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Dear Neighbour, 

The legislature resumed this week, and your Ontario NDP team hit the ground running, holding Doug Ford’s PCs to account and presenting solutions to make life better. My colleagues and I are focusing on offering solutions around housing, healthcare, and cost of living. I spent two days this week in Justice Policy Committee hearings, listening to stakeholders present tangible solutions that would improve access to justice and efficiencies in our courts. 

I look forward to putting forward amendments to the government’s Bill 157 next week that would put many of these ideas into action, including increasing funding to legal aid clinics and victim compensation. 

I am already looking forward to next week, when I will present my Bill, The Gender Affirming Healthcare Act, for second reading on Thursday, February 29, 2024. If you would like to attend the debate in person, you can RSVP here. It will also be streamed live on my Facebook page.

The day before, on Wednesday 28, 2024, I will be hosting a Community Assembly on Gender Affirming Care alongside some very special guests! 

The Gender Affirming Healthcare Act is being brought forward at a time when social conservatives are using the rights and care of Trans people to start a culture war. Danielle Smith, Pierre Poilievre, and countless US lawmakers are announcing policies that take away the rights of Trans youth to be their authentic selves. These policies are founded on transphobia, hatred, and a fundamental disregard for science. Study after study concludes the same thing: trans folks' mental health improves when healthcare and social support honours their gender — the regret rates for gender-affirming surgeries are about 1%,  dramatically lower than those for common surgeries like knee replacements. 

Tragically, this anti-Trans rhetoric has serious consequences. CSIS just published a warning that the 'anti-gender movement' poses a threat of 'extreme violence.’ And we are already seeing that violence – many of you have probably heard about the heartbreaking death of Nex Benedict, an Indigenous, nonbinary teenager in Oklahoma who was beaten by peers in a school bathroom after the state passed a law saying that students must use the bathroom that aligns with the gender assigned to them at birth. Throughout next week, I will keep Nex’s memory in my heart as a reminder of what we are fighting for. 

Yours in community service, 

Warmly,

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Killer of London Family Sentenced
• Petition - Restore funding to UNWRA
• Addictions Crisis Grows in Ontario
• Local Community News

In Toronto Centre, we are no strangers to the consequences of the opioid epidemic and the poisoned drug supply crisis. Many of us feel the strain of these crises in our communities, our hospitals, and our own families. 

The crisis is worsening across Ontario and I am so proud of my fellow NDP MPPs for speaking up for their communities and beyond who are crying out for help to save lives. On February 8, the Mayor of Belleville declared a local state of emergency after EMS responded to 17 drug overdoses in just over 24 hours.

This past Wednesday, MPP Lisa Gretzky, our critic for Mental Health and Addictions, called for urgent support in Belleville after the province ignored the mayor’s request for addictions support in the wake of a local emergency.

“In the wake of a devastating series of overdoses, the Mayor of Belleville reached out to this government for urgent support to help prevent any further tragedies,” said Gretzky. “He asked for simple, meaningful solutions to ensure this never happens again. Incredibly, his calls were ignored by this government.”

On Tuesday, the Mayor of Belleville said that if the Province won’t help, they’ll have to find another way to open a community hub to help people. Why is the Premier leaving the people of Belleville to deal with this crisis themselves, when solutions have been presented clearly to his government?

I am joining my colleagues in calling on the Conservatives to immediately provide funding for this desperately needed service hub and detox centre and commit to reliable, ongoing support to address the addictions and mental health crisis. There’s no time to waste. We owe it to the people of Belleville and every municipality in Ontario to have their backs. Lives depend on it.

Join the Toronto Centre NDP for a Day of Action to talk to neighbours about how Jagmeet Singh and our NDP team in Ottawa is delivering dental care for Canadians.

When: Sunday, March 3, 2-5 PM

Where: David Crombie Park (Sherborne & the Esplanade, Southwest Corner)

No prior canvassing experience is required, and training will be provided for first-time canvassers.

We'll meet at David Crombie Park (Sherborne St & the Esplanade, on the Southwest corner) and then canvass in the surrounding area.

Be sure to dress warmly and wear comfortable footwear. See you soon!

Stop by Daniels Spectrum tomorrow at 585 Dundas St. East for a Black History Month Youth & Community Mixer! The event is open from 12 PM to 5 PM to all who want to come! There will be food, performances, and other fun activities to honour Black Canadians and their legacy. 

