can be perfect or truly capture every perspective. 

I am looking forward to sharing the report with all of you when it is released publicly, alongside the government report, which will be sometime on or before December 10. Until then, I am sadly unable to share any further details, as the report writing process is considered “in camera” and therefore confidential. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

P.S. I hope to see you next Sunday at the Toronto Centre NDP’s holiday party! Learn more and RSVP here! 

Date: December 7, 2025

Time: 1 - 4 PM

Location: Regent Park Community Centre, 402 Shuter Street

A catered lunch will be served. Door prizes and special guests!

RSVP here - Join the waitlist!

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

Dear friend,

This week was one of walkouts and protests. The Ford government is not interested in listening to voices outside their own circles or taking accountability for their errors. This kind of arrogance and removal makes for the worst kind of government. 

On Wednesday, Marit Stiles, leader of the Ontario NDP, was ejected from Question Period. She was asked to leave after she refused to withdraw her comments that called Doug Ford and his government corrupt due to them giving away millions of public dollars to unqualified businesses run by their friends through the Skills Development Fund. Accusing a government of corruption is considered “unparliamentary language.” It is therefore not allowed in the Legislative Chamber, as is accusing another MPP of lying. Acting in a corrupt manner or telling a verifiable lie in the chamber, however? Totally okay. 

Yesterday, I was forced to walk out of a committee hearing because I could not, in good conscience, participate any longer. Specifically, I walked out of a report-writing session where the Standing Committee on Justice Policy’s Intimate Partner Violence Sub-committee was being asked to provide edits and feedback on the report that was solely authored by a conservative government MPP.

Reports like this are typically written by non-partisan legislative staff, and it is highly irregular for them to be written by a single government MPP. Despite this rocky start, I approached the process in good faith. After the second day of report writing, I could not continue. 

Following serious reflection, and guided by our respect and gratitude for survivors, advocates, experts and service providers, my NDP colleagues and I decided to withdraw from the committee process. We hold ourselves to a high standard and want to ensure that any report we sign off on has a high degree of integrity, accountability, and respect for survivors. Those goals now require that we withdraw from the government's report-writing process.

I wish I could tell you more. But right now I simply can’t. Report writing takes place “in-camera,” which means that MPPs are not allowed to discuss what is happening during the writing process. By the rules of the legislature, everything discussed in-camera is strictly confidential. This is a normal part of report writing, but it does make communications about this matter difficult. 

Survivors deserve to have their voices heard. That has been my priority throughout this committee. Ontario's Official Opposition NDP believes that we must now produce our own dissenting report to ensure that survivors' voices and calls for change are heard. I wish this were not the case, but now I will dedicate my efforts to ensuring that this new dissenting report honours what we heard at committee. I will keep you updated. 

It is now all but assured that MPPs will vote on Bill 60, the government’s housing bill, this coming Monday. Since the government has a majority, it will almost assuredly pass and become law. This is heartbreaking for renters and everyone who is struggling to secure decent and affordable housing in Ontario. 

Yesterday, I stood in the Legislature, while housing, shelter, and healthcare access advocates from the Women’s Coalition looked on from the gallery. I asked the Premier when he would stop pandering to his landlord friends and instead support women fleeing violence and homelessness with real investments into supportive housing. I received a non-answer. You can watch our exchange here. But I will never stop fighting for these essential public services. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Transgender Day of Remembrance
• Housing Day of Action
• Join My Youth Council
• Ford Rams Through Bill 33
• TCNDP’s Holiday Party - You’re Invited!
• Coffee With Kristyn - January 15th
• Medscheck Concerns Grow
• Take Urban Wildfires Seriously
• Toronto Pride Partner Symposium
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

Yesterday we marked the 26th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR). This is a day of solemn reflection on the scourge of transphobia and transphobic violence in our world, a time to remember and honour the Trans people we have lost, and an opportunity to recommit to creating a world without transphobia. As the first MPP to identify as non-binary and use they/them pronouns in the Legislature, this day is very special to me. But this year it was made even more meaningful, because I am no longer alone. My fellow NDP MPP from Ottawa Centre, Catherine McKenney, is also non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. It is so profoundly wonderful to have a friend in them. 

At Queen’s Park, we held a moment of silence in the chamber to mark TDoR, followed by statements from all parties. You can watch my statement here. I was very impressed by the heartfelt and sincerely respectful statements given by all parties in the chamber. Now we just need to spur those same parties to action on the Gender Affirming Healthcare Act and other policies that lift up Trans folks.

In the afternoon, we raised the Transgender flag at Queen’s Park, flying it at half mast to remember all those who we miss. Friends of Ruby, an incredible local organization that supports Queer and Trans youth, organized the flag raising, and their representatives spoke beautifully, inviting us all to say the names of the remarkable Trans people who are no longer with us. I am continually in awe of the life saving work that Friends of Ruby does and can’t wait to attend the grand opening of their new space in a few months. 

I was honoured to welcome the Women’s Coalition to Queen’s Park yesterday, for their annual housing day of action. The Women’s Coalition brings together housing, shelter, mental health, addictions, and other service providers across Ontario to advocate for women. 

During their press conference, I was particularly struck by what one of the speakers, Lucy, a client at Street Haven, said: “Housing women is a nation-building project.” She is so right. If any infrastructure builds a nation, it is housing. After all, as one of the other presenters said, “If we can prevent a mother from becoming homeless, we keep two generations housed.” 

Working with the Women’s Coalition has been such a joy. I hope that all of the government members they met with yesterday felt that way too and will work to meet their demands of investment in supportive housing, mental health and addictions programs, and increased emergency shelter programs, all tailored to women. 

Are you between the age of 17-25 with a passion for politics, policy, and community building? Apply to the Toronto Centre Youth Council to have your voice heard on provincial issues.

Join Our First Session - pizza provided!

Date: November 26, 2025

Time: 4:45-6PM

Location: 120 Carlton St, Unit 401

Apply now: kristyn.ca/youth-council 

Ford Rams Through Bill 33

Bill 33 also passed this past week, even as education advocates and union activists descended on Queen’s Park in protest. The fact that this government refuses to listen to education and community safety experts, instead plowing ahead with their destructive plans, is a clear sign that they don’t care about doing what is right and prefer to double down rather than fix their mistakes. 

Student trustees from public and catholic boards were clear that they did not want government appointees who ignore them. Parents told us they did not want decisions made behind closed doors or by Conservative insiders, paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, to override them. Education workers told us this bill was not the solution to crowded classrooms and unsafe schools. The government ignored all of them.

Similarly, post-secondary student organizations like CFS-Ontario, OUSA, CSA and OSV warned that this bill would mean the loss of vital campus programs students urgently need, including food banks, mental health peer supports and accessibility services. They told the government that our postsecondary sector is in crisis. Hundreds of programs have been cut, campuses are closing, almost ten thousand jobs have been lost at Ontario colleges, and eighty thousand students will be shut out of university seats because of government underfunding. The Premier chose not to listen.

Bill 33 is a blight on Ontario’s education system and must be repealed. You can watch POlicing Free Schools and other stakeholders speak about this destructive bill at their press conference here. 

Toronto Centre NDP Holiday Party - You’re Invited!

Get ready for a fabulous Toronto Centre NDP Holiday Park with lunch, prize giveaways, entertainment, festive cheer, and, of course, surprise VIP guests!

Date: December 7, 2025

Time: 1 PM - 4 PM

Location: Regent Park Community Centre, 402 Shuter Street

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

RSVP Here!

 

Coffee With Kristyn - January 15th

I’m very excited to host my third Coffee with Kristyn  at Good Earth Coffee House on Thursday, January 15, 2026 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM! This is an opportunity for you to come and sit down with me, your Toronto Centre MPP, and share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, while supporting our local small businesses. 

I look forward to sitting down with you over a cup of coffee! I will also be hosting a roundtable chat with all attendees for the last 30 minutes so that we can all come together to share ideas.

Sign up for your coffee slot by clicking here. 

Medscheck Concerns Grow

New data shows that Shoppers Drug Mart billed more than $81 million to the Ontario government for MedsChecks in two years. This is a clear and shameful corporate moneygrab. 

The MedsCheck program was created to help people manage their medications safely, prevent harmful interactions, and ensure they receive the care they need. It is a service meant to protect patients… not to fuel corporate profit targets.

I am deeply troubled and disappointed by the reports we continue to hear from pharmacists across Ontario about being pressured by corporate offices to perform unnecessary reviews. When one chain bills more in two years than it did in the previous six combined, and when over a hundred investigations have been opened into corporate pressure, it’s clear that the program is being used to make profit, not to help Ontarians.

I want to thank the many pharmacists who have shown immense dedication to their patients and the spirit of the MedsCheck program by speaking up about the pressures they have been experiencing. 

“Ontarians deserve a health-care system they can trust. The Ministry must act now to strengthen and modernize the MedsCheck program with clear eligibility criteria, proper documentation, and safeguards that protect both patients and the pharmacists who care for them.

Whether Ford wants to admit it or not, climate change is real, and urban wildfires like those in Los Angeles and Fort McMurray are unfortunately a very real possibility across Ontario. I am proud to join my fellow Ontario NDP caucus members in calling on the Ford government to establish an Urban Wildfires Advisory Committee.

Toronto-Danforth MPP Peter Tabuns is introducing the Protecting Ontario from Urban Wildfires Act, 2025; a bill that would require the Conservatives to establish an Urban Wildfires Advisory Committee tasked with guiding risk assessment, prevention, response, and recovery. The Ford government currently has no such measures in place, despite the uptick in devastating fires spreading to urban areas.

Wildfires are not only life-threatening but also financially destructive. Ontario firefighters have the commitment and smarts to take on this challenge, but they need the requisite equipment and training. We must be prepared to protect the safety of all Ontarians. 

The urgency of the matter is compounded by the Ford government’s inaction on climate change. Ontario’s Auditor General reported in October that the Conservatives would fall well short of their 2030 emissions reduction target.

Our first job is to stop carbon pollution to stabilize things. The next job is preventing these fires, and where we can’t, making sure we have the resources to fight them. I am proud to be part of a caucus doing this vital work.

This morning, I had the opportunity to be a panellist on “The Politics of Pride: Navigating Queer Representation” for Pride Toronto’s Partner Symposium event! We discussed how queer representation and Pride are understood and represented through a political, policy, and equity-based lens. A warm thank you to Kojo Modeste for facilitating the flow of our discussion, and all participants and sponsors who came together for these important conversations.

‘Do you know what they’ll do to me? I’m a judge’: Woman testifies senior Ontario judge raped her, broke her wrist

City Raccoons Are Evolving to Look More Like Pets

More people will struggle to be housed in Ontario if Bill 60 is passed, open letter warns

Two Toronto tenants were almost evicted for being one cent short of rent

The Landlord and Tenant Board Annual Report: Progress but still a long way to go

Little Trinity Church invites community members to join in the holiday spirit at the second annual Little Trinity Christmas Market, held in collaboration with the Good Food Market.  

Enjoy an evening filled with festive cheer, local treats, and holiday shopping:

• Live Music: Come enjoy seasonal performances by Dr. Ben!
• Free Goodies: Take a load off and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, apple cider, and yummy treats!
• Unique Gifts: Do your holiday shopping and pick up some unique hand-made gifts for your loved ones!
• Groceries: Stop by our regular produce market, offering high quality fruits and veggies at wholesale prices!

All proceeds will go to Good Shepherd Ministries, a local organization that serves over 1000 meals a day to those in need.

Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Location: Little Trinity Church

Dates: November 27 and  December 04, 2025 

Time: 7:30 PM

Experience a night of unforgettable music this holiday season! Beethoven’s towering Symphony No. 9 with its triumphant “Ode to Joy,” Orff’s exhilarating Carmina Burana, and a heart-warming selection of Christmas carols come together in one spectacular concert. A perfect celebration of joy, drama, and festive spirit - do not miss this once-in-a-lifetime evening.

Learn more here.

Join Riverdale Farm as they light their tree. There will be carolers, crafts, cookies and hot chocolate.

Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025

Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: Riverdale Farm (201 Winchester St.)

Tree Lighting: 7:00 PM

The Regent Park Youth Safety & Well-Being Forum is a community-driven initiative that fosters a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for young people in Regent Park to engage in open conversations about safety, security, and mental health.

This forum encourages self-reflection, community connection, and helps youth access real-world support systems to promote overall well-being.

Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Time: 5:00 PM

Location: Regent Park Community Centre, 402 Shuter Street

Open to all youth residents of Regent Park.

United Way Greater Toronto and the University of Toronto’s School of Cities are launching this year’s Leading Social Justice Collective (LSJC) - a unique, cross-sector leadership program for changemakers across the GTA. As our communities face growing inequities and complex challenges, we need leaders from all sectors – community, public, and private - to come together to reimagine and rebuild our systems.

LSJC equips participants with the mindset, tools, and networks to drive long-term, systems-level change rooted in equity and social justice.

Applications are now open until December 12, 2025: [Apply here]

As a part of the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS), they are providing the opportunity to apply for a grant that supports resident-led projects. These projects can encourage local activation and focus on the five domains of TSNS – economic opportunities, healthy lives, participation in civic making, physical surroundings, and social development - across all neighbourhoods. 

The Local Leadership Grant prioritizes the leadership and participation of Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving groups within Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, Emerging Neighbourhoods, and other communities of focus. 

Find out more by clicking here! 

Nominations for the 2026 Rosemary Brown Racial Justice Awards are now open until January 15. If you know a changemaker in your community who deserves recognition, please consider submitting a nomination using this form.

Who Can Be Nominated:

There are four categories: Individual, Group, Women, and Youth (under 25). Any Ontario resident, or Ontario-based organization, group, or initiative may be nominated. This includes educators, writers, community workers, social and political activists, social action groups, trade unions, youth organizations, multicultural organizations, schools, coalitions, professional associations, media, and service clubs.

The award ceremony will be held in March 2026.

Dear friend,

On Tuesday, this past Remembrance Day, Canadians across the country paused at eleven o'clock to pay our respects to the thousands of veterans and servicepeople who have fought for our freedoms on behalf of Canada, surviving unimaginable horrors in the process. Their sacrifices, strength, and courage, remind us of our collective duty to defend the rights and freedoms of everyone who calls this country home.

As a young boy, my father learned about the bravery of young Canadian soldiers who fought in the Battle of Hong Kong against Imperial Japan. As an adventurous and curious young man, he joined the Royal Navy and traveled the commonwealth. This left a lasting impression on him and in 1975 he chose to immigrate to Canada in an act of gratitude to the country that came to the defence of his birthplace.

As the child of a navy serviceman, Remembrance Day is always particularly emotional – even more so this year as my father passed away this September. Remembering the lives and stories of servicemembers we have lost is such an important ritual. If people in your family have served, I hope you had a chance to remember them and reflect on their legacy. Lest we forget. 

This year, I was honoured to attend our local Remembrance Day ceremony, co-hosted by St. James Cemetery and the Cabbagetown BIA, and lay a wreath. After the ceremony, I stayed for the veterans graves tour through the ceremony, which made the day all the more personal as I reflected on the Toronto Centre residents who served our country. 

Remembrance Day is also an important time to reflect on the geopolitical situation we find ourselves in currently and the people who are suffering through wars today. During the ceremony, I took time to think of the people affected by war and violence in Ukraine and Russia, Palestine and Israel, Lebanon, Congo, and beyond. Working for a world beyond war feels like a lofty goal, but one we must reach towards. 

Last week, when the house was sitting, I had the opportunity to speak to Bill 60, the government’s new housing bill that seeks to strip tenant protections. The government claims this is a move that will speed up the beleaguered Landlord and Tenant Board, even as they refuse to listen to experts and return to more efficient and equitable in-person hearings. You can watch part of my speech on Bill 60 here where I talk about how renters are also the workers, students, and seniors that build our province. Everyone deserves a dignified home without the stress of worrying about it being taken out from under them. 

The government tabling Time Allocation Motions for both Bill 60 and Bill 33 (government education bill), as I discussed in last week’s newsletter. Due to these blatantly undemocratic motions, it is possible that both bills could pass and become law as early as late next week or early the following week. I am not giving up and still need your stories about precarious tenancies, delays at the LTB, and your fears about what Bill 60 passing could mean to you. If you have a story like this, please reply to this email!

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Transgender Day of Remembrance Flag Raising - You’re Invited
• Fire David Piccini: SDF Funding Awarded to Mismanaged Company
• My Statement on the Combat on Campus Tour
• E-Bike Battery Fire at 140 Carlton Street 
• Canada Loses Measles Elimination Status
• Ford’s 401 Fantasy Tunnel Study Wastes Millions
• Ford Fails Again to Deliver $10-A-Day Childcare
• Join My Youth Council
• TCNDP’s Holiday Party - You’re Invited!
• Coffee With Kristyn - January 15th
• Regent Park Tenants Rights Meeting
• CWNA’s Winter Open House
• L’Arche Toronto Visit
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

On Thursday, November 20 we will mark Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) with the raising of the Transgender flag and a moment of silence at Queen’s Park. This year, Friends of Ruby is our co-sponsor and I am so happy to work with them again. 

TDoR is a solemn day when we remember the Trans and Gender Diverse people who we have lost to transphobic violence and hatred. It is also an important day to honour the people who are still here and working every day to make our communities more inclusive and loving. 

All are welcome to attend the flag raising, which will be at 12:15 PM at the courtesy flag pole on the Queen’s Park south lawn, right outside of the visitors’ entrance. 

Please RSVP here. I look forward to seeing you on Thursday. 

According to the Pan American Health Organization, Measles is no longer eliminated in Canada. Due to uncontrolled spread, especially in Ontario and Alberta, measles cases have skyrocketed. 5,162 have already been reported nationally in 2025. Since 1998, when Canada received measles elimination status, cases have been low, usually under 100, with one spike to 751 cases during an outbreak in 2011. 

Ontario must fight the spread of measles. The measles virus can be deadly, especially for young children and can also result in hospitalization. The measles vaccine is extremely safe and effective – it is what has allowed Canada to maintain its measles elimination status for nearly 30 years, saving the lives of countless children and eliminating the suffering associated with the virus. Parents of school aged children needing to be vaccinated can reach out to Toronto Public Health. Adults unsure about their vaccination status should ask their family doctor or other community healthcare provider. 

Ford has sat on his hands while measles continues to spread. Lagging investments in public health, the family doctor shortage, and vaccine misinformation have resulted in a perfect storm of conditions for this outbreak. It is a national issue, but public health and healthcare are provincial responsibilities and this government needs to step up and do our part to halt the preventable spread of measles. 

Sign my petition to stop measles: 

Doug Ford may have his eyes firmly set on his fantasy project of tunneling under Highway 401, but both the Premier and Metrolinx have been silent on what could be predictable, but major, viability concerns with the project.

Internal documents obtained by the Ontario NDP through a Freedom of Information request have revealed Metrolinx covered up major problems with Scarborough Subway Extension tunneling when it reached the 401; including sinking issues that resulted in three weeks of road lane closures, and an eight-month pause for repairs to the tunnel boring machine.

Tunneling crosswise under Highway 401 was risky and complex enough. Ford’s plan to build a three-storey tunnel underneath it amplifies these concerns exponentially. We’re talking about the risk of highway collapse — lives are at stake.

The Ford government confirmed last week that it had awarded the contract for a 401 tunnel feasibility study to WSP Canada Inc., paying them $9.1 million. The PCs have refused, however, to release already completed work on the project’s viability.

Once again, Ontarians had to find out about these concerns through the media, or the Official Opposition. Ford continues to let Metrolinx keep secrets from the public with zero accountability, whether it’s the Eglinton-Crosstown LRT (that turned 15 years old this week without an opening date), or this ridiculous 401 tunnel idea. 

We need transparency around these taxpayer-funded projects, especially where safety is concerned.

$10-a-day childcare should be here already. It should be allowing parents to return to work without financial stress, while providing our little ones with high-quality care and education. Instead, parents and caregivers are paying more than double the promised fees while continuing to worry that even that subsidy could expire. 

