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It is an honour to once again be elected to serve and represent Davenport as your Member of Parliament. Thank you for your support and confidence. I was officially sworn
in on Nov. 30, 2019. Thanks to my family, friends, and the Davenport residents who came to Ottawa to witness my swearing-in and to visit the Parliament Buildings.
The 43rd Parliament has officially started, and we are currently in a minority government with Liberals holding 157 of the seats. A new
cabinet has been sworn in, and last week the Governor General delivered the
Speech from the Throne outlining our federal government's priorities moving forward. We have a mandate from Canadians to work with the other parties to fight climate change, strengthen the middle class and those who need it most, walk the road of reconciliation,
keep people safe and healthy, and position our country for success in an uncertain world.
One of the wonderful things about the recent federal election is that it provided me with an opportunity to visit so many doors in Davenport and the chance to hear directly
from residents about key issues.
The top two issues raised at the doors were 1) moving more aggressively and urgently on climate change and 2) addressing affordability issues, with a particular emphasis
on housing. This e-newsletter highlights some of the work done to date, but we know there is so much more to do!
Communication
On the campaign trail, I found that too many Davenport residents had limited knowledge about our accomplishments over the last four years, including federal government
legislation, key accomplishments, and key issues that I have been championing and working on. If you want to be kept updated on what our federal government is doing to improve the lives of Canadians and what I am doing for Davenport, I encourage you to kindly
follow me on
Instagram or
Facebook. If you would like to be alerted about important community events and discussions, please
send my office your email address and/or phone number.
My Holiday Party - You are Invited!
This Saturday, December 14, you and your family are invited to join me at my office for my Annual Holiday Party! Featuring free festive food, drinks, and a special guest
from the North Pole, we will be celebrating from 12 PM - 4 PM at 1202 Bloor Street West. I look forward to seeing you there!
Working Hard for Davenport
Back Row: Alex Keys, Kayley Kennedy; Front Row: Nasser Haidar, Monica Bento, me, Vanessa
Pukal, and Paul de Freitas
When the House of Commons is in session, I am in Ottawa 4 to 5 days of the week, and back in Toronto for the weekend. While I am representing and advocating for our community
in the nation's capital, my excellent team is available to serve you in Toronto. Please call (416) 654 - 8048, email
julie.d...@parl.gc.ca or stop by my community office at 1202 Bloor Street West if you have any federal issues that our team can help you with.
BWXT
A number of Davenport residents have contacted my office with various inquiries about the BWXT facility. The BWXT license is up for renewal at the end of 2020, and there
will be a public meeting regarding the licensing renewal.
We have heard that there is a flyer being distributed in the community and spreading misinformation regarding BWXT and the release of uranium particles impacting the health
of the local communities.
I have personally made a number of calls regarding the BWXT facility. I called the Canadian Nuclear Safety
Commission (CNSC) who have assured me that the uranium particle emissions are minuscule and way below any dangerous levels; I spoke to the company itself who has told me they do 24/7 testing
of the air around the facility to ensure that there are no air quality or toxin issues; I've talked to the City of Toronto and their tests have found nothing of concern; and I am in direct contact with the community safety group of local residents at BWXT,
all of whom live in the immediate area, and who have no safety or health concerns. If there is any information that contains evidence contrary to all of those sources, please bring it to my attention.
I am working with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission on ensuring two meetings are organized. The first will be a general information meeting located in Davenport in
January for any questions about BWXT, monitoring of air and soil, the upcoming licensing renewal process, and other relevant issues of concern; the time and date are currently being finalized. I am also working hard to ensure a physical licensing meeting is
held in Davenport (as opposed to a meeting we can take part in via teleconference in North York as currently planned) to discuss the 10-year licensing renewal of the BWXT facility. This is being planned for the beginning of March. Again, the CNSC is working
on securing a location in Davenport upon my request.
Toronto Investments
Environment
Climate change is one of the top two issues of great concern to Davenport residents.
With
over 50 climate actions underway - and spending of over $63 billion - this has been and will continue to be the top priority for the federal Liberal government.
