Dear Neighbour,
We are in a housing crisis. Everyone knows this; you don’t need me to tell you. But right now, the issue is compounding – Toronto has also been without crucial housing funding from the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit for almost six months. This funding is critical to moving people into long-term housing and out of encampments and shelters. I know this is a priority for many people in our communities and one that I share.
The Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit provides rent supplements to individuals to help them afford rent in the general rental market. This funding allows people to become rapidly housed without the waitlists that social housing has. With housing waitlists topping 90,000 households and the city’s shelter system short 236 shelter beds per night (data from July - I shudder to think what the winter will bring), this funding is sorely needed. People have nowhere to go since this critical pipeline to rapid housing has stopped.
Tent on a Toronto sidewalk. (Rene Johnston/Toronto Star)
Yet the Provincial and Federal governments have been shuffling papers for almost six months, and the funding has not flowed. Mayor Olivia Chow says that both levels of government are at the table and listening, but both blame the other for delays. I don’t care whose fault it is; we must get people safely housed and off the streets.
The Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit is a program that works to rapidly move people into rental housing. Portable funding allows people to choose the right housing and location for them, which means housing waitlists are not a factor in someone getting off of the streets (note that it is only accessible by referral from City staff and that the program is currently closed). But it is also largely a stopgap solution, a bandaid on the wound of decades of public housing underfunding. There would not be such a need for this program if every level of government were committed to building and maintaining a robust stock of social housing and incentivizing the creation of missing-middle housing. Sadly, that is not where we are.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. I am proud that the Ontario NDP has proposed the creation of Homes Ontario, a plan to build 250,000 non-profit homes on public lands across Ontario.
To make this policy a reality, we need an NDP government in Ontario! We need to elect as many NDP MPPs as possible to do that, starting with the byelection in the Bay of Quinte. Join me and other passionate folks from Toronto this Sunday as we travel to beautiful Prince Edward County and knock on doors in support of our excellent candidate, Amanda Robertson!
Amanda Robertson and Marit Stiles at a press conference in Bay of Quinte
If you can’t make it on Sunday, we also have phonebanks (that you can attend from home!) scheduled in advance of election day, Thursday, September 19. Hope to see you there!
Yours in community service,
Kristyn Wong-Tam
MPP, Toronto Centre
| In This Newsletter |
- Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
- A Joyful Festival Weekend!
- Our London Family Act Consultation
- My Nomination Meeting
- Metrolinx Don Yards Construction Noise Update
- BENA Social
- Friends of Ruby Celebration
- Healing as One Basketball Tournament
- 1M Ontarians Accessing Foodbanks
- This Week’s Headlines
- Local Community News
| Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! |
Today, with our wonderful community partner, Neighbourhood Information Post, we hosted over 240 constituents to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Regent Park. We created coloured paper lanterns, ate mooncakes, cheered on a Chinese seniors' dance troupe, and enjoyed the fantastic company. I also want to thank Toronto Community Housing for their support today - their amazing staff made the event run so smoothly and their smiling faces made all of the seniors happy.
People have celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival for over 3,000 years. It is a celebration of a bountiful harvest, family togetherness, and the auspiciousness of the full moon. The festival is one of the largest in Chinese and other East Asian cultures, similar in popularity to the Lunar New Year.
I have fond memories of celebrating the Mid-Austum Festival with my family, and I am thrilled to celebrate with so many community members this year.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
| A Joyful Festival Weekend! |
Kristyn holding a cut cabbage at the Cabbagetown Festival
After Labour Day, Toronto Centre’s festival weekend was a roaring success!
Samantha Green, Toronto Centre’s Federal NDP candidate, and I showed Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles the best of what our communities had to offer during this iconic weekend.
I kicked off the Cabbagetown Festival by chopping the cabbage in a single cut, part of the traditional fun of the opening ceremony ahead of the two-day extravaganza. Spending the weekend in Cabbagetown was terrific—I had a chance to speak with many neighbours, visited local businesses, and shared community information at our booth.
