Dear Neighbour,
On June 27, the last day of school for many students, the Minister of Education placed four more school boards under provincial supervision, including the Toronto District School Board.
A former Metrolinx advisor with no educational experience, Rohit Gupta, has now been appointed to run the TDSB, and is responsible for the education of 248,000 students.
Since then, many of you have reached out with real concerns. Who do I talk to about my child’s school? What does this mean for students, teachers, and the future of public education?
We’re holding a town hall to talk about it. Join me, MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, and elected Trustee Deborah Williams on Monday, July 28 at 7:00 PM on Zoom for updates, Q&A, and a discussion on what this takeover means for our communities.
Register to receive the zoom link here. I hope to see you there.
Sincerely,
Jessica Bell
MPP, University-Rosedale
In this newsletter:
- Thursday Summer Park Series
- Speak out against unfair patient fees
- Ontario’s colleges are in crisis
- Grassy Narrows under threat from proposed gold mine
- We need a real plan to end homelessness
- Court upholds injunction protecting Toronto’s bike lanes
- Join me at our Renter Social on August 19
- Join me for an ice cream social at Jean Sibelius Square
- Celebrating community volunteers
- Virtual Community Forum on Bill C-2 the “Stronger Borders Act”
Thursday Summer Park Series
This Summer, I am bringing my community office pop-up to local parks on Thursday evenings from 6-8pm. Come by to say hello, share what’s on your mind, and find out how my team and I can help with provincial issues. RSVP links, locations, and dates below. Hope to see you there!
Queen's Park North - 14 August
Ontario’s colleges are in crisis
Over the past year, more than 600 college programs have been cancelled and 10,000 workers have lost or are projected to lose their jobs across Ontario’s public colleges. These cuts are affecting everything from paramedic training and urban forestry to nursing and early childhood education. Students, staff, and entire communities are paying the price.
This crisis is the result of years of underfunding. Ontario provides the lowest per-student college funding in the country, and the Ford government has made things worse by cutting even more support in its latest budget.
We need a substantial, permanent increase in postsecondary operating grants to stabilize the sector and protect jobs, preserve programs, and ensure every student gets the education they deserve.
If your education has been impacted, please reach out to my office at [email protected] or 416 535 7206. We want to hear from you.
Grassy Narrows under threat from proposed gold mine
On July 10, the Toronto Star revealed that mining giant Kinross Gold is pushing to develop a massive open-pit gold mine just north of Grassy Narrows. If approved, the mine could operate for 20 years, extracting up to 60,000 tonnes of ore per day and discharging wastewater into rivers that feed the already mercury-contaminated English-Wabigoon River system.
What makes this even more concerning is Kinross’ record. Its U.S. subsidiary, Crown Resources, is currently facing a lawsuit from the Washington State Attorney General after admitting to more than 3,500 violations of its water permit at another mine.
To make matters worse, the Ford government is moving forward with Bill 5, a law that will speed up mining approvals, weaken public oversight, and erode the Crown’s duty to consult with Indigenous communities.
This is what Grassy Narrows leader Joseph Fobister, had to say in response to this proposal:
“The last thing we need is the threat of more poison in our water … How many times can the government put our health and way of life in the hands of a dangerous industry that cares only about profits?”
The Ford government must listen, halt this proposal, and protect Indigenous lands and health from further harm.
We need a real plan to end homelessness
On July 7, the City of Toronto released its 2024 Street Needs Assessment and the findings are stark. The report shows that homelessness in our city is deepening. It paints a picture of a growing crisis that disproportionately affects Indigenous, Black, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people, people who’ve survived violence or are living with unmet health needs.
The vast majority of people surveyed said access to Rent-Geared-to-Income housing would have kept them housed or could end their homelessness now. Others pointed to the lack of mental health support, addiction treatment, or access to a doctor.
Yet the Ford government continues to ignore its own experts and refuses to take this crisis seriously. Instead of investing in affordable housing and health care so people can move out of encampments, we’ve seen them blame and attack people living in tents. Why won’t they act?
To truly address homelessness, we need to address its root causes. The Ontario NDP is calling on the province to commit to building 250,000 affordable homes, and invest in supportive services like mental health and addiction care.
I want to hear your thoughts on this report. Email me at [email protected].
Join me at our Renter Social on August 19
Are you a renter looking to build community and push for stronger housing laws? Join me, tenant organizers, and fellow renters on August 19 from 6-8pm at Queen’s Park North for our Renter Summer Social!
We'll swap ideas, learn what works successfully, and build momentum together for tenant-focused action this fall.
Expect conversations, community building, and organizing tips combined with snacks, sunshine, and solidarity!
Join me for an ice cream social at Jean Sibelius Square
Let’s connect, chat, and cool off with some free ice cream! Come enjoy a summer evening with the community at Jean Sibelius Square (50 Kendal Ave) on Tuesday, July 29 from 6:30–8:00 PM.
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.
Celebrating community volunteers
On June 20, I had the honour of attending the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards to recognize outstanding volunteers from University-Rosedale. These are people who give their time to make our neighbourhoods stronger, more connected, and more compassionate. Thank you for everything that you do.
Virtual Community Forum on Bill C-2 the “Stronger Borders Act”
On Wednesday, July 23 at 1.30pm Kensington-Bellwoods Community Legal Services is hosting a virtual Community Forum on Bill C-2, the “Stronger Borders Act”. This is a piece of federal legislation which the Canadian government has introduced to enhance border security, combat transnational crime, and strengthen the integrity of Canada's immigration system. The bill proposes amendments to various acts, including the Customs Act, the Coast Guard mandate, and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, granting new powers to law enforcement and border officials.
Please register here to receive the Zoom link to participate in this online event