Hello <<First Name>>,
I am looking forward to the return of the legislature next week. When the Premier adjourned the legislature ahead of schedule back in December, there was still much work to be done. It presented a needless delay when so much work was required to support people struggling in our province. I've used the opportunity to meet virtually with dozens of local leaders and stakeholders, and perform community consultation. Some of you may have received a phone call from me as I check in with the community. While this feedback is invaluable, I am eager to return to Queen's Park.
On this list of priorities is my colleague, MPP Peggy Satler's "Stay Home if You are Sick" Act. It is a made-in-Ontario framework for providing paid sick leave for all Ontario workers, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The bill would guarantee 10 personal emergency leave days per year for every worker, seven of which are paid. It would also mandate an additional 14 days of paid leave during any infectious disease emergency, and provide for financial support to ensure small businesses struggling through the pandemic can stay afloat while providing vital paid sick days to their employees.
Along with this are a variety of challenges that we can address on day one. There are steps we can take to ensure frontline heroes still waiting for pandemic pay receive the benefits they deserve. We can provide comfort and solace to individuals and families struggling under the threat of eviction. COVID-19 and its impacts will be with us for some time, and I look forward to pushing concrete, common-sense solutions that will benefit the decent, hard-working people of York South—Weston and this province.
Black History Month Celebration and Display:
Please be sure to join me this evening from 6:30-7:30 PM for my Black History Month Celebration live on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FaisalHassanNDP. Joining me for the discussion will be representatives from Black Farmers Collective, Black Urbanism TO, Grenada Day Committee, Artists to Aritists and Afri-Can FoodBasket. I would also encourage members of the community to visit our constituency office at 1965 Weston Road, to enjoy our Black History Month window display, created by our friends at Artists to Artists.
Black History Month Profile:
Viola Desmond is a Black Canadian hero who inspired Canada's civil rights movement. As an activist, entrepreneur and mentor, Viola is remembered for challenging racial discrimination. In November 1946, Viola Desmond went to a film at the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Unaware that the theatre was segregated, the Black Nova Scotian refused to move to the balcony, where Black patrons were expected to sit. She was arrested and dragged out of the theatre. Desmond refused to accept the charges against her, and her case went all the way to Nova Scotia’s Supreme Court. Read more about her story HERE.
March Break Pushed Back to April:
The Government announced that the March break originally scheduled for March 15-19 has been pushed back to April. The break will now take place from April 12-16. I have joined calls urging for more protections and investments to keep schools safe and maintain the previously scheduled break. I'm disappointed to learn that the province has once again chosen a penny-pinching approach when parents and educators have been clearly calling for a break.
Lunar New Year:
Wishes of health, happiness, good fortune and prosperity in the Year of the Ox to our neighbours of East Asian heritage, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Korea and Tibetan communities, among others. It is a festival to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year. This year, family gatherings will be smaller than usual, but this new year is certainly worthy of celebration.
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
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News Release
Horwath calls for rules and a plan to prevent vaccine queue-jumping
HAMILTON AND BRAMPTON — Andrea Horwath is calling for the government to provide clear rules and a plan for distributing leftover doses of the COVID-19 vaccines after inexcusable cases of queue-jumping have come to light.
“Vulnerable seniors are waiting for their turn to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and their families are living in agonizing anxiety,” said Horwath. “Meanwhile, there are executives and powerful people who have allegedly sneaked shots for themselves and their families in cases of inexcusable queue-jumping.
“The vaccine rollout has been slow and sloppy because Premier Ford didn’t want to invest in readiness. But there are things we can do right now to fix that. Let’s build a regulated, province-wide strategy to get leftover doses into the arms of nearby vulnerable people.”
Horwath said that strategy should include:
- Mandating who can receive leftover doses, which would be updated regularly
- A requirement that vaccine teams make a specific plan for leftover doses before each round of vaccinations
- Investigations, and consequences for people who knowingly and selfishly jump the queue
- A plan to divide boxes into smaller batches, as recommended by the Science Advisory Table after that method limited leftover doses and wastage in Israel
MPP Sara Singh has written to General Rick Hillier (retired), head of the vaccine task force, to investigate those queue-jumping incidents. Singh said the government has been sending the message that queue-jumping is not a big deal.
“The vast majority of people in Ontario will do everything in their power to ensure vulnerable people get their vaccines first,” said Singh. “But the egregious examples that have come to light so far are frustrating for people that are patiently waiting their turn. There must be a plan, clear rules, investigations and consequences in the worst cases of fraudulent queue-jumping so that everyone knows: stealing a vaccine dose from a vulnerable person or frontline worker is not something to be taken lightly.”
Background
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York West Active Living Centre has a variety of virtual programs available for Winter 2021. To learn more about available programs and options, visit their site HERE.
