You deserve healthcare that’s there when you need it. Access shouldn’t depend on how much $$$ you have in the bank.

That’s why Tommy Douglas’ NDP created the framework for public universal health care.

But where did it go wrong? Let's take a trip down memory lane. ⬇️

#ONpoli 1996: Conservative Premier Mike Harris, infamous for his austerity measures, opened competitive bidding for home care, which allowed for-profit companies to take over home care delivery.

Today, we have a home care system that is beyond broken.

The Official Opposition @OntarioNDP has obtained an internal government briefing note on amendments that the Conservatives unilaterally made to municipal official plans in Waterloo Region, Wellington County, Guelph, Barrie, Belleville & Peterborough in April 2023.

🧵

#ONpoli The memo shows that the government KNEW its decisions to force sprawl by paving over farmland and greenspace was WRONG... that it was based on input from “third party”, and not on evidence.

I’m really concerned about the state of public health care in Ontario right now.

Ford's deep cuts are failing Ontario and this latest announcement is a tiny drop in the bucket.

Here's why. 🏥🧵⬇️ We’re seeing closure after closure of our emergency rooms across the province.

One local ER in the Ottawa region has already closed FIVE times in a matter of months due to staffing shortages.

Unacceptable.

Yesterday I spent the last 45 mins in the Legislature listening to all the reasons the Conservatives wouldn’t support a bill brought forward by @MTaylorNDP to provide presumptive WSIB mental health coverage for all essential workers. I won’t lie, the tears started. This week has been especially grim for so many in our province. From education workers & students living w uncertainty, to small businesses opening then closing, to the many who are sick or caring for the sick. It’s also been a hugely frustrating time...

New bill alert! @SuzeMorrison & I just tabled a bill in the Legislature to formally recognize March as #EndometriosisAwarenessMonth in Ontario.
Read on to learn why it's so important. 🧵1/4 Endometriosis is very common but rarely discussed.
1 in 10 women, Trans, non-binary and gender diverse menstruators of reproductive age have endometriosis.
It causes terrible symptoms such as extreme pelvic pain and nausea. 2/4

Watching the Minister of Ed now. Expressing lots of concern. Where’s the commitment to comprehensive asymptomatic testing? To smaller class sizes? It’s not enough to close schools. There must be a plan to re-open safely. They know what needs to be done and continue to refuse. Over two weeks he says they will “build up their plan”. Are you kidding me? What have you been doing for the last almost year @Sflecce. NOW they are scrambling?! Are you kidding me.

It's true.
Tues night walking home from the Legislature, I happened to check the app (for some reason I didn't receive a notification) & there was the notice. It looks like this 👇

Btw I have no symptoms
(thread)
#onpoli #onted #davenportTO

https://twitter.com/DavidHains/status/1311090422366851073

The App informed me I needed to be tested for #COVID19, then isolate until I receive results.

So I checked different options & had a plan to get tested on Wednesday AM.

I’ve been tested before – when a friend tested positive. I waited 1 hour in line, 24 hours later had results

I have some immediate education-related concerns w #Ford’s latest omnibus, mega-bill.

1. There is absolutely NOTHING in this “economic recovery act” to help Schools & childcare’s reopen. No additional staff, money, space or support for families. #onted 2. The Bill seems to possibly open the door to more outside (and possibly private control) of online education, by limiting the role of TVO/TFO. #onted

In Question Period @AndreaHorwath asks #Ford to ensure parents don’t have to quit their jobs by opening “more, smaller classrooms”, hiring more teachers & investing to support our students. #onted #onpoli Premier conveniently comes in after @AndreaHorwath asks the question so his Minister replies. Lectures her on how “synchronous learning” was in place to help parents.

HELLO WHAT?! Parenting 101: a teacher on a screen (live or not) can’t supervise a 6 year old. #onpoli #onted

TWO YEARS!

What a privilege it is to represent #DavenportTO.

From the great communities of Beaconsfield, Little Portugal, Dundas W, Dufferin Grove, Bloordale, Junction Triangle to Carleton Village, Northcliffe, Regal Heights, Fairbank, Corso Italia and on and on....

