Robin Lennox
Dear neighbours,
As the summer weather has rolled in, it’s so wonderful to see fellow Hamiltonians out and about at events and enjoying time in community together! Our constituency office has its doors wide open at 630 Main St East – come see us if you need any help navigating provincial services like OHIP, Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program, ID issues, or anything else we might be able to help with. When not in the office, our team is excited to be tabling at many weekend summer festivals and events so we can celebrate everything Hamilton has to offer.
You may also find me knocking on your door as we canvas the riding over the summer to hear about what most matters to you right now. We know that these are still tough times for many in Hamilton, especially with recent lay offs announced from ArcelorMittal and ongoing tariff threats. We are continuing to advocate for workers in our city and for increasing the resilience of our community through healthcare, housing, and good public education and affordable childcare for our kids. Look out for us on your street so we can hear from you!
We’re also facing challenging times in trusting our current government in light of recent revelations about the Greenbelt and the power-grab legislation of Bill 5. It’s clear that the Ford government selling off the Greenbelt was never about building housing. It was about lining the pockets of developers who were allowed to draw the Conservative government maps of which areas they wanted removed from Greenbelt protections.
In June, the Information and Privacy Commissioner – Ontario’s transparency watchdog – reported that the Ford government violated legal record-keeping obligations by using “code words”, permanently deleting emails, and demonstrating a lack of transparency about decisions made related to the Greenbelt.
“Without a full and accurate record of decision-making, the public is left in the dark about government actions that affect their communities and the environment.” – Information and Privacy Commissioner
These alarming findings come on the heels of the Conservative government passing Bill 5 – legislation that gives the Premier and his Ministers unprecedented power to override municipal and labour laws and environmental regulations in any location they designate a Special Economic Zone. First Nations leaders have been at the forefront of opposition to Bill 5 given the threat it poses to treaty rights.
With the recent IPC findings regarding the Greenbelt and an ongoing RCMP investigation underway, we have to ask ourselves: can the Premier really be trusted with the unprecedented powers granted by Bill 5?
We’ve heard from thousands of Hamilton community-members who have written emails, signed petitions, and shown up for demonstrations opposing Bill 5 over the past month. We need to continue to organize until we get Bill 5 repealed. Stay tuned for updates on local actions against Bill 5 happening in Hamilton Centre this summer!
In solidarity,
Robin Lennox
MPP, Hamilton Centre
