August 31, 2023
Student Housing Forum
Are you a student? Having trouble with your landlord? Is your housing too expensive? Toronto has a housing crisis. Many U of T, OCAD, and TMU students are living in housing that’s not safe, clean,... More
August 8, 2023
RSVP: Is it time for commercial rent control?
Register in advance for this meeting here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. On Monday, August 28 from 4-5 pm, I am hosting... More
July 19, 2023
This isn’t about free rent, it’s about fairness
It costs, on average, more than $3,100 a month to rent a modest two-bedroom unit in Toronto. With these prices, a minimum wage worker needs to work 135 hours a week to make ends meet. Rents are sk... More
July 12, 2023
Refugee housing crisis requires solutions from all levels of government
MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam and I met with Siu Mee Cheng, executive director of Street Haven. CTV news was there to do a feature on Street Haven and the current housing crisis for refugees and asylum see... More
July 6, 2023
Ford Conservatives appoint unqualified insiders to Landlord & Tenant Board
TORONTO - Ontario NDP MPPs Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto Centre), Critic for the Attorney General, and Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale), Critic for Housing, released the following statement expressin... More
June 12, 2023
Reception breakfast to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act
July 1st this year marks the 100th Anniversary of the Enactment of the Chinese Immigration Act, 1923, also known as the Chinese Exclusion Act. To commemorate the 100th Anniversary and to reflect on... More
June 7, 2023
After weekend eviction of family by Airbnb landlord, we’re calling for a crackdown on illegal short-term rentals.
This afternoon, I stood with Ning, her partner, and her neighbours in Deer Park, outside the home she was illegally evicted from this past weekend. When Ning and her family were out on a day trip ... More
June 5, 2023
NDP: Spiking farm prices raise serious questions about further Ford Greenbelt grab
QUEEN’S PARK - MPP Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale), NDP Housing critic, was joined by MPP Sandy Shaw (Hamilton West- Ancaster-Dundas), NDP critic for Environment, Conservation and Parks, to rais... More
June 5, 2023
School matters
As an MPP and parent of two children who attend TDSB schools, I am personally and politically concerned about the quality of education University-Rosedale’s 33 schools provide to our children. Th... More
June 1, 2023
Fund Our Schools: Developers should help pay for new schools and repairs
Every parent has seen that sign on a construction fence, warning them that due to resident growth their local school could be too full to accommodate their child. We are a rapidly growing city. W... More
May 31, 2023
Organizing Handbook
Click here to view as a slide show. Click here for a PDF copy. Hyperlinks available. More
May 24, 2023
Virtual rally & town hall: Stop the sprawl!
On Wednesday, May 31 at 7 pm MPP Jessica Bell (University–Rosedale) and MPP Catherine Fife (Waterloo) are hosting a virtual rally and town hall to STOP SPRAWL FROM TAKING IT ALL! We will be joined... More
May 23, 2023
The Conservatives could do the right thing for renters, first-time home buyers and farmers tomorrow. But will they?
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working to improve Government Bill 97. The Conservatives like to say this bill is going to solve our housing crisis. That’s not true. Bill 97 doesn’t do much t... More
May 10, 2023
Bell: Ford actions put 3,440 affordable rental homes in Toronto at risk
QUEEN’S PARK – In Question Period today, MPP Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale), NDP Housing critic demanded the Ford government respect the City of Toronto’s renter protections and commit to savin... More
May 4, 2023
ACT NOW: Demand a fair and just LTB
The Ombudsman's report lays out what we already knew – the Tribunal is failing in its duty to provide fast and fair access to justice and the Ford government is letting it happen. Renters are wait... More
May 4, 2023
NDP: Ombudsman’s report paints a damning picture of unfairness and injustice at Landlord & Tenant Board
“A system that isn’t working for anyone” More
April 28, 2023
NDP: Ford Conservatives’ illegal eviction laws are too weak to work
QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario NDP Housing Critic Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale) is calling on the Ford Conservatives to strengthen Bill 97, Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023, to better ... More
April 27, 2023
Join us at our online condo town hall on Monday May 8
On Monday May 8 at 7pm, MPP Tom Rakocevic and I will co-host a virtual condo town hall for condo residents. We continue to hear complaints from condo residents who feel they have nowhere to turn i... More
April 24, 2023
Stiles and NDP call for rent control as a part of their solution to the housing crisis
QUEEN’S PARK – Official Opposition NDP Leader Marit Stiles (Davenport) and Housing critic Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale) will be introducing their opposition day motion this afternoon that, if ... More
April 11, 2023
Ford's latest housing bill doubles down on bad planning
Last Thursday, the Conservatives introduced a new housing bill called Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, eight proposed regulatory changes to Ontario’s renting and planning laws, and a new... More
April 5, 2023
Out-of-touch Conservatives don’t have a plan to tackle housing crisis
QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Housing critic Jessica Bell (University—Rosedale) issued the following response to the Ford Conservatives’ housing announcement today: “The Conservatives’ plan to make housing af... More
March 31, 2023
Cancelled. RSVP: Establishing a public builder in Ontario
Due to scheduling concerns, we are moving to one-on-one meetings. Please email [email protected] to request a meeting. Thank you for your interest.
March 27, 2023
ACT NOW: Fund Ontario Schools!
Last Thursday, March 23, the Ontario government introduced their budget which, amongst its many shortfalls, leaves public education far behind. Unless the province steps up and increases funding, s... More
March 24, 2023
Dim Sum Social
MPP Chris Glover, MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, and I are hosting a free community dim sum gathering. Come, have some food, and let us know how we can better serve you! All are welcome! The venue is acces... More
March 24, 2023
Conservative budget doesn’t deliver for Toronto, Ontario
The Conservative’s budget was released yesterday. Overall, the budget increases spending by 1%, far below the rate of inflation, which is at 6.8%. We will be seeing cuts in services in 2023-2024. H... More
March 21, 2023
Ahead of World Water Day, NDP re-introduces solution to reduce microfibres in Ontario’s water
QUEEN'S PARK — MPP Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale) has reintroduced her bill to ensure all washing machines sold in Ontario are equipped with a filter that reduces the shed of microfibres into w... More
March 21, 2023
U of T Roundtable
We are nearing the end of the academic year and the government has made some recent announcements that will undoubtedly have an impact on both the student and working experience at universities ac... More
March 21, 2023
ACT NOW: Stop microfibres from entering our waterways!
Microfibres in the Great Lakes are an increasing concern for the health of our waters, the creatures that live there, and the 14.5 million Ontarians who rely on them for their drinking water. The m... More
March 20, 2023