| Message from Stephanie |
| Happy fall! I hope you all have had a good start to the Autumn season. This newsletter is an update of a few of the things that we are working on, and some of the wonderful events we had the pleasure of sharing with you the last few months. Stay tuned for my next update, which will focus on the Fall Economic Statement, my small business tax cut bill, and my upcoming bill related to tenants and landlords. Til we meet again, enjoy the beautiful autumn in Ontario. Stephanie |
| Upcoming City Council By-Election |
| This Monday, November 4, is voting day in the by-election for the vacant Toronto City Council seat in Ward 15, Don Valley West. Turnout in these elections is usually low, so if you have not voted already in the advance polls, please remember to vote at your designated polling station on November 4th. You can find information about how and where to vote on your voter card or online at https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/2024-by-election-councillor-ward-15-don-valley-west/. |
| Premier, Focus on Healthcare, not Alcohol Sales! |
| In Ontario, 2.5 million people (and growing) do not have a family doctor, there were approximately 1,200 emergency room closures last year alone, and yet once again, the focus of the government is not on fixing healthcare: it’s on building a tunnel under the 401, tearing out bike lanes on city streets, and the sale of alcohol in corner stores and gas stations across the province. To expedite this, the Premier had to extract the province from the contract with The Beer Store (which was going to expire anyway on December 31, 2025) at a cost of up to $1 billion, though the total cost of this misadventure is not yet known. Therefore, I asked the Financial Accountability Office (FAO) to investigate, and I am pleased to report that he has agreed to our request. We hope that the government will cooperate with the investigation and look forward to the FAO’s report and conclusions sometime in 2025. |
| Saving the Ontario Science Centre |
| The Ontario Science Centre (OSC) is one of Raymond Moriyama’s architectural masterpieces, designed and built to last a century—a place for Ontarians of all ages to learn and wonder at the scientific world. It is one of Toronto’s cultural treasures in Don Mills and is a key resource for the residents of Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park and neighbouring communities, so it was shocking when the government, without consultation, suddenly closed it, claiming that some leaking roof panels were making it unsafe. In spite of millions of dollars and expertise that were offered to the province to make the roof repairs, the Premier decided to waste millions more to move the Centre’s displays first to a temporary location and then to a smaller building, all to support the Therme spa project at Ontario Place. It is certainly another of the government’s many wasteful decisions that benefit his insider friends and hurt Ontarians. As of this writing, the OSC’s displays and materials are being stripped out and trucked away. The interim plan is to move some exhibits to Sherway Gardens in Mississauga in November, and some to Harbourfront in December. We continue to fight against this decision and the loss of the OSC to Thorncliffe residents and the entire province, so Dr. Adil Shamji, Leader Bonnie Crombie and I had a press conference to voice our objections to the closing. Since then, there has been an outpouring of opposition and outrage in emails and phone calls, so we hope that it will help us to change the Premier’s mind. Please sign our petition. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to fight this harmful decision, and we hope that you will join our efforts. |
| Energy and the Environment |
| The protection of Ontario’s environment is among our most important priorities. Every community deserves reliable, affordable sources of energy that reduce CO2 emissions and safeguard the climate. For instance, the Ontario Energy Board decided to end the subsidies on methane gas that is piped into housing developments. However, the government’s Bill 165 reversed that, undermining the achievement of our emission reduction targets. Our caucus voted against the Bill, but it passed on third reading. Under this current government, the percentage of the province’s energy that comes from gas and oil-fired generation of electricity has increased from 4% to 10% and that’s worrying, especially with their proposals to build projects like the Goreway gas plant in Brampton. When the government cancelled 750 renewable-energy contracts, it cost taxpayers $230 million in penalties. The Premier says that Ontario is open for business, but actions like these send a message that Ontario is an unreliable, untrustworthy business partner—a blow to our international reputation. Apart from that wasteful reversal, the government is ignoring the serious impact on public health that comes from gas-plant emissions. Medical studies link gas plants to an increase in asthma in children, preterm births and other serious health issues. This known danger is why Halton Hills, Thorold, and Loyalist townships have rejected gas-plant proposals. Here is an excellent article by the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) on the importance of clean air: https://ospe.on.ca/advocacy/ontario-society-of-professional-engineers-ospe-calls-for-support-of-clean-indoor-air-act/. To save energy and lower energy bills, homeowners can opt to install energy- and cost-efficient heat pumps in their homes—a smart investment and a more attractive option over fossil fuels, but one that has not yet been embraced by this government. My colleague, Mary-Margaret McMahon, MPP for Beaches-East York, and our Environment Critic, is chairing a panel of experts to identify practical solutions to addressing climate change here in Ontario. She has warned the government that killing environmental protections, slashing the funding for environmental authorities, and building on flood plains and protected lands will result in enormous costs to Ontarians—financial, mental, and physical. In fact, ten percent of homes in Canada are now uninsurable because of flood risk. |
