Dear neighbour,
On Tuesday, my two children returned to school.
They're now in Grade 6 and Grade 9, so while it isn't quite as momentous as it was in the early years, it is still an emotional day filled with anxiety, stress, pride, and relief.
My daughter, who is now nearly as tall as I am, took an Uber to school because she was running too late to take the TTC. She's anxious about the new attendance policy and doesn't want to lose marks because of a late arrival.
My son is in a large, packed classroom with many rambunctious boys. He calls them "his gang," so we'll see how learning goes this year. Fortunately, his teacher is excellent and knows how to maintain order.
I want the very best for both of my children, just as I want the very best for the one million school-aged children attending public schools across Ontario this year.
On the first day of school, the Minister of Education emailed parents celebrating the government's back-to-basics curriculum and the $750 provided to elementary teachers for classroom supplies.
What the government didn't mention is that teachers can only use those funds to purchase supplies from Staples, a U.S. retail giant, at inflated prices. Why a government would sign a contract with an American corporation that charges teachers rip-off prices in the middle of a trade dispute is beyond me.
What the Minister also didn't mention is that schools are coping with a $6.3 billion funding shortfall that has cut education to the bare minimum. Cafeterias have closed. More pools have shut down. Class sizes are large. Teachers have been laid off.
I know many of you feel as frustrated as I do. And yet, I also feel hopeful. Here’s why.
Ontario is home to two million parents and more than 250,000 teachers and education workers. Since it’s a bargaining year, the government is getting ready to spend millions of our money on ads so we blame each other for education’s shortcomings.
I know for certain that if we stand together and demand improvement for our schools, we will achieve better outcomes for our children.
If you'd like an update on what's happening in our schools, while enjoying some ice cream with your family, please join us at our Ice Cream Social at Margaret Fairley Park on Wednesday, September 16.
Sincerely,
Jessica Bell
MPP, University-Rosedale
In this newsletter:
- Join me for an education-themed back to school Ice Cream at Margaret Fairley Park
- Ontario’s homelessness crisis is getting worse
- NDP calls for stronger Buy Ontario First rules as trade war intensifies
- Opinion piece: How Ontario can take on Trump — and do some good at the same time
- Join me at the Seaton Village Eco-Fair
- Save the Model Schools Program
- Stand with teachers and education workers on September 16
- University–Rosedale Ward 11 City Councillor Candidates Debate
- Seniors Information & Resource Fair
- Marching together on Labour Day
- The Many vs the Money counter-summit and day of action
oin me for an education-themed back to school Ice Cream at Margaret Fairley Park
Happy back-to-school season! Join me and special guests from the Harbord Village Residents’ Association (HVRA) at Margaret Fairley Park (100 Brunswick Ave) on Wednesday, September 16, from 6:00–8:00 PM.
As we head into a new school year, this education-themed ice cream social is a chance for parents, students, educators, and neighbours to come together, meet our local school community, and get an update on the latest education issues affecting our schools.
Come enjoy some free ice cream, connect with your neighbours, and share what matters to you and your family. See you there!
RSVP here or in the button below.
Ontario’s homelessness crisis is getting worse
On Thursday, September 10, the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) released a new report on homelessness in Ontario, and the numbers are grim.
The report confirms what Ontarians are seeing every day. More people are sleeping on sidewalks, in condo stairwells, in tents in ravines, and in public spaces because they have nowhere else to go.
The FAO projects homelessness will rise to 88,859 people within two years, up from 76,741 people today.
Just when support is needed most, provincial funding is expected to go down. Recent spending increases have been time-limited and are set to expire after 2026-27. Total homelessness program spending is projected to fall from $948 million in 2026-27 to $708 million in 2027-28.
But while other provinces and municipalities are moving ahead with plans to end homelessness, Doug Ford is letting the problem get worse.
Here in Toronto, we are starting to see what happens when a city steps up to fill the gap. Homelessness is down 8% in our city since 2022.
Homelessness is not inevitable.
The Ontario NDP is calling for meaningful help and investment to end homelessness. An NDP government will establish a Homes Ontario agency to build affordable and supportive housing, bring in a rent freeze, and work with municipalities to provide immediate support to get people housed.
NDP calls for stronger Buy Ontario First rules as trade war intensifies
The trade war is escalating. Here is the latest.
On Monday, September 8, Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods came into effect after Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on $27.6 billion of Canadian goods.
In response, Trump escalated the trade war again on the very same day. The White House announced new import bans on certain Canadian goods, including most alcoholic drinks, some dairy products, and motorcycles, set to take effect by the end of the month. The Trump administration is also adding more Canadian products, including mattresses and motorboats, to the list of goods facing 50% tariffs.
There is no doubt this trade war will impact every single one of us. Jobs will be lost. Manufacturing will decline. Prices are going to go up.
We cannot control what Trump does, but we can control how Ontario responds.
On September 10, the Ford government announced it is expanding eligibility for its existing trade protection programs to cover more businesses affected by new U.S. tariffs.
This is not a new plan for workers. It is the same business support programs, expanded to more sectors affected by Trump’s latest tariffs.
We need a sound populist economic plan that helps Ontario emerge from this trade dispute stronger and less dependent on decisions made in Washington. That's why we're calling for stronger Buy Ontario First rules.
That means:
- Public dollars support Ontario and Canadian companies first.
- Reviewing government contracts and ending U.S. contracts where Canadian or Ontario alternatives exist.
- Using public infrastructure spending on housing, transit, hospitals, and schools to support Ontario workers and Ontario-made materials.
- Local job creation and training for all public spending contracts issued by the Ontario government.
Ontario needs a serious economic plan that protects workers, supports local businesses, invests in public services and infrastructure, and makes our province less dependent on decisions made in Washington. Ontarians are being told to buy local. They expect their government to do the same.
