Dear Neighbours,
As the weather is taking a turn, I am sure, just like me, all of you must be excited for the March Break.
In the month of March as we honour International Women’s Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to create a world where women enjoy equal opportunities irrespective of gender. Please take a moment to thank the women in your life for their incredible contributions to our families and community.
We are celebrating the essence of multiculturalism this month by marking Bangladeshi, Persian and Irish Heritage months. Ontario is home to many vibrant communities, and I want to thank all of them for making our province the best place to live, work and raise a family.
As I am at Queen’s Park working for you, I am excited to share an enhanced appointment booking system at ServiceOntario is now available at 64 of its busiest centres, and the plan is to double this number by the end of 2023. As part of our Your Health plan, we’re investing in home care, community paramedicine, and innovative 9-1-1 models to ensure convenient care at home or closer to home. Also, our government is investing up to $6.5 million to help support women and children who have experienced violence to provide services needed to rebuild their lives.
I also want to thank each one of you for making the annual paint night a joyous celebration. To the families who could not make it, I hope to see you soon.
In February, we celebrated Black History Month to recognize the Black community’s amazing trailblazers. February also helped us put the focus back on mental health and fight back against the stigma associated with mental illness with psychology month.
Our next town hall meeting is on March 31, 2023. I look forward to seeing you and listening to your ideas about making our community stronger.
Sincerely,
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Annual Family Paint Night 202 |
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Thank you Mississauga-Malton for joining annual Family Paint Night.
It was an amazing evening full of colour, creativity, and wonderful conversations.
It filled my heart with immense joy to see families and friends of all ages bonding over canvases and having a relaxed time. The popcorn machine was a big hit with attracting kids and mom & dad at same time. Big shootout to our local Artists Nasreen and Viraj Ponshek for helping on the floor while giving tips to be better paint artists.
This evening pas not possible without support of volunteers and office staff, who worked tirelessly to make the event memorable.
The art pieces that some of you left behind will now adorn office walls, and the memories we made together will be cherished forever.
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Volunteer Opportunities Available |
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Are you, or someone you know enrolled in high school?
Looking to complete volunteer hours to finish high school diploma, this March Break?
Join MPP Deepak Anand’s Office!
- Witness democracy in action while learning about how your local representatives make a difference in your community.
- Gain a unique experience to help you stand out on post-secondary-school and employment applications.
- Discover some of the programs and resources offered by the Ontario Government to help you move forward.
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State Funeral for Hazel McCallion |
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On her 102 birthday, Tuesday, February 14, thousands of people from across the country gathered at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre to say their final good byes to our legendary mayor "Hurricane" Hazel McCallion, who lead our city for 36 years making it what it is today.
As the Premier said at her memorial "Mississauga is a better city, and Ontario is a better province because of Hazel McCallion."
She was a trailblazer of politics, people & community that will keep guiding and inspiring everyone for generations to come.
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Employment is Up In Ontario |
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Ontario’s job market continues to grow for the fourth straight month in a row!
Ontario's Plan to Build has invested $74 Million to help businesses expand operations and become more competitive on the world stage, which has facilitated another $804 Million
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in outside investments creating more than 1,425 new jobs since 2019. |
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The government has also lowered taxes, reduced electricity costs and cut red tape, attracting nearly $19 Billion in investments from global auto makers and biomanufacturers. |
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Highlights Include:
- 600,000 New jobs since the Conservatives took office June 2018
- 62,800 New jobs in the month of January 2023
- 388 Skills Development Fund training projects since February 2022
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Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care |
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The Ontario government is connecting people to more convenient care, close to home
Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care has been released, detailing a series of initiatives designed to make health care more convenient and accessible province wide.
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This plan is comprised of 3 pillars: |
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1. The Right Care in the Right Place
- Expanding the role of pharmacies to include diagnosis and prescriptions for 13 common ailments, reducing the burden on doctors and hospitals.
- Increasing youth accessibility to mental health, substance abuse and support services through the addition of Youth Wellness Hubs and virtual counselling.
- Strengthening team based care through Ontario Health Teams to connect and coordinate health care providers ensuring your records follow you anywhere.