If you would like to volunteer, please contact [email protected] for more details.

The Neighbourhood Group and the St. James Town Community Centre are coming together for a Repair Cafe. You can learn how to fix computers, clothing, bikes, and more! Attend for free on February 24 from 12 PM to 4 PM at the Central Neighbourhood House. 

They are also looking for handy volunteers with experience fixing items. Find out more here!

St. James Town Black History Month Celebration is happening next week on Wednesday, February 28, at the Wellesley Community Centre on the second floor, from 4 PM to 7 PM. 

There will be Raffle prizes, food prepared by a local vendor, Alex the Chef, and performances by Black Canadian artists.

Beginning at OISE at 252 Bloor St West, the International Women’s Day Rally & March will be on Saturday, March 2 at 11 AM.

March for a gender-equal world! A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.

Yonge Street Mission is hosting a Community Impact Jam for community leaders to discuss how to improve their existing tools to better serve the needs within the Regent Park community. Make a difference by helping to shape the future of YSM’s community development strategy and claim your spot by emailing [email protected]. 

Please RSVP as soon as you can ensure that you can attend on March 6 from 5 PM to 8 PM at YSM’s Martin Centre at 306 Gerrard St. East.

After the Regent Park Cafe launch, they are now open and operational every Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 8 PM. If you are near Daniels Spectrum at 585 Dundas St. East, pop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

GOOD TO BE GOOD is pleased to announce a fifth cohort for the Change Make-Her program! This FREE interactive virtual program is for women and gender-diverse folks* interested in developing their entrepreneurship and leadership skills through mentorship-based training workshops, community building, peer support, resource-sharing, and other opportunities.

The program is a unique development opportunity explicitly created to extend the capacity of new and early entrepreneurs through a low-barrier, inclusive, and compassionate approach. Entrepreneurship is challenging to navigate—layering being a woman or gender-diverse with intersecting identities adds another path to navigate. We believe that entrepreneurism can be a meaningful pathway to confidence, community, and independence for women and gender-diverse people facing multiple barriers.

Each session provides participants with the fundamentals of growing a micro or small business in the mainstream economy on their terms while connecting them with other entrepreneurs and industry professionals in the community and accessible tools. We support participants by offering them several resources, wraparound supports (technology, internet, stress devices), and peer support. Successful participants will receive a micro-grant (up to $300) for their business needs. The seven-week program focuses on subjects related to entrepreneurship and leadership, such as essential business finance, business planning, community building, and marketing. All workshops are led by trained facilitators and Rochelle Ford-Wilson in a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive environment. Our guest mentors and speakers include Maggie Aurocco from bluboho, Nadege from IG Wealth Management, Chantaie from Ramsay & Co, Zehra Allibhai, and Opal Rowe from Stush Patties.

Participants must be available every Saturday morning (Eastern time) between April 6, 2024- May 25, 2024. Participants welcomed to join the cohort are asked to fill out a pre-survey before the program begins to gauge interests, needs, and goals. Participants will have the opportunity to meet for an orientation call prior to the first workshop.

Applications are now OPEN for the Change Make-Her program! The poster is attached to this email—please share and spread the word. To register, email Arezoo Najibzadeh at [email protected] or sign up by using this link: https://forms.gle/LuPLtsiWVDL5618u6. Please note that applications close Sunday, March 17.

Dear Neighbour, 

Please consider this your formal invitation to my Community Assembly on Gender Affirming Health Care! 

We will be gathering on Wednesday, February 28, starting at 6 PM, at Trinity St Paul’s United Church on Bloor Street for an energizing community conversation. 

The evening will be hosted by me and queer advocate Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo, who is the force behind many of the robust 2SLGBTQIA+ protections we have in Ontario today. 

Joining us on the panel will be Bilal Baig, the creator of Sort Of on CBC, Monica Forrester from Trans Pride Toronto, Sil Hernando of Rainbow Health Ontario, and Jordan Zaitzow from Trans PULSE Canada. 

Our panelists will discuss the state of gender affirming care in Ontario, how it can be improved, and how trans folks and allies can use their stories and voices to make change in their communities. 

I hope that you'll be able to attend. Please share this invite with your communities, and let's pack the house! 

Additionally, I want to wish you and all of your loved ones a wonderful and love-filled chosen family day. Family has meant more to me than ever this year. I hope you are able to spend time with your family and loved ones today. 