#onpoli

https://twitter.com/DavenportNDP/status/1269664500959117312

On this 2nd anniversary of my election, I’m missing the school fairs, festivals, Portugal Day Parade & all the ways we celebrate our amazing diversity & neighbourhoods☀️ 🇵🇹

And I’m so grateful to represent a community that comes together in such difficult times.

Thank you!

📢Call to action! Like many Ontarians, I was shocked that, in the midst of COVID-19, Doug Ford would try to ram through a bill that makes it *easier* to evict people. Watch what I said about it in the Legislature & read on to learn how you can help: 1/4
#DavenportTO #onpoli New Democrats are fighting back against Bill 184 at Queen's Park but we need your help to stop this bill.
Read more about how it puts tenants at risk at:
maritstiles.ca/stop_fords_evi…
Then 📢 help us take action: 2/4

“There’s something very, very wrong with how the folks running the provincial response to this epidemic are reacting to it and how they’re processing information.”

Must read interview w epidemiologist ⁦@DFisman⁩. #onpoli #onted
tvo.org/article/covid-… Many of the points @DFisman makes here are - e.g the “asking but not listening” approach of the Ford govt - we have seen reflected in the Govt’s approach to education in the pandemic response

And it’s frankly frightening. #onted #onpoli

Today my elderly American aunt will begin the drive north from her home in Florida to Rhode Island with her daughter so my 52 year old cousin can receive her much-needed MS treatment.

(Thread) #covid19 My cousin lives in Rhode Island, but she had travelled to visit her mother months ago and then.... because she is immuno compromised, had to stay.

Flying home would be too risky. And driving north didn’t make sense either. But now they have no choice. #covid19 #usa

I’m watching an extraordinary Virtual Town Hall on How to Meet Urgent Needs of Students with #Disabilities during #COVID19 Crisis organized by @aodaalliance and @OntAutism.

👉Province needs to listen to these frontline folks....

#DisabilityUrgent #accessibility #AODA 1/3 Clear message repeated over & over re supporting students w disabilities now & when school returns, however it returns:

Requires provincial leadership! province can’t rely on boards to make this up on their own

Many note this has not been experience thus far.

2/4 #onted

The first meeting of the @Metrolinx #Davenport Diamond Construction Liaison Committee is underway. We’re reviewing construction timelines right now.

Community voices are critical in this process... including ⁦@Opt4Davenport⁩.

#onpoli Some community members raising concerns about ongoing communication re construction plans, overnight work, etc.

Metrolinx says this is the reason the liaison committee exists...to help get info out to everyone.

(But why should residents be responsible for spreading word?)

So many families across Ontario have been affected by this “unlawfully inadequate” response to COVID19 on for-profit LTC Jones.

Like @KevinMc97307423 who is a constituent of mine. His father is in Altamont. And his family is fighting for his life. 1/4

https://twitter.com/SaraMojtehedz/status/1253122239203024897

2/4 Kevin & his sister Tara are fighting for action to protect residents & staff.

They know that a lot of families don’t have the time, energy or resources in this moment to fight this fight. So they will.

#onhealth #ltc #onpoli #covid19

NDP Leader @AndreaHorwath kicked off a #FoodBankChallenge and the great people of my riding & #DavenportMutualAid helped me pull together donations to support @DufferinOasis.

I challenge @hockeyesque @AndrewCash @Steph4schools to join me!

Donate whatever you can! #onpoli My kid helped me out, and Stevie Licks too. Even had a chance to catch up with a few neighbours like @hownowinternet (at a safe distance of course).

Our community is so incredibly giving and generous. Way to go #DavenportTO!

Breaking: @TDSB Chair says Community Use of Schools grants have been cancelled.... and outlines cost to at risk and vulnerable students because of #FordGovernment cuts. memo to trustees released tonight... excerpts below. #OntEd #Onpoli This is a further $1-million cut to Canada’s largest school board and will reduce access to school facilities for community organizations/activities, particularly in high-need neighbourhoods. Devastating #ONpoli @OntEdu