Dear Friends,
As the Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Guildwood, I join my colleagues in Ontario Liberal Caucus in condemning in the strongest possible terms the terror attack against the Afzaal family. This unacceptable act of hatred was an attack not only against the Afzaal family, but an attack on the entire Muslim community in Canada and on the Canadian values of diversity and inclusion.
By all accounts, the family worked hard to contribute to their community and to Canada, making their loss all the more painful. It is a visceral reminder that hatred in many forms, Islamophobia, racism, anti-Asian hate, antiSemitism, still exist and are on the rise.
We must redouble our efforts to ensure that such attitudes and beliefs are confronted to prevent tragedies like the London attack. No one in Canada, regardless of their faith, ethnicity, gender, or any other identity, should feel unsafe in our society, especially doing something as simple as taking a walk with family.
As elected officials, we will continue to work on combatting hate, discrimination, and violence. However, it is the task of all Canadians to renew within ourselves the spirit of tolerance and openness to people of different backgrounds and to reach out to people in our community to learn about their culture and faith.
As the Chair of the House of Commons Public Safety Committee, I can report that prior to the attack, the Committee launched a study into Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism to explore ways the federal government can tackle these issues. At its meeting on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, the committee agreed to hold additional hearings to hear from representatives of the Muslim community. These meetings will take place in the coming weeks.
This has been a painful time for the Muslim community in Canada. Rest assured that we grieve with you and reaffirm our commitment to fighting Islamophobia so that everyone can feel safe as full and equal members of our society.
|
|
Highlights from this issue:
- Vigil Held for the Afzaal Family
- Investing in the Tam Heather Curling Club
- Funding Announcement with The Storefront
- What We Give
- COVID-19 Updates
- COVID-19 Vaccine Support
- COVID-19 Pop-Up Testing
- Filipino Heritage Month
- National Indigenous History Month
- Indigenous Communities Initiative
- Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
- Community Events and Resources
- EarlyON June Programs
- Virtual Summer Camps
- Who's Hiring in Scarborough
- Canada Summer Jobs Program
- Food Hamper Support
- Travel Restrictions
- Immigration Information
- New on the Hill
- Design Competition for Parliamentary Precinct
- Op-Ed on Modern Slavery
- Statement on the 80th Anniversary of Soviet Mass Deportations
- In the News
|
|
Vigil in Honour of the Afzaal Family
|
|
|
|
Last weekend, I attended a vigil held for the Afzaal Family by the Canadian Pakistani Association of Scarborough and heard from many Muslim community members who are daily reminded of the pervasiveness of Islamophobia in Canadian society. We must continue to fight against all forms of hatred to ensure an act of terror like this never happens again.
Muslims and non-Muslims affected by this tragedy can receive support 7 days a week by calling 1 (866) 627-3342 or by visiting https://naseeha.org/.
|
|
New Investments in the Tam Heather Curling Club
|
|
|
|
I was pleased to join Mayor John Tory, Councillor Paul Ainslie, and MPP Vijay Thanigasalam in announcing improvements to the Tam Heather Curling Club in Scarborough, which will make the club more accessible for many years to come. The Government of Canada is investing over $1 million in this project, the Government of Ontario is providing more than $900,000, and the City of Toronto is contributing more than $700,000 toward this project. Watch our virtual announcement here.
|
|
Funding Announcement with The Storefront
|
|
|
|
I was pleased to join Dip Habib from the East Scarborough Storefront in announcing a $240K investment from the Government of Canada that will help rebuild their outdoor community spaces, so families and kids in Scarborough can stay active, play safe, and keep healthy!
|
|
What We Give: Manjura Rehman
|
|
|
|
On today's episode, I sit down with Manjura Rehman, the Executive Director of Canadian South Asian Growth & Support Services (CSAGSS). Manjura discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected our community and exacerbated food insecurity.
|
|
 |
|
I received my second dose at Centennial College. Thanks to Scarborough Health Network doctors, nurses, & staff for your hard work in getting Scarborough vaccinated. Super efficient.
|
|
|
As of June 14, over 33M vaccine doses have been delivered to the provinces and territories and as of June 15, over 29M vaccine doses have been administered across Canada and over 72% of Canadians have received their first dose.