Kristyn with Marit Stiles and Samantha Green with TNG staff at the St James Town Festival
Next, we hopped over to the St James Town Festival, where activities were in full swing. Vendors were selling foods from all over the world, and local organizations created a vibrant and fun vibe. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth to sign a petition and pick up a tote bag.
Kristyn with Samantha Green, Masani Montague and Marit Stiles at Rastafest Regent Park
We ended the day at Rastafest Regent Park presented by the Daniels Corporation, where the community enjoyed live reggae music, delicious food, and beautiful artisan vendors.
I am very thankful for Masani Montague, who spearheaded the organizing of this festival, the lead sponsor Daniels Corp and in particular Mitch and Hannah Cohen and Heela Omarkail, and the volunteers for bringing this event all together. I was thrilled to work alongside them to bring this rhythmic journey to Regent Park.
|
Our London Family Act Consultation |
The Our London Family Act was first introduced in 2021 by the Ontario NDP and their London MPPs after the horrific murder of the Afzaal family. This new law, if passed, would make changes to address Islamophobia in Ontario. We are asking for your input before we re-introduced the bill to ensure it continues to propose the solutions that will keep Muslim communities safe. I hope you can join and share feedback.
Where: Regent Park Community Centre, 402 Shuter Street
When: Thursday, September 19 from 6:30 PM – 8 PM
Refreshments and childminding will be provided.
| My Nomination Meeting |
Speculation about Ford calling an early election is getting louder. He will do anything to get ahead of the RCMP criminal investigation into his Greenbelt corruption. And we will do everything to be ready for a snap election.
You are invited! My nomination meeting to be your next Toronto Centre Ontario NDP candidate will be on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 6:30 PM.
Special guests and live music will be at The Aviary restaurant at 484 Front Street East in the beautiful Canary District.
It would mean the world to me to see you there. Join us for a memorable night. RSVP here!
|
Metrolinx Don Yards Construction Noise Update |
I am pleased to bring you an update about the loud construction at the Don Yards that I know has been affecting so many residents’ sleep and quality of life.
I have received confirmation that the piling and drilling will stop between 11 PM and 7 AM. Work will still take place overnight, but there will no longer be auger banging at these hours. This is a huge win thanks to the advocacy of local residents in collaboration with my office. Since this change has been in place my office has received fewer complaints, but I know that the noise is still an issue for many, especially young children and shift workers.
I am pleased to see this progress and I will continue to monitor the issue of loud disturbances with the help of the community. If you have concerns, please continue to share them with my office at [email protected].
|
BENA Social |
Kristyn with BENA President Linda Brett
On Tuesday I was thrilled to spend the evening with the Bloor East Neighbourhood Association at their annual social.
BENA members are amazing community champions of civic engagement and citybuilding in Toronto Centre. Social gatherings make our neighbourhoods of tall buildings into welcoming communities. Thank you to the wonderful staff at the Bishop and Belchor for catering the social. We love supporting our local, small businesses.
Learn more about BENA or to get involved by visiting: BloorEast.org
| Friends of Ruby Celebration |
Kristyn with Councillor Moise and the Friends of Ruby staff team
On Tuesday, National Suicide Prevention Day, I joined Friends of Ruby to recognize their receipt of an Ontario Trillium Grant for pre-therapy mental health supports. Friends of Ruby connects vulnerable 2SLGBTQIA+ youth to experienced professionals with lived experience to receive vital support. This work is uplifting and transformative for the youth in the process of coming out and affirming their sexual orientation and gender identity.
