Hello <<First Name>>,
Our city has been in the grips of a housing crisis for several years. People are worried. I hear from many of you on this issue and am always amazed at the broad range of people that this issue is affecting directly. I hear from seniors who are being forced from their homes because they can't afford the rising rent on their fixed incomes. Some are forced to rely on local food banks for support. I hear from parents who are working long hours to provide for their families, and they are still finding it tough to make ends meet. Housing costs are eating up a bigger portion of their household budget, leaving less and less room for groceries, bills and other necessities. Some parents are concerned the dream of homeownership is slipping away from their children. People on ODSP and Ontario Works know that the support they receive falls far short of the cost to live in a city like Toronto. More and more people are being displaced or forced to live in conditions that are unsafe or fall short of what families need.
The scale of the problem is immense and requires urgent action. That is why I was so happy to be at the legislature today to support a motion to take on billionaire investors and real estate speculators here in Ontario. There are steps we can take today to address some of these challenges. Speculation and vacancy taxes on people or businesses that don't pay taxes in Ontario will ensure that housing is made for people, not just profit. Controlling the amount that landlords get from jacking up rent between tenants will keep rent down, and disincentivize landlords who hold back on unit repairs in the hopes they can force out long term tenants. There are tools in our tool box, but we need a government that is prepared to get to work. This issue is too critical, and waiting for the next election for a plan won't cut it. We need to take bold action now.
Our housing proposal aims to address the crisis in a fundamental way. It contains innovative proposals to help everyone find a home they can afford. It will help first-time homebuyers with their down payment by providing a shared equity loan of up to 10 per cent of a home’s value. It provides direct financial support to tenants, calls for real rent control and includes measures to stop unfair "renovictions" being used by bad-faith landlords to displace families. It calls for major investments to create 69,000 new affordable homes while extending the lifespan of 260,000 affordable homes through badly needed repairs. In short, our plan takes on the billionaires, foreign speculators and bad faith developers who have made the market unaffordable for regular people. Our plan invests in you. Wherever you live, whatever your financial situation, your age, identity, or ability, you deserve a safe, secure place to call home you can afford. I look forward to continuing my support of this plan which will offer so much hope to so many that desperately need it.
Optometry Town Hall:
I hosted an important discussion on the dispute between the province and Ontario's Optometrists this past Friday. I was happy to be joined by local Optometrist Dr. Heather Shear and local resident Luisa Giacometti as they discussed the impacts of the impasse on themselves and our community. You can catch up on the discussion by watching the event on YouTube HERE.
Long Term Care:
The recent announcement from the Ministry of Long Term Care has once again shown the governments willingness to protect for-profit operators. It does not change the quality of life for seniors and people with disabilities. It does not give them more care. It does not change the fact that for-profit companies can warehouse them in facilities, and cut corners to rake in more cash. It doesn’t even guarantee them the air conditioning they’ve been suffering without. Thank you to the people who have contacted me voicing their displeasure with this bill. I will not be supporting anything that falls short of treaing seniors with the dignity they deserve.
MPP Faisal Hassan Youth Council:
Applications for the 2nd annual MPP Faisal Hassan Youth Council for York South—Weston are now open! Faisal Hassan MPP Youth Council for York South—Weston provides an exciting opportunity for young people to highlight ways our community can be better, and identify ways we can support young people across this province. If you are a young person between the ages of 16 and 24 and are interested in making an impact in your community, fill in an application form HERE.
As always, my office is here to help. Please call at 416-243-7984, or email us at fhassan-co@ndp.on.ca.
Take care, wear your mask, and wash your hands.
Best Regards,
Faisal Hassan
Member of Provincial Parliament
York South—Weston
|
|
|
|
MPP Hassan hosting a virtual town hall on eye care and the dispute between the province and Ontario's Optometrists.
|
|
News Release
Horwath to hold housing vote to put people ahead of speculators
QUEEN’S PARK — On Monday, Official Opposition NDP Leader Andrea Horwath will press the government to support an NDP motion to finally start making homes more affordable for everyday people in Ontario.
Horwath’s motion supports building more homes people can afford, and introduces speculation and vacancy taxes only for corporations and people who don’t pay taxes in Ontario and who own houses they don’t live in. People who want to live, work and raise their family in Ontario will have more choice and fewer bidding wars, easing prices.
“Everyone deserves a good, stable place to call home,” said Horwath. “But after a decade of governments doing virtually nothing to bring down the cost of housing, people are leaving the neighbourhoods they know and love because the prices are out of reach. People are delaying having kids they desperately want because they can’t afford a place that’s big enough. And the dream of home ownership is getting further and further out of reach every month.
“The Kathleen Wynne and Steven Del Duca Liberal government let prices skyrocket out of control. Now, Doug Ford will do whatever his buddies want, no matter how much it drives up housing costs for the rest of us. And as a result, housing has become a cash cow for billionaire investors and speculators instead of cherished homes for families.”
