Dear neighbour,
On December 2, the Auditor General released her annual report investigating government departments and provincially-regulated sectors and agencies. Her report was damning.
Here’s what you should know.
Patients are illegally paying for medically necessary care
“Ontarians will always access the health care they need with their OHIP card, never their credit card.” That was Sylvia Jones, our Minister of Health, back in 2024.
The Auditor General’s report reveals a different truth. The Conservatives are not protecting patients from being charged for services that are covered by OHIP. Some physicians are urging patients to pay for medically unnecessary add-ons, without informing them of their right to opt for a free OHIP-covered service. This is most prevalent for eye-care, especially cataract surgery.
The family doctor shortage is getting worse
Two million people in Ontario do not have a family doctor or primary care nurse. While the government is certainly throwing more money at the problem, they have no plan to achieve the goal of ensuring every Ontarian has a primary care provider by 2029.
The government doesn’t know how many providers are practicing in each region of the province. Their system – called Health Care Connect – of connecting patients with doctors is so bad that most doctors don’t use it.
There’s no effective plan to oversee physician billing.
The Auditor General has found that there are some doctors – a few – who are billing for more than 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
That requires an investigation. The trouble is there’s only eight people responsible for auditing OHIP billing. The issue of overbilling has been a problem for years, and there’s been no meaningful action. The Province’s biggest responsibility is to provide health care.
We need to keep our system public, ensure everyone has access to a doctor or nurse, and set up the systems to make sure our health care money is well spent.
Ontario is failing to uphold environmental protections
The Environmental Bill of Rights, enacted by the NDP government in 1994, guarantees Ontarians the right to be informed and consulted on government decisions that affect the environment.
The Auditor General reports that ministries are increasingly bypassing these required consultations, sometimes passing laws before consultations even close, and repeatedly exempting major projects from public review.
Ontario spent a record amount on government advertising
The Ford government spent more money than any other government ever recorded on advertising last year, totaling $111.7 million in the lead up to the snap election. This is not a coincidence.
Over half of the advertising budget was spent on partisan ads that served no practical purpose aside from making the government look good. This is not about advertisements promoting vaccination or cancer screening.
The Auditor General has ruled these are examples of blatant partisan advertising that would be banned if Ontario used a more stringent definition of partisan advertising. Take a look at this ad and make up your own mind.
Accountability isn’t optional–it’s the baseline for public trust. Oversight only matters if we act on it and I will keep pushing until this government does. As a member of the Public Accounts Committee, my job is to work with the Auditor General to improve government performance. That’s the task I’ll be turning to now.
You can find out more about what’s in the Auditor General’s report here.
Sincerely,
Jessica Bell
MPP, University-Rosedale
In this newsletter:
- Join our End of Year Party
- Event: Is Ontario still a Democracy?
- Skills Development Fund remains wide open to abuse
- Keep Heydon Park open
- What I heard at pre-budget consultations
- Encampments could get worse
- Algoma workers left behind
- Artist-guided workshops to explore 2SLGBTQ+ family building
Join our End of Year Party!
Join me, staff, volunteers, constituents, and neighbours on Wednesday, December 17 to celebrate the year and enjoy the holiday season together. Food and non-alcohol drinks will be provided.
When: 6:00 pm-8:00 pm, Wednesday, December 17
Where: Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave.
RSVP by hitting the button below
It’s been an honour and a privilege to represent you at Queen’s Park. I’m looking forward to working with you to build a fair, green, and thriving Ontario in 2026 and beyond.
Event: Is Ontario still a Democracy?
I recently wrote in Toronto Today about my concerns for democracy in our province, as the Conservative government continues to take steps to dismantle our democratic institutions and break the norms that we rely upon for fair, accountable government in Ontario.
That’s why I’m joining MPP Chris Glover – Shadow Minister for Democratic Reform, for an in-depth panel discussion exploring one of the most pressing questions facing our province today: "Is Ontario still a democracy?"
As decisions about public lands, public services, and public funds increasingly happen behind closed doors, I’m increasingly concerned about transparency, accountability, and the erosion of our democracy in Ontario.