I am deeply thankful for the work that Friends of Ruby is doing to care for Queer and Trans youth in our city. They really are a special organization and deserving of your support.
| Healing as One Basketball Tournament |
Kristyn with Reed in the Streets and HSquared Co-Founders
On Sunday night, Healing As One, HSquared, and so many volunteers from Regent Park gathered for a very successful basketball tournament and fundraiser. The strength of our community was on full display, and we celebrated the work of Reed in the Streets, who shares by video the stories of people experiencing homelessness in the Downtown East in their own words. Thank you to Reed in the Streets, Murwan Khogali Ali, Sara Tahir, Halima Farah, Humaira Rahman, and Leonard Swartz for supporting this event!
| 1 Million Ontarians Accessing Foodbanks |
The latest Feed Ontario report revealed that a staggering 1 million people visited a food bank in Ontario last year — this represents a 25 percent increase from the previous year. This is horrific and unacceptable in a province as rich as Ontario.
Everyone deserves access to good food and safe shelter – it’s a basic human right. And yet 1 in 14 of our neighbours and friends - working people, seniors and children - are forced to turn to a food bank just to survive. This is not the kind of province anyone wants to live in. The cost of everything is going up, and yet we have a government that has done nothing to make life more affordable for Ontarians. Ontarians deserve a government that takes action on affordability issues.
There are so many simple policy changes that would lift people out of poverty. I encourage you to sign petitions to increase ODSP and OW, increase the minimum wage to $20 an hour, and institute real rent control.
| This Week's Headlines |
Record-breaking number of Ontarians used food banks last fiscal year
‘The system has fallen apart’: A child dies every 3 days under Ontario’s care network
Man taken to hospital after shooting in downtown Toronto
Province breaks ground on 3 Ontario Line stations in Toronto
Ontario Science Centre: City inspectors scrambled to respond to shutdown, documents show
Canadian mega landlord using AI ‘pricing scheme’ as it massively hikes rents
| Upcoming Community Events |
| Barbara Hall Park |
The Church-Wellesley Village BIA, in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada, invites the community to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Barbara Hall Park (formerly Cawthra Square Park) on Saturday, September 14 at 6:30 PM.
As part of the festivities, there will be a free outdoor screening of Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, a documentary about the trailblazing musician Jackie Shane. The event schedule is as follows:
- 6:30 PM: Seating opens (bring your own blanket or chair)
- 7:00 PM: Opening remarks
- 7:30 PM: Film screening
- 9:30 PM: Q&A session with the film's writer and co-director
Location: Barbara Hall Park, 519 Church Street. All are welcome to enjoy this special event.
| Fred Victor Harvest Festival |
Fred Victor is hosting their annual Harvest Festival this Saturday supported by the Muslim Welfare Centre and Friends of Regent Park.
- Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
- Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
- Location: Communal garden in the Big Park, 620 Dundas Street East
There will be children's activities, music, food, raffle and more.
|
Allan Gardens September Community Markets |
The Friends of Allan Gardens are excited to present the new Community Market Series this September!
Each Saturday, from 11 AM to 3 PM, the Allan Gardens Children's Conservatory and the new Teaching Garden will host themed markets featuring unique finds and fun activities for the whole family.
Location: Allan Gardens Children's Conservatory & Teaching Garden, 117 Carlton Street
| River Run 2024 |
Walk with Grassy Narrows youth and community members to show that you are with them on their path to achieving mercury justice and freedom!
- Date: September 18, 2024
- Time: 12 PM
- Location: Downtown Toronto, details TBD
- Sign up: Click here to register
This is a family-friendly event. Rain or shine!
| Youth Civic and Political Forum at Toronto City Hall |
The Young Politicians invites all youth to the Youth Civic and Political Forum on September 21 at Toronto City Hall.
This event is an opportunity for young minds to come together, engage in meaningful discussions, and explore solutions to issues facing Toronto. Join like-minded peers and renowned leaders to explore, initiate, and debate civic and political matters. For more details, click here.
| Youth Justice Community Forum |
The Youth Justice Community Forum invites you to a full-day discussion focusing on barriers and supports for Black and racialized youth in the justice system. Engage with youth, community organizations, and justice professionals to explore how to collaborate in supporting justice-involved youth.
