Dear Neighbours,
Winter has arrived with a bang in 2026!
Thank you to everyone who joined me at my annual Skate with Chris event at The Bentway Skate Trail last Friday. It was great to see so many children out enjoying the day. If you’re looking for something to do this winter, be sure to check my list of Fun Things to Do.
Enjoying the Bentway skate trail at my Skate with Chris event last Friday
Do you know someone who makes a difference in our community? Nominations are now open for my annual Community Recognition Awards. This is an opportunity to recognize an individual, business owner, or an organization in Spadina-Fort York for their outstanding efforts in our community. See below for more details.
In his historical speech in Davos this week, Prime Minister Carney described how the U.S. has used economic integration as a weapon, making us vulnerable to American tariffs. We need to see action from all governments to restore our economic independence.
In Ontario, this would mean giving government contracts to Canadian rather than American companies. Most recently the government gave Green For Life, a province-wide contract to manage recycling in Ontario. The privatization of this service has created a mess, has moved its headquarters from Toronto to Miami, meaning our money and jobs will be flowing into the U.S. More on this below.
Other examples of government contracts going to American companies include:
- Trillium and Ottawa Civic Hospitals being built by U.S. companies
- Workers Compensation Board farming out jobs to Boston
- Ontario Line trains being built in the U.S.
- Four U.S. nuclear reactors being built instead of buying Canadian reactors
- ServiceOntario contracts going to Walmart and Staples
- Ontario Place project with $2.2 billion taxpayer dollars going to build an Austrian spa
In the wake of Trump’s funding cuts, European universities are actively recruiting American scientists and professors who are fleeing funding cuts and censorship in the U.S. Trump’s tariffs present an opportunity to expand our research and development capacity by also recruiting American professors. Instead, however, at budget hearings, the Legislative committee learned that Ontario’s universities are making $1.2 billion in cuts and Ontario’s public colleges have cut more than 600 programs and cut 8,000 staff because of funding shortfalls.
Ontario’s schools are also struggling with chronic underfunding. In a tragic example. Max, a 7-year-old boy with autism, was killed on his way home from school during lunchtime. Max’s parents joined the Official Opposition leader Marit Stiles at a press conference this week, during which they stated that Max was only allowed to attend school in the morning because the school did not have staff to assist him in the afternoon. We are pushing the government to provide adequate funding so students with disabilities can exercise their right to attend school full-time.
As well as funding our schools, we need to fund infrastructure. While most Canadian governments are promoting infrastructure projects, Ontario is downgrading infrastructure. At the annual rural Ontario Mayors and Councillors convention in Toronto this week, many municipalities report having to close bridges and convert paved roads to gravel because they cannot afford to maintain provincial roads and bridges downloaded on them decades ago.
Government scandals continue. This week a former government staffer is in court fighting a legal order to be questioned under oath about his use of personal emails in the $8 billion dollar Greenbelt scandal.
Youth Council members at our January meeting
Thanks to the members of my Youth Council who braved the cold and came out to the January meeting. If you’re interested in joining, email my office at [email protected].
February is Black History Month and each Thursday I will be releasing video interviews with: Rosemary Sadlier a prominent proponent in the creation of Black History Month; Zanana Akande, the first Black woman to be a minister in a Canadian government; Tabby Johnson, who many of you will know as Auntie Macassar from the Big Comfy Couch; and author and poet, Olive Senior, who will be reading Boonoonoonous Hair, a children’s book about a young girl who discovers the beauty of Black hair. Stay tuned!
Sincerely,
Latest News
Community Recognition 2026 - NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!
My Community Recognition Awards will recognize and thank individuals and organizations for their outstanding efforts in our community.
This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the amazing things that people are doing to help others and that make the Spadina-Fort York riding such an incredible place.
Nominations are for the following categories:
• Community Leader
• Business Leader
• Youth Leader
• Arts & Culture Leader
• Indigenous Leader
• Disability Advocate
• Seniors Advocate
• Environment Advocate
Deadline for nominations is Saturday, January 31, 2026.
