Stories for Change with Suze Morrison
By Suze Morrison
Stories for Change with Suze MorrisonJan 27, 2021
30 - How Neighbourhood Information Post Can Keep You Housed
Neighbourhood Information Post's program the Toronto Rent Bank is a social service that provides grants to tenants to prevent and avoid eviction. Join MPP Suze Morrison, Maja Bryon, and Gladys Wong for a chat about how this innovative social program can keep you housed. Learn more at www.torontorentbank.com, www.nipost.org, and www.suzemorrison.ca/tenants.
29 - Regent Park Townhall on the Recovery from COVID-19
The pandemic has been difficult for folks in our community. Many people in Regent Park lost their jobs, worried about the safety of their children at school, and had to live with the stress of lockdowns.
As Ontario re-opens there are many questions about how we can work to make life better for everyone in our community.
28 - Raise the Rates! Fixing ODSP
I was thrilled to sit down virtually with my colleague MPP Joel Harden and my constituent Terri-Lynn Langdon, an ODSP recipient, to discuss how folks on ODSP have been left behind, both during COVID-19 and long before.
Low ODSP rates make it impossible for people to thrive on the program - I saw this first hand growing up with a parent on ODSP. It was a treat to talk to Terri-Lynn about her experience as a disability advocate and parent who navigates these systems every day. I’m fighting for higher ODSP rates and a comprehensive healthcare system that would improve the lives of folks on Social Assistance.
27 - Telephone TownhallL the Vaccine Roll-out with Dr. Suzanne Shoush
I have made my telephone townhall with Dr. Shoush available as a resource for everyone to listen to. You can sign up for updates at www.suzemorrison.ca/vaccines
Episode produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger
26 - Why are we waiting? Ontario's Vaccine Roll-Out with MPP France Gélinas
Are you wondering why Ford's vaccine roll-out has had such painful delays? I spoke with France Gélinas - MPP/ Députée Nickel Belt about what is going wrong and what must change. You can sign our petition at suzemorrison.ca/vaccineequity
25 - A Story About the Fight to #SaveTheFoundry — Community vs MZOs
I interviewed Franca — one of the community members who found herself in the middle of an unprecedented media storm when Corktown woke up to demo trucks in front of a beloved heritage site. Listen to hear how members of the Corktown community started a monumentous campaign to organize to protect our communities and heritage. You can show your support at suzemorrison.ca/foundry and respectlocalplanning.com
24 - Tenants at 33 Isabella St. vs Landlord Torment - Stories from Toronto Centre
Tenants at 33 Isabella St. are being asked to work from home and pay rent while their landlord goes full steam ahead with cosmetic renovations and preparatory work for a new proposed condo. I interviewed Michael and Janice, two tenants who have organized their neighbours and are asserting their right to stay safe while staying at home. You can learn more at suzemorrison.ca and check out the resource guide my office made at suzemorrison.ca/notessential
23 - The Debate on the No COVID Evictions Act
Suze Morrison introduced the No COVID Evictions Act today to give families the support and relief from the violence of evictions during a pandemic. This is the debate over the Bill at Queen's Park. You can sign the petition at www.suzemorrison.ca/nocovidevictions
22 - "The police helped him" - Teresa's COVID Eviction Story
Teresa's story is haunting. Her story asks what happens when every system to protect tenants breaks? What happens when law enforcement doesn't understand what rights tenants have? Ford's excuse for an eviction ban has not kept vulnerable tenants safe. Teresa's courage sharing how her family fell through the gaps Ford left in tenant rights shows why. It's why we will keep fighting for a real eviction ban. You can listen to her story tomorrow morning at www.suzemorrison.ca/podcast and you can sign the petition at www.tcndp.ca/nocovidevictions.
Podcast produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
21 - Can Reddit Beat the Billionaires? — A Chat with Tim Nash About Gamestop
Tim Nash, founder of Good Investing, joined Suze Morrison for a chat about the Gamestop phenomenon gripping news headlines this week and its implications for engaging a wider audience in demanding economic change.
