SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Adil Shamji

  • MPP
  • Member of Provincial Parliament
  • Don Valley East
  • Ontario Liberal Party
  • Ontario
  • Suite L02 1200 Lawrence Ave. E Toronto, ON M3A 1C1 ashamji.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
  • tel: 416-494-6856
  • fax: 416-494-9937
  • ashamji.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

  • Government Page
  • Oct/26/23 11:10:00 a.m.

Mr. Speaker, for the Premier: Just two months after the release of the Auditor General’s and the Integrity Commissioner’s damning greenbelt reports, the government is acting like all is forgiven. Well, the people of Ontario don’t see it that way, and neither does the RCMP.

Our province was taken on a wild roller coaster ride while a handful of developers hit an $8.3-billion jackpot. This isn’t a casino in Las Vegas; this is the people’s House. And as the government members are learning, the number one rule in gambling is that the House always wins.

Between the greenbelt debacle, the RCMP criminal investigation, the appointment of a special prosecutor, the urban boundary flip-flop and three ministers resigning, I’ve never seen a government try so hard to make their losses look like wins.

With so much money and time wasted, so much to undo and cover up, why should the people of Ontario believe this government can fix health care, housing and affordability?

My constituents in Don Valley East know they aren’t getting the full story on the destruction of the science centre. Where is that business case the Minister of Infrastructure promised us?

Amidst the greenbelt scandal and the urban boundary flip-flop, it’s clear this government is using wedge politics to distract from the RCMP criminal investigation to divide and misdirect us.

Speaking of misdirection, yesterday the government tried to put forward a motion begging the federal government to help them clean up their own affordability mess. The Premier could focus on things like rent control, the Ontario child tax benefit or boosting social assistance instead.

Mr. Speaker, when will the Premier tell his government to start doing and stop distracting?

293 words
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  • Rabble!
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  • Oct/19/23 10:20:00 a.m.

Ontarians deserve a government that acts transparently, with accountability and in their best interests. Yet time after time, it feels like that hasn’t happened. We’ve seen it with broken promises to protect public health care, with broken promises to protect the greenbelt. And now we’re seeing mounting concerns about backroom deals to build a spa at Ontario Place while demolishing the science centre. The residents of Don Valley East won’t stand for it.

When this government walked back its decision on the greenbelt after getting caught by the Integrity Commissioner and the Auditor General, the justification was that they made a decision not supported by the people of Ontario. That’s an understatement. Here’s another decision not supported by the people of Ontario: the decision to demolish the science centre in my riding of Don Valley East and instead build a private spa at Ontario Place that has a sprawling mega-garage subsidized by taxpayer money.

These are major decisions created without any consultation. And in case there is any doubt about it, these decisions are vigorously opposed by Ontarians. For example, we’ve already submitted petitions with nearly 35,000 signatures, and we’re not done yet.

Today, I join my constituents in calling on the government to act with integrity and transparency, to listen to the residents of Don Valley East and the citizens of Ontario, to save our science centre and to stop the spa.

243 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
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