There is no greater time to protect our HEALTH and IMMUNITY by protecting our surrounding ecosystem! Our watersheds will be directly affected by pesticides residues and reduction of forest undergrowth. Their stated "safety practices" are anything but when you look at the bigger picture. We need to protect out forest, water and health! We won't get a second chance.

With millions of Canadians out of work through no fault of their own, it's become impossible for many to keep up with rent, small business owners and residents alike. Premier Ford has stated that "greedy landlords" must work with their commercial tenants or face his wrath - and rightly so. [1] Yet when it comes to residential tenants, Ford calls a very different tune. Ford's government is in the process of ramming through Bill 184, a cruel measure that makes it easier for landlords to evict tenants and makes it harder - in some cases impossible - for tenants to defend themselves in eviction hearings. It also slashes protections against landlords raising rents without notice. Finally, it makes it so that renters can no longer raise persistent disrepair issues at Landlord and Tenant Board hearings. [3] Make no mistake - most landlords are not your friendly mom and pop operations. In fact, in Canada, "mom and pop" landlords make up just 3% of Canadian households. Many landlords are huge financial investment firms who pay a management company to deal with the logistics - the landlord is simply a faceless batch of investors. [4,5] And they're not struggling. According to the Toronto Star, "a top Canadian REIT earned $778 million in rental revenue last year. Its operating expenses (including property taxes and utilities) were about $270 million — leaving $508 million in net operating income, or profits." [6] Premier Ford, you should be ashamed of yourself. You ran on a platform of supporting the "little guy". Yet here we are in the midst of a pandemic, and you're handing power over to faceless and obscenely wealthy corporations to senselessly evict struggling people and take away their ability to defend themselves at the Landlord and Tenant Board. We deserve better, Premier. You named Bill 184 "Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing". Make it live up to its name - strike out the provisions that will turn more people out on the streets or force them to live in chronic disrepair in the name of investor profits. Citations: [1] https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2020/05/20/premier-doug-ford-rails-against-greedy-landlords-for-not-being-fair-to-commercial-tenants.html [2] https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2020/05/ontario-bill-184-evictions/ [3] https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/05/27/news/ontario-pushing-through-changes-tenancy-law-crisis-looms [4] https://www.landlordsoftoronto.com/ [5] https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/n7jy8b/dont-worry-about-paying-your-landlord-rent-during-the-coronavirus-crisis [6] https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/thebigdebate/2020/04/28/the-big-debate-can-landlords-afford-to-forgive-rent-during-the-pandemic.html Photo credit: "Crossways Projects, Toronto" by Justin L Walsh (licensed under CC BY 2.0)

The ban was created in 1976 to protect the most vulnerable zones of the Rockies. The government is blatantly green-washing by passing the ban as outdated and insisting that other measures that are in place will protect the environment. However, no consultation was taken and experts on climate don't buy the lies. The region in question ALREADY has more activity than was planned and there is a great concerns for local wildlife, but also all our lives as the climate crisis becomes more and more present in our reality.

Everyone deserves to have a say in their future, dignity, and a safe place to live. These are homeless people whose housing needs remain unmet by the city’s current shelter arrangements, which present high barriers for many people, including those who use alcohol or drugs, suffer from mental illness, or cannot manage the required two-week lockdown. The city needs to work with them so that they can live safely - forced evictions will not provide a real solution, but more displacement, harm, and turmoil in our community.

