Hello friends,
Thank you to everyone who attended our Town Hall on March 6. It was a great opportunity to learn from Dr. Carolyn Whitzman, Alejandra Ruiz Vargas, and Phil Pothen about intersecting crises here in Ontario, and we are so grateful that they shared their time and expertise with us.
If you were unable to attend the event, please feel free to review the recording here:
Zoom recording of Connecting Crises Virtual Discussion
Passcode: a44E8&^Y
Many indicated that they wanted to help in fighting back against Bill 23 and making housing more affordable and accessible for everyone. Here are a few ways to get involved:
You can sign MPP Sandy Shaw’s petition to Protect the Greenbelt here:
https://www.sandyshawmpp.ca/protect_the_greenbelt
If you would like to learn more about how to support people who need stable access to housing right here in Toronto, connect with the Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness:
As part of the City of Toronto’s Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) initiative, there is a survey (available until March 10) you can complete to share your feedback with your city about expanding multiplex housing options in Toronto:
https://s.cotsurvey.chkmkt.com/?e=307731&h=AE09CE6D875C9FA&l=en
Currently, Ontario allows for vacancy decontrol, whereby landlords can increase the rent wildly once a tenant leaves. We can push to end vacancy decontrol together:
At our March 6th event, attendees told us that they would like to have a concise way to discuss issues relating to the Greenbelt and housing with friends and neighbours. We have created the first in our series of “How To Talk So Your Neighbours Will Listen” documents here that you can feel free to use and share, and have included some helpful links you can use in your discussions:
Talking to Neighbours about Bill 23
Thank you so much for your efforts. Together we can work towards ensuring all Ontarians have access to housing, and that our precious green spaces are protected.
Kate Dupuis