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Dear friends,
Happy Canada Day!
Much has happened since our last newsletter. Here are just a few issues of note as well as some community information to keep you informed.
It has been a full year since you elected me as your representative at Queen's Park. Over the last year I have gotten to know many of you better. Whether I saw you at one of the 100+ community events I've attended, at the five town hall meetings I've held, or even recently at the local graduation ceremonies where I was honoured to present my Youth Leadership Award to some very talented and incredible young people, I am proud of our efforts and moments together so far.
It has been quite a busy year and in my last communication to you I have detailed the disappointing nature of this Conservative Government's policies; including the developer gift-basket known as Bill 108, cuts to Toronto Public Health, autism funding cuts, rejection of my Bill to hold insurance companies more accountable, cuts to healthcare and education, etc. The list of harmful policy proposals is almost endless including cuts to child nutrition, legal aid, etc.. But my colleagues and I continue to stand up for every day Ontarians.
At Queen's Park I pushed back again on Bill 108. I cannot underscore just how harmful it will prove to be for local communities who will have their voices stripped away from the decisions made about their future. That is why I asked many of you at our Town Hall to sign the petition against it. I presented that petition in the Legislature to let this Conservative Government know the residents of Humber River—Black Creek do not want this harmful Bill and that we are paying attention.
Watch the video of that here.
Congratulations to the Raptors on their win of the NBA Championship! Like you, I am proud of the fact that they are the first team outside the USA to win the Championship. Over one million of us attended the celebration which brought together people of all backgrounds, ages, nations of origin, languages, and religion. That is the power of sport and it was no better showcased than with Toronto's celebration of the Raptors' win.
As we all know it is becoming near impossible to afford tickets to major events in Toronto. While it is expected that prices for popular events will increase, like you, I was shocked to discover that scalpers are permitted to scoop up the majority of publicly available tickets, then turn around and sell list them at insane prices way beyond the reach of the vast majority of fans. When Raptors tickets hit the secondary market some even went for $60,000! The murky regime of ticket scalping and second-dealing by ticket vendors needs to change. That is why in my role as Critic for Government Services and Consumer Protection I asked the Premier directly why it was that this Conservative Government scrapped new rules designed to protect fans from predatory scalpers. They didn't like the question and offered no rationale or reasonable answer. Of course, we all know it was just another gift to big business at the cost of every day Ontarians.
Watch that video here.
In the closing days of this Legislative session, the Conservative Government introduced yet another harmful Bill that again rewards their big business buddies. Bill 118, the so-called "Occupiers' Liability Amendment Act" essentially does one thing: it harms victims. It protects big landlords and large companies from reasonable legal action from victims who slip, fall, and injured themselves on icy property. But this Government seems not to care about victims when it comes to protecting their big business buddies. That is why I made a point of highlighting the harmful nature of Bill 118 at Queen's Park.
Watch that video here.
It is going to be a busy summer and I look forward to seeing you at community events or perhaps even at your door.
In the meantime if you have any questions or concerns or simply want to bring to my attention an event or issue, please contact me at TRakocevic-CO@ndp.on.ca or 416-743-7272
Check out below for some more of what is going on in our community.
Regards,
-Tom
DUKE Eats Festival SATURDAY
DUKE Heights Business Improvement Area will be hosting its second annual outdoor food festival to highlight local food options. Get ready to eat, shop and have some fun with your family and friends. You'll find your favourite food trucks, local food stalls, craft market, free access to bouncy castle, games, and family fun activities, music & entertainment, raffle prizes, giveaways & more!
FREE
Saturday, June 29 from 5pm-9pm
1300 Finch Avenue West
Movie Nights In The Park
Bring a blanket or a folding chair and watch a flick under the stars with your neighbours.
Councillor Anthony Perruzza's Movie Night In the Park SATURDAY
Saturday, June 29 at 8pm
James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic High School – School Field
Emery Village Business Improvement Area Movie Night in the Park
Friday, July 19 at 9pm
Joseph Bannon Park
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) Headquarters Breaks Ground!
The new TRCA headquarters broke ground in our community. This state-of-the-art building will be built to the latest and greatest environmental and architectural standards and will be a model example of good building design. Located at 5 Shoreham Dr. it should be completed by 2021.
Tastes and Sound of Jane Finch
The San Romanoway Revitalization Association is holding its 2nd Annual Tastes and Sounds of Jane & Finch, a showcase of foods and music from around the world. The day will feature local artists and food trucks offering dishes from Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and beyond! Come and be a part of what we anticipate will be a spectacular day; one that will spotlight diversity and raise funds for this critical organization.
Saturday, July 20
2:00–6:00PM
See Eventbrite info here.
10 San Romanoway
Free First Aid Courses
This pilot project put on by the Toronto Office of Partnership, Enbridge Inc. and the Toronto Paramedics Services will be providing a FREE 1 Day course in Emergency First Aid and a FREE 2 Day course in Standard First Aid to support Neighbourhood Improvement Area (NIA) residents to increase employment options, help make their communities safer and help keep their families safe.
Sunday, 14 Jul 2019, 5:00 PM
Please visit the Eventbrite Link for the details
In The News:
New bill from Ontario Government gives even more power to developers
Read my article in the Downsview Advocate on why Bill 108 will be harmful to communities.
As always, follow me on Twitter and like my facebook page for the latest in our community.
Have a safe and happy summer!
-Tom
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