Dear Neighbours,
Monday was Earth Day which is celebrated worldwide encouraging us to come together and take action for a healthier planet and brighter future. I’d like to thank everyone who joined my Earth Day Summit held at the Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre. Presenters shared insights on lithium-ion battery safety, heat pumps for high rises, solar-powered window blinds, cleaning the harbour, and many other topics. The recording is available here.
Speakers and attendees joined the Earth Day Summit both in person and virtually this year
I was happy to take part in several community cleanups around Spadina-Fort York this weekend. Thank you to all the organizers, including the Garment District Neighbourhood Association, Friends of Berczy Park, Liberty Village Residents Association, St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association, and the Toronto Island residents. Our community is cleaner and safer because of you!
Cleanup teams in Berczy Park, Toronto Island, Liberty Village Park, and outside Ripley’s Aquarium
Ontario Place for All released a new study that shows Therme’s megaspa will release 100,000 tonnes of carbon. We are pushing the government to reverse its decision to exempt the project from an environmental assessment. As well as the greenhouse gas emissions from the megaspa, there is a risk of thousands of birds dying from window collisions with a large glass dome on a major bird migration route. Sign my petition to protect migratory birds.
The keffiyeh debate at Queen’s Park has received a great deal of attention in the media this week. The keffiyeh is the only cultural clothing banned in the Ontario legislature. My colleagues and I in the Official Opposition are working to have the ban overturned.
The independence of our judiciary is a fundamental safeguard of our democracy. This week, a jury found Umar Zameer not guilty in the tragic death of Toronto police Constable Jeffrey Northrup. After the arrest, Premier Ford is rightly being criticized for a tweet he made after Zameer had been granted bail, in which he said that Zameer was “responsibile” for Northrup’s death and calling him a “criminal”. See more below.
Also in this update, you will find information on town halls on TDSB budget cuts and above-guideline rent increases, MPP Lisa Gretzky’s bill to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic, seniors being renovicted from a Chartwell home, and a report on the cost of megaspa at Ontario Place.
On April 15th, our community lost Eti Greenberg. Eti was a community builder and a tireless advocate and she was instrumental in helping to create the Bentway, saving the Foundry, and fighting to save Ontario Place. She leaves a legacy of a stronger community and a more beautiful city. My deepest condolences to her family and friends, and thank you so much for sharing her with all of us.
For those who are celebrating as you gather around the Seder table, enjoy the opportunity to spend time with family and friends. Chag Sameach!
Take care,
Latest News
Ontario Introduces New Housing Bill
The Ontario government has unveiled its new Bill 185, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, and updated the Provincial Policy Statement.
What the government is proposing:
The government has given us a grab bag of half-measures that fix up some of their more terrible housing mistakes and spur the construction of some new housing, including unwise sprawl. It’s not ambitious, or bold, and it doesn’t address affordability. It’s never been more expensive to rent or own a home in Ontario, and this bill isn’t going to change that.
What’s missing?
- No commitment to affordability
- No fourplexes as-of-right
- No rent control or vacancy control to stabilize rents and keep renters housed
- No improvements to the Landlord and Tenant Board to deal with landlord and tenant disputes
- No measures to stop illegal eviction, curb AGI abuse, or compel bad actor landlords to properly maintain their homes
- No plan or increased investment to end or even seriously address homelessness
- No serious plan to build affordable homes or supportive housing
What we are calling for:
- Ensure that everyone lives in a home they can afford to rent or buy
- End homelessness
- Bring in measures to build 1.5 million homes in towns and cities to help address the housing supply shortage
- Establish a housing agency called Homes Ontario that will provide land, financing, and funding to build and buy thousands of affordable housing, supportive homes, and non-profit housing
- Help renters by bringing in strong rent control and renter protection measures
The bill has been referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. To make a written submission or register to speak, follow this link.
Intimate Partner Violence Bill Passes 2nd Reading
Ontario has moved one step closer to declaring Intimate Partner Violence an epidemic. Bill 274, which was presented by the Official Opposition, passed second reading and will now go before a committee.