This week, the Ford government finally came to the table to agree to a one-year extension that freezes fees at an average of $19/day.

Unfortunately, this extension doesn’t move Ontario any closer to real affordability or access. ECEs are still underpaid and overworked, and families still can’t find spaces. The government’s failure to invest in the workforce and create new spaces is putting the entire system at risk.

As a parent whose child was in daycare, I know that families are tired of delays and broken promises. Doug Ford needs to stop stalling and deliver the affordable, not-for-profit child care system families were promised.

Are you between the age of 17-25 with a passion for politics, policy, and community building? Apply to the Toronto Centre Youth Council to have your voice heard on provincial issues.

Join Our First Session - pizza provided!

Date: November 26, 2025

Time: 4:45-6PM

Location: 120 Carlton St, Unit 401

Apply now: kristyn.ca/youth-council 

Get ready for a fabulous Toronto Centre NDP Holiday Park with lunch, prize giveaways, entertainment, festive cheer, and, of course, surprise VIP guests!

Date: December 7, 2025

Time: 1 PM - 4 PM

Location: Regent Park Community Centre, 402 Shuter Street

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

I’m very excited to host my third Coffee with Kristyn  at Good Earth Coffee House on Thursday, January 15, 2026 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM! This is an opportunity for you to come and sit down with me, your Toronto Centre MPP, and share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, while supporting our local small businesses. 

I look forward to sitting down with you over a cup of coffee! I will also be hosting a roundtable chat with all attendees for the last 30 minutes so that we can all come together to share ideas.

Sign up for your coffee slot by clicking here. 

I was so proud to speak at the Regent Park Neighbourhood Association’s Tenant Rights Event this past weekend. The Ford government is pushing through Bill 60, their horrifying bill that erodes tenant rights, speeds up evictions, and potentially privatizes basic human rights like access to drinking water. When we are facing threats like this bill,  local events like this become even more important, allowing community members to become more involved and connect one another with the resources and support needed to fight back. I hope there are many more events to come! 

The holiday cheer warmed me up last Saturday, when I joined the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association for their Winter Open House! Together we decorated the Mitten Tree with mittens, hats, and scarves, which will be given to community members in need, including students at Church Street Public School.

L’Arche Toronto just opened a new apartment living space in Regent Park! I was lucky to visit them last Friday, connect with residents, and receive the beautiful card above. 

L’Arche Toronto provides living support programs, as well as arts and community inclusion initiatives to people with intellectual disabilities with care and dignity. THey have just launched their innovative Trying It on For Size Program, which will allow many more people to gain autonomy and build confidence to create their own independent path and place of belonging!

Ontario considering order that would kill hundreds of new rental homes

Ontario's goal of 1.5 million more homes in 10 years now a 'soft' target: finance minister

Ontario launching new home care program in effort to relieve hospital overcrowding 

Ministry orders school boards to launch new 'student and family support' offices

Over 260 Quebec doctors apply for Ontario licences in weeks following Bill 2

Ontario's goal of 1.5 million more homes in 10 years now a 'soft' target: finance minister

Toronto community, seniors housing workers vote to strike, citing understaffing, workplace violence

Join the Regent Park Safety Network Online Meeting! This is an opportunity to share any concerns you have regarding safety in the community with Toronto Police, the City of Toronto and TCHC.

Date: Monday, November 17

Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Location: On Zoom

A financial Literacy training will be held in Regent Park to support youth in strengthening their money management skills and planning for the future. The session will share information to support smart financial decisions in everyday life.

Topics include:

• A deep dive into credit systems and strategies to build and maintain a strong credit profile
• The fundamentals of Investing, including different types of investment options and how to asses’ risk
• Practical steps for launching and managing small business

Event Details:

Date: November 20, 2025

Time: 5PM-7PM

Location: Regent Park Community Center, first floor

If you are interested in attending, please email: [email protected] or r[email protected]

The recruitment period for the Spring 2026 session of the Legislative Page Program is now open until November 15, 2025. 

Each year, high-achieving, community-oriented Grade 7 and 8 students from across Ontario are chosen to serve as Legislative Pages. This unique opportunity in Toronto allows selected students to become involved in Ontario’s parliamentary process, meet key figures, and make lifelong friendships with like-minded peers.

More information can be found here. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Page Program at [email protected] or by phone at (416) 325-7457.

Little Trinity Church invites community members to join in the holiday spirit at the second annual Little Trinity Christmas Market, held in collaboration with the Good Food Market.  

Enjoy an evening filled with festive cheer, local treats, and holiday shopping:

• Live Music: Come enjoy seasonal performances by Dr. Ben!
• Free Goodies: Take a load off and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, apple cider, and yummy treats!
• Unique Gifts: Do your holiday shopping and pick up some unique hand-made gifts for your loved ones!
• Groceries: Stop by our regular produce market, offering high quality fruits and veggies at wholesale prices!

All proceeds will go to Good Shepherd Ministries, a local organization that serves over 1000 meals a day to those in need.

Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Location: Little Trinity Church

Join Riverdale Farm as they light their tree. There will be carolers, crafts, cookies and hot chocolate.

Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025

Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: Riverdale Farm (201 Winchester St.)

Tree Lighting: 7:00 PM

The Regent Park Youth Safety & Well-Being Forum is a community-driven initiative that fosters a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for young people in Regent Park to engage in open conversations about safety, security, and mental health.

This forum encourages self-reflection, community connection, and helps youth access real-world support systems to promote overall well-being.

Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Time: 5:00 PM

Location: Regent Park Community Centre, 402 Shuter Street

Open to all youth residents of Regent Park.

As a part of the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS), they are providing the opportunity to apply for a grant that supports resident-led projects. These projects can encourage local activation and focus on the five domains of TSNS – economic opportunities, healthy lives, participation in civic making, physical surroundings, and social development - across all neighbourhoods. 

The Local Leadership Grant prioritizes the leadership and participation of Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving groups within Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, Emerging Neighbourhoods, and other communities of focus. 

Find out more by clicking here! 

Nominations for the 2026 Rosemary Brown Racial Justice Awards are now open until January 15. If you know a changemaker in your community who deserves recognition, please consider submitting a nomination using this form.

Who Can Be Nominated:

There are four categories: Individual, Group, Women, and Youth (under 25). Any Ontario resident, or Ontario-based organization, group, or initiative may be nominated. This includes educators, writers, community workers, social and political activists, social action groups, trade unions, youth organizations, multicultural organizations, schools, coalitions, professional associations, media, and service clubs.

The award ceremony will be held in March 2026.

Dear Emma,

Yesterday, the Ford government tabled their lacklustre Fall Economic Statement. This is a “mini budget,” and this year it was smaller and more underwhelming than usual. The statement fundamentally fails to deliver the kind of plan that Ontarians need as the cost of living rises, the job crisis worsens, and the housing crisis deepens. 

All anyone in Ontario wants is stability and a chance to get ahead. All we want is a government that supports individuals and families to meet their own needs. But instead, Ontario’s unemployment is the highest in a decade, and our housing starts are at their lowest over the same period. By every measure, this government is failing.

This failure is so frustrating to me. Ford has the opportunity to deliver policy and a budget that offers people hope: a real jobs plan, lower costs, and investments that strengthen our communities and public services. Instead, this government is cutting healthcare and education (simultaneously gutting public services and shedding jobs) while shovelling money out the door to their lobbyist friends through the Skills Development Fund (including companies that operate strip clubs).

Unemployment is at 7.8% and 1 in 5 young people are without a job, yet this government’s jobs plans are their scandal-ridden Skills Development Fund and tax cuts for big businesses. To weather this storm, we need bold ideas that put workers first and strengthen our communities.

I am proud to be a part of the Ontario NDP Caucus and stand behind the solutions we are putting forward. The Ontario NDP is urging the Ford government to prioritize: 

• Protecting and creating good jobs by expanding supports for local manufacturing, small businesses, and Ontario’s critical resource sectors. 
• Investing in social infrastructure such as housing, health care, education, and childcare, to attract and retain workers while creating jobs in those very sectors. 
• Building economic security by increasing social assistance rates, expanding public pharmacare and mental health care, and investing in municipalities to prevent job loss and homelessness. 

I will continue to push these priorities forward. Nothing is more critical than Ontarians accessing safe and appropriate housing, high-quality public services, and meaningful jobs. 

It is upsetting to me that, instead of actually helping people, this government seems most interested in helping their friends, skirting accountability, and spending as little time in the legislature as possible. You can read more about their upsetting conduct below. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• PCs Seize Control of Intimate Partner Violence Study
• When Will Minister Piccini Stop the Gravy Train?
• Bills 60 and 33 Rammed Through Without Consultation
• Join my Youth Council!
• Toronto Centre NDP Holiday Party - You’re Invited!
• Ministries of the Attorney General and Solicitor General Estimates
• Unelected School Supervisors Paid $350,000
• Parliament Street Rooming Houses Revitalization
• This Week’s Meetings
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

This week was a rollercoaster on the intimate partner violence epidemic declaration front. 

On Thursday morning, the government moved a motion to declare intimate partner violence (IPV) as endemic in Ontario. It passed. The NDP moved for the 5th time, our motion to declare IPV an epidemic. The government voted against our motion, defeating - yet again - an opportunity to declare IPV an epidemic, a declaration that organizations and experts have been calling for for years.

I am cautiously hopeful that this endemic declaration will be helpful to survivors and come with funding and increased government attention to the issue of IPV. I will continue to work with lawyers and feminists in the IPV-prevention sector to understand the implications of this new word and how we can continue to push the government. It is disappointing that the government has decided to turn its back on the 106 municipalities, 150+ community organizations, and numerous police forces that have declared this epidemic. The fact that they chose a different word makes it feel like they care more about blocking the NDP’s efforts than about the wishes of survivors and experts. This government was invited to join an established movement but chose not to. This is disappointing, but I am still looking forward to working with them. 

Just before all of the above occurred, on Wednesday night, the government moved another motion to direct the IPV sub-committee to meet and consider a draft committee report. That is standard. However, what is not standard is that the report we are being asked to consider was written solely by PC MPP Jess Dixon. It is highly irregular that any MPP, let alone a government member acting alone, would write a committee report. That is a job reserved for non-partisan committee clerks, professional staff who are highly experienced at writing these reports in a balanced and non-partisan manner. I asked several clerks whether this had ever been done before. Not one of the legislative clerks could recall a time when an MPP had written a draft committee report. 

I had the opportunity to speak to this motion in the Legislature, which you can watch here. 

I have not yet seen this report. There is a possibility that it is balanced, however, there is a real risk that it is not and that worries me. All of the report consideration and editing will be done in committee “in closed session,” meaning that the public will not be able to observe and I will not be able to share anything about how decisions were made or what was altered from the original draft. This is typical of report writing, but remember that it is also typical that the report is written by non-partisan staff. I am concerned about this entire process being so removed from the public, especially since the committee is made up of a majority of government members. 

I will continue to bring you updates on this process, sharing what I am allowed to share, over the next few weeks. 

This week Ford used a time allocation motion so that he can ram Bill 60 and Bill 33 through Queen’s Park. Time allocation motions drastically shorten the time that a bill is required to be debate. In this case, it will allow Ford to skip the public consultation and committee amendments process. 

Both of these bills are incredibly flawed and require significant changes in order to actually benefit Ontarians. However, because of this undemocratic move by Ford’s PCs, they will be sent for final votes without any changes. To quote York – South Weston Tenants Union's founder Chiara Padovani, "The fact that the government doesn’t want to have the public consultations is because they know the public is adamantly opposed." 

Tenant groups are calling on all levels of government to oppose Ford ramming through his attack on tenants. 

I will continue to speak up against these bills in the Legislature. If you have stories about how you or your loved ones would be affected by these changes to housing and education, please reply to this email. I would love to hear from you and share your story in the Legislature. 

Are you between the age of 17-25 with a passion for politics, policy, and community building? Apply to the Toronto Centre Youth Council to have your voice heard on provincial issues.

Join Our First Session - pizza provided!

Date: November 26, 2025

Time: 4:45-6PM

Location: 120 Carlton St, Unit 401

Apply now: kristyn.ca/youth-council 

Get ready for a fabulous Toronto Centre NDP Holiday Park with lunch, prize giveaways, entertainment, festive cheer, and, of course, surprise VIP guests!

Date: December 7, 2025

Time: 1 PM - 4 PM

Location: Regent Park Community Centre, 402 Shuter Street

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

This week, I attended Estimates hearings for both the Ministry of the Attorney General (responsible for courts and tribunals)  and the Ministry of the Solicitor General (responsible for jails, policing, and first responders). Estimates is a time when the Ministries open up their budget books and show the public how much they are planning to spend, alongside how much they have historically spent. 

Estimates hearings are excellent opportunities to hold Ministers directly accountable for the actions and priorities of their Ministries. They are something that I look forward to all year! 

This year, I had the opportunity to interrogate the Attorney General about the unacceptable backlogs in our courts and tribunals, asking him how and where he was making investments to speed up processing times for tenants, landlords, human rights claimants, victims of crime, and those waiting in jail for their hearings. As usual I was given evasive answers, but I also got under the Attorney General’s skin. I am hopeful that I will continue to make him uncomfortable enough to take action on behalf of all of the people who are waiting for their hearing dates. 

Remember those unelected school board supervisors that Education Minister Paul Calandra installed in the TDSB, TCDSB, and other boards across Ontario? The ones with zero experience in teaching, education, or school board administration? 

Recent estimates hearings have revealed that they are being paid $2,000 per day, three days per week. That means that they are being paid up to $350,000 a year by us, the taxpayers, to ignore parents and students. Meanwhile democratically elected trustees are no longer being paid at all and have been stripped of the ability to do their jobs.

What more, these “supervisors” don't respond to parent emails or phone calls, they don’t attend committee meetings, and they won't answer media questions. What are they doing all day? 

It is shameful that they are collecting these lucrative salaries while refusing to engage with the people they’re supposed to serve. Ontario families deserve transparency, accountability, and local representation, not government buddies collecting six-figure salaries to silence local voices.

What a milestone! On Tuesday, I was thrilled to celebrate Dixon Hall as they officially opened their newly renovated Parliament Street Rooming Houses. This revitalization includes the meticulous heritage restoration of four contiguous Victorian properties as well as wraparound supports to ensure that the vulnerable people housed here will be successful.

I visited the site last year and it was inspiring to see all the progress their team has made since then. It’s heartwarming to know community members will be able to step out of homelessness into safe, dignified, and supportive housing with the help and support of Dixon Hall. This is exactly what our communities need!

• Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
• Innovative Medicines Canada
• Association des conseils scolaires des écoles publiques de l’Ontario (ACÉPO)
• Ontario Book Publishers Organization
• Better Way Alliance
• Ontario Nurse Practitioners Association
• Hospice Palliative Care Ontario
• Bellwood Toronto & EHN Canada
• Toronto Drop-In Network

Toronto councillor, fire chief want regulations increased for lithium-ion batteries

Venue of $10M Skills Development Fund recipient, partners now licensed as an ‘adult entertainment club’

Doug Ford quietly kills Toronto’s green roof bylaw

St. James Town apartment fire sends 3 to hospital

Twin Mixed-Use Towers Proposed at 16 Sumach St and 90 Eastern Ave: 59 and 55 Storeys with 1,284 New Homes Planned

A look at Cabbagetown's newly renovated rooming homes

Toronto police release detailed data on intimate partner violence for the 1st time

Toronto mayor announces new plan to improve TTC safety

Fall fiscal update shows projections for new home construction slowing down in Ontario

The Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association (CWNA) invites community members to take part in their monthly executive meeting followed by the 2nd Annual Welcome Winter Open House this Saturday Nov 8th. All are welcome to attend.

Executive Meeting: 10 AM - 12 PM

To join, please email info@cwna to confirm your participation.

Welcome Winter Open House: 1 - 3 PM

Help usher in the season with hot chocolate, coffee, treats, and community cheer, while supporting a wonderful local initiative. 

Donate new children’s mittens and hats to decorate the Mitten Tree — all gifts will go to students at Church Street Public School.

CWNA is also collecting gently used adult winter outerwear to share with neighbours in need.

Last year, the community donated over 130 pairs of mittens and hats — let’s make this year’s event even warmer!

Join the Cabbagetown community as they come together to honour and remember those who have served and sacrificed for our country. The annual Remembrance Day Ceremony will take place at St James’ Cemetery, featuring a traditional service with music, hymns, readings, and the laying of wreaths.

Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Location: St. James’ Cemetery, 635 Parliament Street, Toronto ON

Doors: 9:45 AM

Ceremony: 10:00 AM - the ceremony will begin promptly.

This meaningful community gathering offers a moment of reflection and gratitude, uniting neighbours, veterans, and local representatives in remembrance.

Following the ceremony and wreath laying, historian Gilles Hout of the Cabbagetown Preservation Association will lead a guided walking tour of veteran graves within St. James’ Cemetery. Attendees will be invited to place poppies at individual headstones as a personal act of remembrance.

Complimentary coffee, tea, pastries, and cookies will be available for attendees, generously provided by Daniel et Daniel Catering & Events and McDonald’s.

The Children's Book Bank is inviting you to their Story Soirée on November 13, from 5:30-8:30PM. This fundraiser event will celebrate 17 years of impact and support the continued growth of Book Bank locations across the city.

This elegant fundraiser features:

• CBB Champions Awards Ceremony
• Live musical performances
• Engage with children’s authors and illustrators
• Food and drinks
• Live silent auction

With a goal of raising $50,000, your ticket helps bring books and literacy programs to children across our communities.

Story Soirée Event Details:

Date: November 13, 2025
Time: 5:30 - 8:30pm
Location: Ada Slaight Hall, 585 Dundas St E

Buy tickets

Little Trinity Church invites community members to join in the holiday spirit at the second annual Little Trinity Christmas Market, held in collaboration with the Good Food Market.  

Enjoy an evening filled with festive cheer, local treats, and holiday shopping:

• Live Music: Come enjoy seasonal performances by Dr. Ben!
• Free Goodies: Take a load off and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, apple cider, and yummy treats!
• Unique Gifts: Do your holiday shopping and pick up some unique hand-made gifts for your loved ones!
• Groceries: Stop by our regular produce market, offering high quality fruits and veggies at wholesale prices!

All proceeds will go to Good Shepherd Ministries, a local organization that serves over 1000 meals a day to those in need.

Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Location: Little Trinity Church

The Regent Park Youth Safety & Well-Being Forum is a community-driven initiative that fosters a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for young people in Regent Park to engage in open conversations about safety, security, and mental health.

This forum encourages self-reflection, community connection, and helps youth access real-world support systems to promote overall well-being.

Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Time: 5:00 PM

Location: Regent Park Community Centre, 402 Shuter Street

Open to all youth residents of Regent Park.

The recruitment period for the Spring 2026 session of the Legislative Page Program is now open until November 15, 2025. 

Each year, high-achieving, community-oriented Grade 7 and 8 students from across Ontario are chosen to serve as Legislative Pages. This unique opportunity in Toronto allows selected students to become involved in Ontario’s parliamentary process, meet key figures, and make lifelong friendships with like-minded peers.

More information can be found here. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Page Program at [email protected] or by phone at (416) 325-7457.

As a part of the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS), they are providing the opportunity to apply for a grant that supports resident-led projects. These projects can encourage local activation and focus on the five domains of TSNS – economic opportunities, healthy lives, participation in civic making, physical surroundings, and social development - across all neighbourhoods. 

The Local Leadership Grant prioritizes the leadership and participation of Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving groups within Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, Emerging Neighbourhoods, and other communities of focus. 

Find out more by clicking here! 

Nominations for the 2026 Rosemary Brown Racial Justice Awards are now open until January 15. If you know a changemaker in your community who deserves recognition, please consider submitting a nomination using this form.

Who Can Be Nominated:

There are four categories: Individual, Group, Women, and Youth (under 25). Any Ontario resident, or Ontario-based organization, group, or initiative may be nominated. This includes educators, writers, community workers, social and political activists, social action groups, trade unions, youth organizations, multicultural organizations, schools, coalitions, professional associations, media, and service clubs.

