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Canadians believe that medicare is one of the foundations of our society and revere the New Democratic Party’s first federal leader as the driving force behind its introduction. But Tommy Douglas had a vision for medicare that is quite different from the system that ensures Canadians need not worry about hospital and doctor bills if they fall ill. He believed that the ultimate goal of a publicly funded healthcare system should be a system that works for the good health of Canadians of all ages – one that promotes wellness as much as it fights illness – from well-baby programs to nutritional health to counselling to community supports for elders. The COVID pandemic has thrown a harsh light on a truth that has long driven New Democrats’ fight for a very different approach to healthcare than we currently see in Ontario. Even though medicare reduces the financial barriers to healthcare, health outcomes are not the same for all. COVID has had a vastly more serious impact on Ontario’s neglected elderly, our poor, and on our racialized communities. A Toronto Star study graphically illustrated how persons of colour represented 83% of the recorded COVID cases in Toronto even though they make up only 50% of the city’s residents. Race, poverty, social class and gender identity are significant determinants of health. Healthcare that ensures the good health of all Canadians must go beyond treating illness. It must address the challenges of marginalized communities with more than declarations of good intentions – with programs and supports like early child and family services, adult learning, youth programs and harm reduction supports for communities and individuals most in need. In Ontario, it is the Community Health Centres that lead the way in providing these programs to communities and families in need. Doctors, nurse practitioners, dietitians, dental staff, chiropodists, counsellors, community mental health and health promotion professionals who provide high-quality, cost-effective care to local members in welcoming and inclusive settings where the focus is on promoting wellness as well as treating illness. But there are only 101 Community Health Centres to serve 14.7 million Ontarians. As the COVID pandemic continues to rage, the Ford government is reorganizing the delivery of healthcare in Ontario once more – replacing the health bureaucracy designed by the Liberals with another, more hospital-focused system that will move even further from the community-based wellness model of health delivery to a system increasingly focused on hospitals, physician-led decision-making and the treatment of illness. The current government’s health reform agenda ignores the social context of health that has been demonstrated so clearly in this pandemic. Whereas New Democrats believe government must direct appropriate healthcare resources to marginalized communities that have high needs, and Whereas Ontario’s Community Health Centres have a long and successful record of creating locally based services that include meaningful ways for people to have input into the services and programs they require, Therefore be it resolved that Ontario New Democrats are committed to a healthcare reform agenda that will:
This resolution was voted on and passed by a general meeting of the Etobicoke Lakeshore NDP on October 8th, 2020.
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Recently, Etobicoke-Lakeshore NDP conducted a community survey and town hall to assess the impact of COVID-19 and to discuss how we can best build back better. Thank you to the nearly 100 people who participated in this process from South Etobicoke! And thank you to MPP Rima Berns-McGown for attending our town hall and taking our community input to the Ontario legislature. Our policy committee has put together a comprehensive report on the outcome. The full four-page report is available for free download here at this link (the file downloads as a Word document and is best viewed in that format). A sampling of the results are also shared below. We want to thank the volunteers of the policy committee for the thought, energy, and hard work that went into this months-long consultation process!   We were heartened to learn this morning that the Ontario government is considering a repeal of breed-specific legislation banning pitbulls and related dogs in our province. This legislation is based in superstition and fear, not evidence.
Indeed, since the 2005 ban went into effect, the number of dog bites suffered across Ontario has actually increased. The truth is simpler, though harder to legislate - dog aggression comes down to a mix of temperament and training, with the latter being the predominant factor. A well-trained dog, even if aggressive by nature, will refuse to attack; a poorly trained dog, even if gentle at heart, may still bite if provoked. Breed has nothing to do with this reality. At the same time, loving and compassionate dog owners are unfairly punished by breed specific bans. The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association estimates that as a result of this law, over 1,000 dogs have been put to the death having never bitten or attacked a soul. As New Democrats, we have always believed in evidence-based policy. We also believe that there is more that unites us than divides us, regardless of partisan affiliation. That is why we are respectfully calling on our MPP, Christine Hogarth, to work with her colleagues in the Progressive Conservatives and to reach across the aisle to our fellow New Democrats, in a united front to repeal this unnecessary and punitive ban. Are you ready to put an end to this ban and the needless slaughter of loving pets? Sign our petition here: https://www.elndp.ca/repeal-the-pitbull-ban.html *NOTE: This post was updated on Tuesday, August 13th to reflect the addition of the fundraiser position.*
Our organizing is grassroots and volunteer-led, as always. But as we head into the federal election campaign, we're looking to hire people to staff our campaign office full time during the election period. If you're passionate about building a better world by electing an NDP government, this is a great way to make a difference and get on-the-ground political experience! We are looking to hire a campaign manager and a volunteer organizer. Full details of the positions can be found in the linked statements of work below. We are also looking for a part-time fundraiser position; details can be found in the statement of work here. If you're interested in either position, please submit your cover letter and resume no later than 5 PM on Friday, August 16th. Interviews will be held on Sunday, August 18th, and a final decision will be issued shortly thereafter. All applicants will be contacted with the outcome. Submission details are contained in the linked statements of work: Campaign Manager statement of work Volunteer Organizer statement of work Fundraiser statement of work Questions may be directed to President@ELNDP.com Congratulations to Branko Gasperlin, who was acclaimed as the New Democratic candidate for Etobicoke-Lakeshore on Thursday, June 27th!  Branko Gasperlin earned undergraduate degrees in political science, and economics at York University, and graduate degree in War Studies at Royal Military College. He has business experience as a manager and as a training consultant. He developed leadership skills as a Canadian Armed Forces reserve officer. As an officer he deployed in operational tours to Bosnia, and Afghanistan.