This is a welcome first step – but it’s far from the end of the line. We had almost 200 advocates, survivors, and frontline workers join us at Queen’s Park, and they have been crystal clear in their demands. The time for believing and supporting survivors of intimate partner violence is now.
My colleagues and I will keep up the pressure to make sure the government follows through and makes this bill law.
200 Seniors Set to be Evicted from Chartwell Home
Earlier this month, I learned that nearly 200 residents at Chartwell Heritage Glen Retirement in Mississauga received eviction notices and were told they have just four months to find a new place to live.
Chartwell is a private retirement and long-term care provider with an ugly track record, especially during COVID-19. They are selling this land to a private developer – and leaving hundreds of seniors with limited options in a system that’s been starved of resources.
Joyce, a 92-year-old resident, has been unable to eat or sleep because of the anxiety this notice has caused her. Her daughter came to Queen’s Park to find solutions for her mother. Will this government stop the evictions and help seniors, or will they protect Chartwell’s profits?
It’s unacceptable what’s happening to these seniors and their families. My colleagues and I are calling on the government to immediately take action to protect these seniors from eviction. Watch my question in the legislature here.
Government Rejects Financial Analysis by Ontario Place for All
Ontario Place for All released a comprehensive review of the financial viability of the proposed megaspa at Ontario Place. The financial audit was conducted by a group of volunteers with business and financial expertise. The results show that the business case fails. Details here.
The concern is that the government is gambling with over $650 million in taxpayer dollars. What will happen if Therme goes bankrupt and what is in the lease? Will Ontario taxpayers be stuck paying the price? Watch my question in the legislature here.
The Independence of Our Judiciary
The death of Detective-Constable Jeffrey Northrup in 2021 was a terrible tragedy. He served with the Toronto Police Service for 31 years, and had served Division 52, which serves a portion of Spadina-Fort York since 2008. He left behind his wife and three children. We thank Detective-Constable Northrup’s family for his service to our community and mourn his loss.
A reliable police force and an independent judiciary are essential components of our democracy. The trial that followed Detective-Constable Northrup’s death raises questions about our legal processes.
In 2021, Premier Doug Ford tweeted about the Umar Zameer arrest and being granted bail.
Premier Ford tweeted: “This is beyond comprehension. It’s completely unacceptable that the person responsible for this heinous crime is now out on bail. Our justice system needs to get its act together and start putting victims and their families ahead of criminals.”
The statement undermines the Charter right to the presumption of innocence. Howard Morton of the Lawyer’s Union has said that this statement, and similar ones made by former Mayor John Tory and Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, could interfere with the right to a fair trial.
Other actions that the government has taken that interfere with the independence of the judiciary include:
- The Premier’s attempt in 2018 to appoint his friend Ron Taverner to be the OPP Police Chief.
- The government’s Bill 30 (2018), Bill 307 (2021) and Bill 28 (2022), used the notwithstanding clause to strip Ontarians of their Legal Rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which include the right to a fair trial.
- Changing the independent process for appointing judges to bring it under the provincial government’s control.
- The Attorney General personally interviewed candidates applying to be the Chief Justice of Ontario.
- The Premier stated that he wants to appoint like-minded judges.
The interference with the independence of the judicial system is a threat to every Canadian’s right to a fair trial by an impartial judge.
Metrolinx New E-Bike Policy
On April 9th, Metrolinx introduced a new bike policy for GO Train riders. This policy comes after concerns of overcrowding and fire risks after an e-bike fire on the TTC in December left one person injured. The fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery.
Part of the updated policy will require all e-bike batteries to meet standard UL or CE requirements and there must be no physical damage to the battery case or warranty seal. GO Transit staff are inspecting all e-bikes and attaching tamper-proof seals to those that meet the new safety requirements.
For more information on lithium-ion battery safety, download this tipsheet, or visit the City of Toronto website here.
Toronto Taking Action on Dangerous Dogs
Starting today, and for the next month, city staff will visit owners of all dogs who have received a dangerous dog order. The new measures come after several disturbing dog attacks, including the attack of a young boy in Little Norway Park in March by a dog that was already deemed dangerous. Details here.