The award ceremony will be held in March 2026.

Dear friend,

Happy Hallowe'en and let's go Blue Jays! 

This is one of my favourite times of the year and made even more special because of Game 6. If our beloved Toronto Blue Jays hold off the LA Dodgers tonight, Hallowe’en parties are going to get even more boisterous with the World Series Championship win!

Do be careful when driving and make sure to watch out for the little ghouls and goblins crossing the streets at night. Watching kids proudly parade in their costumes with heavy bags of hard-earned candy is heart-melting joy for this parent. I’m excited to be trick-or-treating with my son this evening. 

There are many Hallowe'en parties happening across the province and the biggest one will be right here in Toronto Centre. I encourage everyone to come out to Hallowe'en on Church tonight in the Church-Wellesley Village to take in the incredible creativity on display, enjoy performances, and support our local businesses. I am wishing everyone a safe and happy Hallowe'en full of fun tricks and sweet treats!

Unfortunately this week, Doug Ford and his devilish government lost their souls and had us debating heartless legislation. From removing tenant protections to banning speed cameras to weakening our democracy, they created a real house of horrors. 

But as you likely know, Ford quickly backpedaled away (for now) his plan to end month-to-month leases for residential tenants after MPPs received hundreds of thousands of emails and calls from frightened and angry tenants worried they could lose their homes. This is proof of the power that tenants have and the ways that your voice matters! If you all had not shared your rage, consultations on the removal of month-to-month leases would still be going forward. I am especially proud of the thousands of Toronto Centre tenants who reached out to my office. Thank you for sharing your stories with me. I'm still working hard to reply to each and every single one of you.

This week I asked the Attorney General directly why he would threaten the very foundation of affordable housing in Ontario. He dodged the question, which you can watch here. I also had the opportunity to provide my full comments on Bill 60 this week. This government bill aims to weaken tenant protections. You can watch my speech, which includes the stories of many tenants who wrote in, here. 

Bill 60 is still damaging omnibus  legislation that will erode tenant protections (in addition to many other areas), allowing the Landlord Tenant Board to evict tenants faster by reducing the amount of time they have to pay their arrears to seven days and find a lawyer to just 14. These timelines are unreasonable for most tenants as they advantage wealthy corporate landlords with in-house lawyers and Bay Street law firms on retainer. Bill 60 will result in the termination of tenancies that could have been saved. If you want to learn more about Bill 60, the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario has a great explainer. 

None of the changes proposed in Bill 60 will make housing safer, more affordable, or better maintained. All this bill will do is speed up evictions for our most vulnerable tenants, which will only make homelessness worse in Toronto and across Ontario. Rest assured I will be fighting it every step of the way. And you can too, by sharing your story with my office, sharing your thoughts directly with the government by deputing at committee, joining your local tenants association or an advocacy group like the Toronto Centre Tenant Union, or signing up to canvass with me here. So many groups are ready to fight and they need your voice! 

It is frustrating that Ford and his Housing Minister continue to table legislation that makes life harder for tenants while ignoring the recommendations of their own Housing Task Force and other housing experts. The Ontario NDP has been promoting our Homes Ontario plan to get the government back into the business of building affordable housing for years. We are also working with legal clinics and tenant organizations to get this government to listen and bring back in-person Landlord Tenant Board Hearings. I will continue to push for legislation that makes housing more affordable to end the housing and homelessness crisis.

This week Doug Ford decided to take yet another huge swing at democracy, stating that he would soon be tabling legislation (likely in next week’s Fall Economic Statement) to scrap fixed-term elections and nearly double political donation limits. This should scare everyone. 

For the past nearly 20 years, Ontario has had fixed-term election dates, giving us predictability in when elections would be held. Since 2016, Ontario’s provincial general elections has been scheduled for the first Thursday in June, four years after the last general election. Governments were free to call an election earlier if they received agreement from MPPs, but they could not schedule it later. Now Ford wants the power to call an election whenever he likes and be able to sit in government for up to five years. A five-year term is technically allowed under the Canadian constitution, but is generally not used as convention (and fixed election dates) dictate a four year term. This is just another way that Ford is trying to increase chaos and confusion while ensuring he is in power for as long as possible. 

Massively increasing maximum political donations, from $3,400 to $5,000 is another way that this government is trying to cement its power. The PCs know that they have the greatest access to wealthy donors and they want to fill their bank accounts ahead of the next election. Every time that donation limits go up by more than inflationary amounts, they benefit the parties that cater to the wealthiest. It is anti-democratic and wrong – especially since individuals can donate the maximum up to three times in a year with an election: to the political party itself, a local riding association before the campaign begins, and the local candidate’s campaign during the writ period. That is $15,000 in one year with these new limits. Who has that kind of money to throw around? Certainly not most residents in Toronto Centre. I am worried that these changes will only widen economic disparities in Ontario as the Ford government becomes even more beholden to their wealthy friends and donors. 

Thank you for subscribing to our weekly newsletter. If you enjoy reading it and believe others will too, please don't keep us a secret and share it with your friends and family who enjoy being kept up to date with Ontario news.

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Solicitor General Estimates Hearing
• Skilled Immigrants Left Behind
• Toronto Centre NDP AGM
• My Child Care Townhall
• 50 Years of the Ontario Ombudsman
• Homeless Connect Toronto
• Meeting with OPSEU/SEFPO Mental Health Workers
• Ontario Volunteer Service Awards 
• This Week’s Meetings
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

Over this past week and next week, the Legislature is holding a series of committee meetings to review budgetary spending called “estimates.” Each Ministry has a separate meeting, attended by the Minister, Assistant Deputy Ministers, and select MPPs. At these meetings MPPs have an opportunity to question the Minister and his staff about estimated spending for the following fiscal year, referencing a document of estimated spending sent out beforehand. 

This week I attended Estimates for the Minister of the Solicitor General, where I and my colleague Jennie Stevens questioned the Minister about overcrowding in provincial jails, the treatment of people in mental health crisis in custody, and the treatment of the whales and other animals at Marineland. 

Next week I will be participating in Estimates for the Ministry of the Attorney General. I will bring you all of those updates next week. 

Qualified workers invited by the Ontario Government to apply for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) are waiting three years for application decisions promised in six months. They are waiting so long that their work permits are expiring, resulting in them losing their jobs and their healthcare, even though their employers want them to keep working! 

On Tuesday, nearly 100 OINP applicants and their families joined me at Queen’s Park, many of them skilled trades workers waiting to work on building Ontario’s much-needed housing. They filled the galleries while MPP Alexa Gilmour and I asked the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development why he was making these hardworking and people wait while employers went without their skills. You can watch the question (and the non-answer) here. 

On Sunday I was thrilled to attend and participate in the Toronto Centre NDP’s Annual General Meeting. It was a huge success! We elected a new executive, received annual reports, and heard updates from our democratically elected School Board Trustee Dee WIlliams, 2025 Federal Candidate Samantha Green. I also had the chance to give an update about my work at Queen’s Park and out in the community. 

We were also lucky to be joined by all five federal leadership candidates; Rob Ashton, Tanille Johnston, Avi Lewis, Heather MacPherson, and Tony McQuail. It was a treat to hear them all speak and share their vision for the party. 

And of course it wouldn’t be the Toronto Centre NDP without a good social afterwards, so thank you to The Well for hosting us as we chatted the evening away!

Thank you to all of our community members who came out to our Childcare Townhall on Wednesday night! A special thank you to our panelists Angela Zhu of Toronto Parents for Child Care, Erin Filby of Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO), and Carolyn Ferns of Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC). They all shared important insight into Ontario’s childcare crisis and SAWRO ran a thought-provoking and interactive workshop about the realities and implications of our current childcare system on low income families. 

With the provincial-federal childcare agreement expiring in less than 5 months, it’s crucial now more than ever to push our governments to do better, and ensure the system receives the funding needed to retain existing spaces and expand to meet the needs for working parents. 

Demand that Ford sign the new $10-day child care agreement! Sign the petition here:

On Wednesday, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Ontario Ombudsman’s Office and the invaluable public service that they provide for Ontarians. The Ombudsman has revealed issues of fairness at the Landlord Tenant Board, torture at Maplehurst Correctional Complex, egregiously inappropriate housing for children in care, and much more. We are lucky to have our Ombudsman and need to ensure their ongoing independence.

I was honoured to have the opportunity to acknowledge this anniversary and thank our current Ombudsman, Paul Dubé, for his service in the Legislature. You can watch my speech here. 

It is critical that the office of the Ombudsman remains impartial and properly funded, so that Ontarians can trust that the government of the day is being properly overseen and fairness is being upheld. 

Homeless Connect Toronto’s 12th annual One-Stop-Shop was last weekend and I was so happy to stop by! I had the chance to tour the event, meet Torontonians impacted by homelessness, and see firsthand the amazing work being done by community partners providing housing, employment, and other essential supports. I am so grateful that this meaningful event happens in our community every year. 

Yesterday, I had an opportunity to meet with OPSEU/SEFPO’s division of Mental Health and Addictions workers, who are at the frontline of delivering compassionate mental healthcare and actively tackling Ontario’s ongoing mental health crisis.

The Ford government’s decisions to privatize healthcare services, increase staffing shortages, and ineffectively address safety and violence in these spaces have run our mental healthcare services into instability and unsafe conditions for workers and patients alike.

These workers know best what needs to be changed on the ground, and what systemic changes need to be addressed immediately. I am proud to continue to be their voice at Queens Park and advocate for the changes we need to improve mental healthcare services for all across Ontario.

On Tuesday evening, my fellow MPPs and I had the privilege of honouring some incredible members of our community at the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards! I am so thankful to the Volunteer Recognition Unit at the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism for all of the hard work they put into organizing this event. Volunteers play significant roles in our community’s organizations and their selfless dedication must be recognized. With a combined total of 2,584 years of volunteering between this year’s award recipients, it’s safe to say these amazing superheroes must be celebrated!

• United Food and Commercial Workers
• OPSEU Mental Health and Addictions Workers
• Academy of Learning Career College
•  Traditional Chinese Medicine Ontario

West Toronto supervised consumption site shutting down after Ford government pulls funding

Toronto’s waterfront music venue renamed RBC Amphitheatre, will close in 2027 for renos

How good is the Jays' rookie pitcher? Here's a look at Yesavage's record-breaking Game 5 stats

Ontario to consolidate conservation authorities, create new oversight agency

Ontario renters, cyclists, environmentalists concerned about Ford omnibus bill

Speed cameras across Ontario to be removed in 2 weeks, transportation minister says

Vaccine records aren't up-to-date for more than half of Ottawa, Toronto students assessed: public health

Halloween on Church in The Village is back on October 31st from 6:30 PM to midnight! Prepare for a night of wicked fun, eerie surprises and unforgettable festivities.

Because of the massive success of Halloween on Church, the Church and Wellesley BIA has expanded to Saturday, November 1st, from 7 PM to midnight as well. Make sure you bring your spirit and your monster mash moves to Canada's biggest Halloween bash. Find out more here.

On November 1, from 6:30 PM to 8 PM at the Sackville Playground, the Corktown Neighbourhood Association is hosting another Pumpkin Parade! 

This free event is for everyone! So come out, don your scary costumes and masks and let’s all celebrate Samhain!

Join the Cabbagetown community as they come together to honour and remember those who have served and sacrificed for our country. The annual Remembrance Day Ceremony will take place at St James’ Cemetery, featuring a traditional service with music, hymns, readings, and the laying of wreaths.

Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Location: St. James’ Cemetery, 635 Parliament Street, Toronto ON

Doors: 9:45 AM

Ceremony: 10:00 AM - the ceremony will begin promptly.

This meaningful community gathering offers a moment of reflection and gratitude, uniting neighbours, veterans, and local representatives in remembrance.

Following the ceremony and wreath laying, historian Gilles Hout of the Cabbagetown Preservation Association will lead a guided walking tour of veteran graves within St. James’ Cemetery. Attendees will be invited to place poppies at individual headstones as a personal act of remembrance.

Complimentary coffee, tea, pastries, and cookies will be available for attendees, generously provided by Daniel et Daniel Catering & Events and McDonald’s.

Be part of youth-centred discussions exploring barriers and supports for Black, racialized, and neurodiverse youth in the justice system.

Join Youth Justice for the Youth Justice Transformation Lab and Inclusive Justice Collaborative's Youth Justice Community Forum on November 18, 2025 at 9 AM - 5 PM at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (16 Spadina Road)!

Be part of youth-centred discussions exploring barriers and supports for Black, racialized, and neurodiverse youth in the justice system. This year, the Youth Justice Community Forum will feature discussions on current youth justice issues including how the child welfare and education systems also impact justice-involvement, Bill 33, bail reform, justice centres, how justice professionals can best support young people, and more! Hear from and connect with young people, justice professionals, community agencies, educators, and other stakeholders from the child welfare, education and youth justice systems.

Stay tuned for speaker and more event details. Law Society of Ontario EDI professionalism hours are pending and may be available for justice professionals in attendance.

For any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].

The Environmental Registry of Ontario is inviting public feedback on the proposal “New Requirements for Data Centres Seeking to Connect to the Electricity Grid in Ontario” — open until November 4, 2025.

This consultation seeks input on the types of data centres that would be subject to new requirements, including those with large electrical connections (over 50 megawatts) and facilities located in areas where the electricity grid may be constrained or have surplus capacity.

Learn more and provide feedback through the Environmental Registry of Ontario: ERO Notice 025-1001. You can also learn more from The Narwhal’s in-depth article here on data centres and whether or not they are a potential threat to the Great Lakes. 

Pathway to Possibilities is hosting a Newcomer Women Program. This is designed to support newcomer women in setting meaningful goals and strengthening their employability skills, while also providing the opportunity to earn micro-certificates.

This program runs from October 20 to December 12, 2025. Apply by filling out the form here.

The recruitment period for the Spring 2026 session of the Legislative Page Program is now open until November 15, 2025. 

Each year, high-achieving, community-oriented Grade 7 and 8 students from across Ontario are chosen to serve as Legislative Pages. This unique opportunity in Toronto allows selected students to become involved in Ontario’s parliamentary process, meet key figures, and make lifelong friendships with like-minded peers.

More information can be found here. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Page Program at [email protected] or by phone at (416) 325-7457.

As a part of the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS), they are providing the opportunity to apply for a grant that supports resident-led projects. These projects can encourage local activation and focus on the five domains of TSNS – economic opportunities, healthy lives, participation in civic making, physical surroundings, and social development - across all neighbourhoods. 

The Local Leadership Grant prioritizes the leadership and participation of Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving groups within Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, Emerging Neighbourhoods, and other communities of focus. 4

Find out more by clicking here!

The Staying Isn’t Choosing campaign is now live! 

This campaign was developed by Timmins and Area Women in Crisis (TAWC) and Ellevive in Northern Ontario. At the centre of this initiative are five powerful videos that raise awareness, dispel harmful myths, and highlight the systemic barriers that make leaving unsafe relationships so difficult.

This campaign addresses the complexity of abuse — including coercive control, emotional, psychological, sexual, and physical abuse — and was designed to resonate widely across communities.

• Explore the campaign and videos: stayingisntchoosing.ca
• Follow the campaign on social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Calling all people with disabilities and seniors who need help with snow clearing, lawn cutting, leaf raking, and other yard tasks! Sunshine Centres for Seniors is here to help with their Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance Program. 

Sunshine Centres is also looking for casual, part-time workers to join their Home Maintenance Program Team. If you are interested, send your resume to Kevin at [email protected]. 

For more information and to register, contact Kevin at [email protected] or (647) 687-7322

WomanACT has prepared a petition asking Amazon to remove the Term “Wife Beater” from Its Product Descriptions. 

The concern is that Amazon is continuing to use the term “wife beater” to describe men’s undershirts on its website, despite a ruling by Canada’s Ad Standards Council that this descriptor violates the advertising Code by displaying indifference to violence against women. Amazon has defended its decision by arguing that the term is “common” and accepted in popular culture. But normalization does not excuse harm.

Sign their petition telling Amazon to remove the term “Wife Beater” from its product descriptions!

Allan Gardens is hosting three family events. On Saturday October 25, pumpkin carving happens from 10 AM to 2 PM. On Wednesday October 29 and Thursday October 30, it’s an after-school events from 4 to 7 pm. Mini pumpkins and carving tools are supplied. Parental supervision is required. It’s free but a $5 donation will be appreciated. Find then at Allan Gardens Children’s Conservatory at 19 Horticultural Lane! Find more information here.

Kids are invited to go door-to-door to businesses along the Front Street promenade, between Bayview and Cherry, on Halloween from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. Businesses will have goodies to give away. There’ll be a dog-costume parade with prizes at 5:45 pm and a parade at 6 pm - assemble at the Water Guardian at 474 Front East! There’s lots of information here.

It's spooky season! Don't forget about the Pumpkin Walk coming up on November 1 from 6 PM to 8PM. Bring your pumpkin and a non-perishable food donation for Dixon Hall. Then, stick around at 8 PM to help toss the pumpkins into the bins!

Weekly free movie nights at Stout Irish Pub at 221 Carlton Street. The lineup features family movies so bring your kids. On this Sunday, October 19, it’s “Hocus Pocus” and on October 26, “Ghost Busters”.  There’s free popcorn!

Movies begin each Sunday at 5:30 PM. Please contact Erin to save your spot at (647) 344-7676 or by email at [email protected].

Dear friend,

I was back in the Legislature this week for the first time in five months, and I oh man, was it busy! My staff joke that this week was a long year in politics. The building was full of community groups, professional associations, unions, and, of course, politicians. I am so happy to be back and able to challenge this government to their face, as well as share some of my own ideas that I have been working on over summer. 

But before we get into all of that, we have to celebrate our Blue Jays! Tonight they play the first game of the World Series right here at home, and we are all rooting for them! This is an exciting moment for our city and Blue Jays fans everywhere who have been waiting for this since 1993. I know so many of us would love to be there in the stands, cheering on our team and seeing the action first-hand. But sadly, most fans are priced out. Not by the team themselves, but by ticket resellers, dynamic pricing, and bots. This is a consumer protection issue that has been plaguing us for years, but with Taylor Swift and now the Blue Jays, the problem has boiled over. 

That is why on Wednesday — before Ford ran his mouth to the media — I tabled a new motion calling on the Ford government to update the Ticket Sales Act by banning the resale of tickets above their face value. 

If Ford had acted when I first advocated this change in December of last year, Blue Jays fans would not be getting gouged today. But sadly, Ford chose to ignore my motion.

Nobody should be making money on the backs of fans, nor should regular people go into debt just to cheer on their team or see their favourite artist.

If Ford’s Conservatives don’t allow my motion to pass, then you can point your fingers at Doug for why all but the ultra-wealthy are priced out of the World Series. To learn more about the motion, you can watch my press conference about it here. 

If not for Doug Ford and his Conservatives, we would not be in this mess. In 2019, Ford went out of his way to repeal laws limiting ticket resale prices. The law had not yet come into force, but if it had, it could have protected fans and put resellers out of business. But Ford sided with resellers and companies like Ticketmaster over regular folks looking for a fun night out. You may also remember that I tabled a motion, similar to my current one, back in November when Taylor Swift tickets were priced sky-high. Ford failed to seize that opportunity to protect consumers from gouging as well, instead enriching millionaires and shady resellers at the expense (literally) of everyday Ontarians.

This week, while dodging questions about Ontario’s jobs disaster and his Labour Minister’s shady dealings, Ford dangled the carrot of “maybe” protecting Ontarians from predatory ticket resellers. But we don’t need a maybe; we need clear protections now. Send a message to Ford that fans deserve fair pricing now!

But tonight, we will focus on cheering on our Blue Jays and enjoying the game, even if we can’t be in the stadium. The City is setting up a huge screen at Nathan Philips Square so that fans can join together to watch the action! Bars and restaurants will, of course, also be playing the game, so let's support local as we cheer on our team!

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Yesterday, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing tabled Bill 60, a massive omnibus bill. It has 16 schedules, and buried in the middle is a set of changes to the Residential Tenancies Act.

