This week, I gave my inaugural address as Toronto Centre's new MPP at Queen's Park. I cannot thank
@SuzeMorrison
, my wife
@FarrahSafiaKhan
, my family, or the
@TCNDP
community enough for your support. Watch my whole speech here:
#TorCen
#OnPoli
We're overjoyed in sharing the news of our baby's arrival. Kiyan's first breath literally took ours away. My extraordinary wife laboured for 17 hours and then some more to bring this bundle of absolute joy into the world. Mother and baby are getting stronger every minute. 💗💗
City Council should tear up Tory’s budget, open up 24/7 warming centres immediately and declare homelessness a humanitarian crisis. It's time to go way beyond plugging potholes and start permanently fixing Toronto’s structural problems.
Minister of Education keeps saying that CUPE forced him to introduce Bill 28, his "back to work legislation."
This is a lie.
He's not ending a strike. There is no strike and Bill 28 is not back to work legislation.
He's ending charter rights & collective bargaining.
#onpoli
The same Conservative party that fought against women's reproductive rights, same-sex marriage, trans rights, funding for the Status of Women and the Native Women’s Association of Canada is suddenly now suddenly concerned about women. In Ottawa, they're the fake feminists I see.
Don't applaud Ford for reversing his retroactive cuts. He never got a mandate to gut public health, childcare, subway takeover or bring back the OMB. Instead, I applaud residents for fighting back. Now we triple efforts to stop 2020 cuts, subway takeover + Ford's OMB.
#onpoli
BREAKING: Premier Doug Ford confirms his government is reversing cuts to municipal public health, child care cuts, etc. to Ontario’s municipalities, pausing Bill 108.
#onpoli
My best friend has passed. Frances was 8-wks old when we first met. I fell in love. Hard. We eagerly explored every park and neighbourhood. Toward the end she was deaf, blind and struggling to walk. Frances was strong + true during our 19 years together. I'll miss her forever. 💔
My beautiful wife joyfully rang the Bravery Bell to mark the end of her cervical cancer treatment. She endured 6 months of radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, and many side effects. Soon Farrah will begin treatment for breast cancer but for now, we're celebrating this milestone! ♥️
The bias, microaggression, racism + sexism Serena Williams endures while showing us she is the greatest tennis player ever sends a chilling message to all girls, esp those racialized. You can be the best + it's still not enough. Like Serena never back down. It's your game too!
On this day in 1987 a teenager walked into
@The519
looking for community. She was living in a closet carrying a secret that was killing her. In The Village she found her community. Today she's a City Councillor married to the love of her life and raising new baby.
#ComingOutDay
First Ford tells Mayor
@BonnieCrombie
to stop whining" and when she challenges him on Bill 23.
Then in Queen's Park this morning, he tells MPP
@marymargaretbey
to "sit down" when she asks him a question during Question Period. She's doing her job.
Ford does not respect women.
At 16, I came out to my parents and became homeless. It took years to rebuild our relationship. Two years ago when I got married both my parents walked me down the aisle. This is my love letter to Toronto. Everything is possible.
#NationalComingOutDay
At Queen's Park at 5 a.m. in the dark and rain to fight Ford's unconstitutional legislation and mean-spirited attack on education workers.
#39kIsNotEnough
#onpoli
It's no secret that John Tory and I had many political disagreements. Tonight I fully agree that he should resign. His is not a simple, one-time lapse of judgement. Tory was her boss and this is an abuse of power.
Five years ago I married my best friend at The 519 in front of community & family. Everyday I learn from Farrah and today we are raising the sweetest little boy together. This is the life I never knew was possible when I came out at 16. 💗
Conservatives just voted down the
@OntarioNDP
motion to double ODSP & OW rates. Result 74-35.
In June, the Premier gave 88% of his caucus a raise of over $16,600 per year.
#onpoli
When Ford strikes a secret deal with a foreign company that includes over $500M of corporate subsidies to pave over Ontario Place, you can bet it's not in the public's interest.
@maritstiles
&
@OntarioNDP
are calling on the AG for a value for money audit.
Everyday
#ONpoli
gets worst. Slash and burn.