Horwath and the NDP have committed to introduce the annual speculation and vacancy tax on residential property. On Monday, she’ll propose that all parties agree to do that now, rather than waiting for the election.
“I love Ontario, and I know we can do better to help people thrive and build their best life here,” said Horwath. “We can update the rules to accelerate the construction of houses that families can afford. And we can change the system so that more Ontario homes are for people and families to live in and cherish — not just for speculators and investors to invest and flip. Families should be able to afford a good home in the community they love, and I’ve got a plan to get it done for people.”
Background
The NDP’s Opposition Day motion reads as follows:
AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP PLAN
Whereas Ontario needs to build one million homes over the next 10 years to keep up with the need for housing, according to the Smart Prosperity Institute; and
Whereas consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments have developed polices geared more to politically connected developers and speculators than regular people; and
Whereas the ability to purchase a home should not depend on how wealthy your parents are, and rising home prices have made it increasingly difficult for working people to afford homes in the province, driving record numbers to leave Ontario in search of places they can afford; and
Whereas housing speculators have only made the crisis worse, creating bubbles that make it harder for low- and middle-income Ontarians to enter the market; and
Whereas speculation and vacancy taxes have proven effective in prioritizing homes as places for people to live, instead of financial commodities for deep-pocketed speculators; and
Whereas the Ontario Real Estate Association has called on the Ford government to end unfair and exclusionary zoning practices to allow more affordable “missing middle” housing options like duplexes and townhouses to be built in urban neighbourhoods close to jobs, services and amenities, and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture has called on the Ford government to protect farmland from needless urban boundary expansions;
Therefore, the Legislative Assembly calls on the Ford government to develop an affordable home ownership plan that implements speculation and vacancy taxes to help cool the market and fund affordable housing; updates land use planning rules to accelerate the construction of “missing middle” housing and other affordable home ownership options, while protecting farmland and natural heritage from wasteful sprawl; and introduces new, environmentally progressive building standards to make homes greener and more energy efficient.
|
|
|
|
|
This city of Toronto is planning upgrades at the Coronation Park Playground by York Civic Centre and staff are looking for community feedback on these improvements. To share your opinions and ideas, please fill out the online survey HERE. The survey closes on November 7th.
|
|
|
|
|
North York Community House is currently in the process of recruiting a new Executive Director. You can read a job description HERE. If you are interested and feel you might be a fit for this position, instructions on how to apply are included at the bottom of the job posting.
|
|
|
|
The Syme 55+ Seniors Centre will be hosting a virtual silent auction on Friday, November 19th. Early bird bids start October 25th. For more information, or to obtain your bidding number, call 416-766-0388.
|
|
|
|
The tunnel boring machines for the Renforth Dr. to Scarlett Rd. tunnel will arrive and begin digging next year. In anticipation of this milestone, Metrolinx are launching a naming contest to build awareness of the project. The winner of the contest will have the chance to participate in a photo-op before launching the TBMs into the ground. For more information, or to submit names for the TBM, click HERE. Submissions will close on November 18, 2021.
|
|
|
|
As early as Friday October 22, 2021, crews will be adjusting catch basins, preforming permanent traffic light installations, and curb restoration works at Eglinton Avenue West and Caledonia Road. To facilitate this work safely, eastbound traffic on Eglinton Avenue West will be reduced to a single thru lane. The northbound left turn at the intersection will be restricted for the duration of this work. All pedestrian access will be maintained. This work is expected to take place between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for approximately four (4) weeks. Expect delays while travelling through the area.
|
|
|
|
New immigrants (protected persons and permanent residents) can take free English instruction classes at TDSB’s Community Services Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program. All 12 locations offer free on-site childminding services. See www.linctoronto.ca or email LINC@tdsb.on.ca to register or to contact a Program Coordinator.
|
|
|
The Black Youth Reskilling Program is an ongoing initiative to help a hundred unemployed or underemployed Black Ontarian Youth gain the skills needed to start their careers in technology as Web Developers by March 2022.
Each $13,000 scholarship covers the entire cost of the full-time Web Development Bootcamp hosted by Lighthouse Labs and access to Career Services support to:
1. Teach each participant the technical skills required of professional Web Developers
2. Help them get their foot in the door of the tech industry as a Junior Developer
For a more comprehensive overview of the application process, please visit: https://blackboyscode.ca/reskilling/
|
|
|
|
Local Climate Action Champion Sofija Theodorou will be hosting knowledge-sharing bike tours every other week at Weston Lions Park starting this Saturday. The group will be meeting at 11AM and wrapping up at 3PM. The final ride will be on November 6. For more information, email Sofija at sofija.theodorou@gmail.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