QUESTIONS? Call us at: 416-603-9664
Or email: [email protected]
NOMINATE SOMEONE NOW by clicking here!
New Recycling Program Off to a Messy Start
Due to poor communication, missed collections of more than two weeks, and inadequate customer service, the Province’s rollout of the new recycling program has had a rocky start this year.
As of January 1, 2026, responsibility for blue bin collection was taken away from the City of Toronto as part of an Ontario regulation designed to shift responsibility for recycling to producers. While this sounds like a perfectly good idea in principle, this new program is very unlikely to incentivize changes in how companies package their products.
This is largely because the provincial government significantly weakened the regulatory requirements. As a result, producers face little incentive to reduce waste or improve recycling outcomes. Instead, waste management is increasingly treated as a cost of doing business, with companies continuing to shift responsibility onto others.
We are already seeing the consequences. Across Ontario, used tires have begun to accumulate after the government lowered annual recycling targets and removed requirements for producers to recycle a specific weight of tires. This policy change has led to tires being stockpiled, illegally dumped, or sent to landfills. Ontarians continue to pay eco-fees – set by producers with little transparency – even as fewer options exist to responsibly recycle these materials.
We are also seeing this with alcoholic beverage containers. Despite glass and aluminum being accepted under the new recycling program, alcoholic beverage containers are excluded. In an email from Circular Materials, the organization stated:
“Alcoholic beverage containers are regulated under a different program. We recommend that residents consider returning them through the Ontario Deposit Return Program. The producers of these products do not participate in the Extended Producer Responsibility program, and these containers should be returned to the local beer store for the deposit.”
However, most Beer Store locations have closed, and grocery stores are not accepting returns. As a result, large volumes of recyclable glass and aluminum are likely to end up in landfills. The fact that the government has now made this so difficult is unacceptable, and we will continue to hold them accountable, while ensuring that they hear your voice.
If this wasn’t bad enough, multiple communities are now being told that clear plastic overflow bags will no longer be collected, beginning in March. This has caused Circular Materials to be brought under review. The Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority, which enforces the province’s recycling laws, is said to be reviewing the company’s operational plans to ensure it meets all regulatory requirements.
I am also concerned by recent news that GFL Environmental Inc., the company contracted by Circular Materials to support waste collection in Ontario, has relocated its headquarters from Vaughan, Ontario to Miami Beach, Florida. I worry that GFL’s growing focus on U.S. operations could negatively affect the quality and reliability of services in Canada.
If you have any questions or issues about the new recycling program, please contact my office. You can also contact Circular Materials by:
- Calling 1-888-921-2686
- Emailing [email protected]
- Visiting circularmaterials.ca/recycleontario
Not sure what materials are now accepted? View the new Recyclable Materials List.
Province Looks at Banning Unnecessary Procedures to Pets
Ontario has proposed a regulation that would ban medically unnecessary procedures on cats and dogs, including declawing, debarking, and ear cropping. Ontario is currently the only province without restrictions on these procedures.
These regulations are long overdue, and animals have suffered unnecessarily as a result. My colleague and Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles introduced a private member’s bill in 2020 known as Teddy’s Law to ban the declawing of cats in Ontario. Although it received support from animal welfare organizations, the bill did not pass into law at that time.
Share your comments on the proposal here.
SDF Lawsuits Leave Ontarians Footing the Bill
Ontario has launched legal action against two Skills Development Fund recipients, seeking more than $29 million over alleged fraud and misuse of public funds. The province is suing Keel Digital Solutions and its subsidiary Get A-Head for $25.9 million, alleging they filed false and misleading reports between 2022 and 2025 that inflated training results by more than tenfold and billed for ineligible expenses. A forensic audit triggered the lawsuit, and the Ontario Provincial Police are now investigating.
The government is also suing Justice Fund Toronto and its director for $3.29 million, alleging the non-profit failed to deliver promised job training for marginalized youth after receiving nearly $4 million for a “Creative Pathways” project, and attempted to dissolve the organization after being ordered to repay funds.