$1B Toronto Public Health
50% Ontario public libraries
Rich developers can now pay to kill endangered species?!
Time to shut him down.
General strike. May 1st.
#StrikeFord
#StrikeON
Why wait a week to repeal an unconstitutional bill that should've never been tabled?
Ford rushed his draconian bill last week when he forced a 5 a.m. sitting and now is taking his sweet time to repeal.
@OntarioNDP
is ready to repeal Bill 28 today. Recall the house now.
Education workers make less than $39K and have the right to bargain through their union. Most are women & BIPOC. Now Ford is rushing legislation to take that right away and force a debate at 5 a.m. tomorrow morning.
@OntarioNDP
will fight this every step of the way.
After receiving dozens of complaints about nefarious Greenbelt land deals, the OPP’s anti racket branch opened a file to determine whether or not to launch a full investigation.
Expect Ford to announce new police funding soon.
WE WON!!!
I'm pleased to share the good news that, Justice David L. Corbett granted interim relief to stay the decision of the Government of Ontario to demolish the heritage buildings at the Dominion Foundry Complex.
We'll continue our fight to
#SaveTheFoundry
.
72 years after
#ViolaDesmond
was ousted from the whites-only section of a Nova Scotia movie theatre, a 10-dollar banknote with her portrait will be widely circulated in one week. She's the first Canadian woman to be featured on such a bill. Fantastic!!
Ford is standing alone on an island with a handful of PC donors and developer insiders defending their plans to pave over the Greenbelt.
Literally everyone else in Ontario including 90 prominent business leaders are calling him to repeal Bill 23.
#onpoli
For weeks, Doug Ford sacrificed the residents and business owners of Ottawa when it was overrun by the convoy. He should never be allowed to step foot in that city again without be shamed for abandoning them.
Do you want a side of homophobia with that chicken sandwich? Plenty of other amazing locally owned, operated and LGBTQ-friendly restaurants in the neighbourhood.
"Chick-fil-A is about to open in Toronto. I hope it fails"
We should never forget the names of these 14 young women who senselessly and tragically lost their lives 31 years ago. Together we must end gender-based violence.
Thank you to the residents of Toronto Centre for entrusting me as your next MPP. I am ready to be your champion at Queen’s Park. I cannot wait to do this work together. 🧡
Tonight the
@torontolibrary
wrongly let a known transphobic speaker use public space to attack a Charter-protected group who are routinely and disproportionately targeted by hate & violence. My motion directs City Manager + Solicitor to review booking rules for all public spaces.
Ford government wants to pit parents against unions. The parents in my community support their education workers. Parents want them to get a fair deal and be given the respect they deserve. Ford is a gaslighting bully.
#onpoli
Scheer's unretracted position that "homosexuality" is unnatural and gays can't procreate was the most weaponized argument by the religious zealots against gay marriage.
Today many of us are married and raising kids despite homophobes like Scheer.
#NeverScheer
#ScheerHomophobia
I am concerned by reports that residents of Toronto have been held in custody for hours without charges or in person access to their legal counsel.
#BlackLivesMatter
Ford tried to bury his dirty announcement on a late Friday afternoon. He’s paving over 7400 acres of the Greenbelt after promising not to touch in 2018.
#FordsFloods
#onpoli
NEW: Ford Conservatives voted against the Ontario NDP motion to bring in REAL rent control for ALL buildings. (33 yes - 67 no)
Rents for a one-bedroom apartment is now over $3K a month for the first time ever in Toronto. Minister of Housing led the charge to oppose our motion.
I've been served with a libel notice by the publisher of Corriere Canadese after I spoke up in defence of the
@LGBTYouthLine
& the
@TCDSB
trustees who've been supporting
#LGBTQ2S
+ students.
I'm hiring a lawyer to respond to this SLAPP suit.
I won't be intimidated into silence.
The Ontario average ER wait time is over 19 hours.
Yet, the Minister of Health said it's "inappropriate" to call the health care crisis a "crisis."
#onpoli
#May17
is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia, a day to denounce hate against
#LGBTQ2S
people. We celebrate our hard won civil rights, big & small victories. These rainbow masks were lovingly made by my mother-in-law.