Warmly,

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Action to Save Lives in Gaza
• Chosen Family Day
• Legislature Resumes Tuesday
• Bill 124 Ruled Unconstitutional
• Mourning Alexey Navalny
• Shingles Vaccine Extension
• Faqiri Inquest Deadline Missed
• St Bartholomew’s Childcare Centre Needs a New Home
• Community Spotlight: Birthmark
  
• OneFare System Coming Soon
• Local Community News

Next Tuesday, February 20, the Ontario Legislature resumes. I am excited to return and present real solutions to the housing, health care, and cost of living crises while holding Ford’s Conservatives accountable. I always want to hear your feedback and ideas. You can reach me at [email protected] 

People across our province are facing real challenges right now. They are waiting hours for basic healthcare, are stuck with sky-rocketing housing costs, and their bills are not getting any lower. I know these are your priorities. 

But this government is too wrapped up in its never-ending scandals to develop real solutions that matter to Ontarians.

We've taken on a corrupt Conservative government and forced them to reverse course on countless bad decisions. Now, they’re under a criminal investigation for selling off the Greenbelt to the highest bidder and were forced to walk back wage-suppression policies after losing twice in court. Every climbdown and policy reversal is proof that when we work together, we can win.

I will champion real solutions in the legislature, from targeting the staffing shortage in hospitals and underused public hospital resources, to expediting housing—including deeply affordable housing.

Last Tuesday, Ontario’s Court of Appeal ruled that Bill 124, the PC’s wage suppression legislation, was unconstitutional. The decision concluded that the Bill unduly interfered with workers’ rights to collective bargaining. 

This is a huge win, a win that belongs to the workers, unions, and advocates from across the province who stood firm against the Conservatives’ unconstitutional attack on their rights.

Bill 124 hurt our province. It forced health care and education workers out of the profession, cut people’s wages during an affordability crisis, and eroded people’s trust in their government.

It is unconscionable that this government wasted many years and untold taxpayer dollars fighting workers in court to uphold an unconstitutional Bill and take away wages. Thankfully, the government has stated that they will not challenge this ruling at the Supreme Court and will repeal it in full. But that is not enough. 

This government has to make up for lost time and wasted energy and start fixing their mess by hiring health care workers into our public system and paying back workers for lost wages.

I am proud to always stand with workers and I celebrate this win alongside them. 

Like so many people across Canada and the world, I am mourning the recently reported murder of Alexey Navalny by the Putin regime. Alexey Navalny’s life defied the odds – he survived deadly poison, he stood up to and inspired millions of Russians to stand up to Putin, and he gave people in Russia and across the world hope that Russia could one day embark on a path unlike the totalitarian vision of Vladimir Putin. Putin is a murderous coward who is unfit to lead. 

I am dismayed by Pierre Pollievre’s milquetoast statement on Navalny’s death. Everyone who believes in democracy should be outraged by what any reasonable observer knows was a Kremlin-orchestrated murder. Putin’s murder deserves nothing less than full-throated condemnation. 

Navalny lived accepting that this could happen. In the documentary on his life, he was asked what his message to Russians would be if Putin has him killed: “If they decide to kill me, it means that we are incredibly strong. We need to utilize this power. To not give up. We are an incredible power that is being oppressed by these bad dudes. We don’t realize how strong we actually are. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing. So don’t be inactive.”

Navalny was 47. 

One way you can show your opposition to Navalny’s murderer is to join the Ukrainian Canadian Congress is organizing a rally at Nathan Phillips Square at 3pm on Saturday February 24, 2024. You can show solidarity with Ukraine and everyone resisting Putin on the second anniversary of Putin’s illegal invasion. I encourage everyone to join.

Starting February 26, Ontario's One Fare Program will allow transit riders to pay only once when connecting to and from the TTC and GO Transit, Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, MiWay and York Region Transit.

This is an exciting development that will let people across the GTHA connect more affordably and encourage transit ridership. I am thrilled that this dream is now a reality - thank you to all of the community advocates who have been pushing for this for years! 

