Newsletter: March Recap

A message from Christine Hogarth:

Dear Friends, It’s officially Spring! As we transition to the season of new beginnings, our government is accelerating efforts to keep costs down, build more homes, improve healthcare, and make our community safer, with the new Budget, if passed. The 2024 Budget: Building A Better Ontario is focused on you. Here’s the essence: Housing: We’re turbocharging home construction with a $1B boost and expanding critical infrastructure with an $825M fund. Our goal is more homes for more families, faster. Safety: A $46M investment, including four new police helicopters, means enhanced community safety, quicker incident response, and a crackdown on crime. Healthcare: With an additional $546M, we’re ensuring 600,000 people gain access to essential primary healthcare. Health and well-being are our top priorities. Cost of Living: We’re keeping your expenses in check by extending cuts to gasoline and fuel taxes, saving Ontario households an average of $320. Every penny counts. Community and Recreation: A $200M fund will revitalize our sports and recreation facilities, creating vibrant spaces for families and fostering community spirit. Accelerating Job Growth: A $100M investment through the Skills Development Fund Training Stream in 2024-25 to empower job seekers with essential skills. This Budget, if passed, is our commitment to you: to build a better, stronger, and more affordable Ontario for everyone, including us here in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. Apart from the Budget, March was a busy month in our community. I was pleased to meet with many of you at events and places of business around the riding. Once again, I had the opportunity to visit a few neighbourhoods to hear directly from you. As we mark National Volunteer Week this month, I want to extend my gratitude to all the volunteers who make Etobicoke-Lakeshore better with their dedication and tireless efforts. If you want to say thank you to a volunteer in our community, nominate them for a Volunteer Appreciation Scroll from our office. To nominate a group or individual, click here. This past Easter weekend, I hope you had a joyful holiday with your friends and family.  April brings the celebrations of Eid and Vaisakhi. Sending my best wishes to you and your families, if you celebrate. Sincerely, Christine P.S If you know someone who would like to be added to this distribution list, please have them visit https://christinehogarthmpp.ca/

Building A Better Ontario

The government has released the 2024 Ontario Budget: Building a Better Ontario, a plan to rebuild Ontario’s economy and keep costs down while taking a responsible approach to the province’s finances. Learn more

Ontario Investing Over $1.8 Billion to Build More Homes

The Ontario government is investing more than $1.8 billion in housing-enabling infrastructure funding to help build at least 1.5 million homes by 2031. The new funding will help municipalities get shovels in the ground. Learn more

Extending Gas Tax Cuts To Keep Costs Down For Families

To continue to help Ontario families and businesses keep costs down, the Ontario government is extending the existing gasoline and fuel tax rate cuts until December 31, 2024. This would save Ontario households $320 on average since the tax rate cuts were first introduced in 2022. Read More

Keeping Electricity Costs Down for Families

The Ontario government is keeping electricity costs down for about 100,000 additional families by expanding the eligibility for the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP). Read More

Employment Is Up In Ontario

Since day one, the government has been working hard to create the conditions for jobs to grow. In February, employment in Ontario increased by 6,700 jobs, primarily in full-time employment. Since 2018, Ontario has added 700,000 new jobs. Read More

Ontario Investing Over $270 Million To Support New Innovations

The government is investing more than $278 million to support 406 research projects across the province, ensuring that made-in-Ontario research will help create new jobs, products and technologies and accelerate economic growth. Read More

Introducing Measures to Help Improve Access to Veterinary Services

The Enhancing Professional Care for Animals Act would, if passed, pave the way to formalizing the broad scope of practice for veterinary technicians that could result in an expanded role. The legislation would also streamline the complaints resolution process and increase penalties for actions that intentionally harm an animal. Learn More

A New Deal For Ottawa

The Government of Ontario and the City of Ottawa have reached a new deal that recognizes and invests in the city’s unique needs as Canada’s national capital and eastern Ontario’s economic hub. Learn More

Eglinton Crosstown West Extension

As part of the largest expansion of public transit in Canadian history, the government is taking the next step to build the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension (ECWE). The future ECWE will connect thousands of commuters from Etobicoke and Mississauga to the heart of downtown Toronto, and all the way to the east end. Read More

Etobicoke-Lakeshore Volunteer Superstar Award

As we get ready to kick off this year’s National Volunteer Week on April 14, it is a great time to celebrate Etobicoke-Lakeshore’s dedicated volunteers for their kindness, generosity and commitment to community service. Help me say thank you to a ‘volunteer superstar’ in your neighborhood by nominating them for a personalized appreciation scroll from my office. Nominate Here

Earn, Learn And Work At Ontario Parks This Summer

Are you an avid camper, hiker, paddler, or bird watcher? Do you love quality time outside? Ontario Parks is new recruiting students aged 15 and older for a variety of positions.   Apply Here

Ontario Senior of the Year Award

This award gives each municipality the opportunity to honour one of their local seniors, who after age 65, have made outstanding contributions to enrich the social, cultural, and civic life of their community. Nominate Here

Looking Back at March