Bill 33 will also mandate school resource officers in schools where local police forces run such programs—forcing police back into schools despite evidence clearly showing it doesn't keep kids safe. (Sign here to say NO to Bill 33.)

Friends, we must fight to defend our schools from Ford’s undemocratic attacks. 

On Monday, September 08, join Leader Marit Stiles and our NDP team for a Virtual Town Hall organizing against Bill 33.

Together, we can ensure our kids have safe, supportive classrooms where they can thrive.

With warmth and gratitude,

Alexa

TDSB and TCDSB Contacts 

Now that Ford has removed our 37 elected trustees, you should report any issues at your school to one of the two Toronto supervisors or the Minister. (I hope they’re ready for the work load!):

Rohit Gupta, TDSB: [email protected]

Frank Benedetto, TCDSB: [email protected]

Minister Paul Calandra, Ontario Ministry of Education: [email protected] / [email protected]

News from Queen's Park and Beyond

EMANCIPATION MONTH FLAG RAISING

August is Emancipation Month in Ontario. I was honoured to speak at the Emancipation Month flag raising at Queens Park to honour and celebrate Black history and the emancipators of history. Watch my remarks here:

NDP CALLS FOR EMERGENCY TASK FORCE TO END OVERDOSE CRISIS 

The toxic drug is killing 7 people per day, and the Ford government doesn't have a plan to address it.

With the closure of safe consumption sites around the city the few that remain, including our Parkdale location, have seen a sharp rise in overdoses and safety concerns. The parkette next to the centre has always been a place where people in our community—especially people in need of support—gather. What we’re seeing now is the system straining beyond capacity. It’s not because harm reduction doesn’t work—the Ford government’s own expert advisors recommended keeping the sites open. It’s because the province has dismantled the network that supported these services. Everyone in our community cares deeply about keeping people alive while also wanting safer, cleaner shared spaces.

I spoke with CBC News following the centre’s announcement that they are temporarily closing the parkette. The closing of the parkette is a temporary, imperfect solution. What Parkdale residents want from our government is a compassionate evidence-based solution, and so do I.

For Overdose Awareness Day, I joined MPPs Robin Lennox and Kristyn Wong-Tam and advocates Diana Chan McNally and Hannah Robinson in calling on the government to strike an emergency task force and develop a comprehensive strategy to confront the Overdose Crisis:

BRING BACK RENT CONTROL

A new study has revealed a troubling trend with Canada’s largest private landlord — and other financial firms — nearly tripling the rate of eviction applications right after acquiring buildings to make room for higher-rent tenants. (Read more in The Toronto Star.) 

That means that renovictions and displacement are fueling the existing housing crisis. Not only that, the study also found that the same landlords are driving Toronto rent increases. They are charging monthly rents 44 per cent higher than the average neighbourhood price, with the highest increases in predominantly low-income neighbourhoods. 

Enough is enough. We can't keep letting corporate landlords drive people out of their homes. Sign my petition telling the government to pass my Rent Stabilization Act and bring back real rent control now. 

CELEBRATING UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY & HERITAGE MONTH

I was honoured to speak at the Ukrainian Independence Day festival in Etobicoke alongside my NDP colleague MPP Chris Glover.

As someone who grew up in Swansea, Bloor West Village — home to a vibrant Ukrainian community — I’ve always cherished the treasures our neighbourhood holds: the annual Ukrainian Festival, the Shevchenko Museum, the Berehynya mural, Ukrainian credit unions and beloved Ukrainian bakeries. On Ukrainian Independence Day and every day, we celebrate the beauty of Ukrainian culture while standing firm in our commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and self-determination.

I also want to recognize that this September marks Ontario’s first officially recognized Ukrainian Heritage Month, established by the Ukrainian Heritage Month Act, 2024. The month commemorates the anniversary of the first Ukrainian immigrants arriving in Canada on September 7 and the independence of Ukraine in 1991. 

Please join me September 13 and 14 in celebrating Ukrainian Heritage Month and our local Ukrainian community at the Ukrainian Solidarity Parade and Festival in Bloor West Village!  

JACK LAYTON MEMORIAL

I attended the Jack Layton Memorial hosted by the Douglas Coldwell Layton Foundation. The crowd was full of people echoing Jack's mission of "hope into action." Jack showed us what was possible and inspired us to strive for a better Canada.

When I talked to the other activists, community members and organizers who were there, I couldn't help but feel the contagious optimism. Remembering Jack reminded us to dream big, and now it's time for all of us to put in the work to make those dreams a reality.

Parkdale—High Park Happenings

Nothing beats ice cream in the park to close out the summer! I'm so thankful to have gotten the chance to meet and chat with so many of you at Lithuania Park last weekend.

We had a blast Friday at our Back to School Fair in Parkdale with free school supplies, face painting, games, pizza and ice cream! Many thanks to everyone who came to volunteer and enjoy time together.

On Saturday, it was Back to School x2, as I was invited by the tenant organizers at Cooper Mills-Gooch to give out school supplies at their community BBQ. I met so many great folks and heard concerns about affordability and our education system. The residents here know how to support one another. I learned a lot and was fed, body and soul.

I stopped by the Parkdale Music Crawl and saw THIS CORNER jamming.

I got to chat with Keys to the Studio: a music program designed specifically for people diagnosed with developmental and intellectual disabilities. So cool to have such talented musicians brighten up the streets of Parkdale with their talents.

It was wonderful connecting with our Roncesvalles neighbours and hearing what's top of mind for them as we get ready to head back to the Legislature. Key themes were education, housing, and community services.

I hope you'll join us for one of our future community canvasses! (More info soon.) 

So encouraged by yesterday’s shoulder-to-shoulder march with workers, unions, and community members in Toronto’s Labour Day March.

In Parkdale–High Park, we see the strength of our labour movement every day — from frontline healthcare workers and educators to transit operators, retail staff, and skilled tradespeople — all working to keep our communities thriving.