Get Ready for My Community Fair & BBQ!
Upcoming community barbecue, back to school, coronation medals, and more.
Dear Neighbour,
Every year, Labour Day weekend marks the symbolic end of our summer and back to school season. It’s a moment to pause and spend time with friends and family before the air turns crisp, fall begins, and life gets busier for all of us.
Though the end of summer may be approaching, there’s no need to despair because I’ve got lots for you to look forward to! Specifically, I’d like to invite you to my Community Fair and Barbecue. It's taking place on Friday, September 13th at 5pm, located at the IBEW Building (1377 Lawrence Avenue E). Tell your friends and family so they can all join us for fun, games, information booths and – most importantly – burgers!
With school about to begin next week, I want to wish our students my very best for a fun and productive academic year. Thanks, also, to all the parents who support them and make it possible for them to excel in their studies.
Finally, while Labour Day weekend may be a symbolic summer milestone, its greater significance to me lies in the celebration of workers and honouring all those who have fought to secure better rights, fair wages and safer working conditions. This weekend, let’s show our appreciation to healthcare workers, educators, tradespeople, retail workers and so many more.
Please enjoy my updates this week and set aside the evening of Friday, September 13th at 5pm to join me at my barbecue!
Constituency Update
As you may recall, King Charles was officially crowned on May 6, 2023 and at that time became King of Canada. A commemorative medal has been created to be awarded to prominent Canadians across the country.
I need your help to identify prominent members in or from our community to be nominated for this award. Candidates for this award should meet the following national criteria:
Have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada, and
Be alive on 6 May 2023. The award can be made posthumously, as long as the candidate was alive on that date.
Have not been convicted of a criminal offence nor have been subject to an official sanction by an adjudicating body, professional association or other organization, or conducted themselves in a manner that constitutes a significant departure from generally recognized standards of public behaviour.
I have written extensively about how special I think our community is, and so please help me by identifying outstanding individuals. If you think someone should be nominated, please fill out this form before September 10th.
Legislative Update
I’ve written extensively about the challenges we face in healthcare and housing. This week, I’d like to touch on a recent energy announcement from the government, in which they have opened a procurement process to add 5000 megawatts of power to our energy grid. To put this in perspective, the City of Toronto consumes about 4,700 megawatts of power during periods of peak demand.
Electricity is crucial for our future and environmental sustainability, while also having a major impact on our daily cost of living. We wouldn’t be scrambling to secure so much new energy if the current government hadn’t forced us to take steps backwards. For example, in 2018, the Premier cancelled renewable energy contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars that have set us back in our capacity. In the process, he has also been steadily increasing our dependence on fossil fuels and ripping out electric vehicle infrastructure. If we’re serious about protecting the environment and addressing our growing demands for electricity, it will require a government that can bring seriousness and predictability in the sector. Instead, all we have seen is turnover and instability in Cabinet, with the last Minister of Energy being shuffled out and then precipitously resigning altogether from Parliament.
Out in the Community
Video of the Week
This week we learned that exhibits have begun to be removed from the Ontario Science Centre. We continue to wholeheartedly oppose the closure of the Science Centre which is reckless, expensive and uncalled for. In the attached clip, I host a press conference with Brian Rudy, who is the principal architect at Moriyama Tashima Architects, the firm which designed the Science Centre. Together, we explain why the Science Centre is safe and should be maintained where it is.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Community Fair & BBQ
You are officially invited to our end-of-summer Community Fair & BBQ on Friday, September 13th from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at 1377 Lawrence Ave E! Join us for hamburgers and fun activities all while connecting with Don Valley East community organizations and provincial resources. While an RSVP isn’t necessary, it will help us plan if you do. Please fill out this form or email ashamji.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org.
If you would like to volunteer with my office and help make this event possible, please reach out to my office at ashamji.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org.
Seniors Town Hall
I will be hosting a Senior’s Town Hall on September 12th from 3:00 – 4:00 PM at 1 Overland Dr. (Better Living Health and Community Services). Join me for a discussion of issues affecting seniors in the riding and in the province. Light refreshments will be provided.
10 Sunny Glenway Community Fun Fair
10 Sunny Glenway is hosting a Community Fun Fair on Sunday, September 1st from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM. My office will have a booth (with ice cream!), so swing by and enjoy all the great programming.
2024 Labour Day Parade
Mark your calendars for this year’s Annual Labour Day Parade on Monday, September 2nd. The parade begins at 9:30 AM at Queen/University and end near the CNE.
At Your Service
I hope that this has been a helpful email and that you have enjoyed my updates. Please don't hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions or send us feedback so we can continue to improve this newsletter in a way that serves you best. Thank you and have a great long weekend!
Sincerely,
Adil