How Ontario's One Fare Program works:

• For trips connecting between TTC and GO Transit, the TTC component of the trip will become free, regardless of travel direction (cost of TTC trip is discounted from overall trip cost). 
• For trips connecting between TTC and local transit systems, the second portion of the trip will become free (first payment will enable a two-hour free transfer across all systems).  
• PRESTO automatically calculates a 100 per cent discount and applies it to a PRESTO card, credit or debit card or PRESTO in Google Wallet. Transit riders must tap on and off with the same card. 
• Transfers are valid for two hours for trips started on local transit and within three hours of the start of a GO Transit trip.
• The payment method used to tap and pay a fare is a customer’s proof of payment. Riders approached for fare inspection will need to tap the card, phone or watch used on the inspection device.  

Since 2020, Ontarians age 65-70 years old have been eligible for a FREE two-dose shingles vaccine from their family doctor. 

Recently, the program was extended until the end of 2024! I encourage everyone who is eligible to receive the vaccine to speak with their family doctor or other healthcare provider. Shingles is a painful and often preventable disease with proper immunization. 

If you do not qualify for the publicly funded Shingles vaccine, you can purchase it from a participating pharmacy with a prescription from your primary care provider. Some private insurers may cover all or part of the cost of the vaccine. You should check with your insurance company for more information on your coverage.

Last Friday marked 60 days since the Ontario government received the results of the Coroner’s Inquest into Soleiman Faqiri’s death in an Ontario jail in 2016. The inquest jury made 57 recommendations to the Ontario government that would prevent this tragedy from recurring. 

The first of the 57 recommendations was to Develop and issue a public position statement within 60 days of this verdict, recognizing that correctional facilities are not an appropriate environment for persons in custody experiencing significant mental health issues.

The government failed to acknowledge the deadline, let alone issue a statement. 

The Faqiri family is hurting. Their loved one was killed when he needed compassionate support. The least that this government could do to honour Soleiman Faqiri’s memory would be to implement the jury’s first recommendation on time and work towards a corrections system where people in mental health crisis receive support and treatment, not violence.

Despite multiple appeals, this government has not given any indication that they are attempting to meet the deadline for these recommendations. Their silence shows a pattern of failing to follow the advice of experts and Coroner's Inquest recommendations.

I will keep pushing for justice for the Faqiri family and everyone else living with mental health concerns in Ontario’s corrections system. 

Birth Mark is a wonderful local maternal and family health provider, offering free-of-charge, full-spectrum reproductive doula care and complementary perinatal support services. They also partner with food security programs, shelters, hospitals, and more to help all pregnant people and parents. You can see a full list of their programs by going to their website.

Unfortunately, Birth Mark has encountered severe funding challenges and has been forced to end some of their programming.

As it operates as a charity, Birth Mark relies on donors' generosity to offer its services. Their main donor is redirecting its funds, jeopardizing the future of Birth Mark. Without this funding, thousands of patients have lost or will lose the care they need. If you are able, please donate, volunteer, and share their information with your circles. 

St. Bartholomew’s Children’s Centre, located in Regent Park, is one of only 2 stand-alone licensed school-age daycares in Toronto. Their caring staff have been dedicated to serving the children of Regent Park for over four decades, providing before- and after-school programming and full-day care when school is not in session. They take pride in having nurtured and graduated over 1,000 students during this extensive period, including tailored support for children with higher needs. 

Recently SBCC was served notice from their landlords (St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church) that they must vacate their home of 40 years to accommodate structural renovations to the foundation of the church. This work could take up to 30 months.

The staff of SBCC are currently working to find new space and are reaching out to the community for help. If you have any leads on a space for them please reach out to me! 

Here are their requirements: 

1. A total of 835 sq. ft. of unobstructed floor space

2. A separate area for: toileting, food preparation, retention of records, staff rest area, outdoor space

Join Moss Park residents at their quarterly community meeting this Tuesday, February 20, at 6:15 PM. You’ll be able to meet your Moss Park Neighbourhood Community Officers (NCOs), receive updates on critical incidents, and ask questions. 

The Centre for Learning and Development is hosting a Black History Month event on February 23 from 6 PM to 8 PM at 540 Dundas St. East. Learn more about Black history with their speaker, Jemmelia Morgan. Jemmelia is a seasoned Child & Family Therapist specializing in empowering racialized communities. She is a dedicated professional at SickKids CCMH, where she passionately champions mental health and safer communities.

Get your tickets here!

Did you know there's a river buried under Church Street? The Church Wellesley Village BIA & Lost Rivers Toronto present Rumours of a River — a neighbourhood walking tour. This tour will start at 1:30 PM on Saturday, 17 February, at The ArQuives (34 Isabella Street). If you are interested in 2SLGBTQ histories and present-day stories, RSVP for the event here.