The past couple of months have clearly shown how our safety and well-being depend on leadership that is willing and able to take hold of complex, expert advice and turn it quickly into well-conceived national strategy - built and delivered with supportive collaboration at all levels of government. COVID-19 related policies and programs have been rolled out in mere days and weeks. A pause in partisan thinking is timely -- to ensure we identify, appreciate and commit to memory the kind of leadership we will need as we move forward. Having banged our pots in tribute to the courage and dedication of Canadian health care providers and other essential workers, it is now time to beat drums in appreciation for the leadership Canada has had during the COVID-19 pandemic. We applaud Prime Minister Trudeau, his colleagues and advisors, and the provincial leaders, for a daunting job well done. Specifically, we praise and congratulate the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada for: • encouraging speedy development of health policies necessary to safeguard our health as soon as the dangers of the virus were recognized; • appreciating and responding to wide-ranging economic issues resulting from mitigating actions taken; • holding daily briefings that provide us with the information and the hope we need, with strategies for staying safe, and with announcements of programs that deliver relief to the many sectors of our society. • working on a global response with international bodies and heads of state, and for building collaborations with provincial, territorial and municipal leaders, who have played critical roles in local delivery of a coherent national response to the crisis. • listening to the voice of citizens and swiftly modifying programs to be more inclusive and effective. Our safety has depended on these components of strong leadership and on Prime Minister Trudeau’s ability to keep us marching together toward a shared goal of containing an enormous national threat. We feel privileged to be weathering the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Citizens of many countries have been far less fortunate and we thank Prime Minister Trudeau for his leadership in a time of national crisis.

Pour éviter les pires impacts de la crise climatique, nous devons aller rapidement au-delà de l'essence pour nettoyer les alternatives. Nous ne pouvons pas nous permettre d'attendre. Les transports propulsés par l’essence et le carburant diesel sont la plus grande source d’émissions de carbone des États-Unis, contribuant au réchauffement des températures sur terre et dans les océans, entraînant des catastrophes naturelles sans précédent. L'extraction, le transport, le raffinage et l'utilisation de pétrole et d'essence causent des dommages aux personnes, à l'air, à l'eau, à la terre, aux animaux et aux plantes. Les gaz d'échappement des véhicules à essence polluent l'air, causant l'asthme, les maladies cardiaques et pulmonaires, le cancer, la démence et des milliers de décès prématurés chaque année. L'échappement des véhicules affecte le plus les enfants, les communautés défavorisées et les communautés de couleur, avec des impacts disproportionnés sur la santé, les finances et la qualité de vie. Dans le passé, nous avons adopté une réglementation raisonnable sur les véhicules pour exiger les ceintures de sécurité, les airbags, les convertisseurs catalytiques, le gaz sans plomb et d'autres améliorations pour protéger la santé et la sécurité. Il est temps d'agir à nouveau. L'électricité est déjà viable comme alternative propre à l'essence. Les coûts de carburant et d'entretien d'un véhicule électrique sont déjà moins chers que pour les voitures à essence, et les prix des vignettes des véhicules électriques devraient être moins chers d'ici le milieu des années 2020. Pour protéger la santé publique, purifier l'air, ralentir un réchauffement rapide du climat et promouvoir la justice économique et environnementale, nous demandons à nos responsables locaux, étatiques et fédéraux de veiller à ce que, à partir de 2030 ou plus tôt, tous les nouveaux véhicules vendus soient propres, véhicules zéro émission, pas les véhicules à essence ou diesel.

Between the lockdown and the cancellation of Pride, the Church and Wellesley community, endangered even before COVID-19, may not recover. LGBTQ2S performers, artists, servers, creators and other workers have been particularly hard hit. If our stores, cafes, restaurants and bars close permanently, we will lose an essential, life-saving network for LGBTQ2S youths, now and in the future. When I was a struggling teenager, bullied in school and often lonely, knowing the community was there was a lifeline for me, even if I was too young to go to bars and had to settle on a Starbucks coffee. I was lucky. For me, "it got better." But LGBTQ2S young people are still struggling, and we've seen an increase in hate crimes during the pandemic. Canada and Toronto in particular are recognized as a beacon for LGBTQ2S rights. Toronto Pride is rightfully known around the world, contributing millions to the local economy. Prime Minister, we appreciate that you have marched in the parade and shown your support. But every year, the village shrinks, with queer-opened businesses and venues closing and our once-vibrant community fading. Now is the time for action, before our neighbourhood disappears forever. Please, we need a Rainbow Emergency Fund now.