There are currently 373 dangerous dog orders across the city. City staff will deliver a new standardized sign to owners of these dogs which must be visibly posted on their property. Staff will also remind owners of the requirements of their dangerous dog order. Visits will be prioritized based on severity of the incidents. If there is non-compliance with any part of the order, enforcement action will be taken which may include fines of up to $615 or a court-issued fine of up to $100,000 upon conviction.
Dangerous dogs must also be muzzled in public, wear a dangerous dog tag, and owners are required to provide training to better socialize their pets. Dangerous dogs will also be forbidden from using off-leash areas. A public list of dangerous dogs has been posted on the City website.
King St W Construction Begins
Starting April 22, King St W will be closed to westbound traffic between Joe Shuster Way and Dufferin. The City of Toronto and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) plan to renew aging streetcar tracks and will also replace the 146-year-old watermain that runs east-west on King Street between Dufferin and Shaw. Work is anticipated to be completed by November 2024. Details here.
During Phase 1, work will take place Monday to Friday between 7 am -7 pm, with late work or weekend work when needed. Phase 2-5 work will take place 24 hours, seven days a week. Excavation activities and heavy breaking will be carried out at various times throughout the day. All concrete breaking activities will occur between 7am-11 pm. Concrete breaking work is the most disruptive and will typically last the first one to two days for each phase of the construction.
For more information, call 416-395-7178 or email [email protected].
Alexandra Park Improvements
This month, Alexandra Park closed for construction. The City of Toronto will be making improvements to the park, including upgraded pathways, lighting, seating/gathering areas, and a new pickleball court. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of this summer. Details here.
New Parks in Liberty Village
Liberty Village is set to receive four new parks, including one at the corner of East Liberty Street and Hanna Avenue. The location is currently a Green P parking lot that will be converted into green space as part of the City of Toronto’s Liberty Village Public Realm Strategy. Public engagement for the new park is planned to start in late 2024/early 2025 so that construction can start promptly after the FIFA World Cup ends.
CaféTO Grant Program
The CaféTO Dining District Grant Program provides grant funding to Business Improvement Areas, business associations, and other not-for-profit organizations to support restaurants and bars with expanded outdoor dining opportunities. Deadline for application is 11:59 pm on May 10. Details here.
CLIMATE CORNER
Moving Away from Gas
By Seniors for Climate Action Now!
When we turn on the lights, we don’t necessarily wonder where our electricity comes from. The Portlands gas-fired plant is located just east of Spadina-Fort York, not far from Ashbridges Bay. You may never have heard of his plant before, but it helps to supply our grid.
“Natural” gas is part of our electricity needs. Gas is composed of 70-90% methane, a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) and a major contributor to global warming. After phasing out coal-fired plants, environmentalists turned their sights on gas-fired plants. Sadly, the province is planning to increase the use of gas to generate electricity by 500% by 2035.
Since 2018, Portland’s GHG pollution has increased by 550%. The Ontario Power Generation wants to increase Portland’s gas-fired generating capacity by an additional 50 megawatts. “Peaker plants” operate for only a few hours a week at most. In summer, Portlands has been running as much as 21 hours a day – not the original intention. Now they want to expand operations even more.
Toronto City Council voted against this expansion. In fact, back in May 2023, they voted to oppose any new power generation proposal involving increased burning of fossil fuels, including natural gas. Other cities have also voted “no”.
What the city needs is more investment in renewable energy, like solar and wind power.
Bill 165: Passing Gas Connection Costs to Consumers
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is the independent regulator of Ontario’s electricity and natural gas sectors. The OEB “protects the interests of consumers…” that is, you and me, the energy consumers.
Last December, the OEB made a significant decision which environmental groups applauded. It represented a huge win because it encouraged an increase in greener home heating and cooling. The ruling was against an Enbridge Gas plan which saddled customers with the total capital cost of a natural gas connection upfront instead of spread over 40 years. In 40 years, we’re supposed to have moved away from our dependency on gas and oil.
Almost immediately, the provincial government fought back to support Enbridge. Bill 165 overrules the OEB decision. Enbridge can legally continue to pass on the costs of natural gas expansions to homeowners.
