Girls Government is an enterprising way to encourage interest in public life

“That Helen Costa is only 13 should give us even more hope for the future. She is part of Girls Government, a non-partisan initiative of New Democrat MPP Cheri DiNovo. It introduces Grade 8 girls to social issues and the political environment in the hope that some will grow up to consider politics as a career option.”

Parkdale’s Roma community gather for candlelight vigil

“It’s a bill that will limit even more Roma people from being able to seek refugee status in this country; we only accept two per cent of those who are applying now,” DiNovo said.  ”The least we can do is to accept those who are already being faced with deportation from home countries, who are faced with imprisonment and violence and draconian laws throughout Europe.”

May proclaimed Jewish Heritage Month

Bill 17, the Jewish Heritage Month Act, put forward in October last year by Eglinton-Lawrence Liberal MPP Mike Colle and co-sponsored by Thornhill Conservative MPP Peter Shurman and High-Park New Democrat MPP for Cheri DiNovo, passed unanimously in the provincial legislature Feb. 23.

Cheri on The Agenda with Steve Paikin (VIDEO)

Caterpillar shuts Electro-Motive plant in London, Ont., where workers locked out

“The writing was on the wall, they were asking to cut salaries by 50 per cent, and this government, this cabinet was absent without leave,” complained Ontario NDP critic Cheri DiNovo.
“Premier McGuinty should have stepped in. He should have intervened, he should have done everything possible to save those jobs.”

Provincial News:  Jobs numbers more proof that Ontario needs change in jobs strategy

“Ontario households are falling behind. They’re worried about jobs and paychecks that don’t keep up with the cost of living,” said DiNovo. “Instead of mimicking Stephen Harper’s strategy no-strings-attached tax giveaways Ontario should be looking at new ideas that help small business and companies that hire, train and invest in Ontario.”

York Central Hospital doctors hold retreat – in Florida

“With the Drummond report on the horizon, the average person looking for a job in Ontario would be infuriated that this was paid for out of the public purse,” said NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo.

“It’s ridiculous.  This is a time when they just closed Ontario Place, people are losing jobs right, left and centre,” DiNovo added.

The child care crisis in Parkdale-High Park prompts town hall

Access to affordable, quality child care is essential for women to be able to work outside of the home, DiNovo said.
“That still is not happening and it isn’t happening for a number of reasons, but mainly because we don’t have a federal government or a provincial government that has stepped up to the plate.”

DiNovo recognized the honourees for their contributions in making the riding of Parkdale-High Park a better place, she said.

A far more meaningful project is a non-partisan program, Girls Government, that’s been up and running for three years.
It encourages girls to come to Queen’s Park to find out how the democratic process works.

More can be done to combat “wage theft”, labour minister admits

Survivors and supporters push for a ban on electroshock therapy in Ontario

A year ago, NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo introduced a private member’s bill to defund ECT in Ontario.

Parkdale-High Park MPP says budget is status-quo

“‘There is a lot of money going to very profitable banks in the form of corporate tax cuts that we think should be going to social services, schools and hospitals instead,’ DiNovo said.”

McGuinty and Ford join forces for Toronto transit plan

‘”We have a city with the worst gridlock now in North America, and yet every four years politicians come and trot out promises about transit that never gets built,” said the Toronto MPP [Cheri DiNovo].’

Ukrainian Day bill passes

The bill passed by Ontario Legislature Thursday and will receive royal assent this week.

Toronto MPP urges local NDP supporters to remain committed for change

“The best way of overcoming the current situation is getting out there and changing it because otherwise you’re just going to get the same.  Know the candidate, know the issues and get out and get involved,” DiNovo told the town hall.  “The middle class is emptying out, the poor are getting poorer and the wealthy are getting wealthier.”

DiNovo seeks support for Victim Services

“The funding per victim for the Victim Crisis Response Program has dropped from $286 in 1990 to $31 in 2010,” DiNovo said.  “if the government is serious about a Sexual Violence Action Plan, then Victim Services needs to be sustainably funded to ensure that the critical services they provide are available for all victims.”