Event Details:
- Date: September 24
- Time: 9 AM to 5 PM
- Venue: Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (16 Spadina Road)
The event features an impressive lineup of speakers, including education advocates, legal professionals, and community leaders.
For more information and to secure your ticket, visit the event link or scan the QR code.
| Seniors for Climate Action |
Seniors for Climate invites the community to join their nationwide movement for urgent climate action. Fossil fuel emissions continue to fuel devastating fires, floods, and extreme weather. On October 1, seniors across Canada will stand in solidarity with youth, urging the federal government to take immediate steps towards renewable energy expansion and the end of fossil fuel burning.
Toronto Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday, October 1
- Time: 1:30 PM
- Location: Rally at University Avenue and Armoury
March to the Church of the Holy Trinity, 10 Trinity Square
Notable speakers include David Phillips, David Suzuki, and Lillian Allen. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own water bottles, and masks are welcome.
This event is part of a larger initiative by the Seniors for Climate project, featuring over 50 events across Canada.
| Butterfly’s 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner |
Butterfly invites the community to celebrate a significant milestone—their 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner!
Taking place on October 3, from 6-10 PM, at Dim Sum King 421 Dundas Street West, 3rd floor, Toronto, this special event will feature performances, reflections from allies and community members, a silent auction, and more. The evening aims to commemorate a decade of supporting Asian and migrant sex and massage workers.
| Apply for the Ontario Model Parliament! |
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario Model Parliament is a three-day educational program offering high school students the chance to engage with democracy firsthand.
Event Details:
- Dates: February 19 to 21, 2025
- Location: Ontario Legislative Building, Toronto
Who Can Apply?
- Ontario students in grades 10 to 12 with an interest in government, current affairs, and provincial issues.
Why Apply?
- Participants will meet the Speaker, Members of Provincial Parliament, and other civic-minded peers, and experience how Ontario's legislature operates, including debating as an MPP.
Application Deadline: October 6, 2024
For more information and to apply, click here.
| St Lawrence REmarket |
The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association (SLNA) Waste Reduction Group is hosting its 11th REmarket on October 9 and 10. This two-day event focuses on collecting unwanted items, with recycling services, donation collection, and hazardous waste drop-off available.
Event Details:
-
Wednesday, October 9:
- FreeMarket from 10 AM to 7 PM. Donate or take items for free (not for commercial resale). Bring your own bag.
-
Thursday, October 10:
- Repair Café Toronto will fix clothing, jewellery, computers, electronics, and more from 11 AM to 3 PM.
- CultureLink Bike Hub will offer small bike repairs and safety checks from 10 AM to 6 PM.
The event will be held at the St. Lawrence Market Tent, 125 The Esplanade. For full details and guidelines, click here.
|
Indigenous Legacy Gathering |
This year, the Indigenous Legacy Gathering will take place over four days at Nathan Philips Square, starting on September 27 and culminating in the unveiling of the Spirit Garden on Orange Shirt Day, September 30.
Stay tuned for details on vendor applications, which will be released soon. Check the event website for updates and more information.
| LAO Youth Arts Program - Submit Your Work! |
The Youth Arts Program at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario invites young artists aged 12-18 from across the province to exhibit their creative talents. This annual program showcases artwork within the Legislative Building, celebrating diverse artistic abilities.
Key details:
- Application Period: August 15 to October 15, 2024
- Eligibility: Youth aged 12-18 from Ontario
- Exhibit Location: Legislative Assembly Building, Ontario
For more information and to apply, click here.
For questions, contact: [email protected].
| EarlyON Breakfast Celebration! |
Regent Park Community Health Centre and EarlyON Child & Family Centre invite families with children ages 0-6 to enjoy a special breakfast event. Come on September 14, 2024, from 10 AM to 4 PM at 38 Regent St., and learn more about the resources available through the EarlyON program. The day will feature food, games, and a raffle, making it a fun and informative outing for families in the community.