The Neighbourhood Group and the St. James Town Community Centre are coming together for a Repair Cafe. You can learn how to fix computers, clothing, bikes, and more! Attend for free on February 24 from 12 PM to 4 PM at the Central Neighbourhood House. 

They are also looking for handy volunteers with experience fixing items. Find out more here!

Tomorrow, February 17, at 12 PM, LunarFest will begin at the Varley Art Gallery of Markham. To enjoy the Lunar New Year festivities and celebrate the Year of the Dragon, RSVP here. 

The Toronto Centre Tenant Union is having a meet and greet on Tuesday, February 20, from 6 PM to 7:30. Head to Glad Day Bookshop at 499 Church St. to chat with other tenants. And follow their great work on Instagram at to.centre.tenants!

This week, Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that he would be implementing a cap on international students in Canada. 

This move scapegoats international students and immigrants as a major driver of the housing crisis in Canada when it is clear that every level of government should be much more active in building public housing and that housing investors and developers are driving the crisis.

These regulations should not be made purely for press releases and sound bites. They should come from consultations with cities, provinces, and the people helping newcomers start their lives in Canada. These regulations should not be made for press releases. I absolutely hear that constituents are concerned that more people are arriving in Canada than we have homes being constructed. By implementing arbitrarily determined caps, the federal government is avoiding their duty to invest in building new homes for all Canadians.

International students at our public post-secondary institutions deserve quality education - they're some of our province's future nurses, construction workers, and teachers.

Post-secondary institutions in Ontario have been dramatically underfunded for years, especially by Ford’s PCs, who froze tuition and cut funding to public colleges and universities in 2019. Tuition must be affordable, but this government cut grants and free tuition for low-income students at the same time that they implemented the freeze. Per-student funding to institutions in 2021 was $8,647, compared to the national average of $12,215.

This dramatic underfunding has made our public colleges and universities over-reliant on unregulated and sky-high international fees to stay afloat and avoid bankruptcy. In 2022, Laurentian University declared insolvency, and Queen’s University recently began cuts to avoid the same. This is an unfair burden to place on international students and puts our educational institutions in precarious financial situations. A federal policy change around visas should not push our public colleges and universities close to bankruptcy. 

The lack of regulation around international tuition fees has paved the way for private 'strip mall' career colleges, some of which exploit international students. Many private colleges rake in high profits while providing education of dubious quality, often virtually, as they don’t have classroom space to accommodate their thousands of students, sent to them by profit-driven recruiters around the world. 

Our province must invest in our public colleges and universities and ensure these new visa measures focus on cutting visas granted to students entering private, for-profit colleges, not our public institutions. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Toronto Council: Fund What Matters Most
• Greenbelt Corruption Runs Deep
• PCs Point Fingers at Ottawa Pre-Budget Consultations 
• OPSEU Workers Win Against Bill 124!
• IMIRT App 
• Save the Date for Trans Health Care: February 29, 2024
• Local Community Events

On Friday, there will be a key vote about the City of Toronto's budget. So much is at stake.

You have seen me work tirelessly to get the funding for the services we need. I care so much about seeing this moment — a progressive Mayor's first budget — realized to its fullest potential.

This is that moment - join the call for City Hall to invest in what matters most.

We have a script that you can use to call our City Councillor and the Mayor's Office. You can see it here:

The Ontario NDP has revealed new evidence showing further involvement from the Premier’s Office in the Greenbelt scandal.

Emails obtained in response to a Freedom of Information request suggest a timeline that is ten days earlier than indicated in testimonies provided by Ryan Amato (former chief of staff to the former Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing) and Patrick Sackville (former principal secretary and current chief of staff to the Premier) under oath, and that the Premier’s office knew about the land swaps much earlier than they claimed. This new evidence shows that the two staffers exchanged emails detaining a “list of criteria for removals” of 7,400 acres of the Greenbelt and that they used their personal instead of government email addresses to communicate. 

We are calling for the Premier to start being transparent with Ontarians about what really happened. This e-mail shows that the Premier’s office was far more involved in the Greenbelt land removals than Ford claimed. The Conservatives are trying desperately to make this scandal go away, but it is becoming increasingly clear that they cannot hide from their corruption.