These cases add to growing scrutiny of the scandal-ridden Skills Development Fund, following Auditor General findings that more than 60 lower-scoring, lobbyist-connected applicants were approved for funding. Despite the concerns, the province continues to operate the $2.5-billion program.
Supreme Court of Canada to Hear Ontario Place Appeal
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Canada granted an appeal to Ontario Place Protectors. The appeal questions the constitutionality of the Ontario government’s Rebuilding Ontario Place Act that allows the province to break any provincial or municipal laws – including dumping sewage without informing the public – in order to redevelop Ontario Place. This is a small win for democracy. I’ll keep you updated on this.
Ontario Pauses Affordable Housing Rules Amid Rising Homelessness
The Ontario government is proposing a pause on affordable housing requirements for new residential developments near transit hubs in Toronto, Mississauga, and Kitchener. The move, aimed at encouraging construction amid rising costs and a slowing housing market, would suspend inclusionary zoning in these cities until July 2027.
Inclusionary zoning allows municipalities to require developers to make a portion of new units affordable, typically set at 30% of a household’s gross income. The province says the pause would help make housing projects more viable under current market conditions, citing increases in construction and financing costs.
Toronto’s inclusionary zoning rules ask developers to include 5% affordable homes in large new condo and purpose-built rental buildings. I am very concerned that this pause will be blocking at least 3,000 affordable homes from being built each year in Toronto alone.
A new report shows more than 85,000 people in Ontario – including over 20,000 children and youth – are experiencing homelessness. The rapid increase is very alarming with homelessness rising nearly 8% in the past year and almost 50% since the pandemic. Homelessness could more than double over the next decade without urgent action.
The government says the pause is intended to get “more shovels in the ground” to address Ontario’s housing shortage. But as the homelessness crisis continues to grow, we need direct investment in affordable housing.
The City of Toronto will be hosting public meetings across the city to discuss zoning for major transit station areas. Details here.
In-Person Major Transit Station Areas Town Hall
February 12, 2026, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
City Hall, Council Chambers
100 Queen St W
Canada, Ontario Invest in Canadian-Made TTC Trains
The federal and Ontario governments have announced the first investment under Canada’s Buy Canadian Policy, increasing funding from $758 million to $950 million each to purchase 55 new subway trains for Toronto’s Line 2. The trains will be fully assembled in Canada with 55% Canadian content, supporting over 900 direct jobs and more than 1,700 jobs nationwide.
TDSB Supervisor Scraps Class Caps for Grades 4-8
The provincially appointed supervisor at the Toronto District School Board, Rohit Gupta, has removed the cap on class sizes for grades 4 to 8.
Trustees had voted last March to limit classes to 32 students starting in 2025–26, but the supervisor overturned the move, citing alignment with provincial guidelines. Ontario sets an average class size of 24.5 for grades 4 to 8, with no cap on individual classrooms.
Gupta said the TDSB was an outlier and said the change would allow more investment in targeted supports for math and literacy. I understand parents’ concern and frustration, since we know that added supports do not offset the harms of overcrowded classrooms.
My colleagues and I are calling on the province to restore class size caps.
Toronto’s New Rental Renovation Licence Protects Tenants
Toronto has introduced the Rental Renovation Licence to protect tenants during major renovations and prevent unfair evictions. If your landlord’s renovations mean you must move out, either temporarily or permanently, they are now required to apply for this licence and follow specific rules.
