Stories for Change with Suze Morrison

Neighbourhood Information Post's program the Toronto Rent Bank is a social service that provides grants to tenants to prevent and avoid eviction. Join MPP Suze Morrison, Maja Bryon, and Gladys Wong for a chat about how this innovative social program can keep you housed. Learn more at www.torontorentbank.com, www.nipost.org, and www.suzemorrison.ca/tenants.

The pandemic has been difficult for folks in our community. Many people in Regent Park lost their jobs, worried about the safety of their children at school, and had to live with the stress of lockdowns. As Ontario re-opens there are many questions about how we can work to make life better for everyone in our community.

I was thrilled to sit down virtually with my colleague MPP Joel Harden and my constituent Terri-Lynn Langdon, an ODSP recipient, to discuss  how folks on ODSP have been left behind, both during COVID-19 and long  before. Low  ODSP rates make it impossible for people to thrive on the program - I  saw this first hand growing up with a parent on ODSP. It was a treat to  talk to Terri-Lynn about her experience as a disability advocate and  parent who navigates these systems every day. I’m fighting for higher  ODSP rates and a comprehensive healthcare system that would improve the  lives of folks on Social Assistance.

I have made my telephone townhall with Dr. Shoush available as a resource for everyone to listen to. You can sign up for updates at www.suzemorrison.ca/vaccines  Episode produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger

Are you wondering why Ford's vaccine roll-out has had such painful delays? I spoke with France Gélinas - MPP/ Députée Nickel Belt about what is going wrong and what must change. You can sign our petition at suzemorrison.ca/vaccineequity

I interviewed Franca — one of the community members who found herself in the middle of an unprecedented media storm when Corktown woke up to demo trucks in front of a beloved heritage site. Listen to hear how members of the Corktown community started a monumentous campaign to organize to protect our communities and heritage. You can show your support at suzemorrison.ca/foundry and respectlocalplanning.com 

Tenants at 33 Isabella St. are being asked to work from home and pay rent while their landlord goes full steam ahead with cosmetic renovations and preparatory work for a new proposed condo. I interviewed Michael and Janice, two tenants who have organized their neighbours and are asserting their right to stay safe while staying at home. You can learn more at suzemorrison.ca and check out the resource guide my office made at suzemorrison.ca/notessential

Suze Morrison introduced the No COVID Evictions Act today to give families the support and relief from the violence of evictions during a pandemic. This is the debate over the Bill at Queen's Park. You can sign the petition at www.suzemorrison.ca/nocovidevictions 

Teresa's story is haunting. Her story asks what happens when every system to protect tenants breaks? What happens when law enforcement doesn't understand what rights tenants have? Ford's excuse for an eviction ban has not kept vulnerable tenants safe. Teresa's courage sharing how her family fell through the gaps Ford left in tenant rights shows why. It's why we will keep fighting for a real eviction ban. You can listen to her story tomorrow morning at www.suzemorrison.ca/podcast and you can sign the petition at www.tcndp.ca/nocovidevictions.  Podcast produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.

Tim Nash, founder of Good Investing, joined Suze Morrison for a chat about the Gamestop phenomenon gripping news headlines this week and its implications for engaging a wider audience in demanding economic change.

This  mental health week I am shining a light on mental health champion organizations in Toronto Centre. Sound Times empowers the mental health community by providing services geared to meet the needs of people who may struggle with traditional service delivery or be street-involved themselves. I spoke with their Executive Director Lana Frado about how they have adapted to the COVID-19 Pandemic. You can learn more about Sound Times at them at SoundTimes.com and you can watch the interview on my Facebook Page. Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.

This mental health week I am shining a light on mental health champion organizations in Toronto Centre. Progress Place is a true hero of urban mental health. Their project the Warm Line has been running and building to keep our communities connected since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic. You can learn more about them at ProgressPlace.org and you can watch the interview on my Facebook Page. Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.

This mental health week I am shining a light on mental health champion  organizations in Toronto Centre. The 519 does a phenomenal amount of work to support Toronto Centre communities. Join me as I get under the hood with Curran to discuss what The 519 is doing during COVID-19 to keep our communities connected and strong. You can learn more about them at the519.org and you can watch the interview on my Facebook Page. Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.

This mental health week I am shining a light on mental health champion organizations in Toronto Centre. We're getting started with LGBT Youthline. You can learn more about them at youthline.ca and you can watch the interview on my Facebook Page. Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.