With each new piece of evidence, we are seeing more cracks in the narrative that the Premier and his insiders have been trying to spin. But the truth is becoming clearer every day –  Ford was not in the dark about his government’s corrupt Greenbelt decisions.

It’s time for the Conservatives to come clean about how they deceived Ontarians with this Greenbelt fiasco. If they don’t, I’m confident the RCMP will.

Yesterday, the PC government held their Ottawa Pre-Budget consultation. My colleagues MPP Joel Harden and MPP Chandra Pasma attended and were saddened but not shocked by the stories they heard from people on ODSP and local community organizations. Years of government underfunding has left them depleted. They are running out of resources to support themselves and their communities with the most essential of services. People and organizations running on fumes and struggling to meet basic needs should not be where we are in Ontario. We are a prosperous province and should invest so that our communities can thrive and live full lives beyond basic survival. 

I want to share the words of my colleague MPP Chandra Pasma: 

“Throughout the last two days of consultations, every sector we heard from told us how people are struggling because of this government's choices. From families grappling with homelessness due to a lack of real rent control to the heart-wrenching stories of those on ODSP, the undeniable truth is that people simply cannot afford to live in this province. Instead of offering solutions, Conservative members today pointed fingers and blamed the city of Ottawa for provincial issues. These consultations are designed for solutions, not deflection. Ford could save the day today, but a lack of accountability and real investment has set this province decades behind."

But there is good news - solutions to these problems exist! We heard them in these very consultations. With the proper investments, we can end waitlists for mental health services, seniors support, disability programs, and affordable housing, as well as help our beleaguered hospitals and schools.

I am proud to be part of an Official Opposition team that continues to call for an immediate doubling of ODSP & OW – as a start – and for the Conservatives to prioritize public services instead of their pet projects. I will never stop pushing for these priorities at Queen’s Park. 

Bill 124, the horrendous wage-limiting legislation introduced in 2019 by Ford’s PCs, was declared unconstitutional in 2022 by an Ontario court. The government is now appealing that decision. However, in the meantime, unions that included “reopener” clauses in collective agreements signed between 2019 and 2022 are renegotiating their compensation to receive the pay that they deserve, even if it comes years late. 

This week, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) won a major retroactive wage increase of 6.5% over two years, for their workers, whose wages have been unconstitutionally capped at 1% since the passing of Bill 124. 

I am so proud of OPSEU members, union staff, and those at the bargaining table for securing this deal for workers. OPSEU president J.P. Hornick said it best: "This government may think that their majority means they hold all the power, but this win is proof that when we build worker power and solidarity, workers have the power to fight for what they deserve."

A new app, the Islamophobia-Motivated Incident Reporting Tool (IMIRT), has just been launched! We have seen a concerning rise in Islamophobia over the past year, and we know that folks who are victims of this hate often have understandable concerns about reporting hate-motivated crimes to police or other government institutions. 

For this reason, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, the National Council of Canadian Muslims, and the Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre in Mississauga came together to create IMIRT. In this app, users can report incidents of hate. This data will be invaluable in determining trends and making safety plans within the community and in collaboration with government. 

Thank you to everyone working to make our communities safer in the face of hate.

I recently submitted notice to the Clerk at Queen’s Park that I will call up the Gender Affirming Health Care Act for my first ballot date at Queen’s Park. This will be the Gender Affirming Health Care Act’s second reading. I will have more details for you soon — if you are interested in helping lobby the government and advocate for this bill, you can sign up here.

Save Ontario's Science Centre, along with MPP Peter Tabuns, is holding a rally on Saturday, January 27, starting at 12 at Riverdale Park East! 

Save OSC has been successful in bringing much needed attention to the ill-advised Ford plan to relocate the Ontario Science Centre to Ontario Place, but we can't let the message disappear while the govt is in recess!

The move to a half-size 'OSC LITE' would not only cost Ontario taxpayers $300-$400 million over the cost of refurbishment and well-paying jobs but also deprive a vulnerable neighbourhood of an important element of their community fabric.

Save OSC’s goal is to maintain a full-size, fully funded, interactive and immersive science experience for Ontarians at the iconic Raymond Moriyama-designed facility in Flemingdon Park.

The Victim Services Awards of Distinction deadline has been extended to January 29, 2024, at 11:59 pm! 

Click here to nominate a local leader! 