Wait time strategy failing Ontarians: NDP

“Ms. Swerling has to live with agonizing pain because the McGuinty government’s wait time strategy is failing,” said DiNovo.

Metrolinx approves $55 million deal for American-made “clean” diesel trains

“Despite all evidence to the contrary, despite strong community opposition, Metrolinx has voted to go ahead with this ill-considered plan.”

Metrolinx approves $55M Pearson train purchase

“The health concerns of tens of thousands of residents who live near the tracks have fallen on deaf ears,” DiNovo said.

Pearson-Union link gets $53M worth of diesel trains

“Clearly electric is better.  This is an experiment that will cost us more.”  NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo told the board. 

Help wanted:  More female MPPs encouraged

“We in the NDP are hoping we do have a female premier after the next election.”

MPP stands up for Sorauren kids as Metrolinx votes for diesel

Fantastic video of Cheri’s response to Metrolinx at their meeting.

McGuinty’s minimum wage freeze leaves families behind:  NDP

“Dalton McGuinty is rewarding profitable companies with billions of tax dollars,” [said DiNovo], “But he’s silent when it comes to making sure their workers get fair pay.”

Breaking Out:  Transgender teen touts tolerance while serving as ‘mayor’

…Dr. Rev Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale MPP) hopes [Bill C-389] will help ease the passing of her Toby’s Law at Queen’s Park under the provincial human rights code.

“The federal law helps to get the whole country on board,” said DiNovo, adding it’s a signal to the provinces to follow suit.  “Toby’s Law covers everybody.”

Ontario Minimum Wage Frozen at $10.25 an hour; highest provincial rate in Canada

“Freezing minimum wage leaves struggling moms and dads behind,” said NDP member Cheri DiNovo.

DiNovo cited Statistics Canada figures that show a full-time minimum wage earner in a large city falls $6000 below the low-income cut-off line.

Tenants’ rights top ‘to do’ list for NDP

“I think most Ontarians would be shocked to learn that could happen, especially in the dead of winter.  I know I was (surprised) that tenants could lose their utilities because their landlord hadn’t paid,” says DiNovo.

Coalition continues to protest against diesel trains

“Not for our neighbourhoods not for the people who live along the tracks, not for people who have invested along the tracks, not for you, but for them…a few wealthy tourists,” said MPP Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale-High Park).  “We want trains that serve our community.”

McGuinty urges Harper to cool off on U.A.E. Fight

NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale-High Park) accused both Harper and McGuinty of distracting attention from real concerns like jobs and the economy.

Electric GO trains get green light from Metrolinx board

“Balderdash,” said DiNovo, who added about $400 million will be wasted by not making the route electric from the start.

Hybrid buses could be used during the Games instead of buying diesel trains, she said.

NDP plan to revive tenants’ rights bill inspired by Windsor case

“The preamble to the bill can include something from the situation in Windsor,” NDP housing critic Cheri DiNovo said Monday.  “It will be reintroduced because clearly there is a need for it.  It would make it illegal to cut off power to tenants if it’s the landlord who hasn’t paid.”

Politicians host bone marrow clinic

Parkdale-High Park MPP Cheri DiNovo and Councillor Sarah Doucette are co-sponsoring a Bone Marrow Donor Clinic, Jan. 18 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. It will be held at the Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Ave. The local politicians urge you to join them anytime within those hours in the lower level of town hall. It only takes 10 minutes and requires a swab of your cheek with a Q-Tip.

Take that bloodsuckers:  Ontario commits $5 million to fight bedbugs

Ontario New Democrat housing critic Cheri DiNovo said the money is good news but it’s not nearly enough.

What the province really needs is a licensing system to force private landlords to spend the hundreds or thousands of dollars needed to treat each infected apartment, she said.