Rumours are swirling that this bill ends “security of tenure,” a provision in the Residential Tenancies Act that ensures that all tenants are able to stay in their rented homes perpetually as long as they follow the terms of the lease. This is why leases become month-to-month after one year, and a landlord cannot ask a tenant to leave after that first year. Residential leases do not expire in Ontario. This bill does not change that. Yet. 

Government materials about this bill reference the fact that they will be holding consultations about the ending of security of tenure and the creation of “alternative options on lease agreement expiry.” This would be a disaster for housing stability in Ontario and effectively the end of rent control. Landlords could force tenants to move out for no reason other than that their lease has expired, forcing them to find new housing in a market that grows more expensive every year. Seniors and young families would be totally destabilized and unable to plan for their futures. 

This proposed change is meant to cover up Ford’s failures at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). The LTB has been hobbling along for years, barely functioning, but Doug Ford has well and truly broken it since he took office. Applications about breach of contract filed by both landlords and tenants are taking 18 months or more to be processed, when they should take just 30 or 40 days. Landlords have every right to quick adjudication when a tenant fails to pay rent or damages property, just as tenants have the right to a safe and well-maintained home. Fixing the LTB is the real solution to the legitimate concerns of landlords, not the removal of security of tenure. But ending security of tenure is exactly what corporate landlords who want to jack up the rent want. And Ford is catering to them. 

I am ready to fight tooth and nail against this policy, and I know many tenants and advocates are as well. We have to stay strong, remember that this legislation doesn’t exist yet, and that we still have time to fight against it. But we need to get organized now. A good first step is to email Doug Ford and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing about your vehement opposition to the removal of security of tenure. You can do so by adding your name here.

We all woke up this morning to the news that Donald Trump no longer wants to negotiate with Canada around tariffs because of Doug Ford’s anti-tariff ads on American television. Ford spent $75 million of Ontario taxpayers’ money on the ads and used audio from President Ronald Regan’s presidential address without authorization (the audio was in the public domain, but it is customary to seek permission from a president’s foundation). 

Doug Ford was never Captain Canada, no matter how hard he tried to be. This just proves it. He spent all summer pulling press stunts to distract from his failures, but today he cancelled two press conferences because he is too embarrassed to face journalists. Of course, we know that Donald Trump is not a reasonable person, and he was likely looking for an excuse to call off negotiations, but it is frustrating that this massive use of public money has only served to hurt the people of Ontario. Rest assured, I will be holding Ford accountable for these choices next week in the Legislature. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Toronto Centre NDP AGM - Meet Federal NDP Leadership Candidates!
• You’re Invited: Childcare Townhall this Wednesday!
• Judge Throws Out Murder Case Over Jail Mistreatment
• Skills Development Fund Scandal Continues
• Mid Autumn Festival Celebration
• Islamic Heritage Month Reception
• Church Wellesley Community Victory over Developers!
• No Police In Schools Rally
• This Week’s Meetings
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

Want to meet the Federal NDP leadership hopefuls? Join me this Sunday for the Toronto Centre NDP Riding Association AGM to hear from candidates Tanille Johnston, Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson, and Tony McQuail! 

At the meeting, we will also elect our new riding association executive, hear updates from me, Federal Candidate Samantha Green, and the outgoing executive, and have a chance to connect with fellow Toronto Centre New Democrats. 

All are welcome, though only members in good standing who live in Toronto Centre (or have had their memberships transferred) will be able to vote. If you would like to check your membership status or sign up, volunteers will be available to help!

There is also a virtual option for those who cannot attend in person.

Time: registration opens at 12:30 PM, meeting called to order at 1 PM

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025

Location: OPSEU Membership Centre, 31 Wellesley St E (across from Wellesley Station) or online

My Childcare Townhall is happening this upcoming Wednesday, October 29, at 6 PM! If you are as fired up about the need for affordable and accessible child care as I am, I hope that you will join me and my special guests at the Regent Park Community Centre. 

Child-minding and dinner will be provided! RSVP here to attend. RSVP is required to secure childminding.

First-degree murder charges were just stayed in Ontario directly because of Doug Ford’s failure to deliver timely justice and jails that live up to basic human rights standards. The staying of charges will effectively collapse proceedings against the accused, adding to the list of serious criminal trials that have collapsed on Ford’s watch. 

The defense used the collective punishment of prisoners at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in late 2023 to argue that the charges against the accused should be stayed. The accused were part of the violent strip search and mistreatment of over 200 prisoners at Maplehurst following the punching of a guard by an inmate. Judge Clayton Conlan’s words are damning:  “First-degree murder and attempted murder charges will not be tried on their merits. The victims and their families and close ones will not see the proceeding continue to its normal end. The community as a whole will not get the satisfaction of having a proper trial on the merits.”

With the support of Ontario NDP MPPs, I have repeatedly called for a public inquiry into collective punishment at Maplehurst earlier this year: demands that Solicitor General Michael Kerzner has ignored. 

As unthinkable as today’s ruling is, every Ontarian should know that nothing is stopping this from happening again. Ford is still refusing to commit to a basic public inquiry. He's still refusing to invest in speeding up the courts and improving access to justice. Ford is still pretending that the collective punishment of inmates at Maplehurst isn’t a blaring red alarm for how our correctional system is crumbling because of chronic under-investment in the safety of corrections officers and inmates.   

What's happening in our justice system is another reflection of Ford’s jobs disaster. He has failed to make correctional facilities safe for workers. He has failed to invest in the court staff needed to guarantee timely trials in Charter-required time frames. He is letting everyone in Ontario down and cannot admit when he is wrong.

We all know that Doug Ford and his Conservatives have been a jobs disaster for Ontario. Unemployment is at 7.9%, and the government could take meaningful actions to support workers: hiring desperately needed healthcare workers, supporting public colleges to save jobs for support workers, supporting workers in tariff-exposed industries, and committing to a Buy Ontario First procurement strategy. Instead, they are focused on protecting their friends and lobbyists who received millions from the Skills Development Fund despite submitting low-scoring applications. 

This week, the Ontario NDP hit the Conservatives hard in Question Period, asking them why the Minister of Labour went to Paris for a lobbyist’s wedding and then gave that very same lobbyist’s clients millions from the Skills Development Fund. Minister Piccini refused to answer. We asked why high scoring applications, assessed by impartial public servants, were ignored while low-scoring applications with ties to the government were sent to the front of the funding line. The question was ignored. 

Minister of Labour? More like Minister of Favours. He isn’t looking out for working people or the little guy. He is in it for his friends, using the public purse like his own personal slush fund. Minister Piccini must resign over this flagrant misuse of taxpayer dollars and the missed opportunities to support credible job creators. You have my word that the Ontario NDP will continue to push on this issue. 

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Today I had the joy of celebrating the festival season with hundreds of Chinese and Asian seniors from across our riding, featuring lots of hearty food, fun, and, of course, an abundance of mooncakes and lanterns! Thank you to Neighbourhood Information Post and TCHC for helping us organize this event! Holidays are always sweeter with community. I am wishing everyone a safe, happy, and prosperous Mid-Autumn Festival season! 中秋節快樂 

October is Islamic Heritage Month, so of course we had to celebrate! The Ontario NDP hosted hundreds of community members at the Legislature for dinner, beautiful music, and lively conversation. I am so grateful to everyone who attended for sharing their faith and culture with us. 

Every October, we recognize the significant political, economic, social and cultural contributions the Muslim community has made here in Ontario. It is also an important opportunity to centre Muslims and work together to tackle rampant anti-Muslim hate and work towards a safe and equitable Ontario for all. I look forward to working on these priorities this month and all year long.

On Tuesday, I was proud to join the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association to celebrate a rare and hard-fought victory at the Ontario Land Tribunal. KingSett Capital's proposal would have taken over 505, 507 and 509 Church St. and 68, 72 and 76 Wellesley St East. This included the William McBean Terrace building, the iconic 1878 heritage-designated structure in the heart of the Village. Thank you to CWNA and City Planning for standing up for responsible development, tenant protection and respectful heritage integration in Canada’s oldest established 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

Students are safest in well-funded schools surrounded by caring teachers and education workers. We do not need expensive police in schools to criminalize our Black, Indigenous, and racialized students. We need real investments in public education.

I am very thankful to Policing-Free Schools for their tireless advocacy to keep all students safe in schools and provide the resources that students and education workers really need. This week, I was proud to table their petition and attend their rally to keep police out of schools and fund real supports for our public education system. 

• Ontario Medical Association
• Canadian Bankers Association
• Ontario Legislative Intern Program
• Ontario Architecture Association
• Canadian Cancer Society

What a 50-year-old neighbourhood development can teach us about solving Canada’s housing crisis

PhD student pores over evictions data, finds better tenant protections needed

Casey House shutters harm reduction vending machines

'Once in a lifetime': Blue Jays fans prepare for first Toronto World Series game in decades

Woman charged after being found with homicide suspect linked to Niagara Falls Amber Alert

Air Canada makes ‘difficult decision’ to cut hundreds of management jobs

This refugee who cleaned Toronto’s long-term-care homes during COVID is still owed thousands: ‘I just needed to survive’

The Friends of Regent Park are busy preparing for October Funfest! Join this festival on October 25 from 1 PM to 3 PM at the Bake Oven in Regent Park’s “The Big Park.”

The afternoon will be spent carving pumpkins, listening to music, dancing, and many other activities!

Riverdale Farm is hosting a Halloween Boo Barn! This will take place on Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26, from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at 201 Winchester Street.

There will be so many fun activities like face painting and crafts, and pumpkin carving! For more information, please call 416-392-6794 or email [email protected].

Halloween on Church in The Village is back on October 31st from 6:30 PM to midnight! Prepare for a night of wicked fun, eerie surprises and unforgettable festivities.

Because of the massive success of Halloween on Church, the Church and Wellesley BIA has expanded to Saturday, November 1st, from 7 PM to midnight as well. Make sure you bring your spirit and your monster mash moves to Canada's biggest Halloween bash. Find out more here.

On November 1, from 6:30 PM to 8 PM at the Sackville Playground, the Corktown Neighbourhood Association is hosting another Pumpkin Parade! 

This free event is for everyone! So come out, don your scary costumes and masks and let’s all celebrate Samhain!

The Environmental Registry of Ontario is inviting public feedback on the proposal “New Requirements for Data Centres Seeking to Connect to the Electricity Grid in Ontario” — open until November 4, 2025.

This consultation seeks input on the types of data centres that would be subject to new requirements, including those with large electrical connections (over 50 megawatts) and facilities located in areas where the electricity grid may be constrained or have surplus capacity.

Learn more and provide feedback through the Environmental Registry of Ontario: ERO Notice 025-1001. You can also learn more from The Narwhal’s in-depth article here on data centres and whether or not they are a potential threat to the Great Lakes. 

Pathway to Possibilities is hosting a Newcomer Women Program. This is designed to support newcomer women in setting meaningful goals and strengthening their employability skills, while also providing the opportunity to earn micro-certificates.

This program runs from October 20 to December 12, 2025. Apply by filling out the form here.

The recruitment period for the Spring 2026 session of the Legislative Page Program is now open until November 15, 2025. 

Each year, high-achieving, community-oriented Grade 7 and 8 students from across Ontario are chosen to serve as Legislative Pages. This unique opportunity in Toronto allows selected students to become involved in Ontario’s parliamentary process, meet key figures, and make lifelong friendships with like-minded peers.

More information can be found here. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Page Program at [email protected] or by phone at (416) 325-7457.

As a part of the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS), they are providing the opportunity to apply for a grant that supports resident-led projects. These projects can encourage local activation and focus on the five domains of TSNS – economic opportunities, healthy lives, participation in civic making, physical surroundings, and social development - across all neighbourhoods. 

The Local Leadership Grant prioritizes the leadership and participation of Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving groups within Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, Emerging Neighbourhoods, and other communities of focus. 4

Find out more by clicking here!

The Staying Isn’t Choosing campaign is now live! 

This campaign was developed by Timmins and Area Women in Crisis (TAWC) and Ellevive in Northern Ontario. At the centre of this initiative are five powerful videos that raise awareness, dispel harmful myths, and highlight the systemic barriers that make leaving unsafe relationships so difficult.

This campaign addresses the complexity of abuse — including coercive control, emotional, psychological, sexual, and physical abuse — and was designed to resonate widely across communities.

• Explore the campaign and videos: stayingisntchoosing.ca
• Follow the campaign on social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Calling all people with disabilities and seniors who need help with snow clearing, lawn cutting, leaf raking, and other yard tasks! Sunshine Centres for Seniors is here to help with their Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance Program. 

Sunshine Centres is also looking for casual, part-time workers to join their Home Maintenance Program Team. If you are interested, send your resume to Kevin at [email protected]. 

For more information and to register, contact Kevin at [email protected] or (647) 687-7322

WomanACT has prepared a petition asking Amazon to remove the Term “Wife Beater” from Its Product Descriptions. 

The concern is that Amazon is continuing to use the term “wife beater” to describe men’s undershirts on its website, despite a ruling by Canada’s Ad Standards Council that this descriptor violates the advertising Code by displaying indifference to violence against women. Amazon has defended its decision by arguing that the term is “common” and accepted in popular culture. But normalization does not excuse harm.

Sign their petition telling Amazon to remove the term “Wife Beater” from its product descriptions!

Allan Gardens is hosting three family events. On Saturday October 25, pumpkin carving happens from 10 AM to 2 PM. On Wednesday October 29 and Thursday October 30, it’s an after-school events from 4 to 7 pm. Mini pumpkins and carving tools are supplied. Parental supervision is required. It’s free but a $5 donation will be appreciated. Find then at Allan Gardens Children’s Conservatory at 19 Horticultural Lane! Find more information here.

Kids are invited to go door-to-door to businesses along the Front Street promenade, between Bayview and Cherry, on Halloween from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. Businesses will have goodies to give away. There’ll be a dog-costume parade with prizes at 5:45 pm and a parade at 6 pm - assemble at the Water Guardian at 474 Front East! There’s lots of information here.

It's spooky season! Don't forget about the Pumpkin Walk coming up on November 1 from 6 PM to 8PM. Bring your pumpkin and a non-perishable food donation for Dixon Hall. Then, stick around at 8 PM to help toss the pumpkins into the bins!

Weekly free movie nights at Stout Irish Pub at 221 Carlton Street. The lineup features family movies so bring your kids. On this Sunday, October 19, it’s “Hocus Pocus” and on October 26, “Ghost Busters”.  There’s free popcorn!

Movies begin each Sunday at 5:30 PM. Please contact Erin to save your spot at (647) 344-7676 or by email at [email protected].

This Monday, the Ontario Legislature will be back in session. After a five-month recess, MPPs across Ontario will return to Queen’s Park. We will finally have Question Period again, be able to introduce new bills, debate government policy, and have many more in-person opportunities to hold this corrupt government accountable. 

I’m eager to look Doug Ford in the eye and call for accountability. Ford needs to prioritize the health and economic well-being of Ontarians over the private interests of his donors and party insiders. We need the government to invest in public services so that they work for everyone. And, of course, to call on Ford to be laser-focused on jobs. 

Ontario lost 47,000 jobs in September, the most out of any province by a factor of six. More than 800,000 Ontarians are out of work. Unemployment is at 7.9% and rising, and is higher than in any province outside of the Maritimes. The hardest hit industries are retail, construction, and manufacturing, with retail being the hardest hit with 98,000 jobs lost just since June. But this isn’t a recent phenomenon. Ontario’s jobs numbers have been trending downward for two years, well before Trump’s tariffs were on the scene. The constant in this has been Doug Ford, his incompetence, and his constant prioritization of his insiders over everyday people.

With every news headline, we see more job loss, increased bankruptcies, higher cost of living and a looming recession. People are staring at housing and fuel prices they can’t afford, and are forced to choose between rent and groceries. That is unacceptable. 

This week, the Ontario NDP launched a new website detailing Doug Ford’s jobs disaster. I encourage you to take a look at it here. 

When we went to the polls this past February, Doug Ford fashioned himself as Captain Canada and asked Ontarians to trust him with the economy. Instead of creating new jobs and supporting businesses, Ford spent his time pulling out stunts and props at press conferences. Ontarians facing job loss and food banks are tired of his antics. Ford’s worst joke was gaslighting young people by telling them to “look harder” when every economist is warning that more unemployment is to be expected without a real jobs plan from the government.

I am proud to be part of a team of Ontario New Democrats who are heading back to the legislature, focused on uplifting workers and strengthening our economy. I will continue to fight for good union jobs to stay right here in Ontario, build back our economic sovereignty, and create resilient local supply chains with Buy Ontario First mandates. 

All Ontarians are looking for is a chance to get ahead. I am proud to be with you every step of the way. 

In addition to my focus on protecting our economy, jobs and businesses from US tariffs, I will continue the fight to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic, to fix the backlogs in our tribunals and courts, to ensure our communities are safe, to make housing more affordable, and to stand up for public education and public health care at every turn. You know me, I can’t be held down! 

I am very excited to be able to table new bills and motions in the Legislature once more. In this shrinking economy, Ontarians need ONDP's progressive policy solutions now more than ever. 

If you have a legislative suggestion that you think I should consider, please share it so that I can bring your voice into Queen’s Park. That is the most important part of this role, and it is an honour to work for you every day. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Press Conference
• Enchanté Together for Change Conference
• Little Canada's Little North Unveiling
• Stop the Ban on Speed Cameras
• NEXT WEEK: Child Care Townhall
• Another Skills Development Fund Update
• NDP Leadership Forum Livestream
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) was launched in 2007 to address provincial labour shortages, as well as attract investment and encourage economic settlement. It’s part of a larger federal program, where each province determines for itself what skilled labour, experience and education are required for its own economy and workforce.

This morning, I was able to speak on behalf of “Vincent,” a constituent using a pseudonym worried about government backlash for speaking up. He has been facing barriers and delays in his OINP application. Since 2018, Vincent has been a construction worker and supervisor building homes for major developers in Ontario. He has a young family in Canada, and not only has his life been on hold now that he cannot work due to his work permit having expired, but he is terrified that they will have to leave their home. 

He continues to wait for a decision after one year, and he is just one of tens of thousands of skilled workers who have been failed by Labour Minister David Piccini and the Ford government. Employers need construction workers like my constituent, who are ready and qualified to build homes in a housing crisis.

I have previously written to Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development about these OINP delays in October 2024. Since then, I have written to Minister Piccini several more times. My office has still not yet received any real response from the Minister’s office. OINP staff tell applicants to check the portal frequently for an update, and the Ford government continues to take no responsibility for applicants who each paid $1500 to $2000 in processing fees. This is unacceptable.

Ontario must clear the backlog and connect with the federal government on how it can ensure valuable workers can continue to contribute to the economy. Sign my petition and call on the Ford government to remove barriers for skilled workers and fix the OINP system. Watch me speak on Vincent's story here. 

I had the pleasure of being a panellist at the Enchanté Network’s Together for Change Conference that took place yesterday in Ottawa. Our panel was titled “What's Next for the Left? Reclaiming Progress in an Age of Backlash”, and I got to share the stage at the TCC Collaboration Centre with Ottawa Councillor Ariel Troster. We delved into important trends concerning the worrisome times we are living in, and the next steps 2SLGBTQI+ leaders must take to build a future where our communities are safe in Canada.

In a time of mounting challenges to equity and inclusion—especially for Trans and Queer communities—this conference served as a rallying point. I met with 2SLGBTQI+ organizations, grassroots activists, and policymakers from across the country to strategize, connect, and reimagine a future grounded in justice, dignity, and systemic change.

Thank you to Brittan Hudson for moderating this panel, and to Executive Director Tyler Boyce and the Enchanté Network for the invitation to participate.

It is a joy every time I visit Little Canada, and this time around I was able to see the new “Little North” exhibit, a delightful interactive display featuring Nunavut, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories! It is the newest and most ambitious destination yet, showcasing the cultures of the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, which share and tell stories of Canada’s cities and landscapes through immersive and detailed miniatures. 

