January 17, 2024
Provinces housing starts hit lows amidst crisis; NDP says Ford’s Conservatives missing the mark
QUEEN’S PARK – Official Opposition NDP Housing critic Jessica Bell (University – Rosedale) and critic for Municipal Affairs Jeff Burch (Niagara Centre) are calling on Ford’s Conservatives to stop w... More
January 15, 2024
Condo living should be pleasant, not miserable.
Living in a condo can be a pleasant, more affordable, and lower-maintenance housing choice for many. Condo living can also be a misery for some – and it’s those people who call our office. Condo re... More
January 10, 2024
RSVP: multi-faith community roundtable and lunch
On Tuesday, February 13 at noon please join me and faith leaders from across University-Rosedale for a roundtable discussion at Queen’s Park. You will have the chance to meet with me, connect with ... More
January 8, 2024
Motion 61: Short-Term Rental Registry
Toronto has long been a battleground between investors who want to make a lot of money and renters who just want a home. Right now, there are over 12,000 short-term rentals advertised on Airbnb av... More
January 5, 2024
Stand Up for Well-Funded Heath Care
University Rosedale is home to many heroic health care professionals, as well as Canada’s best hospitals, including Prince Margaret, Toronto General, Mount Sinai, Toronto Western, Sick Kids, and Wo... More
December 15, 2023
ACTION ALERT! Help Carmen return home!
Help Carmen return home Yesterday, Carmen was forcibly evicted from her home at 1442 Lawrence Ave by sheriffs. The sheriff changed the locks on Carmen’s home when she left to pay the landlord th... More
December 12, 2023
RSVP: multi-faith community roundtable lunch
On Tuesday, February 13 at noon please join me and faith leaders from across University-Rosedale for a roundtable discussion at Queen’s Park. You will have the chance to meet with me, connect with ... More
December 12, 2023
Six things you need to know about the Auditor General’s annual report
The Auditor General’s job is to audit government agencies, departments, and government-funded institutions and assess whether they are working as they should, from school boards to emergency rooms ... More
December 12, 2023
2023 Auditor General Report Highlights
Recently the Auditor General provided his annual report. Below is a summary of key reports. Science Centres “The recent relocation decision was not fully informed and based on preliminary and ... More
December 7, 2023
NDP MPPs call on Ford government to pause tearing down rental buildings
TORONTO - MPP Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale), NDP Housing critic, and MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam MPP (Toronto Centre) joined No Demovictions and tenants at 25 St Mary St to introduce a new NDP motion... More
December 4, 2023
Dec. 4, 2023 To help renters and first-time home buyers, NDP calls for short-term rental crackdown
QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Housing critic Jessica Bell issued the following statement in response to today’s report by Desjardins concluding that short-term rentals have significantly impacted housing affo... More
December 4, 2023
Here’s my take on the Conservatives new affordable housing bill, and why I think it falls short on addressing housing affordability
This November, the Conservatives proposed a new definition of affordable housing that developers must meet to qualify for a developer fee exemption for that home. We just completed amendments today... More
December 4, 2023
Participate in 2024 pre-budget consultations
The province has begun pre-budget consultations and is seeking feedback from Ontarians for the 2024 Budget. Pre-budget consultations are an excellent opportunity to ensure you get your voice on the... More
November 20, 2023
Bell: Ford’s Conservatives have left tenants in vulnerable housing situations with nowhere to turn
QUEEN’S PARK – Only four out of 13 landlords who were fined for bad faith evictions actually paid the fines they owed according to a new CBC report. The Report also shows that the current accountab... More
November 16, 2023
Tenant Social November 29
Please join us at our upcoming tenant social on Wednesday, November 29th from 6-8pm at Knox Church, 630 Spadina Avenue in the Winchester room. All are welcome! Use the form below to RSVP More
November 16, 2023
Join Our End of Year Party!
You’re invited to our End of Year Party! Please click here for RSVP 6:00pm-8:00pm, Tuesday, Dec. 12th Tranzac Club 292 Brunswick Ave., Toronto, ON M5S 2M7 Food and non-alcohol drink will be prov... More
October 24, 2023
Stiles’ NDP brings Homes Ontario to Queen’s Park - a solution to get the province back in the business of building housing
QUEEN’S PARK – Homes Ontario, Marit Stiles and the Ontario NDP’s solution to get the province back in the business of building housing, will go for debate in Queen’s Park today. The NDP has table... More
October 23, 2023
NDP: The Conservative spiral continues: another bad decision reversed, what else is the Ford government hiding?
QUEEN’S PARK – Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition NDP, released the following statement responding to the government’s latest flip-flop in their spiraling corruption scandal: “Ministe... More
October 19, 2023
Chinatown Community Lunch
We would love to invite each and every one of you to join our upcoming Chinatown Community Lunch! This special event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Oct.29th, 2023 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at A... More
October 12, 2023
Where’s the student voice in our housing plan?
Justin Cowen is a PhD student studying pancreatic cancer at the University of Toronto. When his apartment building in Toronto was bought by corporate landlord, Harrington Housing, he became a victi... More
October 3, 2023
Greenbelt Victory
Ontarians were outraged when the Conservatives reversed their election promise and approved development on 15 parcels of Greenbelt land owned by developers with ties to the government. Now Ontarian... More
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