As I work to advocate for our communities, I will be sharing updates of my work through a continuation of my regular newsletter.
You can choose if you to receive local updates, provincial updates, or both!
February 10, 2023
Dear Neighbour,
It has been a dramatic week in Toronto Centre.
Yesterday the Toronto Star published an exclusive detailing that Ford’s Ministry of Transportation interfered with Metrolinx. The Ministry ordered Metrolinx to exclude MPP Peter Tabuns from public notices that trees would be clear-cut in Moss Park last Saturday.
Let’s be very clear about what this means: partisan staffers ordered non-partisan public servants in a non-partisan public body to specifically exclude NDP MPPs from a notice that other local representatives’ offices received.
By politicizing new transit construction, Ford's government risks delaying urgently needed new transit. These directives undermine public faith and trust in Metrolinx and in new transit projects.
MPP Tabuns and I immediately wrote to Ford’s Minister Caroline Mulroney demanding an explanation.
My team and I are looking into what other accountability and ethics measures are available to us about this.
You can read the letter Peter Tabuns and I sent Minister Mulroney here.
Expert Panel on Ontario Tribunals Next Wednesday
I am excited to share the list of panelists we have lined up for our panel on Wednesday, February 15, at 7 PM. I am excited to confirm that our guests will be:
Gilles Frenette
Gilles Frenette — if you are active on the Facebook group Ontario Tenant Rights, chances are that you have interacted with Gilles! Gilles is currently a member of the Mabelle Resident’s Association and Secretary of Unifor Local 25. An active volunteer for the last 20 years, his activities have included advocating for freedom of information, ethical recycling and bridging the technology gap for marginalized groups.
Kathy Laird
Kathy Laird has extensive experience in the administrative justice sector as an adjudicator and mediator at several Ontario tribunals, including the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal, and the Child and Family Services Review Board. She has served as counsel to the Chair of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and as the executive director of the Human Rights Legal Support Centre.
Gary Yee
Gary Yee has served as full-time chair of three Ontario tribunals and part-time chair of a municipal tribunal. His administrative law career included being the founding Executive Director of the Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic; and senior positions at Ombudsman Ontario and the Immigration and Refugee Board. Gary has been on the Boards of CCAT (Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals) and SOAR (Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators).
Rally Against Ford’s Plans to Privatize Public Health Care
Show that Ontarians are united against Ford’s plans for private American-style health care. Toronto NDP MPPs are organizing a rally to show that Ontarians will not give up on our public health care system on Wednesday February 22, 2023 — the day when Ford is expected to introduce his legislation at Queen’s Park. We will be giving out free posters that you can then use as window signs!
What: Rally to Save Public Health Care
When: Wednesday February 22, 2023 at 5 p.m.
Where: Corner of University and College St.
RSVP: Click here to join the TCNDP contingent!
Other News:
- Thank you Councillor Chris Moise for voting to keep our most vulnerable and marginalized neighbours safe and warm this week. The outcome of the vote was absolutely shameful, but we are grateful for all the Councillors who fought the good fight.
- Community Skate in Regent Park! There will be a free community skate party on Sunday February 19 at the Regent Park Skate Rink (480 Shuter St.) from 1 PM – 4 PM
Yours in community & solidarity,
Toronto Centre
February 6, 2022
Dear Neighbour,
I have one exciting and one frustrating update for you today, so lets get right into it:
Congratulations Marit!
On Saturday I was thrilled to join thousands of New Democrats in Toronto and across Ontario (and beyond!) to officially welcome Marit Stiles as our new Leader.
During the short time that I have known Marit she has become a trusted colleague, an experienced MPP who I look to, and a friend. She is fierce in the face of injustice and not afraid to speak her mind, but she also has an incredible warmth to her and a gift for connecting with everyone she interacts with. Many of you met her at our holiday party and witnessed her warmth and care first hand.
I can’t wait to see what Marit accomplishes over the next three years as Leader and in 2026 when she becomes the next Premier of Ontario. There is a lot of work ahead of us, but Marit has been working hard for the Ontario we all love for years and I know she is just getting started. Click here to learn more about Marit, her achievements, and her vision for our party.
