June Newsletter 2023

Message from Stephanie

I hope you had an enjoyable June. This is a time of milestones like graduations, which I have enjoyed attending as an MPP and a proud mom.

June was National Indigenous History Month, when we honour the rich history, heritage, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. I took the opportunity to read some Indigenous history, and I hope you also had the opportunity to honour Indigenous history. It is important to acknowledge and respect their contributions and commit to fostering meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities throughout the year to build a more inclusive and equitable society.

June also marked Pride Month, a time to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community. We came together to recognize the importance of diversity, acceptance, and equality. While the festivities may have concluded, the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity continues. Let us work towards a society where everyone can live authentically, without discrimination.

I also want to take this opportunity to extend warm wishes to our Muslim community members who observed Eid Al-Adha on June 28. This joyous occasion serves as a reminder of the importance of sacrifice, generosity, and community. I hope this holiday brought peace, happiness, and blessings to everyone celebrating.

Turning to matters of legislation, the challenges facing our healthcare system persist. The government is appealing the ruling that Bill 124 is unconstitutional, which means our nurses, healthcare and education workers will continue to feel disrespected by this government. While the legislature is now adjourned until September, I am committed to continuing to speak out about our healthcare system and other challenges we face remains.

I also want to address a topic that concerns many Ontarians, including those in our community—housing. Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion hosted by Habitat for Humanity, More Neighbours Toronto, and Intelliware Dev Inc., where we delved into the housing crisis issue. It is evident that this crisis permeates many segments of our society, necessitating cooperation between governments, private enterprises, and non-profit organizations to enact lasting solutions.

My disappointment was palpable when the government cancelled the carefully-crafted Midtown-in-Focus plan in 2018, which contributed to my decision to run in 2022. This plan, collaboratively developed by the City of Toronto with valuable input from numerous stakeholders, aimed to foster housing initiatives across the city. The cancellation of this plan has left us without a viable alternative, and increased supply is undoubtedly a big part of addressing our housing crisis, affordability included; we must ensure we are building not just additional units but well-rounded communities.

At this panel, I emphasized the need for vibrant communities with essential infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, medical practitioners, and recreational spaces.

I look forward to July, attending various community events and continuing to engage with constituents like you to understand your concerns and ideas. Your voice matters, and we can build positive change in our community by working together.

Wishing you a happy Canada Day long weekend with family and friends and a July filled with warmth and fun.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Bowman