Dear Neighbour,
I hope this email finds you well. It has been a very busy week for all of us, here are some updates:
Emergency Press Conference on Bill 39
Ford is tabling legislation at a fast and furious pace. Bill 39 illustrates his strategy of controlled chaos. This Bill would allow John Tory to bend Council to his will, even when most councillors vote against him.
This morning, MPP Chris Glover and I are holding an emergency press conference with an expert panel to help you sift through the litter that is this garbage legislation. Join former Mayor David Miller, former Mayor Barbara Hall, former Mayor John Sewell, Councillor Josh Matlow, Councillor Jamaal Myers, Councillor Paula Fletcher, MPP Jessica Bell, and former Councillor Mike Layton explaining why a strong mayor on steroids is the last thing Toronto needs.
Tune in live on my Facebook, Youtube, or Twitter at 9:30 AM today to watch the conference.
Committee hearings on Bill 39 will soon be open to the public. Keep an eye on this link and apply to speak at this link.
Ford’s PCs Refuse to Pass Gender Affirming Health Care Act Days Before Trans Day of Remembrance
Last Thursday, I put forward a motion in the legislature to have my Private Members’ Bill, The Gender Affirming Health Care Advisory Committee Act, passed by unanimous consent.
It was incredibly disheartening for Ford and the PCs to have denied this motion. Many of his MPP’s claimed that there hadn’t been enough time for the Bill to be read through and approved — this couldn’t be further from the truth. This Act was initially proposed by my predecessor, Suze Morrison, over a year ago. Not only did they have the opportunity to read the Bill and chose not to, this denial also happened days before Trans Day of Remembrance. Many PC MPPs participated in TDOR events after having denied this motion in the legislature. Shameful.
I, along with many community leaders, have made it very clear that gender affirming care is life-saving care. You can read more about the Bill and the incredible community members who are supporting it in our press release here.
Want to take action and support this Bill? Sign the petition here.
You’re Invited: The Toronto Centre NDP’s Annual Holiday Party!
Join Kristyn Wong-Tam, Suze Morrison, Brian Chang and the Toronto Centre NDP team as we celebrate the past year’s successes and look ahead to the future. Come and enjoy food, drinks, entertainment, and of course excellent company!
Ontario NDP leadership candidate Marit Stiles will also join us! Other leadership candidates will be invited as announcements are made.
When: Dec 8, 2022 at 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM EST
Where: Party Room, 120 Carlton Street (venue is wheelchair accessible - masks strongly encouraged + made freely available).
We look forward to seeing you!
Hold The Date!
Join me Tuesday November 29th 7:00-9:00 PM for a Membership Drive!
Hold the date! Tuesday, November 29th, we will be holding a Membership Drive in light of the upcoming leadership race in March 2023!
A membership gives people a chance to choose a new leader and show support for the party, as we build momentum to defeat Doug Ford. This is the ultimate opportunity to get involved in community organizing and electoral politics, and I encourage you all to join us!
There will be a brief training and check-in on Zoom before we start calling. No experience is necessary, all you need is a computer and a reliable internet connection! You can RSVP here!
Ford’s housing bill makes developers richer, and doesn't build affordable housing.
Ford’s “Housing” Bill, Bill 23, focuses on deregulation and tax cuts for big developers over the building of affordable housing. The bill has seen some changes since its initial proposal, but if passed as-is it will still remove municipal control of developments and fees, cut funding to city programs, threaten heritage sites, and cut conservation authorities’ powers. I talked about the initial concerns with the Bill in my November 3rd newsletter.
One of the most egregious parts of this legislation is the $5.1 Billion in lost developer charges, revenue which will be taken from Ontarians’ pockets. For us here in Toronto, that’s over $200 Million lost each year, directly from our municipal programs.
Housing Minister Steve Clark and Premier Ford are actively choosing to prioritize their developer buddies over affordable housing and conservation projects. This needs to stop now. Make your voice heard by emailing Ford and Steve Clark to save affordable housing.
Community News: Trans Day of Remembrance
Last Sunday, I joined community members at The 519 for the Trans Day of Remembrance. We honoured Trans lives that we’ve lost and celebrated the Trans siblings who make our communities wonderful places to be a part of. The day was filled with beautiful performances and crucial discussions, reminding us all that we hold important roles in supporting Trans, Non-Binary, and Two-Spirit folks to be their authentic selves and be celebrated for their resilience.
Community News: National Day of Action on Affordability
I joined Brian Chang and many wonderful volunteers for the NDP’s National Day of Action on Affordability! We talked to many of you about tackling the cost of living crisis, the expansion of the Dental Care plan, as well as the Housing Benefit and GST rebates brought forth by Jagmeet Singh and the NDP!
St. Lawrence Market Job Fair!
The St. Lawrence Market, along with the City of Toronto, is hosting a job fair Wednesday, November 23rd from 3:00-6:00 PM at the South Market (main building area). This is a great opportunity to meet over 120 merchants and get involved in working with one of the top food markets in the world! You can find more information on their website here.
Community Corner- Women of Courage Online Art Workshop
Register today - entrants accepted until November 29th!
Click here for more information!
It is an honour to serve you and I remain yours in community service,
Kristyn Wong-Tam