The Etobicoke—Lakeshore Report: Issue 1, July 1, 2025
Happy Canada Day!
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Newsletter Issue No 1 July 2025
Thank you for signing up to my newsletter - I’m excited to share with you the very first edition.
In this space you’ll find updates from Queen’s Park, helpful information about local and provincial resources, and spotlights on the incredible businesses and organizations that make Etobicoke—Lakeshore such a vibrant place to call home.
As your new MPP, it has been an honour to meet the people in our neighbourhoods, businesses and community organizations - people who are deeply committed to building and sustaining a strong, welcoming community for generations to come. Thank you for opening your doors and inviting me to your workplaces, events and gathering spaces. Our community’s strength comes from its people, and I look forward to using this newsletter to share your stories.
I also want to thank the many residents who have contacted me to share your concerns about provincial issues and legislation - your voice matters and makes a difference. To those of you who have come to us for help, thank you for placing your trust in our office. We are here to support you.
I will also be sharing stories about Etobicoke—Lakeshore and the happenings at Queen’s Park through my social feeds. To stay current, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
I look forward to seeing you in the community soon!
Lee
Serving You in Etobicoke—Lakeshore
You can find us in our NEW accessible office location at 1136 The Queensway.
Office Hours:
Mondays 9 am - 5 pm
Tuesdays 9 am - 5 pm
Wednesdays 11 am - 7 pm
Thursdays 9 am - 5 pm
Fridays 9 am - 5 pm
Closed weekends and Holidays
Phone: 416 259 2249 Email: lfairclough.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Web: LeeFaircloughMPP.ca
Contact Us if you need assistance with:
Birth and Death Certificates
OHIP Card Renewals
Ontario Disability Support Program
Other Ontario Government Ministry Issues
Congratulatory Certificates
Invite MPP Fairclough to Events
Lee In Action In Etobicoke—Lakeshore
Covering the four corners of the riding and everywhere in between, Lee has been meeting with consitutents, resident associations, community organizations, businesses, schools, attending local events and much more.
Access for All at Mimico Go
Lee worked with the Mimico Residents Association to gather signatures on a petition to demand that the long-overdue work to make the Mimico GO station accessbile begin this year. Lee spoke to this issue in the legislature on multiple occasions, and is pleased to report that the vendor for this work has now been confirmed.
Lee presents the Mimico GO petition in the Ontario Legislature.
Ontario Trillium Foundation Grants
We celebrated new programs, and even a vehicle from the generous support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation. If your community organization is interested in applying, you can find out more information here. You can also reach out to our office with any questions.
Trillium Grant Recipients Second Harvest, Dorothy Ley Hospice, Toronto Blues Society and Arts Etobicoke.
Graduations June 2025
In June we celebrated more than 1000 graduating high school students in Etobicoke—Lakeshore, and I was pleased and honoured to participate in all five high school graduation ceremonies: Lakeshore CI, Etobicoke School for the Arts, Etobicoke Alternative School, Father John Redmond and Bishop Allen Academy. It was inspiring to hear of the graduates’ accomplishments and hard work. The future is bright of the young people of our community.
Community Events
Congratulations to the organizers of several fantastic community events including the Grilled Cheese Challenge, Humber Bay Farmers Market, the Kingsway BIA Easter Fair, Lemonade for Love and more.
I was also honoured to participate in several memorial services to honour those in Etobicoke—Lakeshore and across Canada. This included the commemoration of 80 years since the Liberation of the Netherlands and Victory In Europe Day with Legion leaders from our community. I was also deeply moved to attend the 40th anniversary memorial service for victims of the Air India Flight 182 tragedy at Humber Bay Park. Family members, friends, and the community at large were impacted by this devastating act of terror, and we will always remember them.
Diane Dupuy receives Order of Ontario
A ceremony for the 29 new appointments to the Order of Ontario was held in June at Queen’s Park. Among the recipients was a well-known member of our community, Diane Dupuy. Dedicated to changing the way the world saw people with special needs, along with her significant contributions to the Arts and Culture scene in Ontario, Diane Dupuy has gained international acclaim for her founding of Famous People Players (FPP) - a professional black light theatre troupe which employs people with disabilities. Founded in 1974, they have since been recognized as the pioneers who first brought integration to the forefront of the world. June 1st, 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of FPP and Ms Dupuy’s extraordinary vision and commitment to empowering and enhancing the lives of those with special needs.
