Dear Community,
Yesterday I had a blast at the Toronto Fringe Theatre festival. “The Sorauren Book Club” put on by Lisa Randall, Christina Collins, our very own Maria Syrgiannis, and many more fabulous cast and crew, is a fun watch. You can catch this show again at the Al Green Theatre at 750 Spadina Ave. on July 13, 14, or 16. See a full list of showtimes for this and other shows and buy tickets here: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/plan-your-festival/box-office.
Just when we need them most, our province is facing the closure of several emergency rooms in hospitals across the province. Some others are having their hours reduced. None of the hospitals near Toronto-St. Paul’s have closed emergency rooms, but the staffing problems are widespread and worrying, particularly with a pandemic that isn’t over yet.
That’s why the Ford government needs to get serious about repairing the damage to our health care system. We need an expedited system to recognize foreign credentials, so that trained nurses and doctors that come to Ontario can contribute to the best of their ability. We need more funding for hospitals to hire enough staff to prevent burn-out. We need a major effort to recruit, train and retrain the nurses and PSWs that our system relies on. Finally, we need to reverse the unfair limitations on the wages of our healthcare workers by repealing Bill 124.
Many of us literally can’t live without a better health care system. It’s about time that the Ford government acted like it. https://www.ontariondp.ca/news/ndp-calls-more-federal-health-funding-and-more-provincial-health-spending
This weekend saw the GRAND RETURN of TD Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival!! There was delicious food, dancing, and above all, joy. I joined some volunteers from our riding association to share in the fun and collect signatures in support of raising ODSP rates and getting rid of above guideline rent increases.
Back in 2019 when I first attended this festival I had an airboot on after having a complete WIPE OUT at a nearby park! Today I was on stage 'shakin and bakin'. The weather was fantastic and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as I did. I’m sure I’ll see you all there next year.
In Solidarity,
Jill Andrew
Toronto—St. Paul's