Everyone 12 years of age and over in Ontario is currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
To find out when you are eligible to book your second dose appointment, click here. The following groups are currently eligible to book an accelerated second dose:
- People who are 70 years of age and older in 2021
- People who received their first dose on or before May 9
- People who received a first dose of AstraZeneca at least eight weeks ago
- First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals, including non-Indigenous partners and household members
- Certain high-risk health care workers
- Certain people with health conditions
- People who live in certain postal codes are also eligible to receive their second dose at pop-up clinics in their area.
There are several ways to book eligible individuals can book their first and second dose vaccines in Scarborough-Guildwood.
- Book with the Ontario-wide portal
- First Dose:
- Individuals 12 years and older
- Second dose:
- Residents 70+ and Residents who received a first dose of Pfizer or Moderna before April 18
To book, visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ or call 1‑833‑943‑3900.
2. Book with a local pharmacy
- First Dose:
- 12 years old and older
- The Shoppers Drug Mart at 255 Morningside Avenue and 1235 McCowan Rd offer vaccine appointments 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For a full list of participating pharmacies, click here.
- Second Dose:
- If you received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine between March 10, 2021, or later, you are eligible to book your second dose beginning the week of May 24, at an earlier interval of 12 weeks. Please contact the pharmacy where you received your first dose.
Call to book with your local pharmacy here.
3. Book with Scarborough Health Network
- First dose:
- 18 years old and older living or working in Scarborough (M1 postal codes). Proof of residency required.
- 12 to 17 years of age who live or go to school in Scarborough at Centennial College and TAIBU Community Health Centre clinics. Proof of residency is required.
- For those who do not live or work in Scarborough but identify as one of the following groups: Black, Indigenous, Francophone, Other racialized minorities (i.e.Arab, Middle Eastern or West Asian; East Asian; Latin American; South Asian or Indo-Caribbean; etc.) at TAIBU Community Health Centre clinic.
- Visit scarbvaccine.ca or call 416-495-2593.
- Second dose:
- If you have had your first dose through SHN, you will receive an email or phone call from SHN when you are eligible for your second dose appointment.
- Starting Friday, June 11, SHN is expanding second dose vaccinations through several of our pop-up clinics for eligible individuals in four Scarborough postal codes that have been identified as Delta variant hot-spots by the Toronto Sprint Strategy 2.0. These priority postal codes are: M1B,M1G, M1J,M1S, M1K, M1P, and M1E. Learn more.
- SHN is contacting those 70+ and those who received their first dose at our clinics on or before May 9, 2021.
- Do not book your second dose appointment through www.ScarbVaccine.ca
|
|
In-Home Vaccination:
- Anyone ages 18 years or older who lives in Toronto and cannot physically leave their home to receive the vaccine are eligible for in-home vaccination. Please contact your care provider to learn whether they are able to offer in-home vaccination.
- If you are a homebound person who does not have a care provider, the Toronto Seniors Helpline is available to support homebound people who are 18-65 years old, as well as seniors. Please call 416-217-2077 or visit https://torontoseniorshelpline.ca/web-chat/.
Appointment Assistance
- If you need help with booking your COVID-19 vaccine, Guildwood Pharmacy is offering free booking assistance in English, Urdu, Hindi and Cantonese. Call 416-283-5388.
Transportation
- If you need transportation to your vaccine appointment and are a Scarborough-based senior, adult with a disability, or adult who is immuno-compromised, you can request free transportation through SCHC's Scarborough Ride. Call 416-736-9372 or visit their website.
|
|
|
There are several ways to get tested for COVID-19 in Scarborough-Guildwood. To find a COVID-19 assessment centre, click here.
