Dear Neighbour,
With the legislature adjourned as of June 5, this first week of my constituency block has proven to be incredibly busy with efforts that have taken me throughout the riding and the province. Below, I've outlined some of my reflections and am also sharing some really exciting opportunities and events that you may want to participate in. This Sunday also marks Eid al-Adha and I want to extend my best wishes everyone celebrating.
Reflections from This Week
Queen’s Park
Last week ended with the Premier rearranging his government by appointing new Ministers. There are now 36 Ministers in our province's cabinet, representing the most bloated cabinet ever recorded. To put it in perspective, nearly half of all elected Government MPPs are now Ministers. In fact, as one journalist pointed out, the Premier now boasts the most expensive Premier's Office, Cabinet, Budget, and Debt in our province's history. It would be another thing altogether if we at least had results to show for it, but it is clear that healthcare, housing and affordability are instead at historic levels of crisis throughout Ontario.
Don Valley East
On a typical day in the riding, I work with my team to speak with constituents, solve casework related to provincial issues and attend events as an ambassador for Don Valley East. I had an opportunity to do all of those things this week, and a few things were especially meaningful.
On June 7 we commemorated the National Day Against Gun Violence. Crime is a major concern for constituents, and we have had multiple incidents related of gun violence right here in Don Valley East. I had the privilege of joining students from Marc Garneau who have formed the Youth Voice Collective, and together we spoke about the impact of guns and crime while describing the action we must take for a safer future.
I have taken a number of steps to combat gun violence. One thing to highlight is my work with former colleague Mitzie Hunter about a law that would have introduced hospital- and community-based violence intervention programs while helping survivors of gun violence. You can read about it here. Unfortunately, when we tried to pass this legislation, the Premier and his government voted it down.
I also want to highlight another student-led initiative that took place at the Aga Khan Museum, in which Toronto and York Region students presented artwork revealing their experiences with hatred and racism. I was blown away by their talent and the depth of their perspectives.
Finally, many people will have heard about the recent horrific arson attack targeting a Muslim family in London, Ontario. My heart goes out to all those who were affected. While hate-motivated incidents leave us all feeling vulnerable and understandably scared, I find hope in other things such as the student-led initiatives I described above. They show me that our youngest generation is leading the way in creating a tolerant and pluralistic society.
Photos in the Community
Video of the Week
This week, I was proud to work with the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) to participate in province-wide public hearings on the state of primary care and hospitals. OHC is a non-partisan, not-for-profit advocacy group that exists to strengthen and nurture our public healthcare system. They are also headquartered right here in Don Valley East! Between my participation in their hearings and some additional meetings, I was able to gain some really exciting ideas about how we can expand access to team-based, equitable primary care. I'll write more about what that means and how we can achieve it in future emails.
Coverage in the Media
Expert panel gathers public feedback in Barrie to address Ontario health care crisis (ctvnews.com)
One panel member, Ontario Liberal Health Critic Dr. Adil Shamji, echoed those sentiments. "Health care is supposed to be comprehensive, universal, publicly administered, portable, and accessible. Those five things are the promises that the Canada Health Act makes. Those five things are the promises that Doug Ford has broken."
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
Toronto Police Services 33 Division Open House
Join me and community partners from across Don Valley East at an upcoming open house organized by the Toronto Police
Saturday, June 25th, 11:00am - 2:00pm
50 Upjohn Road, Toronto, ON
Ontario Legislative Assembly Page Program
Attention all parents and guardians! The Page Program is a great opportunity for students in Grades 8 and 9 to learn about the legislative process at Queen's Park.
Applications are due by Saturday, June 15 and can be submitted here.
At your Service
I hope that this has been a helpful email and that you have enjoyed my updates. Please don't hesitate to send us feedback so we can continue to improve and tailor this newsletter in a way that serves you best. Thank you and have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Adil