Sort of monthly Round Up: Feb/March
A busy couple of months in Ottawa and in the community.
We’re in the middle of a relentless schedule of different policy announcements in the lead up to Budget 2024. It’s a good thing: our politics should be about ideas, and there have been many good ideas put on the table recently.
The policies have been focused mostly on housing so far, returning to the theme of fairness that we ran on in 2015 and that has motivated much of the agenda since then.
As the Ford government walks away from any housing ambition here in Ontario, it’s especially important to see the federal Liberals really lean into this now, pushing municipalities and provinces to end restrictive zoning and more. All hands on deck.
Staying on the fairness theme, I joined a policy announcement earlier this week to set our kids up to succeed with a healthy school food program. Too many families are struggling in the face of affordability and this is a commitment we made in 2021.
Special mention to the Coalition for Healthy School Food and all of the advocates who helped to make this a reality. I submitted the idea through our platform process back in 2018, so it was good to be there for the announcement.
Of course, the budget is more of a look ahead, and this update is intended to look back at the last couple of months.
In Parliament, we saw a heightened debate on the war in Gaza and most MPs (not Conservatives) call for a ceasefire and an immediate expansion of humanitarian assistance, among other measures. Most recently, the Prime Minister raised serious concerns about the Israeli airstrike that killed a Canadian citizen and aid worker.
Parliament otherwise saw repeated lies about pollution pricing and climate action, and a doomed vote to implement a citizens’ assembly on electoral reform.
I wrote about all three here:
In a total moment of absurdity, a Conservative MP referenced the communist manifesto, called me “diabolical,” and went down a rabbit hole of bug-eating conspiracy theories, all in response to my bill that requires the government to table a pandemic prevention and preparedness plan in Parliament. I’ll write more on that later, with my bill up for a vote at 3rd reading in May.
The government also tabled bills to address online harms, ban scab labour, phase in pharmacare, and better protect animals. And childcare legislation received royal assent. So there’s a lot going on.
Outside of Parliament, it’s been good to be back in our east end, spending time with constituents at community events, and volunteering with my office team at local initiatives.
Serious climate action
Ask yourself a simple question: do you want serious climate action in this country?
The Conservatives don’t. And cynically, they are using a real but unrelated affordability crisis to undermine any consensus to act.
In addition to this speech in the House of Commons, this lengthy rant, and this talk radio interview, we also focused the Uncommons podcast on climate policy, including episodes with Minister Steven Guilbeault and NDP Environment Critic Laurel Collins.
Getting housing built
Minister Fraser also joined me on the podcast to discuss how to get more housing built, how the LPC and CPC plans compare, and how to communicate progress given the scale of the challenge ahead.
All levels of government need to deliver ambition and work together if we’re going to meet the challenge of generational fairness and realize housing as a human right.
As promised in the last update, our federal government came to the table in a serious way to support the city’s shelter system. I was subsequently joined by Mayor Chow on the Uncommons podcast to talk about her own budget efforts and how we can continue to collaborate.
Most of the steps we’re looking at are supply-side, but the government has also taken some steps to address the demand side, including by curbing the unsustainable growth of the international student program. I wrote about that here:
In our Community
I’m looking forward to being back in Dentonia Park next week to celebrate Eid with so many in our local Muslim community.
Just as it was amazing to be back in the Easter parade, the streets lined with so many smiling kids. Mack was initially skeptical of being in the parade for fear of missing out on candy, but he really got into it in the end.
I also had the chance to spend time with our Bangladeshi community for International Mother Language Day (the first since Parliament officially recognized IMLD), and at a flag-raising at City Hall to recognize Bangladeshi independence.
And of course, Winter Stations brought thousands of people (including my family) to the beach in the cold weather to check out the amazing public art.
As we work out a schedule for future community events, I also want to recognize Dr. Anne Innis Dagg, the woman who loved giraffes. She passed away recently, having spent a lifetime making an incredible impact in advancing both research and equality. She was also kind with her time, joining us years ago in conversation and for a screening of the doc about her (from local filmmaker Alison Reid).
As always, if there’s an event you think I should be at, or an issue you’d like me to raise in Ottawa, you can always reach me at info@beynate.ca.
Nate
I am still sad that you are not the new Liberal leader here in Ontario. I am disappointed with Crombie and how she seems a bit all over the map. We need strong, consistent leadership.
At the same time, you are such a great MP and I really appreciate all the links you have added to your monthly round up.
Anne Kane
Victoria Park Avenue, Toronto
You have so much to contribute, but family comes first, especially when they’re young. I was most disappointed with Bonnie Crombie’s win and even more so with her cancel Price on Carbon comment. From the beginning, I felt she is really a Tory at heart. I voted for you & hope to see you back in public life in the future. While in Ottawa, continue to contribute. Meanwhile, work on your French.
Mary-Joan Hale
Ottawa