I also want to thank our outgoing Interim Leader, Peter Tabuns, for all of his work. He did an incredible job of keeping our caucus steady, cohesive, and on-track. His calm strength, sense of humor, and down-to-earth nature was just what we needed during this transitional time. Thank you Peter!
Metrolinx Cuts Mature Trees Despite Injunction and Community Opposition
On Saturday, many residents in Toronto Centre were horrified to learn that Metrolinx cut down 61 mature and healthy trees in Moss Park despite ongoing local objections from the community and elected officials. I have spoken out against this matter many times with Metrolinx leadership including with their CEO Phil Verster.
Toronto needs transit built. But Metrolinx is choosing to build transit without consulting our communities. The fallout of their refusal to listen to our communities will inevitably further delay urgently needed transit.
I have repeatedly asked Metrolinx to not cut-and-cover Moss Park and to immediately work with the City and community to find an alternative resolution that will have the least impact on the green space and trees in the area. Just look at my motion from 2021 at Toronto City Council that Metrolinx chose to ignore.
Shame on Metrolinx for taking advantage of some of the coldest weather we have experienced this winter as an opportunity to clear cut trees while many residents were forced to stay indoors to keep warm.
Metrolinx promised community consultation and knew that Toronto Centre residents wanted to keep our tree canopy in Moss Park. Doug Ford and his PC government are letting Metrolinx run roughshod over Toronto neighbourhoods - from Moss Park to Osgoode Hall and beyond. Their renegade actions are throwing Toronto’s ability to trust this government’s promises for any real Community Benefits Agreements into doubt. Why should Toronto and anyone else trust Metrolinx after this?
My office will submit Freedom of Information requests to learn who authorized Saturday’s actions without reasonable consultation or notice and hold them accountable. I will also be demanding a meeting with Metrolinx’s CEO, Phil Verster.
Metrolinx historically updated my office about pending road closures and construction — but not this past weekend.
The lack of transparency and accountability from Metrolinx continues to be unacceptable. Building trust with communities is critical for the success of any public project. Community Benefits Agreements including employment benefits are still outstanding negotiations with our neighbourhood.
Click here to watch me break down Saturday's events.
The community and I will remain steadfast in our advocacy to ensure that the very best outcome can be achieved. It’s time for Metrolinx to build the Ontario Line differently. Our Toronto Centre communities already lack access to green space. And now, thanks to Metrolinx, we have even less green space today.
As we have seen, Metrolinx is no longer keeping my office apprised with all updates about the Moss Park site. Therefore, we have to rely on each other to make sure information is being shared. If you see anything concerning, please don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected] — your updates are vital!
Yours in community & solidarity,
Toronto Centre
February 2, 2023
Dear Neighbour,
It has been a whirlwind week with many exciting events and updates to share with you.
In this newsletter:
- MPP Marit Stiles submits documents showing that a land developer appears to have known about Ford’s Greenbelt scheme before it was public
- My press conference today about saving Ontario’s Tribunals from Doug Ford
- Updates from a week of committee hearings on bail reform
- Save the date! Rally to Stop Health Care Privatization on Wed February 22, 2023
Greenbelt Giveaways Were Promised by Ford?
Marit Stiles, the incoming leader of the Ontario NDP, revealed new information about the Ford government’s plan to carve up the Greenbelt. Her obtained documents reveal that a land development company seems to have had advance knowledge of Ford’s plan before it was made public.
Three days before Ford’s announcement to tear up the Greenbelt was made public, Rice Group, a land development company, told the Mayor of King Township that a parcel of land could be provided for a nominal fee for a local project. At the time, that land was a protected part of the Greenbelt. Just three days later, the Ford government announced their intent to make the land available.
“This finding indicates to us that somebody knew something”, reported Marit Stiles. “I am confident that the Integrity Commissioner will review this information and provide Ontarians with the answers they deserve about the Greenbelt”.