Paramedics in BC are not considered essential service. This is an outrage. Today PM Trudeau announced a wage increase. Please help our paramedics receive the support they deserve as they put their lives and loved ones on the line to perform daily an unrecognized essential service.

Es importante para el país porque se podría regularizar el tipo de vida de esas personas que no cuentan con un SIN y un seguro médico en este país, una vez las personas ya regularizadas podrían trabajar y pagar impuestos en este país ya que necesita mucho trabajo y necesita mucho apoyo cuando todo esto de COVID-19 acabe, por favor ayúdenos somos muchos y necesitamos estar estables en un país tan grande y de tantas oportunidades.

Small Businesses not able to pay rent, etc., then maybe the government should be looking into this and help them out. Most small businesses are not Corporations but are sole- proprietorship or partnership. Even a family farm are in the same position since we are a family farm and not real big. Since ourselves & a lot of other small businesses like hairdresser, massage, etc will also fall into this category we are missed completely with getting the Canadian Emergency Business Account. Plus the Government thinks a landlord can just go without their rent. Honestly, they need to think a bit better on things. Some of these landlords may be paying a mortgage on the building so are unable to go without their rent. If these small businesses and small farms could get this help than that $40,000 interest free loan could be used to HELP pay the rent, or some of the expenses they may have. UNFORTUNATELY the issue that has been bothering me is how the Government caters to the big guys and our small family owned and operated businesses are not looked at. We need to start getting more small farms & businesses going again in all areas. More competition as well is better for everyone. A lot of the small business people that are non-incorporated apparently do not qualify for the government Canadian Emergency Business Account since they are not Corporations & do not have a T4 and work off of net profit instead. These are the ones that are truly needing it but don’t get the help. I have spoken to some of the corporations that get it. They think it is just great & even admit they don’t need it but they are taking it. YOU can’t blame them for doing that if the Government is Blind in seeing this. IN the first place a lot of these big businesses (that are still classed as a small business anyway which I find should be looked at different as well) get a lot of their purchase products at a lot better pricing than a small business. I know a case where a Corporation got their propane for 30cents while the other small business that was not a corporation was paying 78cents. Yet they still got the same money for selling their goods since it was the same type of business. This is just one example of how much the big business saves compared to a small business. No wonder there are less small businesses, small farmers & including small stores etc able to keep going. We are allowing the Big Corporations to run our country & the Government allows this as well. What is wrong with a balance of both corporations & small business. All the Government needs to start doing is looking at helping the small business. For the Canadian Emergency Business Account they just need to allow it to be available for businesses that work off of Net profit instead of T4. This would help a lot including the rent issue for businesses. To a small business this is better than nothing. To the big guy this is a treat they really do not need buy will take. Why is the Government holding back on this & giving it to the Corporations. Even a banker, & not my banker or bank, told me that he was calling all his (Corporations) and telling them to take it rather they need it or not. Honestly 99% of these probably are not needing it. THIS NEEDS TO STOP!! This is to be there for the businesses that TRULY are in need of help. This for it is not good & a lot of money NOT getting into the right hands that need it.

This vulnerable group moved from their foreign countries, most through the Federal Skilled Workers program, and have been surviving on finite savings to pay rent, buy food, afford transportation, medication, and other needs. Most were in the process of applying for jobs and attending job interviews when the pandemic occurred, and are now unable to find employment due to hiring freezes. They are unable to even return to their home countries consequent of border closures. The government to date has extended the CERB to include many, most recently 9Billion for students whose employment prospects have worsened.

As nicer weather is approaching many people in our city do not have adequate space near their homes to be outside safely. Many other cities around the world have taken the step of limiting car traffic to make more space for pedestrians and cyclists. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said in a statement. “Closing roads means opening up our city. It gives our residents the opportunity to get outside and walk, bicycle, or run through their neighbourhoods and get around in a safer way.” Many of us in Toronto are having to walk in active car lanes in order to stay 6 feet apart from others. Cycling is an excellent way of staying physically distant but more safe spaces are needed for cyclists, especially children. Getting daily exercise shouldn't mean taking your life in your hands, even during a pandemic.