Our Liberal government was re-elected on a platform to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 (which means that we need to increase our current Canada's 2030 emissions goal),
conserve 25% of Canada's land and 25% of Canada's oceans by 2025, and plant two billion trees over 10 years. We are banning single-use plastics (starting in 2021) and have also made significant progress to achieve a circular economy, reduce plastics use, and
create a national plastics recycling standard, among other things. For a full update, please read the
Canada-Wide Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste. For a list of our commitments regarding climate action and the environment, please see pages 28-36 of our
2019 platform.
Housing
Housing affordability and affordable housing are issues of top concern in Davenport. Too many people feel they have little hope of continuing to live in Toronto and/or
will ever be able to afford a home moving forward.
We have made a lot of progress, but I know we have so much more to do. Since 2016, our federal Liberal government has made unprecedented investments (over $7 billion) in
housing - helping more than 1 million Canadians find safe, affordable, and accessible places to call home.
In June this year, we passed Bill C-97 to enact the National Housing Strategy Act, which recognizes adequate housing as a
fundamental human right. Over the next decade, through the
National Housing Strategy, more than $55 billion will be invested in Canada's housing sector.
We're also renewing and strengthening federal government funding for community, public, and social housing, including co-ops and non-profit housing providers. Federal operating
agreements for all co-ops in Davenport have been renewed - including Primrose, Perth, and Wood Tree - providing stability for those who live in co-ops in our community.
We must also ensure that the existing affordable housing remains safe, comfortable, energy efficient, and in good condition. In May this year, our federal government committed
$1.3 billion directly to the City of Toronto to support the renovation of more than 58,000 affordable Toronto Community Housing (TCH) units. Right here in Davenport, we have received $7,856,243 in
federal project funding for 844 units, and $930,134 to subsidize 640 households. While I was canvassing during the election, TCH officials were already delivering notices of upgrades to TCH housing in our riding.
I'm actively seeking out any groups within Davenport who are looking to play a role in addressing the affordable housing crisis. Please
contact my office if you are interested in meeting to discuss this issue.
Seniors
The seniors in Davenport are amazing! They are active, engaged, and vocal about the issues that are important to them - and rightly so! Seniors have contributed throughout
their lives to make their communities better and raise their families. They deserve to retire with dignity and a good quality of life.
Our federal Liberal government has listened to seniors and their desire to have more affordable housing units. We've created more than 12,000 new housing units for them
since first elected in 2015, but we still have more work to do. We have been providing massive investments in community programs that help seniors stay active and involved in their community through the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which we increased
by $100 million over 5 years. To date, 3,700 community-based projects and 50 pan-Canadian projects have been approved, including those here in Davenport, like West Neighbourhood House, Davenport Perth Neighbourhood & Community Health Centre, the Abrigo Centre,
South Asian Women's Centre (SAWC), and the Vietnamese Women Association of Toronto (VWAT).
We're also investing $50 million to implement Canada's first ever National Dementia Strategy to continue supporting those living with dementia and their caregivers. $2
billion has already been given to Ontario for home care and $2 billion for mental health here in Ontario. This will be of benefit not only to our seniors, but to all of our citizens.
Our
platform in 2019 outlined our plan to make life more affordable for seniors. Our government will eliminate federal taxes on the first $15,000 people earn, increase the Old Age Security benefit by 10% for seniors when they turn 75, and increase the Canada
Pension Plan survivor's benefit by 25%. This increase, worth up to $2,080 in additional benefits every year, will give more than 1.2 million seniors more money and greater peace of mind at a time when they need it most.
Community Safety
Recently, City Councillor Josh Matlow hosted a community event to discuss gun violence. Many Davenport residents asked me to attend.
There was a very clear message from the community that they are looking for not only action to get guns off our streets, but also measures to address the root causes of
gun violence. In the north part of the riding, there was a very clear ask for a community centre for youth to stay engaged and active. There was also a desire for local police to build more trust and be more responsive with the local community.
Since 2016, our federal Liberal government has been working to stop guns from entering the country, and to tackle gun violence in communities across Canada. For a complete
list of what we've done, please
click here.
I know we have more work to do. I will be actively pushing to ban handguns in Toronto, and I will continue
listening to our community's concerns to ensure the federal government continues to work with provincial and municipal partners to tackle gun violence and its root causes.
