Monthly round-up: Parliament is back
A look back at January 2024.
Parliament is officially back for the 2024 spring session.
On my end, having taken some time to reflect on the provincial race, it’s good to be refocused on federal politics for the remainder of the current Parliament.
In the House, we’re still debating the Fall Economic Statement, which focused on getting housing built (removing GST on rental construction, and $1 billion for social housing, etc.), and addressing affordability concerns (strengthening competition, stabilizing grocery prices, etc.).
With a more immediate impact on affordability, the dental care benefit continues to roll out this year to seniors on a staggered schedule, with all seniors eligible in May. Children under 18 and people with disabilities (with a valid DTC certificate) will be eligible in June. And the program will be open to everyone by 2025.
Through the coming budget, the government will hopefully continue to advance affordability initiatives by realizing its promises with respect to the Canada Disability Benefit and a national school food program, and by expanding its work to get housing built. Most recently, for example, Minister Fraser made low-interest loans available to colleges and universities to build more student housing.
Related, and speaking of colleges and universities, Minister Miller recently announced a two-year cap on student permits. We’ve seen an unsustainable growth in the number of international students to make up for consistent provincial underfunding for higher education. To put it simply: provinces need to step up and provide sustainable funding.
As I mentioned in my last update, I plan to write more this session. I expect to write in the coming weeks on a range of topics, including international students, the price on pollution, and electoral reform.
You can find my recent writing below, including on the subject of assisted dying (the government has now further delayed its expansion), the ICJ case and war in Gaza, and why our government has been and will continue to be a strong partner for the City of Toronto.
Fearmongering about assisted dying
We legalized medical assistance in dying in 2016. Opponents claimed the sky would fall. In 2021, we extended access to MAID beyond situations where one’s natural death was reasonably foreseeable. Opponents claimed the sky would fall. Has the sky fallen? The answer is no.
Whatever we call it, it needs to stop now.
There's no disputing the tremendous and tragic scale of death and destruction, including an overwhelming impact on innocent civilians. The violence needs to end, the hostages need to be freed, we need a two-state solution, and we need an independent accountability mechanism for any breaches of international humanitarian law by actors on both sides.
Can't we just get along?
This federal government has been a particularly strong partner for the City of Toronto. In the circumstances, we should deliver renewed federal support to help Toronto manage its shelter system and accommodate a continued influx of asylum seekers.
What comes next?
Being the MP for Beaches-East York is the best job I'll ever have, but it will be time for someone else to step up and serve our community after the next election. In the meantime, I'll continue to cause good trouble in Ottawa for the remainder of this Parliament.
In question period, and in the media, both Jagmeet Singh and Pierre Poilievre have been questioning what federal MPs have delivered for Toronto.
The answer is over $5.5 billion since 2015, for transit, housing, its shelter system, public health, and to rescue its operations from COVID shortfalls. More than any other federal government.
Just this week, Minister Miller announced an additional $362 million to support housing and asylum seekers in affected regions, and I’ll be joining Mayor Chow and federal colleagues soon to announce Toronto’s portion.
Mayor Chow will also be joining me for the Uncommons podcast this weekend to do a deeper dive into federal/city cooperation. So send me your questions!
Earlier this month, we restarted the podcast through conversations with MP Yasir Naqvi, and Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins. And we plan to post at least on a bi-weekly basis, so keep sending your suggestions for guests and topics.
Principled, pragmatic, liberal leadership with Yasir Naqvi
Nate is joined by Yasir Naqvi, a friend, former opponent in the Ontario Liberal leadership race, and a continued federal colleague. They discuss the race, lessons learned, and what comes next.
The pursuit of truth with Eliot Higgins
Nate speaks with the founder of Eliot Higgins, founder of the Bellingcat, an investigative journalism website that specializes in fact-checking and open-source intelligence. Their conversation focuses on disinformation.
As always, if there’s an issue or idea you want to advocate for, get in touch at info@beynate.ca.
Locally, it was great to see so many different people at our winter welcome and levee events. I’m looking forward to celebrating Black History Month and International Mother Language Day in February.
- Nate
Thank you for the update Nate and for your service. I’m sorry to hear that you won’t run again since you have always been popular in your community. Looking forward to future writings on Substack.
Nate i truly the real deal so to speak. I met him very early on and was so impressed by him and later hos family as well--that I worked like crazy for his first campaign back in 2015! I am not a party guy and I did take him on as the best--he is so respected in the Riding, even by other politicos. It is apparent that I cannot say enough good about him so I will stop now.