This event will bring together experts, advocates, and community leaders to unpack what’s happening, why it matters, and what Ontarians can do to protect our democratic institutions.
I hope to see you there, and have you as part of this vital discussion.
When: Monday December 8 at 7PM
Where: 252 Bloor St W, OISE – Room 2212
RSVP by hitting the button below.
Skills Development Fund remains wide open to abuse
On Monday, December 1, I questioned Ministry staff about the controversial Skills Development Fund. The Skills Development Fund is a $2.5 billion program that gives funding to companies, unions, and non-profits to provide training to unemployed workers to help them find a job. In her assessment of the fund, the Auditor General found the selection process was not transparent, accountable, or fair.
During the hearing, I pressed ministry officials on specific examples. I asked why Keel Digital Solutions received $7.5 million after being forensically audited by another ministry and referred to the OPP, and whether any red flags showed up in their risk assessment. The officials refused to answer anything about Keel, saying it was “inappropriate” because of the OPP investigation, and they would not disclose the score public servants gave the application.
I also asked what the Social Equality and Inclusion Centre did with its $10 million grant. This is the non-profit tied to an adult entertainment venue at Exhibition Place, run in partnership with the same nightclub owner who has hosted PC fundraisers. Ministry staff said their spot checks found the project was on track, and when I asked whether any irregularities or concerns were flagged in audits, they said no.
I asked for the staff score for FGF Brands after it was rejected repeatedly, then received $1 million the same year the owner and family donated $32,000 to Conservatives. Officials again refused to share any scores. They also admitted they do not track political donations at all when assessing risk, including in cases like the Ontario Harness Horse Association, which received over $6 million while its leadership donated $43,000 to PC politicians.
What is clear from this hearing is that the Conservatives will not be bringing honesty or fairness to future rounds of the Skills Development Fund. They will continue to allow the Minister to select who gets the money and how much they get, no matter how badly an applicant scores. In future rounds, expect to see donors of the Conservative party — from strip clubs to the Ford family’s dentist — receive millions, while more eligible applicants are passed over.
Over 700,000 Ontarians are looking for work. Instead of handing money to Conservative party donors, the government should invest in job-creation programs - from building transit to expanding childcare - and properly fund our public college and university system.
Keep Heydon Park Secondary School Open
On Thursday, December 4, I asked the Premier to commit to keeping Heydon Park Secondary School open.
Parents from Heydon Park were watching from the Members’ Gallery, and they were deeply disappointed by the non-answer. You can hear more from them in this news clip here.
Heydon Park Secondary School is a TDSB public high school serving girls, trans and non-binary students with disabilities and significant learning and mental-health needs.
Families were notified in writing by the TDSB Office of the Director of Education on Thursday, November 13 that enrollment has been paused for both Grade 9 and Grade 10 at Heydon Park for 2025–26, meaning there will be no new Grade 9 or Grade 10 cohort next school year. Families want to know what the enrollment freeze means for the future of a special education school. They want the school to stay open.
Instead of responding, the government keeps starving school boards of funding.
EQAO results released this week show students in special education are falling behind in math, reading, and writing — and closing a school like Heydon Park would worsen these learning outcomes.
We should be investing in schools that teach our vulnerable students, not shutting them down.
What I heard at pre-budget consultations
On December 4 and 5, I attended Ontario’s pre-budget consultations in Toronto and Peterborough. These hearings are one of the key chances each year for people and organizations to tell the government what they want to see in the next provincial budget. As Shadow Finance Minister, it’s my job to listen and bring what I hear into our budget response.
The message was consistent in both cities. Ontario’s health-care system, especially primary care, is under real strain, workers are being pushed out by low wages, and this government needs to invest where people actually live and work.
Here are some highlights.
In Toronto, I heard urgent warnings from the Taddle Creek Family Health Team (FHT) about the growing wage gap in primary care. CEO Cheryl Dobinson said Taddle Creek lost 10 of 23 staff in the last 18 months, mainly because wages can’t compete. A registered nurse can earn 15 to 40 percent more in other parts of the system, and clinics like this can’t hire or retain the staff needed to meet demand.