#LoveWins
#IDAHOBT
After cheering
#GoRapsGo
until the middle of the 4th quarter, Kiyan's too tired to stay up for the whole game. Before he goes to bed, Kiyan wants everyone to know that even though he's only 11 days old, he will be a lifelong
@Raptors
fan!
#WeTheNorth
#NBAFinals
My motion to promote
#menstrualequity
in shelters by providing free menstrual hygiene products to homeless women, girls and trans folk PASSES 30-1. Councillor Mammolitti is the lone vote against.
“I’d be up that guy’s ying yang so far within a firecracker, he wouldn’t know what hit him.”
Another unforgettable quote from Ford.
He’s talking about pressing Pfizer’s CEO to send more vaccines to Canada.
#onpoli
Ontario’s Auditor General releases a 1000-page report covering 15 separate areas pointing out where
the Ford government lost money and could improve fiscal accountability.
Ford wants her to "stay in her lane."
That's the cue keep going.
#onpoli
#BREAKING
- Minister
@ToddJMcCarthy
refuses to answer most reporter questions like where reported cost savings are coming from. He refused to release the business case. Government now claims Staples is getting $1.75 million for retrofit costs.
Police budget cuts are always met with aggressive resistance. Politicians get cautioned by police bosses, work slowdowns take place and other ways to send us a message.
This time things are different. Thousands have emailed, marched and if this is to happen - please don’t stop.
The Ford Government should be under police investigation. It is not possible to believe that these land speculators paid tens of millions for land that could not be developed without knowing the greenbelt protections would be removed. Criminal.
When I came out at age 16 to my parents, home was no longer a safe space. It was actually teachers at school that saved my life. The new law in New Brunswick is going to harm trans & non-binary students. To those students, I say, you are love. I see you. Stay strong. 💗🌈
Today I swore my Oath in front of my wife, parents, friends and The Clerk as the first Asian-Canadian queer, non-binary person to be elected to Queen's Park. Forever and a day I will cherish this special moment. Thank you to the great people of
#TorCen
. We made history together!
The desperation of Tory & Ford is palpable. They left Toronto with a legacy of austerity, chaos, sex scandal and a $13 million byelection. Between undermining democracy by scheming 'strong mayor powers' behind closed doors and raiding the reserves, they aren't here for Toronto.
It's chilling to see the PC caucus be so cold-hearted as they applaud unconstitutional legislation to strip education workers their right to collective bargaining. They sneer education workers that work two jobs & feed their families from the food bank. Just heartless.
#onpoli
Politics is tough + not always fair.
Kathleen Wynne’s distinguished career of public service inevitably came with great personal and family sacrifice. I believe that history will be gentler on her legacy than the 2018 Ontario voters. Thank you Premier for your service.
#ONpoli
Andrew Scheer says HIS Conservative government won't reopen the abortion debate. Best not to take any chances. Don't elect him Prime Minister.
#NotScheer
#cdnpoli
Thank you
#TorCen
residents for voting for our positive vision and progessive values. Tonight's victory belongs to all you, my extraordinary team of volunteers and community supporters. Looking forward to working with you all💙💛
#TorontoVotes
#TorontoElection
#TOPoli
#Ward13
There's a reason why the Premier doesn't want you to know who he's meeting with, especially if the topic is about abolishing the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
As a teen, I lost the roof over my head when I came out. Coming out is a matter of life & death to many 2SLGBTQ+ Ontarians.
Let's call a spade a spade. Lecce’s media circuit about if he’ll out Trans kids is a shameful attempt to change the channel from Ford's failures
#OnPoli
Based on his own record this might be why Ford thinks politicians are "useless" and "lazy."
"Doug Ford had third-worst attendance, missed 53 per cent of 2014 city council votes"
The unconstitutional Bill 28 just passed 74-30 with the Premier absent, as he often is.
Protesting union leaders and education workers were tossed out of the gallery as the vote took place.
Sad day for democracy in Canada. Sad day for public education in Ontario.
#onpoli
City Council just approved
#YongeTOmorrow
21-5!🎉
Thank you to the residents, biz owners, thought leaders, cultural mavens who spoke in support of this big urban transformation.
Yonge St is a project 10 years in the making and
today's historic vote solidifies its bright future!
