August 19, 2020
What can we do to fight for safe public education?
Since school closed in March, our family has been struggling with the impossible job of juggling full-time work and full-time parenting our two school-aged children. I, along with the parents of ... More
August 18, 2020
MPP Jessica Bell and MPP Suze Morrison's statement on hate crime and vandalism at Masjid Toronto
Toronto — Suze Morrison, MPP for Toronto Centre, and Jessica Bell, MPP for University—Rosedale, released the following statement condemning the sixth attack on Masjid Toronto in the last three mont... More
August 18, 2020
Ford's 'microtransit' conditions will hurt municipalities and riders: NDP
TORONTO — The Ontario NDP Transit critic, University— Rosedale MPP Jessica Bell, made a statement in response to Doug Ford making municipal transit funding contingent on the privatization of ce... More
August 6, 2020
ACT NOW: Demand a fully funded and safe return to school in September
For months, New Democrats have been calling on Doug Ford to work with parents, teachers and education workers and school boards to deliver a funded plan for a safe return to classes. What we got in... More
July 30, 2020
UniRose childcare roundtable reveals need for funding, consultation
Last week, I hosted a Child care roundtable to learn about the huge challenges parents and child care centers are facing right now. Thank you for participating. In the roundtable, child care... More
July 21, 2020
ACT NOW: Ford must fully match federal transit funding
Transit agencies across Ontario have been cutting service and laying off workers because they have lost up to 100 percent of their fare revenue since March. Ontario’s largest transit agency, the TT... More
July 14, 2020
Ford’s COVID-19 bill gives blanket authority for Ontario to seize land and build near transit
This legislative session has revealed very clearly that Premier Ford wants the private sector to help pay for his four new transit projects. To offset the cost of station construction, Ford wants ... More
July 9, 2020
Ford must reverse decision forcing migrant workers with COVID-19 to keep working
Forcing migrant workers to work with COVID-19 risks additional outbreaks in this already hard-hit and marginalized community. It is also inhumane. I support Dr. Persaud’s call for an immediate rev... More
July 7, 2020
Bill 171 passed into law
Bill 171: The Building Transit Faster Act, 2020 passed into law today. Its purpose is to speed up the delivery of Ontario’s four priority transit projects: the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway ... More
June 30, 2020
New report reveals major delays on Ontario transit projects
On Monday, June 29th I sent a letter to the Minister of Transportation, Caroline Mulroney, demanding answers from the Ford government following a new report that revealed major delays that could se... More
June 23, 2020
Put an end to systemic racism and police violence
Dear Neighbour, Thank you to everyone who has tirelessly advocated for putting an end to systemic racism and police violence. Anti-Black racism is real and pervasive in our city, province, and cou... More
June 18, 2020
What Should School in September Look Like?
Emergency online learning was challenging for many parents, kids and teachers. No matter where kids learn, we need to do more to support high quality public education in Ontario. Join me on Mond... More
June 15, 2020
ACT NOW: Ensure child care reopens safely and affordably
Child care centres across the province were given the green light to reopen on Friday, June 12th. For parents who have been waiting for more support balancing the demands of work and child care d... More
June 4, 2020
Letter to Premier Doug Ford calling for a complete and transparent investigation into Mon Sheong Home for the Aged
On June 4, 2020, I sent a letter to Premier Doug Ford urgently requesting complete transparency as well as an immediate investigation into Mon Sheong Home for the Aged handling of a devastating COV... More
June 2, 2020
Privatized Ontario Line likely to be delayed
A report released in the Toronto Star today showed that Doug Ford’s privatized Ontario Line project is likely to miss its target 2027 completion date. The Ford government ripped up a shovel ready r... More
June 2, 2020
Bill 171 opens door for privatized delivery of transit
The Ontario Government is moving forward with Bill 171, The Building Transit Faster Act. This is what the bill does Bill 171’s purpose is to speed up the delivery of four transit projects: the Ont... More
May 28, 2020
Ford’s Bill 184 will make it easier for landlords to raise rent, evict renters
On Tuesday May 26, the Ford Government tried to slip through a bill - Bill 184 - that will make it easier for landlords to illegally raise the rent and evict renters. Here’s our summary of Bill 18... More
May 28, 2020
ACT NOW: Speak out against Bill 184, the Eviction Bill
COVID-19 is the worst health crisis we have had in over 100 years. Yet on May 28 the Ford Government rammed through a bill - Bill 184 - that will make it easier for landlords to illegally raise th... More
May 22, 2020
Protecting the public interest and confirming the status of the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries as a public trust
This week I joined with Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath and fellow Toronto NDP MPPs in sending a letter to Premier Ford concerning an important issue brought to my attention by Friends of... More
May 13, 2020
Work in the Time of COVID-19
This Tuesday, May 19, I will be hosting an online townhall on Work in the Time of COVID-19 featuring two special guests. Deena Ladd is a Co-founder and Coordinator of the Toronto Workers' Action... More
May 7, 2020
Long-Term Care and COVID-19
On Thursday, May 14, I hosted an online Townhall on Long-Term Care and COVID-19 featuring two special guests. Jane Meadus is a staff lawyer and institutional advocate with the Advocacy Centre for... More
April 15, 2020
PPE Urgently Needed at Long Term Care Homes
Today, I sent this letter to Hon. Christine Elliott, Minister of Health, regarding the COVID-19 outbreak at Mon Sheong Home for the Aged (D’Arcy Home). As of today, 49 residents and 13 staff have t... More
March 23, 2020
We are hiring legislative staff
We are hiring two positions: - a legislative assistant (full time, 6 week contract) - a legislative assistant (full time, permanent) The job description for both positions is the same. Ontario N... More
March 19, 2020
Summary of the Federal Government's Relief Measures for COVID-19
Our federal, provincial and municipal governments are working together to respond to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Yesterday, the federal government announced an $82 billion package of aid an... More
March 17, 2020
Today's COVID-19 response includes state of emergency plus funding
This morning, the Ontario Premier has declared a state of emergency and announced the first phase of the government’s response plan for COVID-19. The state of emergency gives the government emergen... More
March 16, 2020
Ontario NDP Calls for Additional Protections in COVID-19 Legislation
QUEEN’S PARK — Andrea Horwath said people deserve more financial protection than the government is currently contemplating in its emergency legislation, and has reached out to offer help to beef up... More
March 13, 2020
Updates on COVID-19 Coronavirus
Right now, I know many in our community are concerned about the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. My team and I will do our best to provide updates and direct constituents to reliable sources of ... More
March 13, 2020
ACT NOW: We Need a Vision Zero Strategy for Road Safety
Everyone has a right to feel safe on our roads, including drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, seniors, kids, and emergency road workers. But right now, our streets aren't safe. Each day, an average of ... More
February 26, 2020
MPP Bell calls for transit to be built faster with moratorium on using P3s to build transit
Jessica Bell, Ontario NDP Transit critic, is calling on Doug Ford to speed up the delivery of upcoming transit projects by stopping the use of P3 procurement, at least until the auditor general con... More
February 20, 2020