Dear Neighbour,
Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, I’d like to extend my warmest wishes for health, happiness, and success in the months ahead. I mention warm wishes very deliberately, because the weather has been frigid lately. My thoughts are especially with those who are less fortunate, having seen firsthand as an emergency physician how dangerous this kind of weather can be. Let’s all bundle up, drive carefully, and check in on each other.
By now, I hope you have received your 2025 community calendar. My team has worked as hard as we can to make it accurate and helpful. This year, we’ve added many helpful guides to give you a head-start on some of the most common issues that come up in my office. Here’s an example of our guide on tips for accessing healthcare, found towards the back of the calendar (tip: it’s easier to read the printed version!).
Besides the calendar, our office has been fully engaged with a series of events. Thank you to everyone who attended our Holiday Skate before the break - especially the very talented young children who quite literally skated circles around me.
If you weren’t able to attend that, there’s another opportunity to join our office on January 25 at 1:00PM for our New Year’s Levee. It will be a wonderful opportunity to connect, share ideas, and celebrate the year ahead. It takes place at the IBEW building, 1377 Lawrence Avenue East.
Finally, we are in a season of holidays and the beautiful diversity of our riding is reflected in the following list:
To those who celebrated Epiphany on January 6th, may this occasion bring peace, hope, and light to your year.
For those who marked Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti on January 6th, I hope the Guru's teachings inspire courage, compassion, and wisdom in your lives.
I wish all who observed Armenian Christmas on January 6th or Orthodox Christmas on January 7th, joy and abundant blessings.
Yawm-e Ali is celebrated next week, marking the birth of Hazrat Ali. Mubaraki to all those who are celebrating.
Tamil Heritage Month has now begun, and next week is Thai Pongal - a holiday celebrated by the Hindu and Tamil communities. Happy Pongal!
And now - on to our first newsletter of 2025.
Legislative Update
The threat of tariffs imposed by President Trump has dominated headlines in the new year, along with the suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state.
No, thank you.
Let’s be clear about the fact that a 25% tariff from our closest ally would be damaging to the economies of both Canada and the United States. And let’s also be clear that we can’t lose sight of the fact that there are so many provincial issues that need attention now. For example, hospitals in Toronto are currently in “extreme surge” and overwhelmed due to respiratory illnesses. The housing sector is in crisis. All of these things deserve our attention. In my opinion, the legislature should be at work right now to address these issues but - unbelievably - it is adjourned until March 3.
Several other things have transpired this week. A strike in the college sector was narrowly averted by the decision of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and College Employer Council (CEC) to enter binding arbitration. Unfortunately, situations like this arise because Ontario colleges (and more broadly, the post-secondary sector) are struggling with inadequate funding. Substantial investments for OSAP, students, and colleges/universities are necessary to deliver the high quality education that Ontarians deserve.
Finally, the federal government announced on Friday that medically necessary services provided by nurse practitioners should be covered by provincial health plans. I have been advocating about this for a long time and had even introduced legislation to accomplish this, which was unfortunately voted down. I hope that the Legislature will now reconsider my plan so we can ensure that everyone has access to high-quality care primary care, including from nurse practitioners, without resorting to their credit card.
Constituency Update
Ever since our office reopened after the holiday break, we have been inundated by a record number of phone calls, walk-ins, and inquiries. Many of these have been to extend good wishes in the new year, but there have been many constituents who have needed help as well. That’s what we’re here for.
I have previously written about the growing food insecurity being experienced in the riding, and across Ontario. Over the holidays, I was thrilled to participate in the Ismaili Civic Holiday Food Drive which procured over 12,000 pounds of non-perishable food items. I am in awe of the hardworking volunteers who made this initiative possible – thank you so much for all the work you do for Don Valley East.
In December, the auditor general released a sobering new timeline for the Ontario Science Centre. It seems as though we will now have to wait until 2029 for it to re-open and that the estimated cost has gone up by over $400 million. This news provides even more reasons as to why the Science Centre should not be relocated to Ontario Place, and instead stay where it is on Don Mills Road. I will continue to demand this.
Adil in the Community
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
January 7 – 23: Empowering Parents: Positive Parenting Workshops in Arabic, Dari/Farsi and Pashto
Join the Home Essentials Newcomer Support programing this month! The sessions aim to support families by providing a better understanding of how the school system, law enforcement, and mental health resources work in Canada. For more information on sessions, see this poster.
January 25: MPP Adil Shamji’s New Years Levee
Join our office for a celebration of the incredible contributions members of Don Valley East have made in 2024. There will be refreshments, live music, and members from all parts of the riding in attendance. Please join us from 1:00pm – 3:00pm on January 25th at IBEW Local 353 (1377 Lawrence Ave. East). Help us plan by RSVPing here: ashamji.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org.
January 2025: EarlyON Calendar
Registration is now open for all January programming at the Don Valley East EarlyON Child and Family Centres! More information can be found on this flyer or by emailing DonValleyEastEarlyON@familydaycare.com.
NYGH Starting Work to Revitalize Aging Birthing Centre
North York General Hospital has started the vital work of revitalizing their aging Birthing Centre to deliver a modern standard of comfort to all patients, babies and their families. To read more, see this news release.
Deadline Jan 23: Student Trustees Election
Do you have a young leader in your life who wants to better the education system? Do you know a high school student interested in government? If so, you should let them know the TDSB Student Trustees Election will take place on February 26 and 27, 2025. Students in grades 10 and 11 are eligible to apply and will be emailed the necessary information in the coming days. Before applications open on January 23, interested candidates are required to attend a virtual Student Trustee Information Session on January 15.
Deadline Jan 31: Flemo Farm Community Farmer Applications
Flemo Farm is excited to soon welcome 3 new community farmers from the Flemingdon and Thorncliffe area. The deadline to apply is January 31st. For information on how to apply, see this flyer.