Dear neighbour,
A group promoting mass deportations and anti-immigrant hate is planning a rally at Christie Pits Park on Saturday, September 13. This kind of event is dangerous. It targets people who already face systemic discrimination, including newcomers, racialized communities, and people without status.
Christie Pits is a park that I take my kids to. It’s a gathering space for many communities to relax, play, and be together. Since 1933, when Jewish and Italian youth stood together to fight back against a Nazi demonstration, it’s also a place with a powerful history of standing up to hate and anti-facist resistance.
On September 13, I’ll be joining a peaceful, family-friendly counter-rally organized by Migrant Workers Alliance for Change. It will include music, community speakers, snacks, and workshops. Everyone is welcome.
We’ll be gathering by the Tiger Statue at noon. You can learn more about the event here. If you’d like to join me, let my office know that you are coming by RSVPing here.
Bring your neighbours, bring your family, and bring your voice. Let’s stand together and send a clear message: hate has no home in Christie Pits.
Sincerely,
Jessica Bell
MPP, University-Rosedale
In this newsletter:
- Healthcare Townhall: September 17
- Meet us in the Park!
- Join me for Ice Cream at Bickford Park
- What do the new housing rules mean for University-Rosedale?
- Buying Canadian: Grocery stores aren’t making it easy
- Manufacturing hit hard as job losses mount
- Marching together on Labour Day
- Renter Social: Recap
- Share your feedback about a maximum indoor temperature requirement
Healthcare Townhall: September 17
Did you know that some people in our province are paying high fees and facing unexpected charges to see a doctor?
Ontario's public healthcare system is designed to provide service based on need - not the ability to pay. However, we're seeing more and more for-profit healthcare providers enter our province, from for-profit surgery delivery to for-profit primary care clinics.
The question we are facing together is this: how is privatization changing our healthcare system, and what can we do about it?
Join me, MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, MPP Robin Lennox, and others to get an update on what we're seeing in healthcare here in Toronto, what you can do to protect yourself from being billed for medically necessary care, and how we can safeguard our public healthcare system.
When: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Where: Online (Zoom) - RSVP for Link
Who: Everyone is welcome!
Meet us in the park!
As August turns into September, I am continuing to bring my community office pop-up to local parks on Thursday evenings. Come by to say hello, share what’s on your mind, and find out how my team and I can help you with provincial issues. I hope to see you there.
You can join us at:
Jesse Ketchum - September 11 (5.30 - 7.30PM)
College Park - September 18 (5.30 - 7.30PM)
Join me for Ice Cream at Bickford Park
Let’s connect, chat, and cool off with some free ice cream! On Monday, September 15, join us at Bickford Park (400 Grace St) from 5:30–7:30 PM.
Let’s take some time to connect, enjoy the park, and talk about what’s on your mind as we head into the fall and back-to-school season.
Everyone is welcome and I hope to see you there.
When: September 15 at 5:30PM
Where: Bickford Park (400 Grace St)
Please note: in the event of rain, this event will be cancelled.
What do the new housing rules mean for University-Rosedale?
In August, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Robert Flack, approved changes to encourage the construction of more apartments and condos near transit stations and require new developments to include some affordable homes.
The rules will increase density and raise maximum heights in the area surrounding 120 transit stations, including every transit station in University-Rosedale. The city has a map detailing the new rules for each train station.
I’ve long supported density near transit and stronger inclusionary zoning rules. But I have concerns. The affordable housing requirement is smaller than what the city proposed back in 2021, and it applies only to future developments. That means new buildings already approved on Dalton, Walmer, Spadina, and Bathurst are not required to build any affordable housing. What a lost opportunity.
I’m also concerned the new rules don’t ensure we’re building the kinds of homes Toronto actually needs: two- and three-bedroom apartments, rentals, senior housing, and supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness. And there’s no clear process for how people apply for the few affordable units that will exist. We need a centralized, transparent system, not a patchwork of developer-run applications.
We have to scale up housing that meets the housing needs of our city.
I welcome your feedback on these new changes to density and inclusionary zoning.
Please reach out to my office at [email protected]. You can read more of my thoughts here.