We don’t need more gas: we need renewables. Reliance on gas carries significant health effects. In our next climate corner, we will look at these health effects, as well as those caused by a warming planet.
SCAN! Toronto is a regional group of Seniors for Climate Action Now!
MPP Scrolls for Special Occasions
Turning 30, 40, 80, 90 or 100? Celebrate a significant birthday with a certificate from my office.
Is there a new addition to your family? Send the name of your baby, the parents’ names and other relevant information and we’ll send a “Welcome to the World” certificate to celebrate this special event.
Chris in the House
Human Trafficking Bill Passes with All-Party Support
Richard Dunwoody and I at an Angel Tree at Billy Bishop Airport – every angel represents a survivor of human trafficking
I am very happy to announce that Bill 41 received Royal Assent in the legislature last week. Thanks to everyone who supported this bill, including Richard Dunwoody who has spent several years helping survivors of human trafficking. This bill provides a legislative framework to prohibit the collection of coerced debts, and prohibits coerced debts from being taken into consideration when determining whether to provide credit services or products to a victim of human trafficking.
Since 2021, the Concord Adex Survivors Fund, an initiative of the Seeds of Hope Foundation, has helped survivors of human trafficking. The fund provides safe, affordable housing and post-secondary education support for survivors helping to rebuild their lives post-exploitation. This holiday season, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will host three “Angel Trees” decorated with hundreds of angels representing survivors of human trafficking.
Below are some of my recent statements at Queen’s Park:
Ontario Place
- Will Ontario taxpayers be on the hook if Therme goes bankrupt? Watch here.
- MPP Bhutila Karpoche and I ask the government to work with Ontarians on the redevelopment of Ontario Place. Watch here.
- Calling for more transparency on the redevelopment. Watch here.
- Questioning the Therme timeline. Watch here.
Education Cuts
- Decades of budget cuts to our schools. Watch here.
- Petition from our local schools regarding staff cuts. Watch here.
Environment and Bill 69
- Climate Critic MPP Peter Tabuns and I debating Bill 69, Reducing Inefficiencies Act and how development is taking priority over the environment. Watch here.
- Impacts on Ontario Place and the environment. Watch here.
Health Care Privatization
- The government’s funding of private, for-profit clinics will only worsen the health care crisis. Watch here.
Arts Funding
- Culture Critic MPP Jill Andrew and I address the cuts to arts funding in Ontario. Watch here.
International Women’s Day
- Actions the government can take for pay equity, including repealing Bill 124. Watch here.
Bill 39: Red Tape Reduction and Democracy
- Is it not possible to build housing while still respecting the outcomes of our recent municipal elections? Watch my question here.
Debate on Bill 26: Misogyny in Post-Secondary Institutions
- Statistics show that 1 in 5 women have experienced sexual assault on campuses. It’s a difficult discussion we need to have to raise awareness so we can change the culture. Watch my statement here.
The Impact of Interest Hikes on Student Loans
- Ontario students have the highest debt rate and the lowest per-student funding in the country. We need to eliminate interest on student debt. Watch my question here.
Double ODSP Rates & Improve the Homelessness Crisis
- CTV recently reported that at least two Ontarians with disabilities are choosing to die through Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) because they could not pay for housing that would reduce their suffering from their disability. Current monthly ODSP payments are 47.5 per cent short of the municipal poverty line in Toronto and 30 per cent below the province's poverty line. It is not possible to survive on these amounts in Ontario and many on ODSP are ending up homeless. I asked the Ford government to double ODSP rates. Watch my statement here.
Affordable Housing
- Rents in Toronto rose 14.5% in 2021. Those in non-rent-controlled buildings are facing rent increases of $500/month. To say that housing under the Ford government is unaffordable is a huge understatement. Watch my statement here.
Environment
- In January, my daughter gave birth to a beautiful baby boy! Becoming a grandparent has further put into perspective how urgently we need to act on the climate crisis so future generations can have a sustainable world to live in. Watch my statement here.
Ukraine
- We need to do everything we can to support the people of Ukraine in these incredibly difficult times. Watch my statement here.