MPP Update #173: Now more than ever, Pride matters
This weekend is Capital Pride - Ottawa’s annual festival to celebrate, support, and uplift our 2SLGBTQ+ neighbours. There are many wonderful events, art installations, and performances to attend fo...
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MPP Update #172: Supporting our friends, strengthening our community
Thanks to everyone who responded to my column last week.
On August 8, we held an intense community forum on poverty, homelessness, and addictions, and it’s clear that you care. You offered plenty o...
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MPP Update #171: Poverty, homelessness and addiction are community issues
Frustration with poverty, homelessness, and addictions came to a head in our city this week.
As promoted in this newsletter, Councillor Ariel Troster and I hosted a meeting on community safety at J...
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MPP Update #170: Take it from Barbie -- love yourself, and be yourself
Like many people, I recently watched the film Barbie. It was a feast for the eyes and ears.
By the end of this weekend, Barbie is likely to exceed $1 billion USD at the box office, by far the bigge...
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MPP Update #169: Doug Ford and Ottawa’s LRT have a lot in common
Guess who found his way to Ottawa this week? Premier Doug Ford!
He was in town for a health care announcement at CHEO, just a week away from a provincial by-election in Kanata-Carleton. I’m sure th...
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MPP Update #168: Hydro Ottawa workers deserve a fair deal
Have you ever been let down by someone who once called you a friend?
That’s how Hydro Ottawa workers, members of IBEW Local 636, feel right now.
In May 2022, we heaped praise on these folks, and ...
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MPP Update #167: A note from Wolfe Island
Summer is a time to pause, and reconnect to yourself and others.
That age-old tradition took me to Wolfe Island for a few days this week, a lovely place across the water from Kingston.
I spent fo...
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MPP Update #166: Olivia Chow's win gives me hope for our country
On Monday, I had the privilege of being in Toronto to witness Olivia Chow’s victory in the mayoral by-election. I bundled the visit with Toronto Pride events the day before (which were massive, liv...
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MPP Update #165: Let's organize now for safe streets
I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of the war on the car. And the bicycle. And pedestrians. And road workers. And transit workers or riders.
I’m tired of war metaphors altogether when it comes to...
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MPP Update #164: We need safe schools for everyone
Not my monkeys, not my circus
I believe that you
Oh well you deserve,
An open heart
All the words that we tried to write down
Did not have the fight, in our hearts
I did not believe them
And I...
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