Events
Pia Bouman Performance
The Pia Bouman School for Ballet and Creative Movement moved into Davenport earlier this year. A welcome addition to the community, this wonderful ballet school ensures
that every child who wants to dance, to create, and to perform can do so. I had so much fun being their special guest performer at the Nutcracker ballet performance on Friday night!
Sol Português 36th Anniversary
The strength of our democracy depends on strong local journalism, and that is why I'm such a big fan of Sol Português. They do a great job of keeping the Portuguese community
in Davenport and across Canada informed.
Corso Italia Christmas
Huge thanks to Corso Italia BIA for inviting the community to explore local shops and enjoy the holiday season. So much fun carolling, looking for elves, and saying hello
to both local residents and to Santa!
Festa Da Matanca Do Porco
I was delighted to get a chance to pop by Casa da Madeira Toronto's Festa da Matanca do Porco. It was great to say hello to Luis Bettencourt, Jose Rodriguez, and many local
residents.
Arts Roundtable
We're not wasting any time and are getting right down to work on the issues that affect our TV, film and music industry. I recently met with local stakeholders to better
understand issues in the industry and outline solutions moving forward.
Ubisoft Industry Awards Night
Canada is the third largest video game developer in the world. Davenport-based Ubisoft - as an industry leader - plays a huge role. Thank you for inviting me to Ubisoft
Industry Night and the opening of the world-class Performance Capture Studio!
Davenport Overpass Metrolinx Open House
I recently attended the Davenport Diamond overpass info session hosted by Metrolinx. It was great to see local architect Kim Storey involved in the project. There are a
lot of outstanding questions for Metrolinx, and my understanding is that there will be another meeting set up shortly for more specific updates with timelines. Stay tuned for more information.
10 Top Hispanic Canadian Awards
I'm delighted to have been able to join an important night to recognize 10 influential Hispanic Canadians in Canada! Thanks to the Hispanic Canadian Congress for organising
and for recognising the important contributions by these amazing citizens. Congratulations to all!
Bhayana Foundation Awards
The Bhayana Foundation Award recipients from Davenport are Diana Grimaldos from Working Women Community Centre, Maryamm Himid from Sistering, and the entire team working
on Syrian and Yazidi settlement at COSTI. Congratulations and thank you for the amazing work you do for our community.
Mayor's Evening for the Arts
With local artists at Mayor Tory's Evening for the Arts.
38th Anniversary of the Grupo Folclórico Transmontano of Toronto
Joining the Portuguese community for the 38th Anniversary of Grupo Folclórico Transmontano of Toronto - with President Ana Costa.
Poveiros' Saõ Martinho
At the Casa dos Poveiros Saõ Martinho celebration with Linda Correia and the Mayor of Povoa de Varzim - Presidente Aires Pereira and his wife.
Calvacade of Lights
St. Clair was lit up with festive joy at the St. Clair Gardens BIA's Cavalcade of Lights at Don Panos Parkette. Thanks to Rose Capocci and her team for organising.
Festa di San Martino at Tre Mari
Tre Mari is an institution in the Italian community in Davenport. It was great to join them for their Festa di San Martino.
LiUNA Centennial
Celebrating the LiUNA Local 506 100th anniversary with President Carmen Principato.
Remembrance Day
5,300 WWI veterans and allied soldiers are buried in Davenport's Prospect Cemetery, making it the final resting place of the largest number of WWI veterans and allied soldiers
in Canada. I'm grateful that Mayor Tory, Deputy Mayor Ana Bailao and my colleague Arif Virani joined me and the Royal Canadian Legion's Swansea Branch 266/46 to commemorate Remembrance Day.
Regal Heights' Annual Pumpkin Carving
It was great to join the Regal Heights and Northcliffe Residents Associations' Annual Pumpkin Carving. The kids loved getting creative with the carvings. Thanks to the
organizers for their hard work!
Night of Dread Parade
Clay and Paper Theatre's Night of Dread Parade celebrated its 20th year anniversary this Halloween, and it was quite the party! Thanks to David and Tamara for keeping the
spirit alive and to all in the community who joined with creative costumes. They were indeed dreadful!
Antonio Lopes Laneway Unveiling
Our Davenport community gathered to unveil the new Antonio Lopes Lane near Gladstone Avenue. Antonio was a wonderful example of someone who came to Canada as an immigrant
and made great contributions to our community.
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