October 2022 Newsletter
I hope you had a warm Thanksgiving with your family, friends and loved ones. I am pleased to share what October has been like as your Member of Provincial Parliament for Don Valley West.
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The House was adjourned on September 5th and returned on Tuesday, October 25th. October has been a busy month for my team and me as we worked to finish setting up our constituency and legislature offices. I have also been connecting with constituents at various events and visited organizations throughout our riding. If you scroll below, you can read more about my activities in the riding and at Queen's Park!
On the first day back at Legislature, our Caucus outlined our priorities for this session. Our team is committed to prioritizing solutions to Ontario's healthcare crisis, ensuring the availability of safe and affordable places to live, and addressing affordability and the rising cost of living.
I'm appreciative of all the thoughts and ideas you continue to share with me to make Don Valley West and Ontario a better place to live and thrive in. We are working to respond to each piece of correspondence we get, and I encourage you to keep writing to me. It helps me know what my constituents are concerned about and gives me a better understanding of how to amplify your voices.
While walk-ins are not yet available, we are operating virtually. We can meet in person by appointment when needed. You can get in touch with my constituency office by calling 416-425-6777 or by emailing mailto:sbowman.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org I wish you and your loved one’s good health and a wonderful autumn season.
Warm regards,
Stephanie Bowman
Back-to-work legislation
Ford government attempts to pass a legislation that will compel education workers to enter into a collective bargaining agreement to return to work using the Notwithstanding clause to override Constitutionally protected Labour Rights instead of addressing the core issue is unacceptable. Recent Financial Accountability Office reports show the huge cost that wage capping bills like this Watch Minister Lecce's press release here have on our workers and on our provincial finances. The FAO also reports that the government has set aside $40 billion in contingency funds while also forecasting surpluses for the next few years.
Watch Minister Lecce’s press release here.
Emergencies Act Inquiry
I was proud to stand alongside my colleagues to call upon Premier Ford to testify at the Emergencies Act Inquiry. Ontarians deserve transparency and accountability from their Premier about his (in)action that led to the use of the Emergencies Act. Click here to watch the press release.
Debate on Agricultural Policy
The Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs proposed a motion to continue developing agricultural policy with an emphasis on food security and consideration of the entire agri-food supply chain, as well as advocate to the federal government to adopt similar policies related to agriculture and food processing, to ensure Ontario farmers, remain productive and competitive. I was happy to support this motion. However, I am confident that we can think creatively about how we see the future of farming in our province, the types of people we will need to meet that future, and the support people will require to meet that challenge. Watch my statement here.
Tribute to Jim Henderson
It was truly a privilege to stand in the House on to say a few words of tribute to Jim Henderson, who served as the MPP for Etobicoke–Humber from 1985 to 1995, who died on May 2, 2020, at the age of 79. Jim was a medical doctor who worked as a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst before and after his political career. There is no doubt that Dr. Henderson lived a life of commitment to his family, his values, his constituency, his province, and his country, and with this, his well-earned legacy will continue to live on.