Ontario NDP Calls on Ford to Clear the Ontario Tribunals Backlog
As the Official Opposition Critic for the Ministry of the Attorney General, I have been diligently tracking the long-awaited report from Ontario’s Ombudsman, who has been investigating delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board since 2020. My office heard from the Ombudsman’s Office yesterday that the report is still being drafted and is unlikely to be released in the coming month as there is an approval process the Ombudsman must follow before the report can be made public.
Ontarians need to be ready to fight like hell for access to justice. Because I don’t trust Ford to not seize his opportunity to give his corporate landlord insider buddies the eviction rubber-stamping kangaroo courts that we know they crave.
You can watch today’s press conference here.
You can learn more about this by joining my expert panel on February 15, 2023, to learn from access to justice experts about how we got here and what solutions to Ontario’s backlogged tribunals could look like.
Register for my Feb 15, 2023 panel: Tribunals in Crisis
Guests will include Kathy Laird and Gary Yee — two members from the Steering Committee of Tribunal Watch Ontario, a non-partisan public interest watchdog concerned about independence and access to justice for Ontario’s adjudicative tribunals.
Rally Against Ford’s Plans to Privatize Public Health Care
Show that Ontarians are united against Ford’s plans for private American-style health care. Toronto NDP MPPs are organizing a rally to show that Ontarians will not give up on our public health care system on Wednesday February 22, 2023 — the day when Ford is expected to introduce his legislation at Queen’s Park.
What: Rally to Save Public Health Care
When: Wednesday February 22, 2023 at 5 p.m.
Where: Corner of University and College St.
RSVP: Want to join the TCNDP contingent?
Welcome Marit as the New Ontario NDP Leader this Saturday!
What an exciting time to be a New Democrat as we come together this Saturday to welcome our new leader, Marit Stiles! I say we give Marit, the biggest and warmest Toronto Centre greeting together.
I invite you to join me and fellow Toronto Centre NDP members at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre located at 255 Front Street West, in the North Building, Room 107. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and the exciting official event begins at 11 a.m. If you haven’t already, please sign up by clicking here.
Following the leadership showcase and announcement, there will be a Meet & Greet Social with the new Leader, Marit Stiles. This event is free to attend and will be hosted at 2 p.m. at Chef's Hall, located close by at 111 Richmond Street West.
As this event is indoors, please bring a mask with you to wear at the event. Organizers will ask attendees to wear a mask upon entry. If you have forgotten, no need to worry, as masks will also be provided. And if you are feeling unwell, there is the option to watch on the livestream, here.
I look forward to seeing you this coming Saturday, February 4!
Bail Reform Committee Hearings
I had an early return to Queen’s Park this week for Justice Policy Committee hearings on bail reform. Many Ontarians feel our bail system is broken, and I hope that government members listen to the systemic reforms Ontarians are calling for to ensure our families are truly kept safe.
We heard from experts who shared many remedial actions the Ford government can take right now to make our communities safer, including :
- increasing funding for mental health and addictions support and supportive shelters
- appropriately resourcing our court system
- advancing creative solutions to better utilize existing resources, such as developing bail compliance programs and creating dedicated bail teams in our courts
Since 2018, 77% of the people held in detention are on remand or awaiting a hearing, and that most of those individuals are caught up in a system that can’t appropriately address criminal behaviours related to the epidemics of mental illness and addictions.
When the system is so clogged up with people who don’t pose a risk to the public and offences that would be better addressed with health care and housing, the real dangerous people fall through the cracks.
Happy Black History Month!
Every February, let's re-commit to ending anti-Black racism with social action. A better future for the Black community in Ontario requires us to acknowledge, understand & educate ourselves. Celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth all year long.