Businesses and not-for-profits in Scarborough-Guilwood can apply here to receive free rapid tests from the federal government. |
|
|
Happy Filipino Heritage Month! Filipino Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the rich heritage of the Filipino-Canadian community and reflect on the contributions of Filipino-Canadians in Scarborough-Guildwood and across Canada.
|
|
National Indigenous History Month
|
|
|
|
We began National Indigenous History Month learning the horrific news of the undisclosed graves of 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
This discovery shows us that the path to reconciliation must begin with learning the distressing truths of the residential school experience and a full understanding of the trauma inflicted on generations of innocent children and their descendants.
Throughout National Indigenous History Month, Native Child and Family Services of Toronto is hosting several events that honour the history, heritage, and diversity of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. To learn more about these events, click here.
|
|
Indigenous Communities Initiative
|
|
|
Last week, the Government of Canada announced the launch of a call for applications for the Own-Source Revenue in Indigenous Communities Initiative. The Own-Source Revenue in Indigenous Communities Initiative will provide Indigenous communities with $332.8 million to partially offset declines in own-source revenue so that they can continue to offer important programs and services to their members.
|
|
Black Entrepreneurship Loan
|
|
|
|
Black entrepreneurs and business owners across Canada can apply for the Black Entrepreneurship Program's Loan Fund for loans of up to $250,000 through the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE).
|
|
| The Scarborough East EarlyON Child & Family Centre is hosting virtual kids and adults programs via Zoom throughout the month of June. Registration is now open at www.esbgc.ca. |
|
U of T Scarborough Virtual Summer Camps
|
|
|
| U of T Scarborough is hosting virtual summer programs, workshops and activities for ages 5 -15. |
|
Who's Hiring in Scarborough
|
|
|
|
The East Scarborough Storefront has compiled this week's list of all the available jobs in Scarborough.
|
|
 |
|
A special message to youth and young adults in Scarborough-Guildwood.
|
|
|
I invite individuals between the ages of 15 and 30 to apply for a summer job. This year, the Government of Canada has made available over 150,000 full and part-time summer job opportunities. To learn more, visit http://jobbank.gc.ca/youth
|
|
|
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto is providing weekly food hampers for pickup on a biweekly basis to families in Toronto.
|
|
|
On June 9, Minister Patty Hajdu announced that Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated will soon no longer be required to stay at a Government-Authorized hotel for their quarantine period.
Fully vaccinated will be defined as an individual who has completed the full course of a Health Canada approved vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen), with the last dose having been administered 14 days or more prior to travel. These amendments are expected to be implemented in the month of July.
For updates on new travel measures and a list of exemptions, consult the Travel restrictions, exemptions, and advice page. |
|
| Check out the following immigration related resources:
Need further resources? My office is happy to assist you with immigration matters by phone at 416-283-1226 or by email at [email protected]. |
|
|
The beautiful capital of Ottawa is home to Canada's 20th-century parliamentary buildings, the Parliamentary Precinct. Since 2002, teams of experts and architects have been carefully renovating and preserving the history and structure of these buildings as part of the Parliament Hill Rehabilitation Project.
The Government of Canada has launched a design competition for the city block facing Parliament Hill to transform the aging complex into a space that meets the needs of Parliament and the Public. I invite you to learn more about this competition here.
|
|
|
I joined my co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group to End Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne, in writing an opinion piece for The Hill Times urging Canada and other G7 nations to adopt an anti-slavery agenda on the world stage. I invite you to read our op-ed, "It's time for Canada and the G7 to make the fight against modern slavery a priority", here.
|
|
Statement on 80th Anniversary of Soviet Mass Deportations
|
|
|
|
Last week, I spoke in the House of Commons on the 80th anniversary of the June 1941 Soviet mass deportations of the Baltic nations of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.
|
|
Read my most recent interviews here:
|
|
|
My office looks forward to connect with you about all federal matters by phone at 416-283-1226 or by email at [email protected]. We will return all calls and emails.
If this is the first update you have seen, and you would like to be included on all future communications, please click here.
Sincerely,
Hon. John McKay, P.C.,
Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Guildwood |
|
|
|
