SUMMER 2018

From Tina Agrell, elected Chair June 2018

The summer of 2018 was expected to be a time of rest and recuperation for AWH members. The weather was sultry and hot, and many vacation plans were made. However, with the Municipal elections scheduled for the Fall and with the swearing in of the newly elected Conservative Ontario government in July, many issues arose that required our attention.

The Halton region had five brand new MPPs and we felt it was important to seek meetings and introduce ourselves at the earliest opportunity. A meeting was soon planned with Oakville MPP Stephen Crawford for September 6, 2018.

Oakville North Burlington MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos (assistant to Minister of Health Christine Elliott) promised a meeting as soon as she had set up a constituency office.

We wanted to have questions related to our most pressing concerns ready for the Mayoral candidates in the municipal elections. We met and discussed a range of potential topics, with Elka Enola narrowing it down to a crucial few.

The new Provincial government took rapid action on many fronts having an impact on vulnerable women in children in the region.

Supporting Poverty Free Halton, AWH wrote a letter to Minister Lisa McLeod with copies to local MPPs about allowing the experimental pilot project on Basic Income to continue for its designated 3 years, so that useful data could be collected.

Supporting Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres, AWH wrote a letter to Minister of Education Lisa Thompson with copies to local MPPs about retaining the updated sex education curriculum in schools. MPP Ted Arnott (Wellington-Halton Hills) responded.

Supporting Toronto City Council AWH wrote a letter to Oakville MPP Stephen Crawford about finding a way to work with municipalities and the federal government to assist asylum seekers while they await review of their applications.

Members of AWH return to meeting in September 2018 and there will be much to occupy us then.