I'm Shannon Devine and I am thrilled to introduce myself as the NDP candidate for Beaches–East York in the upcoming federal election. This is not a decision or a responsibility that I am taking lightly. I have worked alongside many of you over the years on campaigns and elections in Beaches–East York.
TORONTO – New Democrats in Beaches – East York came together to nominate Kate Dupuis, long time BEY resident, health care professional, and champion for seniors, to be the Ontario NDP candidate in Beaches – East York for the next election.
Stiles files integrity complaint against the Ford government for Ontario Place - Therme deal
Marit Stiles and the Ontario NDP have submitted a complaint to the Office of the Integrity Commissioner calling for an investigation into the Therme deal. The complaint includes evidence suggesting that Therme received preferential treatment from the Ford government and seeks an investigation into the Minister of Infrastructure’s involvement.
“Over the past two years, we have collected evidence suggesting a deeply troubling pattern of behaviour surrounding the Ford government’s deal with Therme. We have reason to believe that Therme received preferential treatment from this government when they were awarded the 95-year-long lease to build a luxury spa at Ontario Place.
“Was the procurement process fair? Why is the government using taxpayer money to build Therme a parking lot after telling other bidders it would not consider proposals with publicly funded facilities? Billions of dollars and a cherished public asset are at stake. We are bringing our case to the Integrity Commissioner so we can finally get some answers on this shady scheme.”
TORONTO – MPP Jill Andrew (Toronto – St. Paul’s), NDP critic for Culture and Heritage, released the following statement after Ford gave an update on the abrupt Ontario Science Centre (OSC) closure:
“You only need to look at the letters written to save the Science Centre, with nearly 80,000 sent and climbing, to know that Ontarians care deeply about this important cultural institution.
With every new update, it seems like Ford is cherry-picking numbers to suit his own scheme to build a private mega spa. What about the kids who had summer camps or special semesters cancelled? What about the families of Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park, who rely on the centre for day trips and summer learning? Who’s looking out for them?
Everyone sees through this. The abrupt closure of the Science Centre could have been avoided –especially if Doug Ford and his politicians had just invested in it all along. An NDP government would make the necessary repairs to revive the Science Centre and keep it where it is”.
Background
QUEEN’S PARK — Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles responded to Infrastructure Ontario posting a “Request for Proposal” for an interim Science Centre:
“No one is buying Ford’s excuses for permanently closing our Science Centre; we all know it’s about sweetening the deal for his luxury spa at Ontario Place.
Now we see the government planning to build an interim Science Centre for a fraction of the size of the original, with unknown costs to the public, and no chance of opening for at least a year.
Just repair the existing Science Centre!
QUEEN’S PARK – Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario NDP, released the following statement in response to Ford halting wastewater testing for COVID-19 and other viruses:
“We all went through a tough time facing COVID-19 and dealing with the impacts of a pandemic and a lockdown. Reliable wastewater testing is one of the tools we have at our disposal to monitor and prepare for future public health emergencies – why would we take that away? Has Ford learned nothing from the past few years? This program needs to be expanded, not ended.”
The Ontario NDP have repeatedly called for a reversal of this decision and have called for the program to be expanded and invested in instead.
The last few weeks have seen unspeakable horrors in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank - with a civilian death toll in the thousands, killed by Hamas terrorists, the Israeli military, and settler violence. And, in that context, the ONDP removed MPP Sarah Jama from the caucus.