Opinion piece: How Ontario can take on Trump — and do some good at the same time
Many Ontarians are telling me they feel hopeless about the trade war with Donald Trump and its threat to Ontario’s economy. What can Ontario do?
The strongest protection against tariffs is to make Ontario less dependent on the United States by investing in public services, good jobs and local industry. One effective way to do that is through housing construction.
Ontario’s housing market is in trouble. Housing starts fell to about 65,400 in 2025, well below the roughly 150,000 homes per year needed to meet Ontario’s housing needs. The Ford government and the Carney government have responded with billions in low-interest financing, an HST exemption on new housing and reduced development charges, with most of it going to for-profit housing.
The problem is the for-profit housing industry builds what makes the most profit. In recent years, that has often meant tiny condominiums and expensive single-family homes. Construction of affordable housing, supportive housing, seniors’ housing, student housing and family-sized apartments remains far behind demand.
In difficult economic times, Ontario does not have the luxury of tackling one problem at a time. Rather than treating housing and economic development as separate issues, lawmakers should use housing construction as a tool to address both.
That is why we need Homes Ontario, a provincial agency responsible for approving, financing and supporting the construction of 30,000 non-profit homes each year. The goal is simple: build the homes Ontarians need while supporting employment and local industry.
You can read more of my op-ed here or by clicking the button below.
Join me at the Seaton Village Eco-Fair
I will be attending the Seaton Village Green Neighbours Eco-Fair on September the 19th, and I encourage you to join me.
In addition to its focus on home energy upgrades, including a heat pump and solar porch crawl starting from the stage at 2pm, the fair will feature a demo on how to construct a home air purifier, a plant zone with free native plants to take home, a kids' zone where kids can help artists make a fabulous banner, free apple cider and apple tastings from Karma Co-op, and so much more!
When: Saturday, September 19th (rain date September 20th); most activities start at 11AM
Where: Vermont Square Park (Palmerston Ave., 1 block south of Dupont; nearest subway stations: Bathurst or Dupont)
For more information, go to Eventbrite. Free…no registration required!
Save the Model Schools Program
Parents with the Save Model Schools Collective are calling on the Ministry of Education and the TDSB Supervisor to restore the Model Schools Program.
Model Schools have a 20-year track record of helping Toronto students achieve success in the face of external challenges.
Model Schools promote equity by leveling the playing field for all students, regardless of family income, parental education, or neighborhood resources. The Model Schools Program achieves this goal by directing targeted resources to the schools that need them most, typically providing additional teaching staff, community supports, and flexible funding to allow low-income students to participate fully in school.
Now, under provincial supervision, TDSB has eliminated all funding and support for the Model Schools Program in this coming school year.
Please download and share the petition here or by clicking on the button below that calls on the province and TDSB Supervisor to restore full funding and staffing to the Model Schools Program, and ensure any future decisions are made with transparency, accountability, and meaningful community consultation.
Stand with teachers and education workers on September 16
On September 16, teachers and education workers across Ontario are taking part in a province-wide Day of Action for properly funded and fully staffed schools.
Together, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU-CSCSO), the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO), the Education Workers’ Alliance of Ontario (EWAO), and the Ontario Council of Education Workers (OCEW) represent more than 275,000 workers who make publicly funded education possible.
They are calling for better learning and working conditions, real respect for education workers, and the funding our schools need to support students.
You can show your support by wearing red and purple on September 16, taking a photo with coworkers, friends, or neighbours, and sharing it on social media with #RedForEd and #OntEdUnited.
University–Rosedale Ward 11 City Councillor Candidates Debate
Residents are invited to attend a University–Rosedale Ward 11 City Councillor Candidates Debate on Thursday, September 24 at College Street United Church, 454 College Street, at the northwest corner of College and Bathurst.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the debate will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The debate will be moderated by Rory “Gus” Sinclair, and there will be time for audience questions.
Admission is free. Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to support the launch of the 2026 Annex/Seaton Village Thanksgiving and Winter Holiday Food Drive.
The event is organized by the Annex Residents Association, Bay Cloverhill Community Association, Harbord Village Residents Association, Palmerston Area Residents Association, and Seaton Village Residents Association.
Seniors Information & Resource Fair
TNG Community Services is hosting a Seniors Information & Resource Fair on Thursday, September 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 349 Ontario Street.
This is an opportunity for older adults, family members, and caregivers to meet local organizations, ask questions, collect resources, and learn more about programs and services available in the community.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Melissa Khedar at 416-684-9037 or [email protected].
Marching together on Labour Day
This Labour day, I was proud to march alongside workers, unions, and allies.
Workers have built this province into the place we call home today. They deserve good wages, safe workplaces, and stable jobs.
Any progress we have made was won by workers standing together. When workers organize, they have the power to change this province for the better. I continue to stand with workers every step of the way.
The Many vs the Money counter-summit and day of Action
CEOs from BlackRock, Blackstone, and other major global corporations are coming to Toronto for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s infrastructure summit.
Public infrastructure and public resources should not be sold off behind closed doors to the highest bidder. Airports, water systems, highways, ports, data centres, pipelines, and other major projects affect all of us. Their future should be decided by the public, not by the richest CEOs in the world.
From September 12 to 14, the Many versus the Money counter-summit will bring together organizers, researchers, workers, tenants, Indigenous leaders, climate advocates, anti-war activists, migrant justice organizers, and community members to push back against privatization and corporate control of public infrastructure.
The weekend includes a keynote with Naomi Klein and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor at OCAD University on Saturday, September 12, an all-day teach-in on Sunday, and a rally and march on Monday, September 14, starting at Nathan Phillips Square at 6 p.m.
This September, let’s give the 1% the welcome they deserve and let them know Canada is NOT for sale! Learn more and register here