Community News Update - April 26, 2024
Community News Update - December 9, 2020
Dear Community,
Today Ontario has reported another 1890 cases of COVID-19, with over 500 of those new cases being found here in Toronto.
The news of the day, however, is that Health Canada has announced its approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, with up to 249,000 vaccine doses to arrive in Canada by year-end. While this is welcome news, there are still many questions that need to be answered about how these doses will be distributed, and when we can expect more to arrive.
While we are still awaiting specifics from the provincial government, you can look at the criteria that will be used to allocate our first vaccinations here. Sadly, as the vaccines are beginning to arrive, the Ford government has cut the fall session of the Ontario Legislature short – meaning that we will not be able to address the government through Question Period until February.
This news came as a surprise to the Official Opposition, as we received no advance notice of this decision – and there is so much work that still needs to be done.
But as we face frustration at Queen’s Park, we are once again able to turn to incredible members of our community for inspiration. A great example this week comes from the Toronto Miracle Food Drive that was held last Saturday across Toronto – and in our community, the food went to support the Beeton Cupboard Food Bank who do vital work to keep our neighbours fed.
You can click here to see just how much food they received!
In another piece of incredibly exciting news, my first Private Member’s Bill – Bill 61: Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) Act - has just received Royal Assent, and is now the law in Ontario! That means that the first week of February in Ontario will now be acknowledged as EDAW – and you can find more information about what this means here.
I want to thank everyone who has helped advocate for this bill – without each and every one of you this would not have been possible.
In the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen a great deal of backlash from across Ontario about the news that the Ford government has been busy abusing regulatory powers to allow development, in previously restricted areas in Ontario, including the Greenbelt. In my office alone, I have received hundreds of emails about this issue, and in response, I am organizing an Environment Town Hall for next Monday at 6 PM on Facebook Live!
If you would like to tune in, you can RSVP on Facebook here!
You can also RSVP on my website here!
In Solidarity,
Jill Andrew
Today in the House
Rose of Sharon Long-Term Care
Earlier this week, I rose in the Legislature to advocate for Rose of Sharon Long-Term Care, an LTC facility that is at risk of losing its Korean cultural heritage and its excellent track record of care if it’s sold to the for-profit Rykka Care Centres.
You can watch my Question Period Question here.