This awards program recognizes the leadership, expertise, and commitment of local volunteers, professionals, and organizations who dedicate their time to ensuring those who have experienced victimization can access critical support and services. It also honours those that have been personally impacted by crime and are now working to bring awareness to victims’ issues in Ontario.

The City of Toronto, in collaboration with United Way Greater Toronto, is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the Toronto Community Champion Award 2024 program.

In March 2023, the City recognized 25 organizations from across Toronto at the inaugural award ceremony. Due to the resounding success of this program, Toronto City Council agreed to continue this exciting program as an annual initiative.

The Toronto Community Champion Award recognizes and acknowledges the extraordinary contributions that community organizations make to support the health and solidarity of the residents of the City of Toronto, particularly those from Black, Indigenous, and other equity-deserving communities.

We encourage you to share the Toronto Community Champion Award nomination form with your constituents and community partners. The website is now open for Toronto residents to nominate organizations known for their “community collaboration.” The deadline to nominate is Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 11:55 p.m. Recipients will be announced in May 2024 and honoured at an award ceremony.

For more information on the Toronto Community Champion Award, including criteria and eligibility, and to access the nomination form, please visit the program’s webpage.

If you have any questions, please let us know. In the meantime, we are grateful for your support in getting the word out to encourage nominations in your riding.

Bring your questions for New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh, who returns to the Democracy Forum at TMU to discuss how his party applies pressure to the Liberal government through its supply and confidence agreement in a minority Parliament. From domestic to foreign issues, Singh’s left-leaning NDP has been at the centre of a political balancing act.

Sponsored by the Dais, this free event is open to all students and the general public, with advance registration required.

Click here to register.

When: Friday, Feb 2, 1 PM - 2 PM
When: Toronto Metropolitan University Student Learning Centre, 341 Yonge St

Dear Neighbour, 

I write this newsletter thinking about health and how it connects every one of us. 

My family entered 2024 with incredible news. My wife Farrah is free of her small-cell cervical cancer. She is the strongest person I know and after months of gruelling treatments, this was hardwon and deeply joyous news. Our family is not out of the woods yet with breast cancer treatments ahead — but thanks to medical advances, the remaining cancer is substantially less threatening. 

I want to thank the Princess Margaret Hospital medical team, our family and friends, and everyone in our community who stopped us on the street to wish Farrah well. Everyone’s care, love, and prayers mattered. Thank you. 

While my family is grateful for the years we have to look forward to, all Canadians are looking back on the years we had with Ed Broadbent, who passed away yesterday. Ed Broadbent led the NDP from 1975 to 1989. He fought for a just society and taught us that good government promotes unity and citizens who are creative and cooperative. These are lessons we need now more than ever. 

We will miss you Ed. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Save the date for Trans health care: February 29, 2024
• Toronto left out of Ontario's pre-budget consultations
• Toronto’s budget crisis and day of action
• Public dollars to renovate Staples?
• Local Community Events

I recently submitted notice to the Clerk at Queen’s Park that I will call up the Gender Affirming Health Care Act for my first ballot date at Queen’s Park. This will be the Gender Affirming Health Care Act’s second reading. I will have more details for you soon — if you are interested in helping lobby the government and advocate for this bill you can sign up here.

Ontario's pre-budget consultations matter. Every year, the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs tours Ontario to let people and organizations tell MPPs directly what they need in Ontario's next budget. 

Ford left Toronto out of Ontario's budget consultation process this year. This is not normal. 

It's saying two things: first, that he wants to avoid hearing from those he disagrees with, and second, that his $1500+-a-plate fundraisers in Toronto are the only pre-budget consultations that Torontonians can expect. My NDP colleague Catherine Fife moved to include Toronto on the pre-budget consultation schedule — and Ford PCs voted 'no.'

To make up for Ford's lack of leadership, your Official Ontario NDP Opposition is organizing a budget consultation on Thursday January 18, 2024 at Queen's Park so that you can have your chance to tell the government what you want to see in our budget. 

Earlier this week, I was in Oakville for a day of pre-budget hearings with MPP Catherine Fife. We heard a consistent message from organizations: Ontario must fund health care and social services. There is nothing left to cut after decades of chronic underfunding by Liberal and Conservative governments — barebone programs are cracking. 