Other Community News
- In a historic court ruling, an Ontario Superior Court banned Waterloo from evicting encampment residents when the city’s shelter system has no available beds
- Ontario New Democrats are keeping the pressure on Ford to tackle the shadow rental market — driven by illegal AirBnB units — that reduce available housing in Toronto
- You might know Julianna Notten — the partner of Toronto Centre’s own Emma Beattie. Julianna’s new feature film Erin’s Guide to Kissing Girls is premiering at the Carlton Cinema tomorrow. You can watch this wholesome story about friendship and queer coming-of-age at the Carlton Cinema until February 9 and following Erin’s Guide to Kissing Girls on Instagram
I look forward to seeing you as we welcome Marit Stiles as the new Ontario NDP leader this Saturday.
Toronto Centre
January 27, 2023
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January 20, 2023
Dear Neighbour,
This Sunday, January 22, marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Rabbit, which occurs every 12 years. The Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac symbolizes longevity, positivity, auspiciousness, wittiness, cautiousness, cleverness, deftness and self-protection. The new year brings new fortunes, and in 2023, people can expect prosperity, hope, and calm. This is also my personal wish for all of you.
In China and some parts of Asia, the new year holiday season continues for 15 days and obviously that is not the case for us proudly living and working in Canada. During this time, however, you choose to celebrate the lunar new year with friends and family, I hope you are able to give and receive lucky red envelopes, to eat delicious food including sweet rice balls and socialize safely in community celebrations.
On Wednesday, I was more than honoured to begin my own Lunar New Year’s celebration with so many of you, in the heart of Chinatown, at the Luminato Festival! I spent the evening connecting and listening to community members, local organisations and other MPPs.
If you are looking for local Lunar New Year festivities in Toronto Centre, you can join me and pick up your lucky red envelopes at two upcoming events:
- Lunar New Year Children’s Book Reading at Parliament St Library — Saturday January 21, 2023 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
- Lunar New Year at the Eaton Centre, on Level 2 Albert’s Way featuring Carmen Chan, traditional music, and a Lion Dance! On Saturday January 28, 2023 from 2–4 p.m.
Greenbelt Investigation Updates
Since my previous newsletter, key updates have come out about Ford’s shady plan to pave over the Greenbelt.
Thanks to 200 pages of evidence documenting how Ford’s plan to give away the Greenbelt violates the integrity standards for Ontario politicians (and may constitute unlawfully sharing insider information), the Integrity Commissioner and Auditor General will be moving forward with an investigation!
This means that the NDP has won an investigation into Ford’s Greenbelt development plan by both Ontario’s Auditor general and its Integrity Commissioner.
I want to highlight, Marit Stiles, incoming Leader of the Official Opposition, in writing that this response is a step in the right direction. Ontarians, like yourself, deserve transparency and accountability from their government. Read Marit’s statement here.
And if you want to get caught up about how the decisions to investigate were made, look no further than this article in The Narwhal; it explores the connection between six developers who bought Greenbelt land and Doug Ford. I also share my insight about the whole fiasco in this video:
Yonge Street Updates
Let's make the Midtown Complete Street Pilot project on Yonge Street Permanent!
If you have walked, rolled, cycled or moved along Yonge Street between Bloor and Davisville over the past year you may have enjoyed a heightened feeling of community and safety created by the installation of complete street infrastructure including bike lanes, planters, CafeTO venues, public art, seating and redesigned intersections. Installed after approval by city council in December of 2021, many people do not realize that this is a pilot project. In early February, City Council will vote on whether this becomes permanent or goes away for good.
City of Toronto staff recently published data that I believe justifies its continuation: Pedestrian use of the area has increased as much as 142 percent and cycling has increased as much as 152 percent, while the increase in vehicle travel times northbound (which has seen greater increase than southbound) is just 78 seconds. Travel times of Toronto Fire Services have increased just 5 seconds more than what has been experienced across the city and travel time for Toronto Paramedic Services is 38 seconds less than what is happening across the city.
There are just a few weeks left to voice support for making the Midtown Complete Street Pilot permanent. Make your voice heard by signing the petition, organized by the community advocacy group Yonge4All, that will be sent to Mayor Tory.
From my family to yours, we wish you peace, health, happiness and good fortune in the New Year.
Toronto Centre