His education, and work experiences has allowed him to manoeuvre complex environments with success. Branko’s core values centre on integrity, honesty, personal courage, and loyalty. Family is the bedrock of his success. He enjoys spending time with his wife (Anica), their daughter, and extended family and friends. Branko works hard, and he knows that Jagmeet Singh's New Deal For People delivers the change Canadians need as we face a climate crisis and an economy that all too often leaves people behind. Branko believes in open and transparent government and he runs his campaign the same way he'll run his MP office - with the door open and ready to hear from you. You can reach Branko at: e-mail: brankogasperlinNDP@gmail.com cell: 647-236-0940 With an election scheduled for this fall, we're proud to have three strong nominees competing to be our candidate. We'll be voting to select our candidate on June 27th - but in the meantime, get to know our three nominees below!  Branko Gasperlin Branko Gasperlin earned undergraduate degrees in political science, and economics at York University, and graduate degree in War Studies at Royal Military College. He has business experience as a manager and as a training consultant. He developed leadership skills as a Canadian Armed Forces reserve officer. As an officer he deployed in operational tours to Bosnia, and Afghanistan. His education, and work experiences has allowed him to manoeuvre complex environments with success. Branko’s core values centre on integrity, honesty, personal courage, and loyalty. Family is the bedrock of his success. He enjoys spending time with his wife (Anica), their daughter, and extended family and friends. e-mail: brankogasperlinNDP@gmail.com cell: 647-236-0940  Melissa Graham Melissa Graham is a advocate for social justice, public speaker, writer, researcher, and community organizer. She is also a recipient of an Ontario Volunteer Service Award for 2018. Melissa is also the founder and one of the key organizers for the Toronto Disability Pride March, which began in October 2011. She is an activist involved in issues throughout Ontario and has written for publications such as Abilities magazine and The Monitor. She holds a Master of Social Work with a concentration in social justice.  Luba Senki My name is Lubomyra (Luba) Senkiw. I am a multigenerational former resident of Alderwood. My grandparents lived in Mimico briefly before settling the family in Alderwood. My brother and I attended the local Catholic schools. We graduated from Father John Redmond C.S.S. I completed Practical Nursing at Humber College and Hons. Bachelor of Social Work at Ryerson University. I am a social justice advocate with a preference of mental health advocacy. I want to bring mental health services back to our riding!
Thank you, Luba Senkiw On March 28th, Etobicoke-Lakeshore NDP hosted a general meeting of the membership to discuss policy resolutions that we will pass forward to the Ontario NDP policy convention in June.
The meeting was well-attended, filling the East room at the Assembly Hall, and lively, with wide-ranging discussion, debate, and deliberation. It was democracy in action. ELNDP members discussed an array of policy initiatives, including the abolition of solitary confinement, recognition of non-binary persons in ONDP policy, and mandatory inclusionary zoning across Ontario. To read the full text of all nine resolutions, click through to the meeting minutes here. We also selected our Provincial Council delegates, who will represent us at Ontario NDP provincial council (which meets three to four times a year). Finally, we selected many of our delegates to the upcoming Ontario NDP policy convention. We are allocated 11 delegates to convention, and we filled eight of those spots during the meeting. Convention occurs on June 14th through 16th of this year, in Hamilton. We will be inviting our members to fill the remaining spots and we are looking forward to sending a full-strength contingent to the convention in June! The meeting is a reflection of the continued energy and activism of the Etobicoke-Lakeshore NDP, which has continued to organize to take on Doug Ford in Ontario while building a stronger community right here at home. Alright Bell, you want to talk - let’s talk.
Let’s talk about the role that corporations play in fostering an environment of anxiety and stress that exacerbates mental health concerns. Let’s talk about a distorted labour market that maximizes the profit that can extracted from real, living human beings - at the expense of their mental health and well-being. Let’s talk about “Millennial burnout”, as today’s adults struggle to adapt to an environment that’s designed and built for corporations, not people. Let’s talk about the first generation in modern history to see worse working conditions, lower wages, and worse outcomes than their parents - all against the backdrop of record corporate profits. Let’s talk about the atomization of society and the undermining of strong communities, leaving individuals alone and bereft of the support that we need to survive and thrive. Let’s talk about mental health - and let’s talk about the systems we build to support it and, yes, the systems we’ve built that attack it, day in and day out. Let’s talk - to our families. To our friends. To our neighbours. To each other. Let’s talk about a better world. Let’s talk about a better way. Let’s talk about building a society that lifts people that; that brings stress down; that supports instead of attacks. Let’s have that talk, today and every day. Join us December 7th for our annual fundraising dinner, with special guest Jagmeet Singh!I am very excited to announce that Jagmeet Singh will be joining us for our annual fundraising dinner on Friday, December 7th, at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Long Branch!
Tickets are available, and as always we ensure that they are sold on a sliding cost scale so that financial barriers never prevent people who wish to attend from being part of it. Your ticket includes dinner and desert; a cash bar is also available. Click here to RSVP! |
AuthorTim Ellis is the Co-President of Etobicoke-Lakeshore NDP Archives
October 2020
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