This message was re-affirmed by news this week that Toronto Schools are seeing some of the worst staffing shortages we have ever seen. I want to echo what NDP MPP Bhutila Karpoche said that this did not happen overnight. Our kids need the government to invest in programs to recruit, train, and retain education assistants and support workers.

While I am no longer a City Councillor, Toronto is still my city. I am sure many of you are wondering what my take is on how Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow announced this week what Toronto’s property tax increase might have to be if the Federal government doesn’t step up with funding for Toronto. 

Funding cities primarily through property taxes is absurd. The Federal government must step up to the table with fair funding, or this property tax increase will be a Trudeau tax. In the long run, cities deserve real revenue tools, such as a share of HST revenue, to ensure that the city we love can love Torontonians back. 

The Toronto Centre NDP is organizing a canvass to call on the Federal government to give Toronto a fair deal. On Sunday January 21, 2024, you can join Toronto Centre volunteers as we gather petitions for a day of action to talk to our neighbours about how we're calling on the federal government to support the City of Toronto. No prior canvassing experience is required, and training will be provided for first time canvassers. Be sure to dress warm and wear comfortable footwear!

Media reports are confirming the Ford Conservatives will be footing the bill with taxpayer money to retrofit Staples locations with ServiceOntario outposts.

It is not lost on me that schools, many public housing units, and courts across Ontario are in disrepair, but only corporations are being offered funding to renovate their properties. 

The City of Toronto in collaboration with United Way Greater Toronto is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the Toronto Community Champion Award 2024 program.

In March 2023, the City recognized 25 organizations from across Toronto at the inaugural award ceremony. Due to the resounding success of this program, Toronto City Council agreed to continue this exciting program as an annual initiative.

The Toronto Community Champion Award recognizes and acknowledges the extraordinary contributions that community organizations make to support the health and solidarity of the residents of the City of Toronto, particularly those from Black, Indigenous and other equity deserving communities.

We encourage you to share the nomination form for the Toronto Community Champion Award with your constituents and community partners. The website is now open for Toronto residents to nominate organizations known for their “community collaboration”. The deadline to nominate is Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 11:55 p.m. Recipients will be announced in May 2024 and will be honoured at an award ceremony.

For more information on the Toronto Community Champion Award, including criteria and eligibility, and to access the nomination form, please visit the program’s webpage.

If you have any questions, please let us know. In the meantime, we are grateful for your support in getting the word out to encourage nominations in your riding.

Are you beginning to pave your career path? Do you have an interest in civics and current affairs? Are you actively involved in your community? Do you have aspirations to seek public office or want to know what it's like to be a political representative? The Legislative Assembly of Ontario’s Women’s Forum will bring together 124 young women and gender diverse individuals from across Ontario for a full-day program in Toronto to promote active citizenship and public engagement though education and empowerment.

One individual between the ages of 18-30 will be selected from each provincial riding to represent their community and experience parliament in action, meet prominent Ontario women and key parliamentary figures, and gain a behind-the-scenes perspective of Ontario’s Parliament.

Applications are being accepted until January 21, 2024.

You are invited to THE GREAT PAUSE. This FREE event is a musical archive of how the pandemic impacted the Community Music Schools of Toronto (CMST) students in Regent Park and Jane Finch, and the ways that they made meaning of this unusual time.

Featuring both solo and ensemble performances by CMST students and faculty, this 13-song snapshot of our school community is based directly on interviews with parents, students, teachers and members of the immediate neighbourhoods.

Join us as we explore both the challenges and the beauty of what our communities made of THE GREAT PAUSE of our lifetime. 

Saturday Jan 20, 2024 from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Isabel Bader Theatre

93 Charles Street West

Learn about the education and employment opportunities available to you!

Speak to recruiters from universities and colleges in the GTA, and meet job developers who can help you find meaningful employment supports and career opportunities

January 19, 2024 from 1:00– 4:00 p.m.

Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Toronto

Rooms 308 & 309

The SLNA Waste Reduction Group is holding its 9th REmarket, a two-day event for the collection of unwanted items.

A totally free market (FreeMarket) will also be held. Guests can donate and/or take items for free (not for commercial resale). Bring your own bag.

Repair Café Toronto will be fixing clothing, jewelry, computers, home electronics, small appliances, housewares, and toys, while CultureLink Bike Hub will be doing small bike repairs and safety checks.

Full event details and guidelines can be found at: www.slna.ca/remarket-guidelines

Please email [email protected] with any questions.