There’s no place like home: Constituency Week in Don Valley East
Neighbourhood connections, attainable housing, and the Eglinton Crosstown
Dear Neighbour,
This week I had the pleasure of working out of my constituency office here in Don Valley East because the Legislature was adjourned. Each day was jam-packed with constituent meetings, canvasses, and a wealth of events which allowed me to build deeper connections with all of you and find new ways to improve our community.
Here’s a snapshot into some of the work we did:
Knocked doors around Broadlands Park to discuss local issues with neighbours on Saturday.
Came out for a ‘Cops and Kids’ hockey practice in Flemingdon Park on Sunday.
Honoured the valiant sacrifices of our veterans with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on Monday.
Visited the Sridurga Hindu Temple Mandir to commemorate Hindu Heritage Month in our riding on Tuesday.
Joined the Community Share Food Bank to hear about their efforts to fight food insecurity on Wednesday.
Met with the For You Telecare Family Service at the Korean Canadian Cultural Centre on Wednesday.
Checked in on local businesses across the riding to hear about the challenges they face on Thursday.
Learned from the amazing Air Cadets at 166 Bulldog Squadron on Thursday.
Closed the week by knocking on doors in the Parkwoods neighbourhood on Friday.
In between, our team has been working hard to solve constituent cases and finish off some exciting tasks like holiday cards and our 2025 calendar.
I’d like to wish the Sikh community a day filled with joy and peace as they celebrate the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji – happy Gurpurab! This week also marked Nurse Practitioner Week. Thank you to all the incredible, resilient nurses that uphold our healthcare system day in and day out.
And finally: if you’ve been one of the lucky folks able to catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift this week/weekend, let us know!
Legislative Update
It’s been so great to be in the community over the course of Constituency Week, but a number of public policy updates have been unfolding and, as always, I want to keep you updated.
In a previous newsletter, I discussed the home care crisis brought on by the current government’s hasty and reckless decision to tear down the home care system and replace it with Ontario Health atHome. This week, an investigative journalist with the Toronto Star revealed that the shortage of supplies for home care patients across Ontario was brought on by this government’s own mismanagement.
We learned that when switching to the Ontario Health atHome model and their new suppliers, supply lists were finalized at the last minute, supply forecasts were set too low, and fewer suppliers were left to cover larger areas. It was mismanaged from head to toe, and as a result, thousands of home care patients had to do without vital materials.
Another thing we learned is that the Premier still hasn’t come up with a definition for ‘attainable housing’ after two years of using the term to set housing goals. It’s concerning that it’s taking the government this long to define one their own terms, but it may explain why they are so behind on their housing targets.
Constituency Update
Usually, birthdays are a cause for celebration, but the fourteenth birthday of the Eglinton Crosstown this week is hardly a joyous occasion. While the Eglinton Crosstown is almost old enough to get a driver’s license, over the last six years we have seen construction and testing significantly slow down under the current government. The frustration over delays is immense, but it is perhaps the lack of transparency and accountability from the current government that has bothered us most. You are right to be concerned, and I intend to once again bring those concerns to the Legislature
As I've mentioned in previous newsletters, my office will be sending out holiday cards very soon. Please send me an email with your home address and I will make sure that you hear from me. Also, keep an eye out for updates on our new satellite office hours project in Flemingdon Park. My team and I want to make sure we’re meeting our constituents where they’re at and help in any way that we can.
Highlights of the Week
Adil in the Media
#onpoli, a TVO podcast - Omny.fm
“I have to say that's a clever new line of attack [they] have taken. That's MPP for Don Valley East in Toronto, Adil Shamji, who I remind everybody is a medical doctor, so he not only knows this issue as a critic for [his caucus] but from his entire professional life.”
Single-family home starts hit 69-year low in new Ontario housing data | Globalnews.ca
“Ontario Liberal MPP Adil Shamji said it simply wasn’t possible for the government to hit its target, claiming it is already out of reach.
‘This government cannot build houses when interest rates are up; they also cannot build houses when interest rates are down because we’ve seen repeated interest rate drops over the past year,’ he said.
‘These are just distractions and they are excuses from the fact Doug Ford is a massive failure on many things, including housing.’”
Video of the Week
As Nurse Practitioner Week comes to a close, I want to thank NPs for the amazing work that they do. I’ve seen the skill, talent, and leadership of NPs up close. Let’s commit to celebrating NPs today and doing the hard work to empower them everyday.
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
November 19: Flemingdon Health Centre: Diabetes Review Sessions
Join the Flemingdon Health Centre for their annual Diabetes Review Session, including lunch and an informative presentation on physical activity. The event will be on November 19th from 11:00am – 1:00pm at 5 Fairview Mall Drive, Suite 359. For more information, see this flyer.
November 20: Legal Information Webinar: Sponsorship, Super Visas and Family Reunification
The Don Valley Community Legal Services (DVCLS) is hosting a Legal Information Webinar on Sponsorship, Super Visas and Family Reunification this November 20th from 6:30pm - 8:00pm. You can register on zoom by visiting this link.
November 23: Documentary Screening of The Right to Read
The Adult Literacy Collective is hosting an exclusive screening of The Right to Read on November 23rd at 12:30pm at Palmerston Library (560 Palmerston Ave). For more information on how to register, see this poster.
November 27: Metrolinx Flemingdon Park Open House
Metrolinx is hosting an in-person open house for community members to learn more about the upcoming Ontario Line Construction in Flemingdon Park. This open house will take place on November 27th from 6:30pm – 8:00pm at Gateway Public School (55 Gateway Blvd). For more information, visit this link.
Deadline on December 2: Ontario Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant
The Ontario Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant aims to combat hate in the province through supporting stronger, safer and more inclusive communities. Organizations are eligible for a one-time grant between $5,000 and $10,000. Applications are open until December 2nd. For more information, visit this link. Please contact our office if you have any questions or require any assistance completing an application.
At Your Service
I hope that this has been a helpful newsletter 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 weekend!
Sincerely,
Adil