Out In Etobicoke—Lakeshore
It’s been a very busy spring in our riding, and Lee was at as many events as possible to meet constituents. Read more from Lee below.
Etobicoke—Lakeshore is an incredibly vibrant riding with many organizations, events, charities, schools and so much more. I spent a great deal of time over the last few months getting to as many as possible and I am so grateful to have the chance to engage with so many people.
I particularly enjoyed being able to engage with so many students on Take Your MPP To Work Day including at Lakeshore CI and Second Street School. I was also pleased to learn about the ReFrame Program, a partnership between Meridian Credit Union and Community builders to support apprenticeships and business skill development.
It’s been a privilege to be able to meet with so many community organizations across the riding and hear about their plans, their concerns and their communities.
Lee at Queen’s Park
My inaugural session at Queen’s Park was just seven sitting weeks in the Ontario Legislature, and the fall session is now delayed until October 20th. I will be working in our community through this time. This extended delay in returning to the legislature is not normal, and undermines our representative democracy. The Government introduced and pushed through ten bills to Royal Assent in this session, most without the usual committee hearings where they would undergo legislative scrutiny and receive amendments.
My office received hundreds of emails and phone calls from constituents concerned about Bill 5. Bill 5 grants unprecedented power to the Premier and Ministers to override provincial laws or municipal by-laws to favour their handpicked “trusted proponents” operating in the “Special Economic Zones” they can designate anywhere across our province at will. Indigenous communities and environmental groups have raised serious concerns and objections about the impacts of Bill 5. Closer to home, Bill 5 explicitly allows the Government to ignore environmental laws in the Therme redevelopment of Ontario Place.
Lee speaking on Bill 5 in the Legislature. Lee participated with Ontario Liberal colleagues in a late night filibuster at committee in an effort to give the public more time to raise their voices, and to give the government an opportunity to fix the bill.
During the busy legislative session, I also provided debate on the Primary Care Access Act, which I ultimately supported because our community needs more access to primary care. I will be holding the government accountable for increasing access to primary health care teams to all of our constituents.
I co-sponsored a Private Members Bill: Bill 28: Homelessness Ends With Housing Act 2025. This is a cross-party collaboration - the first since 2011 - with Green Party MPP Clancy. The Bill calls for a strategy to end homelessness by measuring progress, focusing on housing and social determinants of health.
As I have met with members of the community and convened meetings on homelessness and shelters I have consistently heard we need to proactively address the root causes of homelessness in our community. This Private Members Bill includes a strategy to do just that.
I debated many more bills during my first session, which you can view on my YouTube channel here.
Community Events at Queen’s Park
As an MPP I also meet regularly with groups at Queen’s Park advocating on important issues including the Ontario Firefighters' Association, Scientists Day, Eating Disorders Day, and the annual Tibet Day that brought together many leaders from our community. I also enjoyed participating in flag raisings, speaking formally at my first one for National Portugal Day.
School Tours at Queen’s Park
One of the greatest joys I have at Queen’s Park is to welcome school groups from Etobicoke—Lakeshore. Thank you to all the parents and teachers who make these visits possible.
This spring I welcomed Our Lady of Sorrows, Park Lawn JMS, Second Street JMS, Sir Adam Beck Junior School, and St Josaphat School.
School visits can be arranged here.
Ontario Volunteer Awards
On Friday, June 20th, many residents of Etobicoke-Lakeshore were recognized with an Ontario Volunteer Service Award. This award recognizes volunteers for providing committed and dedicated service to an organization. Congratulations again to the recipients: Kaitlin Gallant, Hao Chen, Kathleen Sullivan, Rosalie Banal, Angela Cowling, Andrew Demeter, Wally Goodwin, Andre Maetzener, Esther Reid, Alok Sinha, Brenda So, Beata Blaziak, Adwoa K. Buahene, Adrian Van Der Vliet, Martha Beaumont, Kendall Franklin, Anastasia Rupert, Nicole Yetman, and Mario Barone, and thank you for your continued service in our community and beyond.
Coming Up In Etobicoke—Lakeshore
If you wish to list an event in our newsletter please reach out to our office.