Jessica Bell MPP, University–Rosedale

Dear neighbour,

Ontario is flying through serious economic turbulence because of Donald Trump’s trade war.

The 2025-2026 provincial budget should be helping tariff-proof our economy, by getting Ontario building, looking after people, and growing a sustainable economy. 

What we got instead is a mean Conservative band-aid budget – there’s a lot here for big business, but struggling hospitals and schools are getting shortchanged, and there’s nothing to help people afford the groceries or pay the rent.

Over the past few months, people have been asking themselves: why wasn’t Ontario in a stronger position to take on tariffs? This provincial budget offers a clue.

The budget makes serious cuts of $1.2 billion to post-secondary education, and doesn’t reverse the $1,500 per student funding cut our schools have experienced since the Conservatives came to power in 2018. There is also no new investment for the basics like school nutrition, transportation or special education. 

When it comes to housing, the Conservatives have thrown in the towel, and cut funding to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing by $379 million. New housing construction has fallen to a 30 year low, while rents remain cripplingly expensive. There’s no credible plan to fix the growing homelessness crisis.

And as our public health care system groans under the weight of demand, the Conservatives are investing an additional $280 million in for-profit health care clinics, continuing their dangerous plan to expand for-profit health care in Ontario.  

That’s not to mention the $266 million of cuts to Children, Community and Social Services, and the $42 million being taken away from wildland firefighting, as the Conservatives let their ant-environment ideology get in the way of planning for the long-term.

This is a band-aid budget that fails to deliver the reassurance, relief and results we need.

You can read my full thoughts on the provincial budget here.

Sincerely,

Jessica Bell
MPP, University-Rosedale

• Get your break down on the 2025 budget

The 2025 Ontario budget will set the path for our province for the next 12 months. Join me and MPP Alexa Gilmour (Parkdale–High Park) online, as we break down this year’s budget, what’s included in it and how it impacts you, on Wednesday May 21 at 7pm. 

Please RSVP here to receive the link.

• Emergency Townhall on Public Education! Join us May 20

Join me, MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto Centre), and TDSB Ward 10 Trustee Deborah Williams on Tuesday May 20 at 8pm for an emergency townhall about the state of public education and what you can do to fight the cuts facing our schools. Our students deserve the very best - it’s time for the government to reverse the $1,500 per student funding cut.

The Zoom link will be sent to all RSVPs on the day of the event. 

Please RSVP here to receive the link.

• Workers are worried and jobs are on the line: What is the Premier’s plan?

Workers in our riding and across Ontario are worried about Trump’s tariffs and families are struggling to keep up with rising prices across our province. Last month’s report by Ontario’s financial watchdog paints an alarming picture, with up to 60,000 manufacturing jobs at risk because of tariffs in the next year alone. That’s why I asked the Premier a very simple question: What is your plan to protect Ontario jobs?

We need action to keep jobs here in Ontario, support workers and provide the economic security that people need. When it comes to jobs we deserve answers, not government press releases.

• A step forward on primary care, but a sidestep on helping patients now

On May 5, the government introduced Bill 11, the More Convenient Care Act, 2025 to define what Ontarians should expect from primary care. The bill outlines goals like the right to a primary care provider, timely access to care, and teams-based care that meets local needs. We are supporting this bill.

To address the acute shortage in primary care in select postal codes (and some of these postal codes are in University–Rosedale), the government has also asked health care providers to apply to expand their primary care operations to help attach people to a primary care provider.

While these are very good steps, the funding commitment falls well short of ensuring the 2.3 million without a family doctor actually get one.

Health care providers are also concerned this funding can’t be applied to top up wages to keep and recruit nurses, social workers, and other support staff.  We are also concerned about the challenges faced by existing patients, because the new funding available to health care providers can only be used for new patients.

It's a positive start, but we need to go further.

• Celebrating our community

This week, our community came together at Cecil Community Centre for a heartfelt evening of celebration at our 2025 Community Recognition Awards. It was a chance to honour the care and action taking place throughout our riding, and recognize the remarkable contributions of people who continue to shape their neighbourhoods for the better.

As advocates for better housing, youth champions, and strong voices for our environment, our neighbours have built bridges and made University–Rosedale an even more special place than before. I know that like me, you’re proud to call it home.

Thank you to all those who joined us and to the extraordinary people across University–Rosedale who show us what the very best of our city can be. You can view the full list of 2025 award recipients here.

• Conservatives reject funding critical care and restoring services

This week, the Conservatives voted down a clear ask from myself and my Official Opposition colleagues: to build care and strengthen Ontario in the face of Donald Trump’s tariffs and their economic impact.

At a time when our province is facing unprecedented economic uncertainty, no community in our province should be left with closed emergency rooms, unavailable urgent care spaces, and delayed hospital projects. 

That’s why we brought forward a motion to build new hospitals where they are needed most, and to restore 24/7 emergency services and urgent care to communities where patients have been left behind. Prioritizing critical health care infrastructure like this could and should have been fully funded in the provincial budget.

Our public health care system makes us proud to live in our country and our province, but the government continues to pursue their dangerous plan to expand for-profit health care in Ontario.

• What should Ontario do to protect our children on social media?

I regularly hear from parents about the impact of social media on our children. Evidence is showing that excessive screen time and social media use are increasingly linked to mental health concerns in youth, including addiction, anxiety, and depression.

Governments and institutions are taking steps to curb the harmful effects of social media on our children.  Cell phone use is banned in Ontario public schools. Ontario school boards are taking legal action against social media companies. Countries like Australia have enacted outright social media bans for children under 16.  

It’s time for Ontario to investigate what more we can do here. That’s why I’m calling on the Ontario Legislature to investigate the impact of social media on youth and develop clear policy recommendations for the legislature and institutions to enact. This could range from restricting the use of addictive platform features, restricting use for children under a certain age, or clear health warnings from Public Health. 

Just as we have warnings for tobacco or alcohol, we need evidence-based guidance for digital well-being.

Add your voice. Sign the petition to help protect youth mental health and ensure stronger oversight of social media platforms.

• Support our kids! Join our rally for Education Funding on May 24

The Toronto District School Board is facing a yawning financial gap between what the Ministry of Education requires the board to deliver and what it actually provides in funding. Since 2018, schools in Ontario have lost about $1,500 per student when adjusted for inflation. This has resulted in larger classes, cancelled programs, delayed repairs, and a growing crisis in special education.

We need to turn this around. That’s why I’m helping to organize a rally at Queen’s Park on Saturday, May 24 at 12pm, to demand proper investment in public education. Join parents, students, educators, education workers, and community members from across Ontario. This is a family-friendly, accessible event. Bring your signs, your stories, and your support.

Click here for more information and to RSVP.