| Flooding and Infrastructure |
| When the summer rains drenched the province this summer, Ontario learned again how urgent it is to upgrade infrastructure. You may have been affected by the torrential rainstorms that flooded homes, businesses and roads, causing serious damage and costing millions of dollars. In fact, we will soon be contacting homeowners who were affected by the summer flooding to learn more about their situation, the challenges, and their experience with insurers. (If you would like to be contacted about this, please call our office at 416-425-6777 or email us at sbowman.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org). Ontario’s infrastructure must have stable funding; as well, more green space in cities provides more flood control, and all residents need more flood awareness to protect their properties and save lives. I continue to argue against paving over farms, conservation areas, rivers and wetlands to build Highway 413, and we look forward to the results of the RCMP’s investigation into this government’s attempts to sell off the Greenbelt and give insider friends $8.3 billion in windfall profits. More extreme weather events will be a part of our future, so we must preserve natural areas and farms to ensure we will have clean drinking water, food security, and a way to manage climate change. It’s time the province acknowledged that wise urban planning and reliable investment in infrastructure are essential at a time of climate change. Our environment critic introduced a bill to provide flood awareness and prevention information to Ontarians, but unfortunately, the government voted it down. Once again, we ask the Premier to reverse course. |
| In the Addressing the Housing Shortage While Protecting Farmland Community |
| After six years of this government, average rent has increased by 83%, and average price of a home has increased by 45%. The Premier is not creating the conditions to meet his own housing targets, building only about half the homes that we need to build. There are over 200,000 people in this province experiencing homelessness – that’s a tenfold increase since 2018. And despite higher interest rates and inflation, British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec are getting more homes built. Ontario, on the other hand, is heading in the opposite direction. Never in the history of this province have we seen an exodus of young people as large as the one we observed last year. The trend continues this year too. The government needs to stop tabling multiple housing bills that confuse builders and focus on working with the federal and municipal governments as partners instead of adversaries to get housing built. And we can get housing built while also protecting our farmland and the environment, with smart urban planning and land use. In Ontario, only five percent of the land base is prime agricultural land—a finite, non-refundable resource. We are losing hundreds of acres of farmland every day because of the government’s poor policies. These deals put developers’ financial interests ahead of the wishes of local communities and put food security and local supply chains at risk. In the meantime, another questionable land deal is underway in Wilmot Township. For months, the farmers and landowners of Wilmot Township have been in a battle with the Region of Waterloo over the purchase of 770 acres of prime farmland that the Region wants to make “shovel ready” for “large-scale industry and development.” Large tracts of farmland have already been acquired by the Township which has also destroyed corn crops without compensating the farmers. This is another secretive, unwise and destructive action that the government has taken against the interests of Ontarians. Local farmers and stakeholders got lots of attention on this issue when the Premier spoke recently in Lindsay at the International Plowing Match. Without question, Ontario lacks affordable housing, especially rental housing, and it can be built within towns and cities, respecting sustainable development and gentle density. The government’s own Housing Affordability Task Force says that we can meet our goals without expanding urban boundaries and pointed out that it’s much more expensive for municipalities if they’re forced to distribute services over a larger area outside municipalities. In the meantime, another questionable land deal is underway in Wilmot Township. For months, the farmers and landowners of Wilmot Township have been in a battle with the Region of Waterloo over the purchase of 770 acres of prime farmland that the Region wants to make “shovel ready” for “large-scale industry and development.” Large tracts of farmland have already been acquired by the Township which has also destroyed corn crops without compensating the farmers. This is another secretive, unwise and destructive action that the government has taken against the interests of Ontarians. Local farmers and stakeholders got lots of attention on this issue when the Premier spoke recently in Lindsay at the International Plowing Match. Without question, Ontario lacks affordable housing, especially rental housing, and it can be built within towns and cities, respecting sustainable development and gentle density. The government’s own Housing Affordability Task Force says that we can meet our goals without expanding urban boundaries and pointed out that it’s much more expensive for municipalities if they’re forced to distribute services over a larger area outside municipalities. |