Ontario NDP say more needed to beat back bedbugs

Ontario New Democratic housing critic Cheri DiNovo says the money is good news but it’s not nearly enough.  The NDP are calling for landlord licensing system and a national strategy to squish the skin-crawling problem.

Hundreds demand public inquiry into G20

Before leaving Queen’s Park, NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo told the crowd that the public inquiry needs to come at the provincial and federal level. …”Someone has to be held accountable.  We need an inquiry so we can call people to testify.  We need to find out who gave the orders.”

G20 protestors demand Blair quit

“It was very clear on the weekend of the G20 that we did not live in a democratic province or country,” Cheri DiNovo, NDP MPP for Parkdale-High Park said, revving up the protestors.  “For a weekend, we lived in a police state.”

Ontario acts to prevent worker deaths

The NDP’s Cheri DiNovo wondered how that was possible.

“Well, if there’s not one new building inspector, not one new dollar, how’s that ever going to happen?” she said. 

Fonseca quits Ontario cabinet; may run federally; replaced by Sousa at labour

New Democrat Cheri DiNovo questioned Fonseca’s career choice.

“If he’s going from the McGuinty Liberals to the Ignatieff Liberals, there’s something about frying pans and fires that comes to mind,” said DiNovo. 

Etobicoke MPPs look forward to projects, intiatives in 2011

“January 1 marks another 10,000 people who have turned 65 – statistically, one in three baby boomers will get Alzheimer’s or dementia,” she said of the importance of the bill, which she co-sponsored with PC MPP Christine Elliott and NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo. “Intervention and prevention are critical for me – what can we do to get people knowledgeable about it, how do we get them engaged in how to make a difference themselves?”

Mexican teen will be deported: judge

“At this holy time of year, deporting one of Parkdale’s students is counter to everything we tell the world of Canada’s humanitarianism,” Cheri DiNovo, NDP MPP for Parkdale-High Park, said in a statement.

Mexican refugee claimant, 18, loses bid to stay in Canada

Cheri DiNovo, the New Democrat MPP representing the area of Mr. Garcia’s school, said deporting Mr. Garcia goes against Canadian values.

Toronto high school student to be deported to Mexico despite fears for safety

“We ask Jason Kenney, we ask every immigration official to search their own hearts and their souls and to really say, ‘Is this the Canada we want to live in — a Canada that sends a (teenager) to a probable death because of homophobia?’” she said at the rally.

MPP hopes to spark formation of local condo association

Parkdale-High Park MPP Cheri DiNovo and Councillor Sarah Doucette are co-sponsoring a Bone Marrow Donor Clinic, Jan. 18 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. It will be held at the Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Ave. The local politicians urge you to join them anytime within those hours in the lower level of town hall. It only takes 10 minutes and requires a swab of your cheek with a Q-Tip.

New Democrat MPP Cheri DiNovo is pushing for a law forcing landlords to be licensed and their premises inspected for bedbugs, saying Ontario is “doing nothing” to stop the growing scourge of pests.

NDP’s DiNovo Tables Bill to Fight Bedbugs

“The real answer to the growing bed bug problem is better tenant’s rights,” DiNovo said in a Queen’s Park press conference Thursday morning.

MPPs Want Franchisors to School Investors

Members of three political parties [including MPP Cheri DiNovo] in the Ontario legislature want more information given to prospective franchisees to reduce their chances of being swindled.

Ontario Cyclists Could Get More Paved Shoulders on Secondary Highways

“Cycling needs to become easier and it needs to become safer if we’re going to help our environment,” said Ms. DiNovo.

“One of the major causes of climate change in this country is too much driving.”

Save Lives With Paved Shoulders, MPP Urges

The MPP from Parkdale-High Park cited a 2004 Toronto study that found passing motorists were the second leading cause of collisions with bikes and the leading killer of cyclists.

DiNovo Asks McGuinty to Promote Human Rights in his Mission to China

NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo is calling on Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to stand up for human rights in Tibet on his third mission to China on Oct. 30.