I also heard a clear case for supportive housing as the most cost-effective response to homelessness and addiction. Addictions & Mental Health Ontario laid out the numbers: supportive housing costs about $2,000 to $5,000 a month, compared to roughly $31,000 for a hospital stay, $17,000 for inpatient mental health care, or $11,000 for jail. We can invest in stability now, or keep paying far more for a crisis later.
In Peterborough, Family Health Teams in the region echoed the same staffing crisis. They strongly support the FHT model, but said they can’t keep nurses and nurse practitioners without wage parity with hospitals. Duff Sprague, CEO of the Peterborough FHT, said when they lose a nurse practitioner, they’re not filling the position.
Dr. Ruth Wilson from the Kawartha Lakes FHT said she has seen newborns discharged from hospital while their parents have no family doctor to follow up with, which is distressing and unsafe.
Jane Purvis from the Ontario Medical Association added that 30,000 people in Peterborough alone aren’t connected to primary care. This is a big problem that needs a real plan and real investment.
There’s still time to get involved. Pre-budget consultations continue across the province:
- Brockville - January 13, 2026
- Ottawa - January 14, 2026
- Pembroke - January 15, 2026
- Kitchener - January 20, 2026
- London - January 21, 2026
- Niagara Falls - January 22, 2026
- Kapuskasing - January 27, 2026
- Thunder Bay - January 28, 2026
- Sudbury - January 29, 2026
Deadlines to request to speak or submit written comments:
- November 24, 2025 at 12PM (EST) - Toronto, Peterborough
- January 5, 2026 at 12PM (EST) - Brockville, Ottawa and Pembroke
- January 12, 2026 at 12PM (EST) - Kitchener, London and Niagara Falls
- January 19, 2026 at 12PM (EST) - Kapuskasing, Thunder Bay and Sudbury
- January 29, 2026 at 6PM (EST) - Final deadline for written submissions
You can sign up to speak in person or virtually, or submit written comments through the Legislature’s committee portal. When applying, select “2026 Pre-Budget Consultations.” If you have questions, please reach out to my office at [email protected]
I’m looking forward to hearing from more of you through this process and continuing to push for a budget that meets the moment.
Encampments could get worse
A new report from Canada’s Federal Housing Advocate warns that Ontario cities could slide back into expensive, enforcement-heavy encampment clearings as the federal government’s two-year encampment funding winds down.
After visiting Waterloo Region, London, Hamilton and Toronto, the Advocate is calling for long-term funding — including from the province — to sustain human-rights-based responses that keep people safer while they wait for housing.
The Advocate is also urging an end to forced evictions and the criminalization of homelessness.
This matters here in Toronto. The city has relied on short-term federal dollars to staff outreach teams, and add shelter and hotel spaces. Without sustained funding, these supports will shrink and more people will be left outside with nowhere to go.
Queen’s Park has the power to solve these tough issues. We need to invest in building affordable housing and supportive housing, and expanding our mental health and addiction treatment programs.
Algoma workers left behind
The Ford government handed Algoma Steel a $100 million provincial loan as part of a $500 million federal-provincial package meant to help the company weather U.S. steel tariffs and modernize production.
Now Algoma has announced 1,000 layoffs – about 40% of its workforce in Sault Ste. Marie. This is devastating. If public money is going out the door, it has to come with clear, enforceable job protections.
We are calling for an iron-clad agreement of no executive bonuses, better job protections, and a seat at the table so workers help shape a company’s future.
Artist-guided workshops to explore 2SLGBTQ+ family building
Birth Mark is a non-profit that partners with health services and community agencies to provide reproductive and family supports to marginalized and underserved communities.
Birth Mark has received funding through the Ontario Arts Council’s Engaging Communities and Schools grant stream to deliver a new arts-based workshop series: “Here, Hold My Grief: Birthing the Invisible Stories of 2SLGBTQ+ Family-Building Through Art.”
These community-led, artist-guided workshops offer space to explore grief, loss, longing, and hope in the often-invisible aspects of 2SLGBTQ+ family building.
Workshops will take place in Toronto between January and April 2026. They are open to 2SLGBTQ+ individuals who have experienced grief during the family-building process and who do not currently have children. Participation is free of charge.
If you would like to participate, email [email protected] for more information about dates and locations.