There is so much craft and artistry required to put this exhibit together, and I can only imagine the hard work it takes to run the show behind the scenes. Congratulations to Jean Louis Brenninkmeijer and the entire team for this incredible feat. When you get a chance, please visit the new exhibit at 10 Dundas Street East!

Premier Doug Ford is proposing legislation next month that would ban the use of municipal speed cameras, claiming that they are nothing but a “cash grab” — even though he, in fact, legalized speed cameras in 2019. The Ford government is backtracking on road safety at a time when Ontario is experiencing a disturbing rise in fatal car accidents since 2022, with speeding being one of the recurring causes. Studies show that automated speed enforcement has led to significant speed reduction in locations in which they are implemented.

Call on Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria, and your MPP to stop the ban on automated speed cameras by clicking here!

The Childcare Townhall is almost here! Ontario’s child care agreement with the Federal government expires on March 31, 2026 and so far the province has not signed on to renew the agreement. Without the agreement, affordable child care is at risk.

If you are as fired up about the need for affordable and accessible child care as I am, I hope that you will join me and my special guests at our Child Care Town Hall on Wednesday, October 29, at 6 PM.

This will be at the Regent Park Community Centre. Dinner and child-minding will be provided, you must RSVP to get a spot for childcare. 

The Ford government’s handling of the Skills Development Fund (SDF) is revealing itself to be shadier with each passing week. Ontario NDP leader, Marit Stiles, has asked Integrity Commissioner Cathryn Motherwell to investigate further into a potential conflict of interest between Minister of Labour and Immigration David Piccini and his lobbyist friend, Michael Rudderham. As a reminder, Mr. Rudderham represents Keel Digital Solutions, which received two Skills Development Fund grants totaling over $7.5 million. 

Even the federal government will review the troubled program to make sure the money it sends to the province for job training is being well spent. Canadian Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu’s office will consult the report by Ontario’s auditor general that raised red flags about the $2.5 billion program and work with the province to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being distributed fairly. 

While 800,000 Ontarians are out of work, Ford is funneling public money meant for workers into the hands of well-connected insiders. A staggering $742 million went to low-scoring applicants, while 670 higher-ranked applications were denied. Over half of the approved applications were ranked low. 

The Auditor General has said that this grant approval process was ‘not fair, transparent or accountable.” This is not the first time we have heard the Auditor General use these words; this is the same rhetoric she used about the Greenbelt and Ontario Place.  

Despite this, Minister Piccini continues to defend his funding decisions. I, along with the Ontario NDP, support investing in training centres and workers. We will ensure that more of this money goes to building up our trades and training workers for permanent, good union jobs. This ask of the Integrity Commissioner is only the beginning in holding Ford and Minister Piccini accountable. 

Are you interested in joining union members, NDP supporters, and workers from across Canada at the virtual NDP Leadership Forum? This is your chance to see the candidates who want to lead the NDP and hear their vision for Canada.

This event will take place on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 6 PM to 7 PM. The Toronto Centre riding association is hosting a watch party at the Bishop and Belcher (175 Bloor Street East) starting at 5:30 PM. To RSVP for this, click here!

Or if you would rather stay and watch from the comfort of your own home, RSVP online here! 

Ontario college support staff reach tentative agreement to end strike

Government secrecy clouds $237 million in funding to groups that endorsed Doug Ford

Charges For Workers’ Rights Violations Drop 90% In Ontario

Suspect oustanding after 1 person stabbed in downtown Toronto

Ontario to introduce new digital court system Tuesday

Carney defends paying 2 CEO appointees upwards of $577,000 a year

Toronto renters should make about $44 hourly to comfortably afford a one-bedroom apartment: report

Celebrate the season at the Fall Festival at Queen’s Park! Join the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for a fun-filled day of free autumn activities for all ages on Saturday, October 18, from 11 AM to 5 PM. Enjoy fall-themed crafts, a pumpkin patch, an inflatable corn maze, and live entertainment throughout the day. Explore the park’s autumnal displays and snap the perfect fall photo at one of our themed photo spots. Whether you’re crafting, playing or just soaking in the colours of the season, there’s something for everyone!

Join Policing-Free Schools' Province-Wide Rally at Queen's Park and say No to Bill 33. This rally is to send a clear message to Doug Ford and Paul Calandra that Ontarians do not want Bill 33! 

This will be on the first day that the Ontario Legislative resumes on Monday, October 20, at 10 AM. The rally will take place at Queen's Park, South Lawn, 111 Wellesley Street West.

The Friends of Regent Park are busy preparing for October Funfest! Join this festival on October 25 from 1 PM to 3 PM at the Bake Oven in Regent Park’s “The Big Park.”

The afternoon will be spent carving pumpkins, listening to music, dancing, and many other activities!

Riverdale Farm is hosting a Halloween Boo Barn! This will take place on Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26, from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at 201 Winchester Street.

There will be so many fun activities like face painting and crafts, and pumpkin carving! For more information, please call 416-392-6794 or email [email protected].

Halloween on Church in The Village is back on October 31st from 6:30 PM to midnight! Prepare for a night of wicked fun, eerie surprises and unforgettable festivities.

Because of the massive success of Halloween on Church, the Church and Wellesley BIA has expanded to Saturday, November 1st, from 7 PM to midnight as well. Make sure you bring your spirit and your monster mash moves to Canada's biggest Halloween bash. Find out more here.

On November 1, from 6:30 PM to 8 PM at the Sackville Playground, the Corktown Neighbourhood Association is hosting another Pumpkin Parade! 

This free event is for everyone! So come out, don your scary costumes and masks and let’s all celebrate Samhain!

The Environmental Registry of Ontario is inviting public feedback on the proposal “New Requirements for Data Centres Seeking to Connect to the Electricity Grid in Ontario” — open until November 4, 2025.

This consultation seeks input on the types of data centres that would be subject to new requirements, including those with large electrical connections (over 50 megawatts) and facilities located in areas where the electricity grid may be constrained or have surplus capacity.

Learn more and provide feedback through the Environmental Registry of Ontario: ERO Notice 025-1001. You can also learn more from The Narwhal’s in-depth article here on data centres and whether or not they are a potential threat to the Great Lakes. 

Pathway to Possibilities is hosting a Newcomer Women Program. This is designed to support newcomer women in setting meaningful goals and strengthening their employability skills, while also providing the opportunity to earn micro-certificates.

This program runs from October 20 to December 12, 2025. Apply by filling out the form here.

The recruitment period for the Spring 2026 session of the Legislative Page Program is now open until November 15, 2025. 

Each year, high-achieving, community-oriented Grade 7 and 8 students from across Ontario are chosen to serve as Legislative Pages. This unique opportunity in Toronto allows selected students to become involved in Ontario’s parliamentary process, meet key figures, and make lifelong friendships with like-minded peers.

More information can be found here. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Page Program at [email protected] or by phone at (416) 325-7457.

As a part of the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS), they are providing the opportunity to apply for a grant that supports resident-led projects. These projects can encourage local activation and focus on the five domains of TSNS – economic opportunities, healthy lives, participation in civic making, physical surroundings, and social development - across all neighbourhoods. 

The Local Leadership Grant prioritizes the leadership and participation of Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving groups within Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, Emerging Neighbourhoods, and other communities of focus. 4

Find out more by clicking here!

The Staying Isn’t Choosing campaign is now live! 

This campaign was developed by Timmins and Area Women in Crisis (TAWC) and Ellevive in Northern Ontario. At the centre of this initiative are five powerful videos that raise awareness, dispel harmful myths, and highlight the systemic barriers that make leaving unsafe relationships so difficult.

This campaign addresses the complexity of abuse — including coercive control, emotional, psychological, sexual, and physical abuse — and was designed to resonate widely across communities.

• Explore the campaign and videos: stayingisntchoosing.ca
• Follow the campaign on social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Calling all people with disabilities and seniors who need help with snow clearing, lawn cutting, leaf raking, and other yard tasks! Sunshine Centres for Seniors is here to help with their Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance Program. 

Sunshine Centres is also looking for casual, part-time workers to join their Home Maintenance Program Team. If you are interested, send your resume to Kevin at [email protected]. 

For more information and to register, contact Kevin at [email protected] or (647) 687-7322

WomanACT has prepared a petition asking Amazon to remove the Term “Wife Beater” from Its Product Descriptions. 

The concern is that Amazon is continuing to use the term “wife beater” to describe men’s undershirts on its website, despite a ruling by Canada’s Ad Standards Council that this descriptor violates the advertising Code by displaying indifference to violence against women. Amazon has defended its decision by arguing that the term is “common” and accepted in popular culture. But normalization does not excuse harm.

Sign their petition telling Amazon to remove the term “Wife Beater” from its product descriptions!

Allan Gardens is hosting three family events. On Saturday October 25, pumpkin carving happens from 10 AM to 2 PM. On Wednesday October 29 and Thursday October 30, it’s an after-school events from 4 to 7 pm. Mini pumpkins and carving tools are supplied. Parental supervision is required. It’s free but a $5 donation will be appreciated. Find then at Allan Gardens Children’s Conservatory at 19 Horticultural Lane! Find more information here.

Kids are invited to go door-to-door to businesses along the Front Street promenade, between Bayview and Cherry, on Halloween from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. Businesses will have goodies to give away. There’ll be a dog-costume parade with prizes at 5:45 pm and a parade at 6 pm - assemble at the Water Guardian at 474 Front East! There’s lots of information here.

It's spooky season! Don't forget about the Pumpkin Walk coming up on November 1 from 6 PM to 8PM. Bring your pumpkin and a non-perishable food donation for Dixon Hall. Then, stick around at 8 PM to help toss the pumpkins into the bins!

Weekly free movie nights at Stout Irish Pub at 221 Carlton Street. The lineup features family movies so bring your kids. On this Sunday, October 19, it’s “Hocus Pocus” and on October 26, “Ghost Busters”.  There’s free popcorn!

Movies begin each Sunday at 5:30 PM. Please contact Erin to save your spot at (647) 344-7676 or by email at [email protected].

Driving without a license, stunt driving, racing, and careless driving are illegal, right? Of course they are. These reckless activities put everyone at risk and can even be fatal. 

So then why are more than 30% of all of these cases, and even 42% for stunt driving and racing, dropped in Ford’s Ontario courtrooms? 

This huge spike in dropped cases is not being seen in any other province or territory. New Statistics Canada data have revealed these shocking numbers and shone a light on a justice system that is over-capacity, deeply dysfunctional, and crying out for increased staffing and modernization.

On Monday morning, outside of the Ontario Courthouse on University Avenue, I stood alongside lawyer Dave Shellnutt and his client Anna Pratt, a victim of a hit-and-run. The three serious charges against the driver who hit Anna were withdrawn by the government prosecutor due to court delays. The driver has never experienced any legal consequences. 

During the press conference, Anna said, “I knew that a conviction would not erase what happened to me. It would not heal my broken bones or allow me to return to work, but it would represent a sliver of justice, and even that was taken away.” My heart breaks for Anna. 

Dave Shellnutt added, “the impacts of these withdrawn cases are twofold; it tells victims that what happened to them is not that bad and also tells dangerous drivers that we don’t really mind that they are behaving recklessly. The effect on deterrence is profound.”

In addition to the road safety issues, letting dangerous drivers off the hook is expensive! Police officers, court staff, prosecutors, justices of the peace and judges spend hours and hours preparing for and attending these cases. When a case is withdrawn, all of those hours of work, paid for by you, the taxpayer, are flushed away. And when a dangerous driver is not reprimanded for their behaviour, it is more likely that it will happen again, forcing us all to pay twice. This is deeply unjust, as well as unsafe.

Regular readers will know that I have been highlighting court and tribunal backlog issues for years, all of which have been getting worse under Doug Ford. None of this is new, but these numbers are shocking. Serious cases, from stunt driving to murder to sexual violence, are being tossed out because of massive court delays, and the accused are walking free, no matter how strong the evidence against them is. The backlog in our courts is creating massive public safety issues, and the government needs to step up to fix the mess that they have created. 

The Statistics Canada report that these numbers came from was a treasure trove of data about the activity in the court system. You don’t have time to dig through the data, so I encourage you to pick up Tom Parkin’s Substack newsletter, which delves much deeper into the issues I have raised here. Tom carries out extraordinary data-driven investigations into government operations, spending and scandals. I am a happy subscriber to his newsletter as he unpacks complex data for busy people in thought-provoking and very informative ways. 

Ironically, this data has been released days before we learned that cars registered to Ford’s own Ministers have been caught by speed cameras 23 times within the last three years. One Ford staff person has been caught at “stunt driving speeds” of over 150km/h twelve times. It is not difficult to draw a line between these tickets and Ford’s sudden tirade against speed enforcement cameras – the very cameras that his government brought forward in 2019. Now we can speculate that the pressure may have been coming from inside the House – from his own caucus and staff who drive these cars and must personally pay these fines. 

Speed cameras, especially those in school zones, keep our roads safer for everyone. If you agree, click here to email Doug Ford and tell him to stop the ban on speed cameras! 

There is so much work to do to ensure our roads are safe and our courts deliver justice for victims and accused. I am concerned that we do not have an ally in the government on this work, but I will not be deterred in my goal of creating a safer and more just Ontario for you and your family.

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• New Israel-Hamas Ceasefire and Hostage Return Agreement
  
• Street Haven Housing Opening!
• Coffee with Kristyn
• Islamic Finance Roundtable
• RSVP: Child Care Town Hall 
• Skills Development Fund Update: Minister Piccini in Paris
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

I know I was not the only one anxiously checking the news this week as peace talks unfolded between the Israeli government and Hamas. So far, the news has brought some relief. A ceasefire came into effect today, and the return of hostages taken by Hamas has been promised over the upcoming 72 hours. My heart goes out to the families waiting with unimaginable hope that they will be reunited with their loved ones once more. Hamas will also finally lose control over Gaza. I hope everyone with connections to Palestine and Israel, especially those with loved ones there, has been able to breathe a sigh of relief despite the uncertainty over what happens next.. 

Many Gazan Palestinians have started to return home. Many of them are returning to rubble and finding no trace of the neighbourhoods that they left behind. But with an end to the immediate bombing, gunfire, and genocidal violence that the Israeli military has inflicted on them for over two years, they can begin to plan for the future, rebuild, and heal. This deal should mean that humanitarian aid — food, medicine, and essential goods — can enter Gaza to end the starvation that the Israeli Occupation Forces manufactured. It is important to remember that just this week, Israel intercepted the Sumudn flotilla and kidnapped six Canadians — Mskwaasin Agnew, Devoney Ellis, Nimâ Machouf, Sadie Mees, Khurram Musti Khan, and Nikita Stapleton — who were attempting to deliver food and medical supplies to Gaza. They must be returned safely. 

We have been here before. Promises have been made, hostages and prisoners exchanged, only for the deal to fall apart after the first stage. We need strong global leadership to ensure a lasting and positive peace in the region: one that recognizes the state of Palestine and the genocide perpetuated against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Palestinians must be provided with the resources they need to rebuild and support their population as they recover from unspeakable hunger, violence, and trauma. I, for one, will be working with the Federal NDP to push the Canadian government to support Palestinians and work towards true peace for all in the region. 

The world cannot move on and pretend that Israel’s genocide never happened. The months and years ahead will show if Israel’s justice system is capable of holding Israel’s War Cabinet accountable for crimes against humanity and genocide. The International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice’s proceedings should be fully supported by Canada. Canada should still pursue an arms embargo to stop the flow of arms to Israel. Canada cannot be complicit and help a genocidal army reload its munitions. To amplify the message from organizations like Jewish Voices for Peace and If Not Now: never again must mean never again for anyone. 

I will continue to watch this story closely as it unfolds in the coming weeks. My heart is with everyone who has loved ones in the region. 

Congratulations to the leadership team at Street Haven on receiving funding from the Ministry of the Solicitor General for ten transitional housing beds. Post-correctional transition to stable, independent living for many is a strenuous journey, and can often feel impossible without adequate support. The services come in at a critical time for these individuals and will have a positive role in their journey to rehabilitation. 

I will continue to call on the government for increased and sustainable funding for mental health and addiction recovery services. Without these investments and a strategy to eradicate homelessness, the rates of recidivism in Ontario will remain high. Agencies cannot do this work alone, and we need to see more partnership, funding and support from the government for this sector.

Cheers to another lively and successful “Coffee with Kristyn” event! I extend a warm thank you to everyone who spent time in their day with me to share a cup of coffee and conversation. A big shoutout to Carousel Cafe & Bistro for the delicious treats and drinks. If you are interested, you can find them on the first floor of the Daniels Spectrum at 585 Dundas St East! 

Stay tuned for more events in the near future!

Yesterday evening, I had the honour of hosting the Islamic Finance Reception at Queen’s Park. We had a great discussion on the limited access to halal financing options for Muslims in Ontario. Halal mortgages are designed in accordance with Islamic law, which prohibits the payment or collection of interest. Canadian lenders that do offer halal mortgages financing are few and unregulated. Borrowers and lenders need clear government regulations that will grow the market, bring predictability and strengthen consumer and business protection to the sector. We also discussed the difficulties around housing and financial discrimination for racialized Muslims and newcomers to Canada. 

This lack of accessible halal financing is one of the most pressing barriers to homeownership for Muslims. This can lead to financial exclusion and inequity. 

Right now, the federal government’s 2024 budget is committed to “expanding access” to halal mortgages, but there have not been any concrete measures taken to enact this. Ontario should be prioritizing financing models to ensure that Muslim Canadians can have the opportunity to purchase a home. 

Our current models are not ideal because they often cost more to buy the home, with premiums up to 4%. This can be due to a smaller pool of lenders and increased risk perception. This roundtable with Muslim experts and leaders is just the beginning of our work on this important issue. Stay tuned!

And if you are as fired up about the need for affordable and accessible child care as I am, I hope that you will join me and my special guests at our Child Care Town Hall on Wednesday, October 29, at 6 PM. 

This will be at the Regent Park Community Centre, and child-minding will be provided! RSVP here to attend. 

The saga with Ford’s shady Skills Development Fund (SDF) program continues. Ontario Labour Minister David Piccini attended the Parisian wedding of a lobbyist, after his office awarded the lobbyist’s clients millions of dollars through the SDF training fund program. 

It has been revealed that Minister Piccini awarded money to a company associated with one of his good friends, Michael Rudderham. Two clients that Rudderham was registered to lobby for received just over $8.5 million in total from the SDF. 

The auditor general found that while civil servants evaluated SDF applications, the labour minister’s office “selected” which ones to fund — even if they were seen as low-ranking applications. The auditor general, Shelley Spence’s report on the Skills Development Fund shows that, in fact, less than half of recipients were given “high” scores on their proposals by the non-partisan civil servants tasked with evaluating them. 

These recent troubling events are just the tip of the iceberg with Minister Piccini and the Ford government. This is just another example of a Ford government-connected group that has received public money.

Join your neighbours for the upcoming October 22 Moss Park and Corktown Open House so they can stay informed about the Ontario Line construction. This important event will take place from 5:30 PM to 7 PM at the Regent Park Community Centre, Banquet Hall (402 Shuter Street). Please register in advance by visiting the Open House event page and clicking the “Register” button.

Court Data Shows Enforcement of the Employment Standards Act has virtually stopped.

Vehicles registered to Ford cabinet ministers caught by speed cameras more than 20 times

Carney government warned that funding shortfall putting federal court services at risk

These are the bike lanes Doug Ford’s government wants to take out first, according to internal documents

Critics blast millions in Skills Development Fund grants given to PC-friendly companies

Two years later, top Tories who lost jobs in Greenbelt scandal still haven’t been interviewed by RCMP

Join elected Trustees from across Toronto for a panel discussion about the future of public education and the ways that Bill 33 could reshape our education system. 

Date: October 14, 2025

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: Native Canadian Centre of Toronto - 16 Spadina Road

RSVP here!

Seniors 55+ are invited to expand their computer skills and earn a computer of their very own. 

Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025

Time: 3-4:30 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St East

To register, call 416-964-6657 extension 240 or email [email protected]

Learn about how to maintain your bike and do minor repairs!

Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2025

Time: 6-7:30 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St E

To register, call 416-964-6657 extension 240 or email [email protected]. Limited spots available!

Kids 6-12 are invited to become recycling heroes at the Corner! Enjoy games, a craft, and movie time while learning about recycling and caring for the earth. 

Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025

Time: 5:30 - 7 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St E

To register, call 416-964-6657 or email [email protected]

Homeless Connect is back with another One Stop Shop event! Unhoused and precariously housed individuals are invited to come to the Mattamy Athletic Centre to receive a variety of free services including health and personal care services (dental, hearing, vision, haircuts, foot care, etc), practical assistance (employment, legal, housing support), plus clothing, a hot meal, and more. 

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025

Time: 10 AM - 3 PM

Location: Mattamy Athletic Centre, 50 Carlton Street

This event is walk-in only and no pre-registration is required. 

Homeless Connect is always looking for volunteers for this event. Sign up here to help!

Experience the City of Toronto’s free full-day signature in-person event at Meridian Hall to support small businesses in Toronto. This year focuses on helping small businesses navigate and find opportunities in a rapidly changing globalized economy and international business landscape:

• Main stage sessions featuring spotlight speakers, fireside chats and expert panels,
• Speed mentorship with international business leaders and seasoned entrepreneurs ready to share insights and tackle your biggest questions, and
• Trade show of diverse small business services and goods providers.

Date: October 29, 2025

Time: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Location: Meridian Hall, 1 Front Street East

Registration is required. 

Fall brings increased rainfall, and remnants of tropical storms can contribute to flooding. TRCA’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Program monitors these conditions and provides timely updates to help communities stay prepared. 

Residents can now receive TRCA flood messages by email, text message, or both, providing a convenient way to stay informed during potential flood events. Visit their website to sign-up!

The recruitment period for the Spring 2026 session of the Legislative Page Program is now open until November 15, 2025. 

Each year, high-achieving, community-oriented Grade 7 and 8 students from across Ontario are chosen to serve as Legislative Pages. This unique opportunity in Toronto allows selected students to become involved in Ontario’s parliamentary process, meet key figures, and make lifelong friendships with like-minded peers.

More information can be found here. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Page Program at [email protected] or by phone at (416) 325-7457.

Calling all people with disabilities and seniors who need help with snow clearing, lawn cutting, leaf raking, and other yard tasks! Sunshine Centres for Seniors is here to help with their Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance Program. 

Sunshine Centres is also looking for casual, part-time workers to join their Home Maintenance Program Team. If you are interested send your resume to Kevin at [email protected]. 

For more information and to register, contact Kevin at [email protected] or (647) 687-7322

Community Consultation for Queer East & Southeast Asian Older Adults

A gathering to share stories, insights, and lived experiences about aging in the community. The goal is to help shape future care and support for queer Asian older adults in Toronto. Register at Community Consultation Registration!

• Who it’s for:
  • Self-identified East or Southeast Asian
  • Self-identified LGBTQ+ or queer
  • Age 50+
  • Living in Toronto
• What to expect:
  • 90-minute consultation (in-person or online, in English)
  • Honorarium provided
  • Light refreshments offered
• Purpose:
  • Connect with others on similar journeys
  • Envision a future where queer Asian older adults thrive with dignity, love, and connection

Interested or have questions? Contact Alex Ma (he/him) at [email protected].

Halloween on Church Street in The Village is back on October 31st from 6:30 PM to midnight! Prepare for a night of wicked fun, eerie surprises and unforgettable festivities.

Because of the massive success of Halloween on Church, the Church and Wellesley BIA has expanded to Saturday, November 1st, from 7 PM to midnight as well. Make sure you bring your spirit and your monster mash moves to Canada's biggest Halloween bash. Find out more here. 

On November 1, from 6:30 PM to 8 PM at the Sackville Playground, the Corktown Neighbourhood Association is hosting another Pumpkin Parade! 

This free event is for everyone! So come out, don your scary costumes and masks and let’s all celebrate Samhain!

The Friends of Regent Park are busy preparing for October Funfest! Join this festival on October 25 from 1 PM to 3 PM at the Bake Oven in Regent Park’s “The Big Park.”

The afternoon will be spent carving pumpkins, listening to music, dancing, and many other activities!

As a part of the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS), they are providing the opportunity to apply for a grant that supports resident-led projects. These projects can encourage local activation and focus on the five domains of TSNS – economic opportunities, healthy lives, participation in civic making, physical surroundings, and social development - across all neighbourhoods. 

The Local Leadership Grant prioritizes the leadership and participation of Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving groups within Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, Emerging Neighbourhoods, and other communities of focus. Find out more by clicking here!

WomanACT has prepared a petition asking Amazon to remove the Term “Wife Beater” from Its Product Descriptions. 

The concern is that Amazon is continuing to use the term “wife beater” to describe men’s undershirts on its website, despite a ruling by Canada’s Ad Standards Council that this descriptor violates the advertising Code by displaying indifference to violence against women. Amazon has defended its decision by arguing that the term is “common” and accepted in popular culture. But normalization does not excuse harm.

Sign their petition telling Amazon to remove the term “Wife Beater” from its product descriptions.

Pathway to Possibilities is hosting a Newcomer Women Program. This is designed to support newcomer women in setting meaningful goals and strengthening their employability skills, while also providing the opportunity to earn micro-certificates.

This program is from October 20 to December 12, 2025. Apply by filling out the form here. 

Riverdale Farm is hosting a Halloween Boo Barn! This will take place on Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26, from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at 201 Winchester Street.

There will be so many fun activities like face painting and crafts, and pumpkin carving! For more information, please call 416-392-6794 or email [email protected].

Join Policing-Free Schools' Province-Wide Rally at Queen's Park and say No to Bill 33. This rally is to send a clear message to Doug Ford and Paul Calandra that Ontarians do not want Bill 33! 

This will be on the first day that the Ontario Legislative resumes on Monday, October 20, at 10 AM. The rally will take place at Queen's Park, South Lawn, 111 Wellesley Street West.

Ontario’s Auditor General released not one, not two, but FOUR damning reports on Tuesday. They paint a picture of a government that is more interested in handing out favours (and piles of cash) to their donors and conservative-friendly lobbyists than working in the best interests of Ontarians. The reports revealed that the Ford government is literally giving billions to their buddies through their Skills Development Fund while rubber-stamping developers with concerning track records and completely ignoring the need for affordable childcare and action on climate change.

Let's start with the Skills Development Fund. This is a $2.5 billion pot of money dolled out to private training centres, businesses and other organizations to provide training to workers. The problem? Fifty-four percent of the groups that received funding were described as poor, lower-quality applications. Meanwhile, many applications ranked as high-quality did not receive any funding at all. All applications were ranked by non-partisan public servants, but final funding decisions were made by the Minister of Labour David Piccini and his staff, seemingly ignoring and overriding the impartial evaluation rankings provided to them.

This begs the question: what actual criteria did the Minister of Labour use to award the funds? We can’t know, but it appears that having insider connections to the Ford government and hiring their favourite lobbyists really helped. Scale Hospitality, a restaurant group that owns and operates many high-end restaurants in Toronto with connections to Amin Massoudi, Ford’s previous Principal Secretary received $17 million despite their application being submitted “late” and scoring “low” by public servants. Ford’s friend Zlatko Starkovski received $9.8 million to train recruits to work in nightclubs. And Dentacloud, a business that helps dentists sell their practices to private equity firms and with connections to former Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton, received $2 million. 

These giveaways stink as badly as the Greenbelt scandal. The Auditor General succinctly called out the government’s funding decisions as, “not fair, transparent or accountable.” It’s clear that Doug Ford and his ministers are operating in the shadows behind closed doors. They nefariously dole out taxpayers’ money as their personal slush fund. The whole situation is corrupt and I intend to hold the Ford government accountable for his misappropriation of public tax dollars. Mark my words – this is just the beginning. 

I was so worked up about this scandal that I had to share my thoughts in a video rant. You can watch it here. 

While Ford and his Ministers are busy giving millions of dollars to their friends, parents across Ontario are worrying about finding affordable child care as a nearly $2 billion funding shortfall looms. In the second report, the Auditor General confirmed what we all knew: Ontario is not on track to meet its commitments under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Program (CWELCC) and is putting federal funding at risk.

The Ford government previously committed to deliver child care at an average fee of $10 per day by March 31, 2026. However, the Auditor General found that many of the program’s key commitments remain unfulfilled and the Ministry of Education is off-track to meet the $10 goal. The Ministry has fallen behind its annual targets for creating spaces, has no up-to-date estimate of how many workers are needed, and does not collect wait list data to properly understand demand across the province. Since 2019, just 3,000 new child care spaces have been created, despite 70,000 families currently requiring a space. 

Ontario’s child care agreement with the Federal government expires on March 31, 2026 and so far the province has not signed on to renew the agreement. Ontario families need a renewed agreement, to train thousands of new ECEs, and open new spaces now. Child care is critical and we must fight together to ensure the system receives the funding needed to retain existing spaces and expand to meet the needs for working parents. 

If you are as fired up about the need for affordable and accessible child care as I am, I hope that you will join me and my special guests at our Child Care Town Hall on Wednesday, October 29 at 6 PM.

Ontarians buying newly built homes should be able to trust that their home is properly built by an accredited home builder that they can rely on. The provincial Homes Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) is supposed to protect new home buyers from bad developers, but this week the Auditor General revealed that the agency has been acting like a licensing mill, blindly handing out licenses whether or not a developer is reliable, and failing to properly inform prospective buyers. The Auditor General found that developers were approved even when they were under active investigation and facing millions in fines. This is wrong. Ontario consumers deserve to be protected as they make the largest purchase of their life.

The Auditor General’s final report issued this week told the bleakest story of all, though not a surprising one: it is all but assured that Ontario will fail to meet its 2030 greenhouse gas emission reductions targets. This is a massive failure by the Ford government, now eight years in power. They failed to protect Ontarians from the worst effects of climate change. The problems of extreme climate change are already here. We see them in the increased wildfires, droughts, and heat waves. We feel them in our family budgets in the form of higher insurance premiums and more expensive groceries. Reducing emissions and limiting the effects of climate change is a team effort. It takes every community, every province, and every nation working together for a common goal. A powerful and diverse economy like Ontario doesn’t get to opt out. For all of our sakes and for our future prosperity, we need to hold this government accountable and get as close to those 2030 targets as possible, while pushing for ambitious targets for 2050 and beyond. 

We learned a lot this week. I want to thank the Auditor General, Shelley Spence, and her entire team for the work they do holding the provincial government and its ministries accountable. It is tough but essential work. If you want to read any of their reports in full, you can find them here. 

I am looking forward to taking these reports into the Legislature and holding the government’s feet to the fire! 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Ontario’s Auditor General released four damning reports on Ford’s Skills Development Fund
• Upcoming Child Care Townhall
• Truth and Reconciliation Day
• Postal Workers on Strike
• Expanded Green Space at Metropolitan United Church
• Counter Protest against Transphobia
• Donate to Friends of Ruby’s New Youth Centre
• Church-Wellesley Village Wins at the Ontario Land Tribunal
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

On September 30, I participated in events across Toronto Centre to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. On this day, we honour survivors of residential schools, those who did not return. We recognize the horrific history of colonialism and genocide towards the Indigenous peoples here in Canada, as well as the intergenerational trauma and ongoing ways our Indigenous communities continue to face discrimination in this country. 

In the morning, I attended the Indigenous Legacy Gathering hosted by the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre, in the Spirit Garden in Nathan Phillips Square. This beautiful garden answers one of the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which asks that the capital city of each province and Territory install a “publicly accessible, highly visible, Residential Schools Monument [...] to honour Survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities.”

That afternoon, I had the incredible opportunity to hear author David A. Robertson lead a critical discussion on the role of stories in healing, understanding and reconciliation. Thank you to the Children’s Book Bank and Native Earth Performing Arts for facilitating this event for our community and providing aloof the students who attended with a book of their own to learn from and share. Every story matters!

As Canadians, it is our duty to take the time to learn and unlearn the history of residential schools and reflect on what reconciliation looks like in our daily lives. I encourage all of you to learn from resources such as the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR).

Did you know that Ottawa wants to cancel Canada Post's door-to-door mail delivery? Let's talk about it.

Canada Post workers break their backs getting door-to-door mail service to Canadians and businesses, regardless of the weather or road conditions. I cannot imagine UPS or FedEx delivering my new health card or credit card in the mail for $1.44. I will bet anything that if Canada Post stops the door-to-door service, we will see more vandalism at community mail boxes and identity fraud go up. 

Consumers will end up paying more for letter and parcel delivery if Canada Post eliminates door-to-door service. Canada Post keeps costs low because their mandate is to deliver mail to Canadians, not to return massive profits to US shareholders and global investors.

I stand with CUPW members as they strike across the country for their labour rights and the protection of Canadian public services. The message is clear: rural and northern communities and all Canadians deserve essential postal services, and postal workers deserve job security while navigating change, not job cuts. The Ontario NDP is always on the side of labour and working people. I know when workers fight back, we win!

Congratulations to the Metropolitan United Church on receiving the Ontario Trillium Foundation Capital Grant! Your congregation has been nothing short of a warm and kind community, and with over 200 years of history in our city, I am sure that the new revitalization projects will continue to further your church's role as a welcoming and accessible space! 

Head over to MUC to check out their expanded green space at 56 Queen St East. 

Unfortunately, last weekend, another rally attacking Trans community members took place at Queen's Park. 

However, I was proud to join and speak at the counter-protest and stand up for Trans kids and adults. I know that parents who love their kids are being misled by conservative extremists and misinformation. The government needs to do more to keep everyone safe. Myself and the Ontario NDP have been calling for increased measures to ensure the safety of 2SLGBTQIA+ community members. Click here to find out more about what I have been working on. 

Congratulations to the Friends of Ruby on the opening of their new and expanded Youth Centre. I have had the privilege of seeing Friend’s of Ruby grow throughout the years, always offering a welcoming and safe space for youth through their support programs, transitional housing, and mental health services. I am know that this expansion will provide countless more youth with the care and guidance they need to navigate life’s challenges and achieve the bright futures they are all capable of. Consider donating to ensure the success of their new and improved Youth Centre here. 

If you are a 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in need of counseling, community, housing, and health support, check out Friends of Ruby’s new space at 70 Richmond Street East! 

The Church-Wellesley Village won big this week at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT)! The OLT has dismissed an appeal by Kingsett, a developer proposing to build a 28-storey high-rise tower at 68 to 78A Wellesley Street East, better known as the Pizza Pizza building.

The OLT upheld the recognition that Church Street between Charles and Wood as a special character area. It also upheld policies related to shadows on Barbara Hall Park, and the angular plan policy that reinforces the midrise character of this section of Church Street. 

This won’t be the last fight we have at the OLT against developers who seek overly-aggressive redevelopment in the Village. In 2026, the OLT will decide on a proposed redevelopment for a 48-storey tower on the Crews and Tangos site at 506-516 Church Street.

Thank you to City staff, the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association and President Connie Langille for their incredible work to preserve the character of our beloved Church and Wellesley Village!

Please donate and share this post widely. Let’s show them that they are not alone. 

There has been a heartbreaking situation in the riding, where a family has been left without any belongings due to a fire in their apartment. This family is new to Canada and, while they have been housed again safely, they are struggling to pay for things like furniture, clothing and shoes — without these simple things, their children have not been able to go to school. 

Any assistance would mean the world to them during this incredibly difficult time. Here is their GoFundMe if you are interested in donating to help the family. 

Ford government’s handling of Skills Development funds ‘not fair, transparent or accountable,’ auditor finds

Tenants win big in dispute over Toronto building's derelict swimming pool

Former OPSEU branch president charged with misappropriating more than $100,000 in funds

Canada issues warning for citizens with gender-neutral passports travelling to U.S.

Man seriously injured in Cabbagetown-area shooting Tuesday night

Wage hikes aren’t the biggest threat to Toronto’s smallest businesses, group says. Here’s what is

New provincial cuts will compound Toronto’s shelter system crisis, warns Chow

Crown has reported 28 cases of ‘deliberately untruthful’ police officers in a decade: documents

She was thrown under a streetcar when a car driver knocked her off her bike. Her case was withdrawn — one of thousands tossed each year by a ‘system in shambles’

An outdoor evening celebration with live music, circus arts, kids’ activities, and seasonal treats in David Crombie Park.

• Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, 2025 | 6–8 pm
• Location: David Crombie Park (Berkeley & The Esplanade)
• Performances:
  • The Enchanted Forest by Hercinia Arts Collective (aerial arts, stilt dancing, physical theatre)
  • Roda de Samba with Carlos Cardozo & ensemble
• Activities: Face painting, craft table, juggling workshop for kids
• Treats: Hot chocolate & apple cider
• Cost: Free, open to all ages

Learn more here!

Join us for a night of joyful connection, beautiful entertainment and generosity that will fuel the next chapter of Holy Trinity.

Tickets for the Gala here.

And check out our SILENT AUCTION (open to anyone interested) here. 

Join the Regent Park Safety Network for their Know Your Legal Rights Workshop. Learn about how to interact with law enforcement during illegal street checks and detainment, warrantless searches, surveillance, and border crossing. 

Facilitated by Nat Pau, Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Education Trust. 

Time: 5:30 PM - 8 PM

Date: 7 October, 2025

Location: 180 Sackville Street, Main Floor Meeting Room

Learn more and RSVP here.

The SLNA Waste Reduction Group is hosting its 14th REmarket event on Oct 8 & 9, 2025. This event has a direct, tangible impact on both the environment and the social welfare of our local communities (from our last REmarket in May, 18,000 lbs of donated items for reuse and 644 lbs for recycling were collected), and we are eager to continue to widen that impact. New items being added to the growing recycling list at the upcoming REmarket include: hearing aids, elastic bands and non-synthetic corks. Click here for more information. 

Learn hands-on skills and confidence working with tools to ensure success with your next DIY project! 

Date: Thursdays, October 9 and 16, 2025

Time: 5:30-7 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St E

To register, call 416-964-6657 extension 240 or email [email protected]. Limited spots available!

Youth in Regent Park are invited to join a Financial Literacy Training this October! This interactive session is designed to help young people feel more confident about managing money, planning and exploring opportunities for their future. The session will cover budgeting, saving strategies, building good credit habits, and exploring ways to access funding.

Training Details: 

• Date: Thursday, October 9th
• Time: 5-7PM
• Location: Regent Park Community Center

Registration Link: Youth Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship at the Regent Park Community Centre of Excellence.

Attention bike commuters and delivery riders! Learn all about how to stay safe, use apps wisely, first aid, and workers rights at this workshop at The Corner.

Date: Friday, October 10, 2025

Time: 6-7:30 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St E

To register, call 416-964-6657 extension 240 or email [email protected]. Limited spots available!

It’s time for the annual DYBIA Safe and Inclusive Neighbourhood Survey 2025!

Please find the link to the survey here and fill it out to share your thoughts! 

All respondents who complete the survey by October 13, 2025 can enter for a chance to win a variety of prizes, valued at up to $300.

Join elected Trustees from across Toronto for a panel discussion about the future of public education and the ways that Bill 33 could reshape our education system. 

Date: October 14, 2025

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: Native Canadian Centre of Toronto - 16 Spadina Road

RSVP here!

Seniors 55+ are invited to expand their computer skills and earn a computer of their very own. 

Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025

Time: 3-4:30 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St E

To register, call 416-964-6657 extension 240 or email [email protected]

Learn about how to maintain your bike and do minor repairs!

Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2025

Time: 6-7:30 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St E

To register, call 416-964-6657 extension 240 or email [email protected]. Limited spots available!

Kids 6-12 are invited to become recycling heroes at the Corner! Enjoy games, a craft, and movie time while learning about recycling and caring for the earth. 

Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025

Time: 5:30 - 7 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St E

To register, call 416-964-6657 or email [email protected]

Homeless Connect is back with another One Stop Shop event! Unhoused and precariously housed individuals are invited to come to the Mattamy Athletic Centre to receive a variety of free services including health and personal care services (dental, hearing, vision, haircuts, foot care, etc), practical assistance (employment, legal, housing support), plus clothing, a hot meal, and more. 

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025

Time: 10 AM - 3 PM

Location: Mattamy Athletic Centre, 50 Carlton Street

This event is walk-in only and no pre-registration is required. 

Homeless Connect is always looking for volunteers for this event. Sign up here to help!

Experience the City of Toronto’s free full-day signature in-person event at Meridian Hall to support small businesses in Toronto.

This year focuses on helping small businesses navigate and find opportunities in a rapidly changing globalized economy and international business landscape:

• Main stage sessions featuring spotlight speakers, fireside chats and expert panels,
• Speed mentorship with international business leaders and seasoned entrepreneurs ready to share insights and tackle your biggest questions, and
• Trade show of diverse small business services and goods providers.

Date: October 29, 2025

Time: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Location: Meridian Hall, 1 Front Street East

Registration is required. 

Fall brings increased rainfall, and remnants of tropical storms can contribute to flooding. TRCA’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Program monitors these conditions and provides timely updates to help communities stay prepared. 

Residents can now receive TRCA flood messages by email, text message, or both, providing a convenient way to stay informed during potential flood events. Visit their website to sign-up!

The recruitment period for the Spring 2026 session of the Legislative Page Program is now open until November 15, 2025. 

Each year, high-achieving, community-oriented Grade 7 and 8 students from across Ontario are chosen to serve as Legislative Pages. This unique opportunity in Toronto allows selected students to become involved in Ontario’s parliamentary process, meet key figures, and make lifelong friendships with like-minded peers.

More information can be found here. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Page Program at [email protected] or by phone at (416) 325-7457.

The Staying Isn’t Choosing campaign is now live! 

This campaign was developed by Timmins and Area Women in Crisis (TAWC) and Ellevive in Northern Ontario. At the centre of this initiative are five powerful videos that raise awareness, dispel harmful myths, and highlight the systemic barriers that make leaving unsafe relationships so difficult.

This campaign addresses the complexity of abuse — including coercive control, emotional, psychological, sexual, and physical abuse — and was designed to resonate widely across communities.

• Explore the the campaign and videos: stayingisntchoosing.ca
• Follow the campaign on social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Calling all people with disabilities and seniors who need help with snow clearing, lawn cutting, leaf raking, and other yard tasks! Sunshine Centres for Seniors is here to help with their Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance Program. 

Sunshine Centres is also looking for casual, part-time workers to join their Home Maintenance Program Team. If you are interested send your resume to Kevin at [email protected]. 

For more information and to register, contact Kevin at [email protected] or (647) 687-7322

Community Consultation for Queer East & Southeast Asian Older Adults

A gathering to share stories, insights, and lived experiences about aging in the community. The goal is to help shape future care and support for queer Asian older adults in Toronto.

• Who it’s for:
  • Self-identified East or Southeast Asian
  • Self-identified LGBTQ+ or queer
  • Age 50+
  • Living in Toronto
• What to expect:
  • 90-minute consultation (in-person or online, in English)
  • Honorarium provided
  • Light refreshments offered
• Purpose:
  • Connect with others on similar journeys
  • Envision a future where queer Asian older adults thrive with dignity, love, and connection

click this link to register: Community Consultation Registration

Interested or have questions? Contact Alex Ma (he/him) at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

Join the Corktown Residents & Business Assoc., Inc. (CRBA) board and contribute to the vibrancy of your neighbourhood. Bring your ideas, skills, and enthusiasm for building community

There are many ways to get involved and make a difference, limited only by your imagination and time commitment. We welcome a diversity of interests and skills including, but in no way limited to, bookkeeping, WordPress, social media, email marketing, fundraising, and grant writing.

As a member of the CRBA board, you will help set and enact an agenda for public events and initiatives that build a more engaged, connected, safer, sustainable, and beautiful home for you and fellow residents.

For more info send your request to: [email protected] 

The Hello Neighbour app is a new tool designed to help residents stay connected with their community. It provides quick access to local programs, services, news, and events, all in one place.

Features include:

• Find what you need – Search for programs and services, check who they’re for, when they’re open, and even get directions.
• Neighbourhood news – Stay updated with the latest stories and newsletters from your area.
• Events and job opportunities – Discover local events and find community job postings.

The app is available for download on Google Play and the App Store.

This initiative is brought to the community by Yonge Street Mission (YSM), Regent Park Neighbourhood Association (RPNA), the Social Development Plan Communication Working Group, the City of Toronto, and Focus Media Arts.

Halloween on Church Street in The Village is back on October 31st from 6:30 PM to midnight! Prepare for a night of wicked fun, eerie surprises and unforgettable festivities.

Because of the massive success of Halloween on Church, the Church and Wellesley BIA has expanded to Saturday, November 1st, from 7 PM to midnight as well. Make sure you bring your spirit and your monster mash moves to Canada's biggest Halloween bash. Find out more here. 

Dear Emma,

Strikes are never the first choice. They are the last resort. When workers are pushed to the brink, they have to fight back through their legal right to strike. We are experiencing this in Ontario right now, where 10,000 college support staff have been on strike for 15 days. They all want to return to the critical work of supporting students and educators at our public colleges, but they can’t without a fair contract that values their work. Instead of respecting workers and the students they support, Doug Ford is starving the Ontario public colleges of the funds they need to run programs that prepare the next generation of workers for their chosen careers. 

Last weekend in Niagara Falls, during the ONDP convention, our caucus joined workers in solidarity at Niagara College, a leader in applied education for horticulture and agriculture. It was there where I learned the college administration brought scab workers to break the picket line. This only fortified the workers on strike to fight even harder for the living wages, safe workplace conditions, job security and fair contract they deserve.

Yesterday, I was proud to join OPSEU, the Ontario Federation of Labour, and CUPE Ontario at their rally in front of the College Employer Council (CEC) at 130 Queen’s Quay West. We called on the CEO Graham Lloyd to return to the bargaining table and start negotiating in good faith. The CEC is the government-mandated bargaining agent for the 24 publicly funded colleges, where they negotiate collective agreements with unionized college workers. 

I encouraged workers to stand their ground and remind them that the NDP is always on the side of labour and working people. I know when workers fight back, they win! 

Organized labour and unions have delivered wins that all workers now benefit from, including the 40-hour work week, weekends, and parental leave. Canada Post workers were the first to demand the maternity leave that is now standard across our country. Today, Canada Post workers are on full strike to push back on their employer and the Federal government trying to remove home delivery across the country and close rural post offices that are a lifeline for rural and northern communities. I am ready to stand with these workers as they fight for the public services we deserve. 

It is tough to be a worker right now, whether you are walking a picket line or sending out resumes. 91,000 fewer Ontarians are collecting paycheques as compared to June 2023. Over 807,000 Ontarians are looking for jobs right now, with 91,000 fewer people employed now than in June 2023. There are not enough jobs to meet demand right now, yet Ford recently insulted job seekers by telling them to just look harder. He has failed to take responsibility for all of the job losses we have seen over his nearly eigh years as Premier.I hear from community members all the time that they have sent out 200 resumes but received no responses. If Ford was paying attention, he would know there is one job opening for every five job seekers. He has no job plan, and Marit Stiles has rightly called Ford a “jobs disaster!”

The Toronto new-construction condo market is in freefall, which is troubling not only for our housing numbers, but also for the future of construction jobs. 

Only 118 new condos sold in Toronto last month, a 90% reduction compared to the 10-year average. The fact that this is happening in the middle of a housing crisis makes it glaringly clear that we are not building the right types of housing. Instead of tiny condos marketed towards investors, we need co-op housing, non-profit housing, community housing, rent-controlled housing, and condos with family-sized units that people can afford.

These numbers confirm what people already see around them: the private market alone will not build the homes we need. If housing only gets built when it sells for over a million dollars, then Ontarians lose twice. No homes they can afford and no jobs to build them.

To get Ontario out of this mess and preserve good construction jobs, we need Ford to step up and deliver affordable housing with targeted investments and legislation, strategic partnerships with community housing developers and innovative programs to house Ontarians and keep the construction trades working. Doug Ford’s one-trick private market approach has failed.

While the housing market is crumbling and our fellow workers are unsupported, Doug Ford is trying to distract us by talking about making speed cameras illegal, something that his own government legalized in 2019. These cameras are strategically deployed to protect vulnerable road users near schools and long-term homes and to prevent high-speed collisions, along multi-lane roads and at the bottom of hills. Being fined for breaking the law is not a “tax grab,” as Ford calls it. It is literally law enforcement. 

So much more needs to be done to protect vulnerable road users, including lowering speeds through a variety of traffic calming measures, ensuring pedestrians and cyclists have safe places to be away from cars, and - yes - through enforcement. I am proud to stand behind NDP legislation like the Vulnerable Road Users Act, tabled by my colleague MPP Jessica Bell.

Tell Ford to stay in his lane and let municipalities manage local street use.

This past week, our Jewish friends and neighbours celebrated Rosh Hashanah. I wish everyone peace, community, and joy as we enter the Jewish year 5786. Shanah Tovah! 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Ontario NDP Convention in Niagara Falls
• Coffee With Kristyn - Sign Up Now!
• RSVP for my Childcare Town Hall
• Hate Has No Place - Stand Up for Trans Kids
• Renfrew County Triple Femicide 10th Anniversary
• Cabbagetown Businesses Face Broken Windows
• LTB Must Return to In-Person Hearings
• We Need a Public Inquiry into Metrolinx
• Code Red: Healthcare Under Threat Rally
• Speaking to Munk School Students
• Dixon Hall’s Next Step Graduation Ceremony
• What's Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

I had so much fun at the Ontario NDP convention in Niagara Falls this past weekend! It was a treat to connect with so many New Democrats, old friends and new ones from across the province. 

The energy on the convention floor was electric. We debated important policy resolutions about everything from healthcare to homelessness to arts and culture, allowing the powerful voice of the party membership to be heard. 

I am very proud of our leader, Marit Stiles, who took a tough leadership result with grace and is already hard at work making changes in our party: bringing on exciting new leadership, strengthening our connections to the labour movement and to our grassroots supporters. I am looking forward to helping create a more dynamic party that improves our ability to connect with everyday people and build support across the province. 

I am also so proud of the newly elected provincial executive (including many members from Toronto Centre!) and can’t wait to see how they use their skills and dedication to strengthen our movement.

I’m very excited to host my second Coffee with Kristyn at Carousel Cafe & Bistro at Daniels Spectrum in Regent Park on Thursday, October 9, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM! This is an opportunity for you to come and sit down with me, your Toronto Centre MPP, and share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, while supporting our local small businesses. 

I look forward to sitting down with you over a cup of coffee! 

Sign up for your coffee slot by clicking here. 

Ever wonder what happened to the promise of $10 a day child care? Frustrated with the lack of affordable and safe child care close to home? Will child care ever be fixed in Ontario? You are not alone in these questions, which is why I am bringing together parents, caregivers, childcare workers, and advocates for a town hall discussion on the state of childcare in Toronto Centre and Ontario. 

The Canada-Ontario early years and child care agreement is set to expire next spring. Without this agreement in place, access to affordable child care in the province and in Toronto Centre is at risk.

Join Carolyn Ferns of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, Erin Filby of the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario, Angela Zhu of Parents for Childcare, and myself to learn how we can fight for an agreement and support families and workers struggling under the cost and limitations of the child care system.

Light refreshments and childminding will be available.

RSVP: kristyn.ca/child_care

Date: October 29, 2025

Time: 6-8 PM

Location: Regent Park Community Centre

A rally attacking Trans community members is taking place at Queen’s Park this Saturday. I will be attending the counter-protest to stand up for Trans kids and adults. I know that parents who love their kids are being misled by conservative extremists and misinformation. The government needs to do more to keep everyone safe.

I would love for you to join me in supporting our Trans siblings. Here is all the information you need to participate: 

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

Time: 10:30 AM - 3 PM

Location: Queen’s Park - in front of the Legislature

This past Monday, September 21, marked 10 years since the triple femicide of Nathalie Warmerdam, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Carol Culleton in Renfrew County in 2015. The memories of Nathalie, Anastasia, and Carol demand action; not just acknowledgment. 

The Ford government has had over a year and a half to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic, yet they have failed to do so. They have also failed to do anything constructive to help survivors or prevent additional cases of IPV from occurring, despite having in their possession a comprehensive list of reforms from the extremely thorough Renfrew County Coroner's Inquest into the triple femicide. 

You can read my full statement about what action Ontarians deserve from the Ford government to protect our communities from IPV here.

The latest issue of the Cabbagtown Neighbourhood Review noted that several businesses in Cabbagetown, including La Gloria, Akasha Art, and Rayah have had their windows broken recently, resulting in extra work and costs for business owners, but just as importantly, creating a sense of unease and fear. These crimes are unacceptable and must be stopped. 

Randomly smashed windows in the province have become all too common, which is why I tabled a motion to address this issue during the last parliament. Supported by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, my motion would have the provincial government create tax credits for small businesses to help offset victim-related costs caused by criminal activity and rebates up to $3000 for acts of vandalism, including broken windows.

If you witness a crime like this, please call the Toronto Police or Crime Stoppers (416-222-8477) to anonymously report the crime. 

The Cabbagetown BIA is convening a meeting to discuss these incidents with Councillor Moise and the Toronto Police. 

Doug Ford couldn’t be more hypocritical if he tried - he is forcing all public service employees back to the office full time, yet doesn’t see the benefit of in-person hearings at the Landlord Tenant Board. 

I have heard directly from experienced tenant lawyers that the online hearings process creates more barriers for tenants while also eliminating opportunities for informal agreements and settlements between landlords and tenant duty council (legal aid lawyers who represent tenants). So many tenants are missing out on better deals that they don’t even know are possible because opposing lawyers aren’t able to duck into a hallway for an informal conversation about the case. These informal conversations often resolve cases faster than adjudicators, freeing up staff for the next case. Instead of the ease of an in-person hearing, tenant duty council lawyers struggle to learn which Zoom rooms they need to be in, have to deal with clunky breakout rooms, and support tenants who cannot be understood due to poor internet connections and language barriers. 

People in our province should have the right to in-person hearings. The Ford government must make this a reality once again.

This week, new polling showed that over 70% of Ontarians support a full public inquiry into the province's soaring transit construction costs. I am one of them. 

Ontarians are fed up with Metrolinx’s ballooning transit costs, endless delays, and a government that refuses to be transparent. Ontario’s transit construction costs are among the world’s highest and we haven’t even been rewarded with speedy timelines. Quite the opposite. 

Ford has let costs spiral out of control while commuters are stuck waiting and taxpayers are left footing the bill. A full public inquiry is the only way to restore accountability and give people the answers they’re owed. Families, riders, and workers need affordable, reliable transit, not more secrecy and mismanagement.

I will continue to push for a full public inquiry, stronger oversight of Metrolinx, and a transit system that finally puts people first.

Honk your car horn and ring your bike bell if you love public healthcare! On Wednesday evening, I joined the Ontario Health Coalition as we lined up on University Avenue a.k.a. Hospital Row to stand up for our public healthcare system. We must protect our treasured public healthcare - part of our Canadian identity that keeps our communities healthy and resilient.

This government and their investor friends know that there is a lot of money to be made off the backs of sick Ontarians. We are seeing an increasing number of seniors and vulnerable Ontarians having to pull out their credit cards instead of their OHIP cards to get the health care they need. It is unacceptable that Ford is making Ontarians choose between long wait lists and expensive health care bills. 

I am proud to stand in solidarity with the Ontario Health Coalition and their efforts in pushing back against Ford’s privatization of our health care. Ford and his Conservatives need to do the right thing and start properly funding our public health care system so that every Ontarian can get care based on their needs, not their ability to pay.

I was honoured to be invited to speak to the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy's Masters of Public Policy students, alongside MPP Adil Shamji. Together we shared what it is really like being an MPP, how Queen’s Park actually works, and how we decide what to table as Private Members Bills. 

These students are the policymakers of tomorrow and came prepared with such insightful questions. The future is bright!

It was an honour to celebrate Dixon Hall’s Culinary Skill Training Program graduates! 

The graduation ceremony was full of so much pride and hope. All of the graduates know that they have been prepared for success in the hospitality industry and can’t wait to get started. I am looking forward to enjoying a delicious meal at one of their workplaces soon!

Ontario doctors to be paid more for complex patients, admin work

Rookie MPP Chris Scott arrested, ejected from Progressive Conservative caucus

Doug Ford will outlaw municipal speed cameras this fall: sources

TikTok collected sensitive personal data on ‘a large number of Canadian children,’ privacy commissioner says 

Did summer’s heat kill? Why B.C. residents may find out, but Ontarians won’t

Her landlord tried to evict her for not paying rent. She'd already paid in full

Ford government says it will ban speed cameras across Ontario

https://globalnews.ca/news/11450243/canada-post-reforms-ottawa-mail/ 

TTC adding crisis workers to portion of Line 1, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says | CBC News 

Kids 4-10 are welcome to register to create DIY pencil cases, bookmarks, and school-centric paintings. 

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

Time: 2:30 - 4 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St. E

To register, call 416-964-6657, extension 240 or email [email protected] 

Whoa where did the summer go? It's time again for the Canary District’s twice-yearly neighbourhood cleanup! 

Participants will meet outside Rock On Climbing (NW corner of Tannery and Front) at 10 AM. All volunteers will be provided with gloves, bags, and trash grabbers and will be assigned to a street. 

When: Sepember 28, 2025 at 10 AM – 12 PM

Where: (In front of) Rock on Climbing, 474 Front St E, Unit 4

Learn more and RSVP here!

Optional: If you can't make it on the day, reach out to [email protected]. They will set you up a special shift on another day!

Learn to fix your broken items for free! Bring one item per person, including, computers, small appliances, clothing, bikes, and more. Volunteers are very welcome! 

Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025

Time: 12-4 PM

Location: Central Neighbourhood House, 349 Ontario Street

An outdoor evening celebration with live music, circus arts, kids’ activities, and seasonal treats in David Crombie Park.

• Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, 2025 | 6–8 pm
• Location: David Crombie Park (Berkeley & The Esplanade)
• Performances:
  • The Enchanted Forest by Hercinia Arts Collective (aerial arts, stilt dancing, physical theatre)
  • Roda de Samba with Carlos Cardozo & ensemble
• Activities: Face painting, craft table, juggling workshop for kids
• Treats: Hot chocolate & apple cider
• Cost: Free, open to all ages

Learn more here!

Join us for a night of joyful connection, beautiful entertainment and generosity that will fuel the next chapter of Holy Trinity.

TICKETS for the Gala here.

Check out our SILENT AUCTION (open to anyone interested) here. 

Join the Regent Park Safety Network for their Know Your Legal Rights Workshop. Learn about how to interact with law enforcement during illegal street checks and detainment, warrantless searches, surveillance, and border crossing. 

Facilitated by Nat Pau, Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Education Trust. 

Time: 5:30 PM - 8 PM

Date: 7 October, 2025

Location: 180 Sackville Street, Main Floor Meeting Room

Learn more and RSVP here.

The SLNA Waste Reduction Group is hosting its 14th REmarket event on Oct 8 & 9, 2025. This event has a direct, tangible impact on both the environment and the social welfare of our local communities (from our last REmarket in May, 18,000 lbs of donated items for reuse and 644 lbs for recycling were collected), and we are eager to continue to widen that impact. New items being added to the growing recycling list at the upcoming REmarket include: hearing aids, elastic bands and non-synthetic corks. Click here for more information. 

Learn hands-on skills and confidence working with tools to ensure success with your next DIY project! 

Date: Thursdays, October 9 and 16, 2025

Time: 5:30-7 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St E

To register, call 416-964-6657 extension 240 or email [email protected]. Limited spots available!