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Seniors are struggling with isolation. I'd like to thank the Rustic-Maple Leaf Homeowners Group who mobilized, fundraised and collected items for distribution along with Valentine's Day cards created by young supporters. With the help of the St. Fedelis Golden Age Club, they distributed 238 cards to seniors and 36 to essential businesses and staff!
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The members of ATU113 at TTC Mount Dennis Division have put together a wonderful display in celebration of Black History Month to inform members of the rich history of black leadership across Canada and the globe.
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Urban Arts are providing free community arts programming and services. This week, participate in Beats.Mind.Movement. This is a virtual program learning about music development. It takes place every Wednesday at 6PM EST on Zoom and registration can be found at www.urbanartstoronto.org/registration.
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The Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto is accepting applications for its 2021 Diversity Scholarship Program. If you live in a member co-op and would like to apply, details and the application can be found HERE. Deadline for applications is February 17th at 4pm.
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UPDATE - Work re-scheduled to February 15: As early as Monday, Feb. 15, crews will be installing underground conduits crossing Eglinton Ave W at Keelesdale Rd for permanent street lighting and traffic signals. Work will take place in two phases, with three stages per phase. Each phase is expected to take approximately seven days to complete. Work will take place within regular working hours, from as early as 7:00am – 11:00pm. When crews are not working, they will install steel-plates over the area and all lanes will reopen.
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Red Cross Mobile Food Bank deliver food hampers to seniors and individuals with disabilities that make it difficult for them to access community food banks. Register over the phone to be added to the Red Cross's regular delivery schedule at 416-236-3180.
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To assist in the collection of the census, Statistics Canada is hiring approximately 32,000 people across the country (9000+ in Ontario). Census jobs are short-term positions, between March and July 2021, collecting census data from residents in the community. If you know of anyone who may be interested in census jobs, please spread the word. Candidates can apply online at www.census.gc.ca/jobs
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Aangen is a non-profit social enterprise inviting local stakeholders to learn more about All Dried Up. All Dried Up is a dehydrated meal product developed to support seniors nutrition and ensure adults with physical or cognitive barriers are able to access healthy, nourishing meals that are safe to prepare and easy to serve. Register for their upcoming information session HERE.
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The Syme 55+ Seniors' Centre continues to serve the community with a weekly food bank in partnership with Syme Woolner Neighbourhood and Family Centre and the Daily Bread Food Bank.
Join them every Wednesday from 2:00pm-4:00pm at 33 Pritchard Avenue. For more information, phone 416-766-0388 or email syme55@syme55.com
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Join Frontlines for "Rich History, Bright Futures", a virtual fundraising event taking place Friday, February 26th at 6:00pm. Enjoy guest speakers, performances and more. Prices range from $25 to $75. For more information or to register, click HERE.
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Are you out of school and work and looking for full-time employment, then the Job Central program might be right for you. Their pre-employment program currently provides 3 weeks of paid virtual workshops followed by a 10 week paid work placement. For more information visit www.yes.on.ca, or register HERE.
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We all need to continue to take care of our physical and mental wellbeing during these difficult times. Call to register for Unison Health and Community Services' fantastic virtual programming taking place over Zoom. Mind Body and (chair) Yoga, Laughter Yoga, and Mind Body and Soca are available from now until the end of March. For more questions, or to register, call 416-645-7575 EXT 2224.
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Metrolinx will be performing investigative drilling work between Scarlett Road and east of Weston Road between February and April of 2021. Metrolinx will be using small drill rigs to gather information and evaluate underground conditions. Using this information, they can begin to determine the construction approach for this project. For more information, email Crosstown@metrolinx.com or call 416-202-8001.
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Supercoffee is participating in Virtual Seedy Saturday. A Toronto wide gardening event. Local gardners are encouraged to donate pre-packaged seeds. Requests for seeds can be sent HERE. They will be facilitating contactless seeded drop-off and pick-up. Pick-up is scheduled for February 28th from 2-4pm.
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Are you feeling depressed? Lonely? Isolated? Want to speak with a peer support worker? The Warm Line is a service that is available for individuals who have a mental health issue and need support. Between 12pm - 8pm call 416-323-3721. Between 8pm - Midnight: 416-960-WARM (9276). You can also find support online HERE, or by texting 647-557-5882
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Shakespeare in Actions has exciting virtual programming available for local youth. Kids Zoom Puppetry Play is an 8-week online course for youth ages 8-12. To sign up, click HERE. For teens interested in learning improvisation, "Improv for Teens" will be running from February 2nd to March 9th. You can register for that program HERE. In an effort to reduce barriers to access for this program ticket prices will follow Pay What You Can Afford model. Each program is run by highly trained and experienced performers. For more information visit, www.shakespeareinaction.org.
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