In the News

 

“Doug Ford Reverses Greenbelt Decision,” by Emma McIntosh & Fatima Syed, The Narwhal

“Caving under the pressure of a mounting political crisis, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has reversed the decision to open the Greenbelt. Speaking at a podium outside of a caucus retreat in Niagara Falls, a subdued Ford apologized on Sept. 21 and promised to return all land to the Greenbelt and not touch the protected area again.” Read more. 

“Liberals and Tories Demolished Canada’s Legacy of Social Housing,” video by The Breach

“At one time, the Canadian government was a world leader in helping build housing for working people. Between 1964 and 1974, it built 200,000 units of non-market social housing. That was housing in which renters were not squeezed endlessly for profit. But when Brian Mulroney’s Conservatives came to power, they immediately began cuts to housing programs. Liberals Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin kept cutting, eventually withdrawing all federal support for social housing. Homelessness in Canada exploded.” Watch. 

“Underfunded Toronto Schools Are Falling Into Disrepair,” by Haaris Kafeel, The Maple

“Doug Ford’s Conservative government is leaving children with no choice but to attend schools that are falling into worsening disrepair, a product of underfunding in Ontario’s public education system. The Ford government slashed $100 million from Ontario public school repair budget after first taking office in 2018. Since then, Ontario’s education sector has been underfunded to the tune of $2.5 billion, with schools left to manage with dwindling repair grants.” Read more

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Updates from the Party

 Federal NDP

NDP Statement for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2023

“Today, Canadians are pausing to reflect on the country’s painful history and the ongoing impacts of residential schools. On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, New Democrats honour the children who never returned home, Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities, and reaffirm our belief that every child matters.” Read more.

Jagmeet Singh Calls for Real Solutions to Bring Down Food Prices

“NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and NDP MP Taylor Bachrach (Skeena – Bulkley Valley) urged the government to adopt New Democrats’ proposal to bring down food prices for families across the country. Two weeks ago, Singh introduced the Lowering Price for Canadians Act, legislation that gives the Competition Bureau more power to increase competition and lower prices, increase fines for price-fixing and price-gouging, and close loopholes that let big grocery chains price out the competition.” Read more.

Ontario NDP 

NDP Seeks Auditor General Investigation into Ford’s Forced Urban Boundary Expansions

“Following a successful fight to protect the Greenbelt, Leader of the Official Opposition, Marit Stiles and her Ontario NDP are calling for the Auditor General to investigate Ford’s shady backroom deals, and his government’s decision to force municipal urban boundary expansions across the province.” Read more. 

Ford’s Conservatives Block Greenbelt Reversal

“Despite promising Ontarians that they will restore the removed lands back into the Greenbelt, Ford's corrupt Conservatives blocked the Greenbelt Restoration Act in the Legislature this afternoon. Official Opposition NDP Leader Marit Stiles introduced legislation that would restore protection for the Greenbelt lands by reversing the Conservatives’ changes, giving them the opportunity to stick to their word.” Read more. 

Cancel the Deal

In a familiar pattern of backroom deals, preferential treatment, and disdain for public input and transparency, the Ford Conservatives remain committed to turning Ontario Place, a cherished public space, into a private luxury spa and parking garage. The NDP opposes this taxpayer funded $650 million deal and is fighting back. Read more.  

Building a Movement in Hastings-Lennox & Addington

By Barbara Linds

 

The NDP Hastings and Lennox & Addington riding association executive has launched a new initiative called Building a Movement. We have a great executive that reflects all parts of our large riding. Every member is involved in both the party and in their communities.

 

Building a Movement is an initiative to broaden the work of the riding association, to learn about the many campaigns and initiatives in HL&A, and to connect members of our riding with other community activists and campaigns. This initiative is one way to build and grow our membership, as well as to mobilize better and stronger during election campaigns.

 

We know that there are many progressive people in our riding. We need to talk with them about the issues that excite them, and about the work being done by the NDP on these issues.

 

Most of these activists are working on issues that affect our communities. Over the past few years, groups in our riding have been organizing around local environmental, social justice, health care and municipal issues. Greater numbers of people are coming together to try to make their communities more liveable.

 

There have been labour disputes, including a very long strike at Napanee Interval House and last year’s CUPE Education Workers mobilization.

 

There are active groups in both Lennox & Addington and Hastings that have shone a spotlight on the needs of the unhoused and under-housed in our communities.

 

There are broad political issues across the province that have engaged all communities around affordable housing, the Greenbelt and health care. The number of people in our riding that voted in the Ontario Health Care referendum showed us how many people oppose privatization of our hospital services.

 

After the recent Doug Ford announcement reversing the Greenbelt land removals, NDP leader Marit Stiles was clear about the role of organizing:

 

“The promise of what we can achieve together is why I’m, first and foremost, an organizer. Today, that promise shines brighter than ever. We did it. Our people-powered movement forced Ford’s corrupt Conservatives to reverse their Greenbelt decision.”

 

We believe that by working together we can achieve more than we can working alone.

 

Our long term goal is to create a broad progressive movement in our riding that will support the NDP during elections and also build a movement for social change.

 

What’s next?

•   We will publicize the work being done by activists across the riding

•   We will lend our voices to support this work

•   We will talk with voters all across the riding about NDP policies

 

If you are interested in getting involved in this work, please contact Barb Linds at b.linds@mac.com

How Our Local Riding Association is Organized

In Ontario, when one joins either the Federal NDP or the Provincial NDP, one is automatically a member of the other. For some time now in Ontario, the provincial government has decided that in southern Ontario, the boundaries for provincial ridings will be the same as the boundaries for federal riding. One result is that, for the NDP, Federal and Provincial Riding Associations can operate either separately as two distinct entities or jointly. The same person can be the President at either level, similarly with the Financial Officer. This is a local decision.

 

Each Riding at both levels is legally required to have a President and a Financial Officer.  These people must be two separate individuals but each one can serve at both federal and provincial levels.

 

In Hastings, Lennox and Addington, we currently operate with a loosely formed joint executive.  When issues specific to either provincial or federal matters arise, those issues are voted on separately - for example, accountability to the respective Electoral Commissions or local financial matters or selection of election candidates.  Otherwise more general matters are discussed as a whole.