2. Faster Access to Care
- Expanding the roles of pharmacies to ensure people have quicker access to local care, relieving some of the burden on hospitals and doctors, shortening wait times for other issues.
- Providing paramedics more flexibility to treat people who cal 9-1-1 on scene, with out going to the hospital.
- Building new and upgrading existing long term care beds across the province.
3. Hiring More Healthcare Workers
- Training more students through the largest medical school expansion in over 10 years, which added nearly 500 new seats, ensuring Ontario has a steady stream of doctors and nurses entering the field for years to come.
- Introducing new assistance opportunities, such as the Learn and Stay Grant, which supports the cost of education for those willing to work in Ontario's most underserved communities for 2 years after graduation.
- Attracting more healthcare workers from other provinces through new As of Right rules, which allow them to start working immediately.
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On February 22, I spoke in Ontario Legislature advocating the need for changes to our current health care system.
Key Information
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With the introduction of the Your Health Act 2023, we continue to bring down wait times in our hospitals and improve our excellent healthcare system.
- The median wait time for a specialist appointment is 8.8 weeks, for a CT scan is 5.5 weeks and for an MRI is 11.5 weeks.
- In 2021, there was a shortage of over 13,000 registered nurses (RNs), 1,000 physicians, and 20,000 personal support workers (PSWs) in Ontario.
- By 2030, the shortage of registered nurses is expected to reach 18,000, and that of physicians over 4,100.
- Our healthcare workforce has grown by 60,000 new nurses and 8,000 new physicians since 2018.
- With new "As of Right" rules, Ontario will become the first province in Canada to allow healthcare workers registered in other provinces and territories to start work in their field immediately.
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Ontario Increasing Supports for Youth Transitioning
Out of Child Welfare
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Ontario is investing $68 Million in the Ready, Set, Go program, to ensure youth in children’s welfare associations have the preparation, skills and supports they need for their future as they transition into adulthood.
This will be accomplished by introducing new preparatory classes and increases to available supports.
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As of April 1, 2023 changes will include:
- Starting at Age 13: Classes on practical life skills & education goals
- Starting at Age 15: Classes on financial literacy and workforce preparation training
- Until Age 23: Financial support intended to help pursue post secondary education and secure, safe housing will be available until 23, up from 21.
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Ontario Providing Better Service |
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The Ontario government is taking steps to modernize and improve Service Ontario's virtual services to make it faster and easier than ever for people to get the services they need in a way that works for them.
The government’s plan focuses on
3 key areas for improvement:
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Online Renewals
You can now renew many documents yourself online such as drivers’ licenses, health cards, and birth certificates.
Virtual & Phone Services
More than 55 services requiring a representative can now be completed virtually or over the phone
Appoint Bookings
For in person matters you can now book appointments at 64 of the busiest locations, with that number being increased to 120 by the end of 2023
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Ontario Preparing People and Communities for Future Emergencies |
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First-ever action plan will support quick response to natural disasters and other emergencies
This month the Ontario government released the first ever Provincial Emergency Management Strategy and Action Plan in Canada.
With contributions from emergency management partners, municipalities and First Nations groups, this plan builds on lessons learned from not only the pandemic, but other threats and disasters to ensure Ontarians are prepared and safe for future emergencies.
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Ontario Protecting the Health and Safety of Paramedics |
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Under the leadership of Premier Doug Ford, and after intense consultations with community leaders & groups, families, business owners, and workers Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy will table Ontario's 2023 budget on March 23.
We have heard from Ontario's workers, businesses, families and community groups, to learn what matters most.
This year's budget will focus on community priorities, preparing Ontario for the future, and ensuring we are ready for business.
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Ontario Reducing Wait Times for Publicly Funded Surgeries and Diagnostics |
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Our government is committed to providing better health care and reduced wait time for all Ontarians.
#YourHealthAct2023 will allow people to access more, fully-insured services with their health card at more locations
Additional provisions will also be put in place to enhance quality standards and oversight, as well as regulations on expanding local practices to ensure stability for healthcare workers and patients already in the area.
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Ontario Preparing People and Communities for Future Emergencies |
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The Ontario Government is committed to protecting our paramedics & ambulance drivers through the new Paramedic Services Committee Section 21 under the Ontario Health & Safety Act.
