I am tabling the Advisory Committee to Protect Ontario's People and Economy from Airborne Pandemics Act with @Jamiewest @waynegates and @JILLSLASTWORD #OnPoli twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… Covid is airborne. There will be future airborne pandemics in our lifetimes. If viruses like H5N1 are the cause, the costs of future pandemics on people, small businesses, & government could EXCEED those of COVID-19. We can prepare for that pandemic TODAY. kristynwongtam.ca/safe-indoor-air

Ontario Budget has dropped and here's a quick summary.

Ford’s Conservatives want Ontarians to think that this is the new normal – that this is as good as it gets.

While corporations get new tax breaks, there's not much for struggling everyday Ontarians. #onpoli Ford continues to break his promises:

* Nothing to make up for the Bill 23 municipal deficits
* municipalities staring at a $1 billion/year shortfall which will result in service cuts and higher taxes
* COVID costs were downloaded to schoolboards resulting in massive deficits

Today’s EBlast is now in your inbox! Read below ⬇️ for EBlast highlights.
You can also read today’s full EBlast on my website: kristynwongtam.ca/september28_co… In today’s EBlast, I discuss an exciting vaccine milestone, and I also provide many resources in advance of Thursday’s first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Today’s EBlast also contains many community updates (keep reading!)

Tonight nearly 200 residents attended the #OntarioLine Corktown station meeting. Residents are critical of the Province's development plans. They want more parkland and community facilities, less density, respect for heritage, true consultation & livability. #RespectLocalPlanning The First Parliament site was strategically assembled by City Council in recognition of the national importance these lands had in the formation of modern Canada. A heritage interpretation strategy was adopted in 2018 and the master plan completed this summer.

The City of Toronto and healthcare partners are working to operate a total of approximately 22 clinics today, including mobile teams and on-site clinics, to vaccinate priority groups identified by the Province’s priority framework. These clinics are only vaccinating those in the priority groups who have confirmed appointments.

I’ve compiled a list of financial & social supports which hopefully will be consider at the emergency intergovernmental tables convened to combat #COVIDー19.

1. Housing Allowance - immediately expand, accelerate payment and increase amount to reflect true housing costs. 2. Freeze all renovictions and evictions - immediately and without exceptions.

Last night, businesses in the Church-Wellesley Village had their windows smashed in an act of vandalism that has left the community shaken. kristynwongtam.ca/villagevandali… This follows on the heels of the community being targeted by preachers who have twice disrupted the Village and a series of letters, emails, and graffiti markings that appear to be motivated by, or linked to, Neo-Nazi ideology targeting community members and businesses.

1/ Today the Province announced short-sighted changes to the Planning Act that will fail residents, sideline our communities, and cut the legs out from under Toronto's planning policies. Here's my full statement: kristynwongtam.ca/statement_plan… 2/ Doug Ford is bringing back the Ontario Municipal Board, financially starving our cities, and selling our neighbourhoods to his developer friends.

1. It’s been a long time since affordable housing dominated a municipal election. But that is exactly what happened when mayoral challenger Jennifer Keesmaat took on John Tory for Toronto’s top job last October. #TOpoli #HousingCrisis 2. She ambitiously promised to create 100,000 new affordable rental units in 10 years, while the incumbent pledged to create a more modest but still impressive 40,000 new affordable rental units in 12 years.