Youth in Regent Park are invited to join a Financial Literacy Training this October! This interactive session is designed to help young people feel more confident about managing money, planning and exploring opportunities for their future. The session will cover budgeting, saving strategies, building good credit habits, and exploring ways to access funding.

Training Details: 

• Date: Thursday, October 9th
• Time: 5-7PM
• Location: Regent Park Community Center

Registration Link: Youth Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship at the Regent Park Community Centre of Excellence.

Attention bike commuters and delivery riders! Learn all about how to stay safe, use apps wisely, first aid, and workers rights at this workshop at The Corner.

Date: Friday, October 10, 2025

Time: 6-7:30 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St E

To register, call 416-964-6657 extension 240 or email [email protected]. Limited spots available!

It’s time for the annual DYBIA Safe and Inclusive Neighbourhood Survey 2025!

Please find the link to the survey here and fill it out to share your thoughts! 

All respondents who complete the survey by October 13, 2025 can enter for a chance to win a variety of prizes, valued at up to $300.

Join elected Trustees from across Toronto for a panel discussion about the future of public education and the ways that Bill 33 could reshape our education system. 

Date: October 14, 2025

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: Native Canadian Centre of Toronto - 16 Spadina Road

RSVP here!

Seniors 55+ are invited to expand their computer skills and earn a computer of their very own. 

Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025

Time: 3-4:30 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St E

To register, call 416-964-6657 extension 240 or email [email protected]

Learn about how to maintain your bike and do minor repairs!

Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2025

Time: 6-7:30 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St E

To register, call 416-964-6657 extension 240 or email [email protected]. Limited spots available!

Kids 6-12 are invited to become recycling heroes at the Corner! Enjoy games, a craft, and movie time while learning about recycling and caring for the earth. 

Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025

Time: 5:30 - 7 PM

Location: The Corner, 240 Wellesley St E

To register, call 416-964-6657 or email [email protected]

Homeless Connect is back with another One Stop Shop event! Unhoused and precariously housed individuals are invited to come to the Mattamy Athletic Centre to receive a variety of free services including health and personal care services (dental, hearing, vision, haircuts, foot care, etc), practical assistance (employment, legal, housing support), plus clothing, a hot meal, and more. 

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025

Time: 10 AM - 3 PM

Location: Mattamy Athletic Centre, 50 Carlton Street

This event is walk-in only and no pre-registration is required. 

Homeless Connect is always looking for volunteers for this event. Sign up here to help!

Experience the City of Toronto’s free full-day signature in-person event at Meridian Hall to support small businesses in Toronto.

This year focuses on helping small businesses navigate and find opportunities in a rapidly changing globalized economy and international business landscape:

• Main stage sessions featuring spotlight speakers, fireside chats and expert panels,
• Speed mentorship with international business leaders and seasoned entrepreneurs ready to share insights and tackle your biggest questions, and
• Trade show of diverse small business services and goods providers.

Date: October 29, 2025

Time: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Location: Meridian Hall, 1 Front Street East

Registration is required. 

Fall brings increased rainfall, and remnants of tropical storms can contribute to flooding. TRCA’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Program monitors these conditions and provides timely updates to help communities stay prepared. 

Residents can now receive TRCA flood messages by email, text message, or both, providing a convenient way to stay informed during potential flood events. Visit trca.ca/get-flood-messages to sign-up.

The recruitment period for the Spring 2026 session of the Legislative Page Program is now open until November 15, 2025. 

Each year, high-achieving, community-oriented Grade 7 and 8 students from across Ontario are chosen to serve as Legislative Pages. This unique opportunity in Toronto allows selected students to become involved in Ontario’s parliamentary process, meet key figures, and make lifelong friendships with like-minded peers.

More information can be found here. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Page Program at [email protected] or by phone at (416) 325-7457.

The Staying Isn’t Choosing campaign is now live! 

This campaign was developed by Timmins and Area Women in Crisis (TAWC) and Ellevive in Northern Ontario. At the centre of this initiative are five powerful videos that raise awareness, dispel harmful myths, and highlight the systemic barriers that make leaving unsafe relationships so difficult.

This campaign addresses the complexity of abuse — including coercive control, emotional, psychological, sexual, and physical abuse — and was designed to resonate widely across communities.

• Explore the the campaign and videos: stayingisntchoosing.ca
• Follow the campaign on social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Calling all people with disabilities and seniors who need help with snow clearing, lawn cutting, leaf raking, and other yard tasks! Sunshine Centres for Seniors is here to help with their Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance Program. 

Sunshine Centres is also looking for casual, part-time workers to join their Home Maintenance Program Team. If you are interested send your resume to Kevin at [email protected]. 

For more information and to register, contact Kevin at [email protected] or (647) 687-7322

Community Consultation for Queer East & Southeast Asian Older Adults

A gathering to share stories, insights, and lived experiences about aging in the community. The goal is to help shape future care and support for queer Asian older adults in Toronto.

• Who it’s for:
  • Self-identified East or Southeast Asian
  • Self-identified LGBTQ+ or queer
  • Age 50+
  • Living in Toronto
• What to expect:
  • 90-minute consultation (in-person or online, in English)
  • Honorarium provided
  • Light refreshments offered
• Purpose:
  • Connect with others on similar journeys
  • Envision a future where queer Asian older adults thrive with dignity, love, and connection

click this link to register: Community Consultation Registration

Interested or have questions? Contact Alex Ma (he/him) at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

Join the Corktown Residents & Business Assoc., Inc. (CRBA) board and contribute to the vibrancy of your neighbourhood. Bring your ideas, skills, and enthusiasm for building community

There are many ways to get involved and make a difference, limited only by your imagination and time commitment. We welcome a diversity of interests and skills including, but in no way limited to, bookkeeping, WordPress, social media, email marketing, fundraising, and grant writing.

As a member of the CRBA board, you will help set and enact an agenda for public events and initiatives that build a more engaged, connected, safer, sustainable, and beautiful home for you and fellow residents.

For more info send your request to: [email protected] 

The Hello Neighbour app is a new tool designed to help residents stay connected with their community. It provides quick access to local programs, services, news, and events, all in one place.

Features include:

• Find what you need – Search for programs and services, check who they’re for, when they’re open, and even get directions.
• Neighbourhood news – Stay updated with the latest stories and newsletters from your area.
• Events and job opportunities – Discover local events and find community job postings.

The app is available for download on Google Play and the App Store.

This initiative is brought to the community by Yonge Street Mission (YSM), Regent Park Neighbourhood Association (RPNA), the Social Development Plan Communication Working Group, the City of Toronto, and Focus Media Arts.

Dear neighbour,

Have you ever plowed a furrow with a tractor? Neither have I, but this week I had the opportunity to see the experts (and a few novices) in action at the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in Grassie, Ontario. 

The Plowing Match is a hotly anticipated annual celebration of rural and agricultural life. Each year, elected officials come together across party lines to hear from farmers about the strength of their communities, the challenges they face, and the support they need. 

The NDP, a party created by farmers and trade unionists will always have the backs of farmers and workers who feed our province and grow our economy. As an urban MPP from downtown Toronto, I was eager to learn about the joys and challenges of farming and rural life through events like these and from conversations with farmers who took the time to sit with me. I am so proud to be part of a caucus that has representation from every corner of Ontario. We work harmoniously together and take time to consider urban, rural, and suburban communities when crafting provincial legislation. Urban and rural communities can coexist in harmony and support each other. After all, farmers feed cities, and when farmers grow, Canada grows!

Today I made my way to Niagara Falls to attend the Ontario NDP Convention. Niagara Falls is a very special place for New Democrats as the ONDP was founded there 64 years ago in 1961. Convention is a time when New Democrats and allies gather together to debate policy, receive training, strengthen connections, and chart a path to electoral success. 

I am so excited to connect with fellow New Democrats this weekend. Relationship building is one of the most important parts of every single convention. If you see me, come say hi!

Ontarians are struggling under Ford’s mismanagement of the economy, high unemployment, unaffordable housing, crumbling schools and an alarming shortage of doctors and nurses. After eight years of wrongheaded Ford policies, the political stakes have never been higher. The ONDP will bring forward the real solutions that Ontario needs. Ford broke it and we will fix it. I can’t wait to bring you all of the updates about the exciting policy we adopt. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Toronto Centre Solidarity Picket with George Brown Workers
• UN Declares Israel is Committing Genocide in Gaza
• Healthcare Privatization Town Hall
• Ontario Unemployment Highest Since COVID Lockdowns
• Children with Disabilities At Risk Under New TDSB Supervisor
• Reopening of the Glen Road Pedestrian Bridge
• Tanzania Women’s Association 2nd Anniversary
• Diaper Need Awareness Week
• This Week’s Meetings
• What's Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

College support staff are on strike to protect our public colleges, save programs, and retain decent work! 

I have already been on the picket lines supporting George Brown staff and I want you to join me this time for a Toronto Centre Solidarity Picket. Bring your noise makers, your loud chanting voices, and stand up for striking workers!

Date: Thursday, September 25

Time: 12 PM - 1 PM

Location: George Brown St James Campus, 200 King St East

The United Nations Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry has declared that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza strip.

The Commission stated that Israel was committing four of the five types of genocide: (i) killing members of the group; (ii) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (iii) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and (iv) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group. Any one of those is horrific and grounds for the label of genocide. Four is unfathomable. Canada has done all five to Indigenous people. We have so much work to do at home, but we also have a humanitarian duty to the Palestinian people. 

The situation in Gaza is dire. We must push our elected officials to acknowledge this genocide (something the NDP has been doing for over a year), impose sanctions on Israel, and speak up on the international stage. I am so proud of dock workers and other union members in Italy and across Europe who have refused to transport arms and are taking to the streets in protest. Gazan Palestinians need our voices now more than ever. 

Healthcare privatization is not just a threat. It is here and creeping deeper into our health system every day, thanks to government Bill 60. 

On Wednesday night I was joined by more than 100 concerned Ontarians at my virtual townhall, with fellow MPPs Jessica Bell and Dr. Robin Lennox, as well as panelists Dr. Melanie Bechard of Canadian Doctors for Medicare and Michelle Robidoux of the Ontario Health Coalition. 

You can watch the entire town hall here, including the lively Q&A portion at the end. It was inspiring to see so many engaged people passionate about protecting public healthcare in our province. 

Privatized healthcare does not make care faster. It just moves staff and resources out of public hospitals and into for-profit clinics, costing the government more while also charging patients. We need this government to plan for the future and create programs that benefit us all today, without stealing from our future for a quick fix. 

It is critical that we take action together and show Ford that Ontarians treasure our public healthcare. Next Wednesday, the Ontario Health Coalition is hosting a roadside rally on hospital row in Toronto. This is a great way to get connected with the Coalition and make your voice heard! More details here. 

The newest Financial Accountability Office (FAO) report, published this past Wednesday, shows rising unemployment, deeper deficits, and new risks to Ontario’s economy. 

Unemployment is currently sitting at 7.8% and is projected to rise to nearly 8% next year. That is the highest level in a decade outside the pandemic. Thousands of Ontarians are out of work and families are left wondering how they will pay the bills. 

The FAO was clear that Ontario will be hit harder by U.S. tariffs than any other province. Sectors like auto, steel, forestry and manufacturing are especially vulnerable, yet this government lacks any kind of plan to shield jobs or support workers.

To bolster our economy and support Ontarians, we need a robust jobs plan that works hand-in-hand with real investments in housing, health care, and education. Those investments don’t just benefit the recipients of services, but also create good, local jobs that people can rely on. 

We must invest strategically to keep good jobs here at home, strengthen local procurement so Ontario businesses benefit first, and support the industries and communities that are being squeezed the hardest. 

Children and teachers in the TDSB are facing increasingly dangerous classroom conditions after a ministry-appointed supervisor, Rohit Gupta, decided to increase class sizes for several programs for students with disabilities.

The very first act taken by this former Metrolinx advisor has been to put children with disabilities and special needs at risk with larger class sizes. This only confirms concerns parents and teachers raised when they learned that this government would be replacing experienced school board leadership with non-expert supervisors. 

Cutting corners in our schools will only make classrooms less safe for teachers and students with disabilities that require attentive supervision. This safety is only truly achievable with lower student to teacher ratios. What we need is more funding for our schools so we can train and hire more teachers and education workers. We can’t afford cheap solutions that will result in more chaos in our classrooms.

The Glen Road Pedestrian Bridge, also known as the Morley Callaghan Footbridge has been officially re-opened!  This bridge plays a significant role in Toronto Centre's heritage and history, connecting the Bloor East and South Rosedale neighbourhoods for over 140 years. I am proud to have been part of this revitalization project since its initial consultation phase almost a decade ago, when I was the City Councillor. 

City of Toronto staff, the Bloor East Neighbourhood Association, and the South Rosedale Residents Association all worked so hard on this project for years. It was a treat to celebrate this joyous community milestone with them! 

The Tanzanian Women's Association celebrates the strength, culture, and resilience of Tanzanian women and families in Toronto! I was honoured to join community members for their second anniversary celebration this past weekend. 

It was such a wonderful event! We had conversations about settlement, inclusion, and civic engagement, while enjoying  traditional storytelling, music, and a shared cultural meal. 

So many newcomers can feel disconnected from community life, but events like there are wonderful ways for everyone to connect and serve one another.

Did you know that more than 1 in 5 Toronto families struggle with diaper access? Without diapers, parents can’t go to work, and children can’t attend daycare.

This Diaper Need Awareness Week, I was proud to join Baby Love at the launch of The Diaper Barrier, a powerful installation at Commerce Court that stopped commuters in their tracks, just as diaper need stops parents from fully participating in work, school, and community life.

I am grateful to the excellent BabyLove team for stepping up to fill this gap by removing roadblocks to diapers and wipes. Learn more here: babylovebeginnings.com 

• Parkdale Housing Justice Network
• St. Clare’s Housing
• University of Toronto Research Oversight and Compliance

Moderna’s latest COVID-19 vaccine is both approved and ‘made in Canada’

‘Shades of the Greenbelt’: questions raised about Ontario’s $2.5-billion private career training fund

Ford government announces new deal with doctors — with pay boost and incentives to take on more patients in family medicine

Toronto non-profit unveils mural painted by harm-reduction workers to honour lives lost

In an unprecedented warning, leading climate think-tank says Canada won't meet 2030 climate target

Internet, phone lines cut off across Gaza as Israeli ground operations expected to escalate

Canada just got a near-failing grade on Food Banks Canada's Report Card. Here's why

‘I just believe he will’: Ford thinks Hwy. 401 tunnel will be nation-building project

Unhoused residents of Dufferin Grove encampment protest eviction, say they feel unsafe in shelters

Toronto Public Library expanding social, crisis support services to more branches

Ontario has hit 26% of its 2025 housing target to date as slump continues

Nearly a third of people who have been homeless were evicted at some point, CMHC says 

Vintage TTC streetcars could soon return to Toronto streets

Join the Ontario Street Tenants Association for a community block party! 

There will be games, tenant rights information, and free food from local restaurants (Green Cafe and Manila Sentro). All are welcome!

Date: Saturday, September 20

Time: 1 PM - 6 PM 

Location: Dr. Gordon Chong Park (60 Howard Street)

The KITE Research Institute – University Health Network, in partnership with Canada’s National Ballet School and Mid-Career Productions, presents Reframing Dementia: Challenging Stigma Through Film & Art on Sunday, September 21, 2025, from 2 PM to 5 PM at the Betty Oliphant Theatre, 404 Jarvis St., Toronto.

This special event, held on World Alzheimer’s Day, will feature:

• Screenings of two short films, Sugar Dumplin’ and Dancer Not Dementia, exploring memory, culture, and the lived experiences of people with dementia and their caregivers.
• A panel discussion and Q&A highlighting the social impact of the films.
• A catered reception at Canada’s National Ballet School (400 Jarvis St.) with an art exhibition created by individuals living with dementia.

Admission: $10 (+fees).

Registration: reframingdementia.eventbrite.ca

Breakaway Community Services and Through Ruff Times are holding two no-cost CHIP Truck Pet Clinic this upcoming Tuesday FREE for ANY Toronto residents' cats & dogs:
● rabies vaccines
● microchipping
● pet licensing

Clinic Details
When: Tuesday September 23
Time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Where: 21 Strickland Avenue

Clinic Details
Riverside Dog Lover's Market
When: Sunday September 21
Time: 11:00am to 2:00pm
Where: Joel Weeks Park, 10 Thompson Street
This event will be first-come, first-served
(no appointment booking required).

The clinic event is open to any Toronto residents who need support for their animals. Please note that vaccines are available in limited quantities and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Requirements:
● Dogs must be on a leash
●Cats must be properly contained in a carrier
● If you have it, please bring a valid photo ID that includes your address
● If you have it, please bring a current City of Toronto pet licence for each pet receiving services

The National SPRE Accelerator is a free, 6-month program for non-profits and registered charities across Canada who want to build community-centered real estate projects. The program will take place virtually between October 2025 to May 2026. Applications are now open and close September 26!

Apply here!

Whoa where did the summer go? It's time again for the Canary District’s twice-yearly neighbourhood cleanup! 

Participants will meet outside Rock On Climbing (NW corner of Tannery and Front) at 10 AM. All volunteers will be provided with gloves, bags, and trash grabbers and will be assigned to a street. 

When: Sepember 28, 2025 at 10 AM – 12 PM

Where: (In front of) Rock on Climbing, 474 Front St E, Unit 4

Learn more and RSVP here!

Optional: If you can't make it on the day, reach out to [email protected]. They will set you up a special shift on another day!

An outdoor evening celebration with live music, circus arts, kids’ activities, and seasonal treats in David Crombie Park.

• Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, 2025 | 6–8 pm
• Location: David Crombie Park (Berkeley & The Esplanade)
• Performances:
  • The Enchanted Forest by Hercinia Arts Collective (aerial arts, stilt dancing, physical theatre)
  • Roda de Samba with Carlos Cardozo & ensemble
• Activities: Face painting, craft table, juggling workshop for kids
• Treats: Hot chocolate & apple cider
• Cost: Free, open to all ages

Learn more here!

Join us for a night of joyful connection, beautiful entertainment and generosity that will fuel the next chapter of Holy Trinity.

TICKETS for the Gala here.

Check out our SILENT AUCTION (open to anyone interested) here. 

Join the Regent Park Safety Network for their Know Your Legal Rights Workshop. Learn about how to interact with law enforcement during illegal street checks and detainment, warrantless searches, surveillance, and border crossing. 

Facilitated by Nat Pau, Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Education Trust. 

Time: 5:30 PM - 8 PM

Date: 7 October, 2025

Location: 180 Sackville Street, Main Floor Meeting Room

Learn more and RSVP here.

The SLNA Waste Reduction Group is hosting its 14th REmarket event on Oct 8 & 9, 2025. This event has a direct, tangible impact on both the environment and the social welfare of our local communities (from our last REmarket in May, 18,000 lbs of donated items for reuse and 644 lbs for recycling were collected), and we are eager to continue to widen that impact. New items being added to the growing recycling list at the upcoming REmarket include: hearing aids, elastic bands and non-synthetic corks. Click here for more information. 

Homeless Connect is back with another One Stop Shop event! Unhoused and precariously housed individuals are invited to come to the Mattamy Athletic Centre to receive a variety of free services including health and personal care services (dental, hearing, vision, haircuts, foot care, etc), practical assistance (employment, legal, housing support), plus clothing, a hot meal, and more. 

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025

Time: 10 AM - 3 PM

Location: Mattamy Athletic Centre, 50 Carlton Street

This event is walk-in only and no pre-registration is required. 

Homeless Connect is always looking for volunteers for this event. Sign up here to help!

Experience the City of Toronto’s free full-day signature in-person event at Meridian Hall to support small businesses in Toronto.

This year focuses on helping small businesses navigate and find opportunities in a rapidly changing globalized economy and international business landscape:

• Main stage sessions featuring spotlight speakers, fireside chats and expert panels,
• Speed mentorship with international business leaders and seasoned entrepreneurs ready to share insights and tackle your biggest questions, and
• Trade show of diverse small business services and goods providers.