I  spoke with Dr. Paula Willis about what she  is experiencing in Toronto Centre hospitals. You can sign my petition for paid sick days at www.suzemorrison.ca/sickdays

MPP Suze Morrison had a "fernside" chat with Gilles Frenette of the Ontario Tenant Alliance — known for their popular Facebook groups Toronto Home Zone and Ontario Tenant Rights — about what is happening with the Landlord and Tenant Board during COVID-19.  Sign MPP Morrison's petition to stop COVID-19 Evictions at https://www.suzemorrison.ca/nocovidevictions 

MPP Suze Morrison organized an expert panel about  the impact of COVID-19 on arts and culture workers. She was be joined by local experts Dr. Jill Andrew, Ali Momen, Brian Chang, Justin  Antheunis, and Vikki Velenosi to discuss what  workers need now to get through the pandemic, why we should invest in  the arts as part of our economic recovery, and how supporting arts and  culture workers will benefit all Ontarians. Dr. Jill Andrew — follow MPP Jill Andrew here. Dr.  Jill Andrew is the MPP for Toronto-St. Paul’s and a fierce advocate for  the arts and women's issues. Jill is the first Black and Queer person  to be elected to the Ontario Legislature and she is a community co-owner  of Glad Day Bookshop – the world’s oldest LGBTQ bookstore! Ali Momen — follow his Arts New Deal project here. Ali  Momen is an accomplished and award winning actor who has graced many of  the largest stages in North America and has starred in independent,  major films and many popular television shows. He was last on stage in  the smash hit musical COME FROM AWAY. On camera Ali played the lead role  in Deepa Mehta’s BEEBA BOYS, and can be seen as Kamran Gant in STAR  TREK : DISCOVERY. Ali is an educator who teaches at Sheridan Institute  and George Brown. You can catch Ali every week on his podcast SOFT  REVOLUTION where he and Torquil Campbell, along with some of the biggest  artists and artistic thinkers, try to bring art into politics, and  politics into art. Brian Chang — follow Brian here. As  a labour organizer Brian has fought for workers at PSAC, OPSEU, and am  now at SEIU Healthcare. As an artist, Brian has sung with the Toronto  Mendelssohn Choir, bringing music to thousands. As an activist, Brian  has taught community organizing at Ryerson University at the Chang  School. Brian Chang is a proud resident of Toronto Centre where he lives  with his partner Jeff. Vikki Velenosi — follow Space Space Revolution here. Vikki  Velenosi is an Artist Entrepreneur from Toronto. She is the owner and  CEO of Space Space Revolution, providing affordable co-working studio  and performance space for Toronto’s indie arts community. During the  Pandemic, Space Space Revolution’s largest location was forced to close  its doors, effectively downsizing the company to 1/3 of its original  capacity. Since that time, Vikki has been advocating for funding and  support for independent arts facilities who typically slip through the  cracks of government funding at the best of times. Justin Antheunis — follow IATSE 58 here. Justin  Antheunis is the president of the International Alliance of Theatrical  Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) Local 58, representing more than 500  stagecraft professionals working in Toronto’s live entertainment sector.  A veteran stagehand with more than 20 years of experience, his previous  positions include posts as the Head Electrician at the Toronto Centre  for the Arts and Assistant Head Electrician at the Four Seasons Centre.

The environment, our health, and economic well-being are inseparable.  That's why Jagmeet Singh and the NDP are fighting to ensure all  Canadians have the income they need to stay healthy. New Democrats  fought for and delivered on enhancements to the CERB, pushed for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), Paid Sick Leave for every Canadian with the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), and we have done this  by holding the Liberal Government to account for everyday people. New  Democrats continue to fight for Canadians with the leadership of Leah  Gazan, whose Motion 46 in the House of Commons calls for a Guaranteed Livable Basic  This townhall features: NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh NDP MP Leah Gazan NDP MPP Suze Morrison Public Health Nurse and Urban Health Research Chair, Professor Josephine Wong City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam And Toronto Centre NDP Candidate, Brian Chang Visit BrianChang.ca

MPP Suze Morrison held a townhall on a what a recovery from COVID-19 that addresses racism and climate change would look like. She was joined by MPP Laura Mae Lindo, Tim Nash from Good Investing, labour advocate Brian Chang, and climate justice organizer Diana Yoon. Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.

The Ontario Government recently introduced Bill 204. But the 'rent freeze' you've heard of on the news still leaves many Ontarians vulnerable to exploitation by bad landlords. Bill 204 does not include the support small businesses on cultural mainstreets like the Church and Wellesley Village need to stay afloat. This episode includes tenants' stories facing challenges that fall through the holes in Bill 204 as MPP Suze Morrison debates the Bill at Queen's Park last week.  If you have questions about your tenant rights, please visit SuzeMorrison.ca