By Jessica Bell
The first official Toronto budget under the new strong mayor reign has revealed an unpleasant truth. This is a fantasy budget built on a house of cards. Even with a seven per cent planned property tax hike, the federal and provincial governments need to hand over $1.4 billion to the city for the budget to balance in 2023. And even if they say yes to Toronto’s official funding request, the city will still cut services.
Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion
By Fox Oliver
By Jessica Bell
On Dec. 8, I stood with Reverend Maggie Helwig, Bishop Andrew Asbil of the Archdiocese of Toronto, and over 100 local residents to observe the installation of a cage around the Panhandler Jesus statue outside the Church of Saint Stephen-in-the-Fields on College St.
By Jessica Bell
The Ford government’s Bill 39 is a direct attack on representative democracy. The bill bulldozes local decision-making so Doug Ford can wield more power while making it easier for his developer friends to get rich paving over the Greenbelt.
By Jessica Bell
Now that the provincial and city elections are over, the real Doug Ford has stepped out from behind the veneer of moderation. The Premier has unleashed his aggressive plan to spur suburban sprawl, parking lots, and highways across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area, at the expense of farmland, renters, municipal services, and all-important climate change goals.
By Fox Oliver
By Jessica Bell
Last month, I went on a “welfare diet” and lived on a grocery budget of $47.60 a week for two weeks to pressure the Ford government to double social assistance rates.
By Jessica Bell
Queen’s Park Roundup
The Ford government is passing damaging legislation in the middle of the summer while attention on politics is low. Here’s what’s happening.
The government’s 2022-2023 budget falls short
By Carly Penrose
New Democrat Jessica Bell won University-Rosedale by 4,000 votes while Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives won a sweeping majority in the bid to lead Ontario’s government.
Jessica Bell of the New Democratic Party (NDP), has represented the University-Rosedale riding (District 112) since her success in the 2018 election. She was re-elected on June 2. Of the 49,412 votes cast in the University-Rosedale riding in 2018, Bell earned 24,537 of them (49.66 per cent), followed by Liberal candidate Jo-Ann Davis who earned 10,898 votes (22.06 per cent), PC candidate Gillian Smith who earned 10,431 votes (21.11 per cent) , and Green Party candidate Tim Grant who earned 2,652 votes (5.37 per cent).
When there is an election at the provincial or federal level, the Gleaner asks candidates questions about their policy positions on issues of the day. As the June election is almost upon us, their answers may help you decide how to cast your vote on June 2. (Note: the answers are in alphabetical order by candidate’s surname).
Tags: General
By Carly Penrose
Only three of the University-Rosedale candidates running in the Ontario election this spring were present for the University-Rosedale All Candidates Provinical Election Debate held Tuesday, May 10.
By Jessica Bell
Our Community Recognition Awards recognize the people who help make University-Rosedale a wonderful place to live. Here’s some of our recent award recipients.
Seniors’ Advocate