Tenant Rights
- Proper Notice: You must receive notice and clear information about renovations
- Compensation: Moving costs ($1,500–$2,500), temporary housing, or rent-gap payments
- Right to Return: Move back at the same rent, or receive severance if you don’t
- Support: Contact 311 or visit the website for resources available to you
Landlord Requirements
- Licence Application: Must apply within 7 days of serving the N13 notice
- Permits & Proof: Provide approved building permits and professional reports confirming vacant possession is essential
- Tenant Compensation: Offer tenants either temporary comparable housing or monthly rent-gap payments (plus moving allowance) if they plan to return
- Severance: Pay additional compensation if the tenant chooses not to return
Possible 7km Trail Coming Under the Gardiner
Toronto is studying a proposed seven-kilometre multi-use trail beneath the Gardiner Expressway, running from Dufferin Street to the Don Valley Parkway. The study, launched in December and expected to conclude later this year, will inform planning, design, and feasibility of the route, which would serve pedestrians and cyclists while linking key areas of downtown and the waterfront.
The trail is a central feature of the Under-Gardiner Public Realm Plan approved by city council in 2024, aimed at transforming underused space into green, accessible public areas. Planners say the corridor could include park-like gathering spaces, improved lighting, and landscaping, and would provide a much-needed alternative to the heavily used Martin Goodman Trail as the city continues to grow.
DVP & Gardiner Closure Jan 30–Feb 2
Metrolinx has informed us about an upcoming closure of both the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) and the Gardiner Expressway from Friday, January 30, 2026, at 11 pm to Monday, February 2, 2026 at 5 am. Full details available here.
Sections of the DVP and Gardiner will be closed to traffic to allow construction crews to move the eastern section of the new Lower Don Bridge over the DVP to its permanent location. This work coincides with additional road works the City of Toronto is carrying out within the closure area. These include road maintenance, survey work and bridge rehabilitation.
Traffic Details
- Starting at Bayview Ave on the DVP, all southbound traffic lanes will be closed to the Gardiner, where the lanes will continue to be closed westbound to Lower Jarvis. Access will be blocked to the Bayview on-ramp heading southbound. The Lower Jarvis on-ramp for westbound traffic will remain open.
- Starting at Bay on the Gardiner, all eastbound traffic lanes will be closed to the DVP, where lanes will continue to be closed northbound to Eastern. Access will be blocked to the Gardiner on-ramps heading eastbound at both Rees and Bay. Access will also be blocked to the DVP on-ramp heading northbound on the Don Roadway.
- A northbound detour is in place using Jarvis and Queen St E. A southbound detour is in place using Bayview, Gerrard, and Jarvis.
What to Expect
- Advanced signage will be installed to notify drivers of the closure.
- Traffic control signage and lane tapers will be present throughout the closure.
- Traffic delays can be expected and drivers are encouraged to plan ahead.
- Minor overnight noise from cranes and construction vehicles may occur.
- Construction vehicles will enter and exit the work area via the DVP.
- Equipment and materials will be secured within the work zone and removed once work is complete.
- Work may be delayed or rescheduled due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
Alto High-Speed Rail Open House Feb 4-5
High-speed rail is coming to Canada! The Toronto–Québec City High-Speed Rail Network, known as Alto, is a federally led project set to bring world-class high-speed rail to Canada. Trains will travel at speeds of 300 km/h or more along nearly 1,000 km of electrified tracks, linking major cities and making travel faster and more convenient for millions of people across the corridor.
This transformative network is expected to cut travel times in half between key destinations, reshaping the way Canadians live, work, and move across the region.
Toronto Open Houses (Bilingual and Sign Language Available)
St. Lawrence Market North
92 Front St E
Wednesday, February 4
Daytime Session: 11 am to 3 pm
Evening Session: 5 pm to 9 pm
Thursday, February 4
Daytime Session: 11 am to 3 pm
Evening Session: 5 pm to 9 pm
Virtual Information Sessions are also available in French and English. Details here.
Online Consultation
Complete the survey here.
