CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ELECTION. I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD MAKE AN INTRODUCTION BEFORE I PRESENT MY PETITION.
The Speaker: PLEASE DO. >>
THANK YOU. IN THE GALLERY OPPOSITE, THERE ARE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE OCEAN BREEZE RESIDENCE
ASSOCIATION. THESE FOLKS, YOU PROBABLY KNOW HAVE BEEN FACING SOME UNTENABLE CIRCUMSTANCES IN
THE COMMUNITY. THE OCEAN BREEZE COMMUNITY WAS PURCHASED BY A NEW
OWNER, NEW CONGLOMERATE OF OWNERS AND IS FACING REDEVELOPMENT. AND SO ALL OF
THE THOUSAND RESIDENTS OF OCEAN BREEZE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE THE COMMUNITY WHILE THEIR HOMES ARE
DEMOLISHED AND REDEVELOPED INTO NEW HOUSING. SO THE OCEAN
BREEZE RESIDENCE ASSOCIATION AND FOLKS HERE TODAY HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING EACH OTHER.
ADVOCATING FOR TENANTS’ RIGHTS WHILE THIS PROCESS HAPPENS. WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE
THIS KIND OF THING DOESN’T HAPPEN TO MORE PEOPLE IN THIS PROVINCE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FACT WE’RE FACING SUCH A
TERRIBLE HOUSING CRISIS. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME JULIE DAY,
STEPHANIE McNAB, CELINE AND JEN. TO THANK THEM, WELCOME
THEM TO THE HOUSE. FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME. AND ON BEHALF OF
ALL MLAs, I THANK THEM FOR THEIR HARD AND TIRELESS WORK ON
BEHALF OF THEIR COMMUNITY, THEIR NEIGHBOURS, THEMSELVES, AND MAY THEY BE AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS IN THE PROVINCE.
THANKS VERY MUCH
1:22:26 I’M GOING TO READ THE PETITION NOW. THE PETITION READS, THE
OPERATIVE CLAUSE READS, WE THE UNDERSIGNED RESIDENTS OF OCEAN
BREEZE, URGE THE MINISTER OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, – SORRY,
URGE THE MINISTRY OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS AND HOUSING TO ENGAGE THE HUMAN, FINANCIAL REGULATORY AND POLITICAL RESOURCES AND POWERS OF HIS DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE MORE THAN 1,000 LONG-TERM RESIDENTS OF THE OCEAN
BREEZE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING SENIORS, CHILDREN, VETERANS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES NOT BE
RENDERED HOMELESS. ON THE MINISTER’S WATCH. AS A RESULT OF THE DEMOLITION AND REDEVELOPMENT PLANS OF BAYSON
HEIGHTS. GIVEN THAT WE RESIDENTS OF OCEAN BREEZE FACE EVICTION AT THE HANDS OF A CORPORATE DEVELOPER WITH CLOSE
POLITICAL TIES TO THE GOVERNMENT, WE CALL UPON YOUR GOVERNMENT TO WORK WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND AGENCIES TO ENSURE ALL RESIDENTS OF OCEAN BREEZE BE PROVIDED ACCESS TO TRULY DECENT, AFFORDABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE HOUSING BEFORE WE ARE OBLIGED TO VACATE OUR HOMES.
MADAM SPEAKER, I HAVE – THERE ARE OVER 200 SIGNATURES ON THIS PETITION. I HAVE AFFIXED MY OWN
AS PER THE RULES OF THE HOUSE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
The Speaker: THE PETITION IS TABLED. WELCOME. I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR TIME HERE.
This was fantastic and really brought our issues to the forefront of local politics.