This will be achieved by:
- Fostering Safe & Respectful Workspaces
- Recommending Regulatory Changes and Actions
- Providing the Protections and Support Networks They Deserve
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Pink Shirt Day - February 22, 2023 |
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On Wednesday February 22 I was proud to wear my pink shirt to legislature to support victims of bullying. As many as 1 in 5 kids are victims of bullying. Bullying can be many both physical or/and mental .
It is very important to remember, “ kindness, empathy and understanding are the most important asset to practice.
You can make a difference through daily actions like sending a check-in text, calling out bullying behavior or offering support.
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This transformative investment will strengthen Ontario’s end-to-end electric vehicle supply chain while adding more than 1,000 new good-paying jobs for workers across the province.
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This funding can be used to extend service hours, buy transit vehicles, add routes, improve accessibility /upgrade infrastructure, ensuring better services for commuters
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The Ontario government has hired 193 new long-term care inspection staff, including 156 new inspectors who will be in the field completing on-site inspections and responding to complaints faster.
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This will be the largest battery storage project in the country, marking a major milestone in building Ontario’s energy grid to ensure a clean, reliable and affordable as we grow in the future.
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The government is working with the fourth-generation family owned business to add cold brew manufacturing to their Mississauga operations, as part of the Regional Development Program designed to strengthen manufacturing across the province.
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Hydrogen Innovation Fund projects will kickstart opportunities to support electricity supply, capacity, storage & demand management, and support growth in Ontario’s hydrogen economy.
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This investment includes $3.6 million for frontline agencies in rural and remote communities to strengthen supports Indigenous women and reduce barriers for survivors of violence. An additional $2.9 million will help increase youth access to prevention and early intervention supports.
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These vital road networks help over 24,000 Ontarians in remote communities: deliver essential goods and services, support special projects, and access inter-community cultural events.
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This funding is part of the government’s Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) to help increase and expand mineral exploration, growth and job creation in the province, particularly in northern and Indigenous communities.
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Tax Season is Almost Here |
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Filing dates for 2022 taxes
- February 20, 2023: Earliest day to file your taxes online
- April 30, 2023 (May 1, 2023): Deadline to file your taxes
- June 15, 2023: Deadline to file your taxes if you or your spouse or common-law partner are self-employed
Payment date for 2022 taxes
- April 30, 2023 (May 1, 2023): Deadline to pay your taxes
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Through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), community organizations host free tax clinics where volunteers file tax returns for people with a modest income and a simple tax situation. |
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The Ontario Seniors Home Safety Tax Credits allow seniors to claim safety and accessibility related renovations made to their homes such as hand-rails and wheelchair ramps.
The Seniors Care at Home Tax Credits can be applied to medical expenses to support those aging at home, such as hearing aids or in-home hospital beds.
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The Ontario Staycation Tax Credit was introduced as a way to encourage residents to support our local travel and tourism sector during the Covid-19 Pandemic, and allows Ontarians to claim up to 20% of eligible 2022 accommodation expenses for travel within the province.
The Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) is a tax-free amount paid to help low- to moderate-income families provide for their children. OCB payments are delivered with the Canada child benefit in a single monthly payment.
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Out and About in the Community |
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Grand Opening For
Hawk Prints New Location
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Mother Parker's Factory Tour |
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Mississauga Board Of Trade
Talent Acquisition Forum
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Visiting Sheridan College
Hazel McCallion Campus
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Breakfast At
Cuchulainns Pub
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Republic Day of India
With Panorama India
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Superbowl Party to Support Golden Years, Hungry Days |
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Visiting
Illumi Mississauga
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Factory Tour At
Roshel Defence Factory
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Congratulations to Great Punjab Supermarket |
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2023 Budget Consultations |
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Schulich School of Business |
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Celebrating Black History Month With Malton Black Development Association |
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Washing Away Hatred
At Ram Mandir
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Celebrating
Black Excellence
At Mississauga City Hall
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Health Care Announcement
At Astra Zeneca
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Meeting With
Community Leaders
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Meeting With
Pandit Roopnath Sharma
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