Dear neigbour,
I go to a lot of school graduations.The ritual is full of meaning and emotion. The defining emotions of this graduation season were not relief and pride, but poignancy and anger - mostly brought about, I believe, by the Conservative government’s funding cuts to schools.
Those feelings were brought into focus when I attended graduation at Heydon Park Secondary School.
Heydon Park is a special school. It serves young women, trans and non-binary students who face significant challenges.
It is obvious to everyone that the Toronto District School Board is shutting down Heydon Park to save money. Officials are not saying that publicly, but enrollment has been closed for Grades 9 and 10, and the school is being forced to move to midtown Toronto.
This year’s graduating class was small: just 17 students.
Before each graduate accepted their certificate, a teacher delivered a heartfelt speech about their personality, their struggles and their accomplishments. Some students stood on stage with their backs to the audience, overwhelmed by the moment. A teacher would quietly offer reassurance, and gently encourage them to turn around and receive their certificate.
The emotional centre of the ceremony was the valedictorian’s speech. Buddy spoke about what it was like to attend Heydon Park while the school faces the threat of closure.
“Nothing lasts forever, but this school deserves to live another hundred years, to help more people, just as it has helped me.”
With this message, Buddy pointed to something the Conservatives want to keep out of graduation ceremonies: politics.
Politics has shaped Buddy’s education. Whether a school stays open or closes is a political decision. So is telling students what they can and cannot say at a graduation ceremony, which is what our education minister did when he instructed schools to keep ‘politics’ out of graduation ceremonies and focus on student achievement only.
The TDSB just quietly posted next year’s budget. Scroll past the trite photos of smiling students to the hard numbers and it’s clear that more cuts, layoffs, larger class sizes, and school closures are coming.
The Conservatives don’t want us to challenge these political decisions. The truth, however, is that having educators, parents and students get politically involved is what is going to make all the difference to the fate of Heydon, the health of our public schools, and the achievement of graduates for generations to come.
You can read about my full experience attending graduations during this era of cuts on my website here or by clicking the button below.
Sincerely,
Jessica Bell
MPP, University-Rosedale
In this newsletter:
- Tonight’s Ramsden Park community office is postponed
- Ice cream social at Huron Vermont Square Park
- Conservative MPPs should pay back luxury hotel bills
- Ontario loses 16,700 jobs in June
- No Jets Save Our Waterfront Rally and March
- Celebrate the Toronto Chinatown Festival
- Get Ready for the Korea Town Festival
- OPSEU Strike Week 8: Support frontline social service workers
- Free webinar on electric water heating
Tonight’s Ramsden Park community office is postponed
Due to poor air quality, tonight’s community office at Ramsden Park has been postponed. We will reschedule at a later date.
I am sorry to miss the chance to see you in person. My team and I are still available to help with provincial issues. Please reach out at [email protected] or 416 535 7206.
Ice cream social at Vermont Square Park
Let’s connect, chat, and cool off with some free ice cream! Come enjoy a summer evening with the community and the Seaton Village Residents’ Association (SVRA) at Vermont Square Park (819 Palmerston Ave) on Tuesday, August 11 from 6:00–8:00 PM. Live music will be provided by the SVRA.
It’s a great opportunity to meet neighbours, enjoy the park, and talk about the issues that matter—whether it's healthcare, education, or anything else on your mind.
Conservative MPPs should pay back luxury hotel bills
On Wednesday, July 15, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles called on Doug Ford’s GTA MPPs to pay back tens of thousands of dollars they billed taxpayers for downtown Toronto hotel stays.
More than $120,000 in hotel costs were billed by Conservative GTA MPPs who live as close as five kilometres from Queen’s Park.
MPP Hardeep Grewal, from Brampton East, billed taxpayers nearly $30,000 for hotel stays. Minister Stan Cho, the MPP for Willowdale, expensed more than $16,000 for hotel stays in Toronto, despite living just six kilometres from Queen’s Park. You’ve got to wonder why.
Under Legislative Assembly rules, MPPs who live within 50 kilometres of Queen’s Park can only charge accommodation in special circumstances, such as a snowstorm.
People in Brampton, Willowdale, Scarborough, and Mississauga do not get free hotel rooms to go to work. They commute, just like everyone else. Conservative MPPs should not be living the suite life on the public dime.
At a time when the government says there is no money for special education, no money to properly fund hospitals, and no money to make life more affordable, it is really quite brazen these MPPs are using government money for hotel stays when they live a short drive or transit ride away.
They should pay the money back.
Ontario loses 16,700 jobs in June
The June Statistics Canada labour force report shows Ontario lost 16,700 jobs last month.
Ontario’s official unemployment rate is now at 7%, higher than the national average. The actual unemployment rate is closer to 8%, because the official number doesn’t count people who’ve given up looking, nor does it count people who are working part time but want more hours.
With housing prices and grocery prices as they are, there are a lot of people who want higher pay, more hours, and a good job, and this economy is not providing that stability.
This week, I was on News Talk 1010 to explain the grim jobs numbers. I was asked by the host what we would do instead. It’s a fair question.
I wouldn’t have shut down the legislature early. If a worker came in late and left early he wouldn’t have a job, but that’s essentially what Doug Ford just did with the legislative schedule. We should be in the legislature for a good amount of time throughout the year dealing with big issues like unemployment.
We should be back in the legislature strengthening our weak Buy Ontario, Build Ontario rules so the billions we spend on services and goods go to Ontario and Canadian businesses first. Ontario steel should be used to build bridges. Hospitals and schools should be buying food from Ontario farmers. Ontario wood should be used to build Ontario housing.
I would also like to see much greater investment in public infrastructure construction and public services. Investing in education, affordable housing, and health care creates jobs, helps people, and actually makes Ontario more economically competitive. All the things that make life attractive here also benefit businesses, from a reliable electricity grid to fast public transit.
These are practical policies that governments can implement that are very effective at helping a province or country withstand a recession.
No Jets Save Our Waterfront Rally and March!
On Sunday, July 26, join a rally and march to protect Toronto’s lakefront hosted by No Jets T.O. and Environmental Defence.
Our waterfront is under direct threat. The expansion of the Toronto Island Airport means commercial jets roaring overhead and more air pollution settling over our neighbourhoods. Let’s come together to say NO to jets on Toronto’s waterfront!
Date: Sunday, July 26
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Route:
10:30 a.m. — Kick-off Rally at Harbour Square Park
11:00 a.m. — March to Union Station
11:45 a.m. — Descend to HTO Park.
More info and RSVP here or click the button below.
Celebrate the Toronto Chinatown Festival
Join neighbours at the Toronto Chinatown Festival on the weekend of July 25 & 26, and celebrate one of our city's most vibrant neighbourhoods! Come shop local, enjoy incredible food and cultural performances, and support the small businesses that make Chinatown such a special place.
OPSEU Strike Week 8: Support frontline social service workers
OPSEU/SEFPO frontline social service workers are now in the eighth week of their strike for fair wages and better funding for the services our communities rely on.
They are on strike because social services have been chronically underfunded for years. The result is low wages, unsafe staffing levels, growing waitlists, service delays, and more pressure on workers and the people who depend on them.
These workers care for our communities every day. They deserve fair wages, safe working conditions, and real investment in the services people depend on.
Click here or in the button below to find and support a local picket line.
Get Ready for the Koreatown Street Festival
Join us at the Koreatown Street Festival on Saturday, August 8, and experience the vibrant culture, delicious food, live performances, and local businesses that make Koreatown such a special part of our community. Let’s celebrate Korean culture while supporting the small businesses and neighbours who help our community thrive.
Click here for more info.