Let's Make Life More Affordable

Hello <<First Name>>,

I've spoken previously about the affordability crisis that is becoming an increasing concern for so many here in York South—Weston. As we move closer to putting the pandemic behind us, it is clear that the road to economic recovery will be long and bumpy. It doesn't have to be painful, however, and I'm grateful for all the ideas that have come forward to help average people afford to live and thrive here in our community. Some ideas were forged from the COVID-19 crisis, like the development of a consumer protection watchdog, but others are based on long-held principles of the Ontario NDP that put average people first. Today, I want to look past the challenges and talk about solutions that we can implement to improve the lives of everyone in our community and improve affordability. There are steps we can take today, and I am continuing to urge the government to take action.

One way to address the issue of affordability is to look at flattened income levels. Prices have gone up, but little has been done to ensure that income levels are rising to meet the increased costs. If you are a senior, or on the Ontario Disability Support Program or Ontario Works, you know that supports are not keeping up with costs. That's why it is so important to provide increased, direct support to these vulnerable community members who need our assistance. Workers also need to receive decent pay for an honest day's work. That's why we've called for an increase in the minimum wage to $20 an hour and are demanding wage increases in the healthcare industry, including permanent and full-time employment for personal support workers. We've also demanded the repeal of Bill 124, which suppresses the pay of nurses and insisted on fairness for gig workers and small business owners.

The other side of the equation is the need to keep costs under control. Housing costs are rising out of control, and our housing plan would provide rent and vacancy control measures to keep costs down and support individuals with rent subsidies where needed. Ontario parents are drowning in the highest child care fees in the country, and they can’t wait any longer for relief from these mortgage-sized monthly costs. Ontario families need child care now. Families relying on vehicles for commuting and pick-up and drop-off from school or practice are also feeling the pinch. That's why we've pushed for accountability from insurance companies to lower auto insurance rates, and have presented a bill to regulate gas prices. This government has stood in the way of concrete proposals to address affordability, often favouring big box stores and wealthy donors at the expense of average working people. This approach doesn't work for our community, and isn't sustainable. It's time to put people first.

York South—Weston MPP urges Ford govt to take concrete action on Metrolinx equity hiring

QUEEN’S PARK — The NDP MPP for York South—Weston Faisal Hassan said Doug Ford must demonstrate through concrete, quantifiable action that Metrolinx will meet equity hiring targets after it flip-flopped on its commitment to Toronto Community Benefits.

Last week, the Ford government quietly removed equity hiring targets, local procurement and community consultation from transit agreements. After the NDP raised the concern in question period, the community objected, and the media highlighted the change, the Ford government appeared to backtrack.

“York South —Weston, where many residents have long faced barriers to employment, should not have to withstand the Ford government scrapping employment thresholds for underrepresented communities — including Black people, Indigenous people, people of colour and women — set out in Community Benefits agreements held with Metrolinx,” Hassan said.

He noted that before the government announced its plan to remove equity targets, it was clear Metrolinx had failed to meet its 10 per cent equity hiring goal by more than half.

“How can communities trust this government to keep its word on Community Benefits when Doug Ford has made it clear that hiring from local communities is not a priority for him?” Hassan asked during question period, urging the government to take meaningful action to ensure equity targets are not only met, but measured and tracked.

The MPP cited concerns from the Mount Dennis EcoNeighbourhood Initiative, which recently wrote to the CEO of Metrolinx to express that it has provided the community with little information or consultation about the Community Benefits Agreement that’s part of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension project.

“The Ford government must move past words and take real, measurable steps to show communities it will not turn its back on them when it comes to Community Benefits agreements,” Hassan said.