| Bayview-Eglinton Area Development Plan |
| The development plan for the area of Yonge Street, Mt. Pleasant and Bayview Avenue close to Eglinton (the Bayview Focus Core Character Area plan) has been a hot topic since this government came to power. The applications for multiple high-rise developments concern both residents and business owners because of the impact that greatly increased density will have on all aspects of the community. Ideally, there would be a gradual transition in the height of buildings and area density to respect the existing community; however, the proposals for the neighbourhood will further strain an already over-burdened school system and healthcare system. The government has once again interfered with municipal plans and zoning for the city, so we are asking who is benefitting from this misguided development proposal. While my request to the Auditor General to investigate this has not yet proceeded, I will continue to raise these concerns now that the Legislature has returned. |
| Antisemitism and Hate Crimes |
| The Toronto Police Service has reported that hate crimes of all kinds, in particular antisemitism, have increased in Toronto, and unfortunately, Don Valley West is experiencing this trend too. A local synagogue has been vandalized on multiple occasions. In order to show my support for the congregation, I attended Shabbat services, and I was grateful to have had the opportunity to attend a very moving and solemn service on October 7th, marking one year since Hamas’ attack on Israel. Of course, the community is worried, but the community is strong, and stronger still when we all stand together against these hateful acts. |
| Wastewater Testing |
| Until July 31st, testing was conducted to measure the level of COVID and other viral infections in Ontario’s wastewater. It gave the province an important tool to anticipate outbreaks of illness and to take preventative action, all for a relatively small investment of $15 million. As usual though, the Premier and his Minister of Health, Hon. Sylvia Jones, have refused to heed the advice of scientists and medical professionals who agree that testing wastewater is essential in alerting us to the presence of infectious diseases, including COVID, H1N1 and avian flu. The government’s reason for cancelling the program–that it is costly and duplicative with the federal government’s program (the Federal government has confirmed their program does not do what the provincial program did) is implausible, considering the billions of dollars being wasted on alcohol sales in corner stores, and a private spa. With flu season now upon us, it’s time for another reversal, Premier! |
| Education |
| The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) has reported that the funding per pupil for the province’s 1.3 million students in real dollars has fallen by $1,200 per student. This is hurting our children, and our educators, who are struggling to deal with the increases in mental health challenges and other special needs in our classrooms. While the government brags about increasing funding for education, they do not point out that their education spending includes hundreds of millions of dollars in cheques written to parents for tutoring (no strings attached) – that is, money that is NOT spent in the classroom where it would have the most impact. Once again, this is a question of the Premier’s misplaced priorities: spending hundreds of millions of dollars to get beer into corner stores a year early, making a secret deal with Therme for a spa on public land, destroying the Ontario Science Centre to sweeten the deal with Therme and find more land for his developer friends, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars that should be invested in education and health. We will continue to pressure the current administration to adjust his priorities and properly fund education to meet the needs and aspirations of students, parents and educators. |
| Learn4Life |
| For many years, the Toronto District School Board’s Learn4Life (L4L) program has offered courses for adult learners in everything from languages, mathematics, and the arts, to finance, music, and fitness, all at a nominal cost. The programs were presented in local high schools and have been very popular. This year the program was at risk because of funding shortfalls by the province. Many of you wrote to me and your school board trustee, Rachel Chernos Lin, about this, and I am pleased to see that fall and winter sessions are running again. For more information, visit their website (www.learn4life.ca) or call (416) 338-4111. |
| COVID and Flu Season |
| Flu season has arrived, I want to give you an update on how to get information about COVID tests, and vaccines for both COVID and flu. Vaccines are currently available for Ontario residents above the age of six months who are either at a high risk from COVID infection, or a member of a priority population. Vaccines will be available to every Ontario resident above the age of six months starting on October 28, 2024. You can find an authorized pharmacy or health clinic that has vaccines available at online.ca/vaccine-locations/. Tests are no longer being distributed to pharmacies by the provincial and federal governments, but many pharmacies continue to buy and stock their own tests from independent wholesalers. These tests are sold over the counter, and some pharmacies will have online tools that you can use to find which pharmacies have COVID tests in stock. Flu vaccines are generally available now at pharmacies throughout the area, but we suggest calling your pharmacy ahead of your visit to ensure availability. |
| In the Community |