No matter what they call us, how they judge us - we are Canadians and have earned our place in Canada - and nothing they can say will ever take that away. And this is the lesson I will teach my son.
#ThankYouDrTam
Today's shooting and other acts of violence are unacceptable. No one should be carrying weapons and certainly not a loaded gun into a public celebration. To Toronto first responders, thank you for acting quickly to keep everyone safe. You went above & beyond today.🙏🏼
#WeTheNorth
Last week, the Mayor wouldn’t cut the Toronto Police budget even by 10% and instead voted to spend millions more on body cameras.
Today he threatens to slash other city services & layoff thousands of public workers if Fed/Prov bailout doesn’t come along.
Restaurant owners & workers have been treated so poorly. Eleven days ago, they were told to re-open their patios even when variant transmissions were rising. They restocked their kitchens, brought back staff and now they have to close again. Such poor planning from Ford.
Indoor dining in Toronto will have been closed for 300 days as of tomorrow. The reward for their sacrifice appears to be a further lockdown. Many restaurant owners are losing their homes, bleeding their retirement savings and facing financial ruin.
Getting booed at North America's largest tech conference is embarrassing. Ford's funding cuts to universities/colleges, start-ups, green energy & AI is proving unpopular. Business leaders here aren't buying his "Ontario is open for business" line.
#OneTermPCBlunder
#CollisionConf
The crowd boos as Premier
@fordnation
takes the stage at
#CollisionConf
. This is the 1st full day of the massive tech conference & industry leaders are unhappy with his government’s decision to cut $24 million in funding for artificial intelligence research.
#onpoli
@CollisionHQ
It is with much gratitude & love that I announce that I will not be seeking re-election for City Council in October. I have decided to put my name forward to seek the
@OntarioNDP
nomination to become the next MPP for Toronto Centre. Read my full letter:
Doug Ford is supported by his caucus and party. If he’s the worst premier ever, then the PC government that is propping him up, is the worst provincial government ever.
Why Doug Ford is worse than Mike Harris
Ford brings chaos to the Ontario Place Marina as boaters face eviction for his secret land deal. Since City Planning hasn’t approved the Therme Spa development & the Auditor General may be conducting an investigation, this eviction shouldn’t be enforced.
Ford lost another lawsuit. This is on top of the 14 others he lost since 2018. Hard to keep track.
This time courts struck down Ford's anti-Charter campaign finance law. Conservative government to appeal & waste more taxpayer money to defend bad laws.
STATEMENT: Today, the Fort York Public Library was the site of a desperate & hateful protest targeting a Drag Queen Story Hour planned for Toronto families. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️(thread)
We have a message for Doug Ford. This is our city, we will not let you steal our democracy without a fight. I love Toronto and it is worth fighting for.
#Topoli
#OurCityHall
#TorCen
Ford’s a persistent combatant who courts division. He blames the Opposition & mainstream media when caught exaggerating or telling untruths. Today’s Greenbelt reversal would’ve never happened without intense pressure from everyone who fought back. Don’t ease up, there’ll be more.
Doug Ford knew about Tanya Granic Allen's bigoted opinions when he accepted her support during the leadership race. He ignored it again when he nominated her. Cutting her lose now doesn't free him or the PCs of hateful politics. It's always about more that just one person.
With the expected sentencing for serial killer McArthur and Quebec City mosque murderer Bissonette, today is almost emotionally unbearable for our Queer and Muslim household. To those struggling today, we see you. You are safe, strong and not alone. ❤️🏳️🌈🕌cc
@farrahsafiakhan
“Ontarians should be alarmed by Doug Ford’s latest move to bring the selection of the province’s chief justice under the sole purview of Doug Ford’s Attorney General, despite the rightful outcry from judges and legal experts”
#OnPoli
Children are not chattel.
The perversion of Saskatchewan's premier in using the notwithstanding clause to trample the human rights of children for parental approval is wicked and incomprehensible.
As a COVID-vaccinated person, I wrote a deeply personal op-ed about the need to open dialogue with people who have taken a different position about vaccines, including my own elderly parents. My only aim was to promote discourse over divisiveness, and dial down the polarization.