Ontario Pre-Budget Written Submissions Due Jan 29
Written submissions for Ontario’s pre-budget consultations are due on Thursday, January 29 at 6 pm. If you are planning a written submission, or wanted to present and didn’t have the opportunity, follow the instructions below:
How to send a written submission:
- Go to: Request to participate in committees | Legislative Assembly of Ontario
- Click “Yes” and select “2026 Pre-Budget Consultations” on the drop-down menu
- Select “Submit material only” and “Written Submission Deadline: January 29, 2026 at 6:00 pm (EST)”
- Fill out the required information and either attach or paste in the written submission
Ossington Safety & Streetscaping Public Consultation Jan 27
The City of Toronto is inviting residents and local businesses to provide feedback on proposed improvements along Ossington Avenue (Dundas St W to Queen St W). The project aims to enhance safety for all road users and improve the public realm. Proposed changes include full-time curbside parking, one travel lane each way with dedicated turn lanes, wider sidewalks, curb extensions, new parkettes with seating and planting, additional bike parking, and a Bike Share station. Details here.
Public Drop-In Event
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
30 Humbert Street (Gym)
Provide Feedback
Take the survey by February 10
Circular Food Innovators Fund for Small Businesses
The Circular Food Innovators Fund supports local small businesses (both for-profit and not-for-profit) by funding reuse system projects that replace single-use and takeaway items with reusable foodservice ware that is collected and redistributed for further use.
Deadline: March 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm. Details here.
The City will be also hosting two virtual information sessions to review the program goals, eligibility criteria and important dates, and answer questions:
- Monday, January 26, 2026, 12-1 pm - Register here
- Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 5-6 pm - Register here
Statistics Canada is Hiring for the 2026 Census
The next Census of Population will take place in May 2026. Census data provides a detailed statistical picture of the country’s people and places every five years, vital for government, businesses, and communities to plan essential services, determine electoral district boundaries, allocate funds, understand changing demographics, and support informed decisions for a thriving Canada.
Statistics Canada is hiring approximately 32,000 people across Canada to help residents complete their census questionnaires. Applications are now being accepted for supervisory and non-supervisory positions across the country. Details here.
Outside Mural & Street Art Program
Business associations and community groups with strong local participation can receive one-time funding of up to $7,500 for outdoor murals projects. Eligible costs include artist fees, materials, installation, and equipment rental. Applicants are responsible for ongoing maintenance.
As a FIFA host city, special consideration will be given to murals celebrating the tournament and the city’s theme, “World in a City.” Selected proposals must follow FIFA branding and IP rules.
Deadline: Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 11:59 pm. Details here.
Call for Submissions: Harbourfront Centre Mural
Harbourfront Centre invites artists to submit design proposals for a bold, large-scale mural on Toronto’s iconic waterfront. Inspired by A City in Celebration theme, the mural will celebrate inclusion, diversity, and joy, and will be unveiled in summer 2026 as the FIFA World Cup comes to the city.
The selected artist(s) will receive $10,000 for their design, which will be executed at scale by a professional third-party mural team.
Deadline: Friday, March 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm. Details here.
Participate in Jamii’s PASI Photo Exhibition
PASI is a large-scale outdoor community photo exhibition led by Jamii, taking place along Toronto’s Esplanade promenade from May to July 2026. The project brings together Torontonians of all ages to reflect how people from around the world live side by side in one city.
Meaning “a soccer pass” in Swahili, PASI will feature a continuous chain of portraits in which participants symbolically pass a ball from one image to the next. Installed between the Distillery District and St. Lawrence Market, the exhibition includes 48 large-scale outdoor portraits representing countries participating in the 2026 tournament. Details here.
Park People Community Grants
Funding is available for community events in publicly accessible green spaces – parks, schoolyards, or social housing properties – that promote care and stewardship of these areas. From Indigenous plant medicine workshops to nature walks, these grants are designed to help local leaders host events focused on environmental education, sustainability, and community connection.
Eligible projects can receive $2,000 to bring people closer to their local green spaces.
Deadline: February 23, 2026. Details here.
Leading Social Justice Collective Applications Open
The Leading Social Justice Collective is a three-month program (Mar-Jun 2026) that helps professionals across private, public, and non-profit sectors in the GTA develop cross-sector problem-solving skills for complex social challenges. Individuals can apply with a social impact or challenge within their organization or community. Details here.
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.