Buying Canadian: Grocery stores aren’t making it easy
People in our community want to do their part and support our country, our province, and local businesses by buying Canadian. Grocery stores have flagged lots of products with maple leaf signage and symbols, but this doesn’t necessarily make it easy to find Canadian-made and Ontario-made products.
I recently visited a local big-chain supermarket in our riding, and found products from honey to orange juice mislabeled or misadvertised as ‘Canada’ or ‘Canadian’ in-store. This is because our current labelling system is unclear and vague - only ‘Product of’ or ‘Grown in Canada’ actually describes a product that is fully produced and made by Canadian workers.
When you’re shopping at the grocery store, always be sure to double check the label: ‘Packaged in Canada’ or ‘Bottled in Canada’ mean the product can come from anywhere and is only finished in Canada. Many grocery giants have used this to falsely advertise or mislabel products that aren’t Canadian - known as ‘Maplewashing’ - as CBC reported this week.
Earlier this year, the Ontario NDP introduced a law to solve this issue, and mandate the labelling of Canadian-made products, including food, so people across Ontario can visit their local grocery store and clearly choose to buy Ontario-made and Canadian-made products. The Conservative government put politics ahead of patriotism and voted it down
Manufacturing hit hard as job losses mount
Ontario lost 38,000 jobs last quarter, according to a new report from the Financial Accountability Office (FAO). Manufacturing was hit hardest, with nearly 30,000 jobs lost in that sector alone. Business services, agriculture, transportation and warehousing also saw major cuts.
The FAO points to rising U.S. tariffs as a key driver and warns the trend could continue. Ontario’s unemployment rate has now climbed to 7.8%, the highest it’s been since 2012 (outside the pandemic). These aren’t just numbers. They’re paycheques lost, families under stress, and communities that can’t afford more uncertainty.
As more workers feel the pressure, it’s clear we need more than short-term relief. I’ve been working on the NDP Leader’s Advisory Council on Tariff Response and Economic Security, where we’re developing a made-in-Ontario response to this escalating trade conflict.
Ontario’s recovery must put workers first. That means introducing clear, mandatory “Made in Canada” labelling so people can support Canadian jobs at the checkout. It means using public dollars wisely by strengthening procurement rules so when we spend on hospitals, housing, or new subway cars, we’re creating good jobs right here at home. And it means boosting investment in public infrastructure, from school repairs to affordable housing, to keep people working in every region of the province.
I’ll keep pushing for long-term solutions to protect jobs, support affected workers, and build a resilient economy. I want to hear your thoughts on this. Email me at [email protected].
Renter Social: Recap
Last month, people from across our city came together at our Renter Social to share and strategize.
It was wonderful to be joined by activists and stakeholders from the Federation of Metro Tenants Association (FMTA), ACORN Toronto, Fair Rent Ontario, Downtown Legal Services, University-Rosedale Tenants Association Network and the University of Toronto Student's Union (UTSU), along with tenants throughout our community.
From students to seniors, we're ready to work side-by-side to make renting safer and more affordable, so that everyone has a place to call home.
If you're a renter looking for help or advice, please contact our office at [email protected] or 416-535-7206
Marching together on Labour Day
It was empowering to march alongside workers, unions, and allies this Labour Day. Workers have put Ontario first and built it into the place we call home today. Now it’s time for our government to do the same.
That means real action to protect jobs from U.S. tariffs. It means strong Made in Ontario rules to keep public dollars in our communities. And it means investing in the public infrastructure we need, while making sure those projects create local, decent jobs.
Share your feedback about a maximum indoor temperature requirement for rental units and cooling rooms
Like many cities around the world, Toronto is experiencing more frequent heat events and extended heat waves outside of seasonal norms. Indoor temperatures in apartment buildings are a particular concern, as tenants living in units without air conditioning or other cooling equipment may be at higher risk of heat-related health impacts.
In December 2024, Toronto City Council endorsed a maximum indoor temperature requirement for rental units and cooling rooms. For tenants, this may mean that your home or a common room in your building cannot be more than 26 degrees Celsius during the summer. To support this, the City is seeking input from residents, tenants, and rental property owners to determine how to achieve a maximum indoor temperature requirement. Submit your feedback by September 8, 2025 using this online form.