20 - Mental Health Week - Sound Times - Community Spotlights
This mental health week I am shining a light on mental health champion organizations in Toronto Centre. Sound Times empowers the mental health community by providing services geared to meet the needs of people who may struggle with traditional service delivery or be street-involved themselves. I spoke with their Executive Director Lana Frado about how they have adapted to the COVID-19 Pandemic. You can learn more about Sound Times at them at SoundTimes.com and you can watch the interview on my Facebook Page. Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
19 - Mental Health Week - Progress Place - Community Spotlights
This mental health week I am shining a light on mental health champion organizations in Toronto Centre. Progress Place is a true hero of urban mental health. Their project the Warm Line has been running and building to keep our communities connected since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic. You can learn more about them at ProgressPlace.org and you can watch the interview on my Facebook Page. Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
18 - Mental Health Week - The 519 - Community Spotlights
This mental health week I am shining a light on mental health champion organizations in Toronto Centre. The 519 does a phenomenal amount of work to support Toronto Centre communities. Join me as I get under the hood with Curran to discuss what The 519 is doing during COVID-19 to keep our communities connected and strong. You can learn more about them at the519.org and you can watch the interview on my Facebook Page. Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
17 - Mental Health Week - LGBT Youthline - Community Spotlights
This mental health week I am shining a light on mental health champion organizations in Toronto Centre. We're getting started with LGBT Youthline. You can learn more about them at youthline.ca and you can watch the interview on my Facebook Page. Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
16 - What Doctors Are Seeing During COVID-19 in Toronto Centre with Dr. Paula Willis
I spoke with Dr. Paula Willis about what she is experiencing in Toronto Centre hospitals. You can sign my petition for paid sick days at www.suzemorrison.ca/sickdays
15 - Fernside Chat with Ontario Tenant Rights — The Broken Landlord Tenant Board
MPP Suze Morrison had a "fernside" chat with Gilles Frenette of the Ontario Tenant Alliance — known for their popular Facebook groups Toronto Home Zone and Ontario Tenant Rights — about what is happening with the Landlord and Tenant Board during COVID-19.
Sign MPP Morrison's petition to stop COVID-19 Evictions at https://www.suzemorrison.ca/nocovidevictions
14 - Townhall for the Arts
MPP Suze Morrison organized an expert panel about the impact of COVID-19 on arts and culture workers. She was be joined by local experts Dr. Jill Andrew, Ali Momen, Brian Chang, Justin Antheunis, and Vikki Velenosi to discuss what workers need now to get through the pandemic, why we should invest in the arts as part of our economic recovery, and how supporting arts and culture workers will benefit all Ontarians.
Dr. Jill Andrew — follow MPP Jill Andrew here.
Dr. Jill Andrew is the MPP for Toronto-St. Paul’s and a fierce advocate for the arts and women's issues. Jill is the first Black and Queer person to be elected to the Ontario Legislature and she is a community co-owner of Glad Day Bookshop – the world’s oldest LGBTQ bookstore!
Ali Momen — follow his Arts New Deal project here.
Ali Momen is an accomplished and award winning actor who has graced many of the largest stages in North America and has starred in independent, major films and many popular television shows. He was last on stage in the smash hit musical COME FROM AWAY. On camera Ali played the lead role in Deepa Mehta’s BEEBA BOYS, and can be seen as Kamran Gant in STAR TREK : DISCOVERY. Ali is an educator who teaches at Sheridan Institute and George Brown. You can catch Ali every week on his podcast SOFT REVOLUTION where he and Torquil Campbell, along with some of the biggest artists and artistic thinkers, try to bring art into politics, and politics into art.
Brian Chang — follow Brian here.
As a labour organizer Brian has fought for workers at PSAC, OPSEU, and am now at SEIU Healthcare. As an artist, Brian has sung with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, bringing music to thousands. As an activist, Brian has taught community organizing at Ryerson University at the Chang School. Brian Chang is a proud resident of Toronto Centre where he lives with his partner Jeff.
Vikki Velenosi — follow Space Space Revolution here.
Vikki Velenosi is an Artist Entrepreneur from Toronto. She is the owner and CEO of Space Space Revolution, providing affordable co-working studio and performance space for Toronto’s indie arts
community. During the Pandemic, Space Space Revolution’s largest location was forced to close its doors, effectively downsizing the company to 1/3 of its original capacity. Since that time, Vikki has been advocating for funding and support for independent arts facilities who typically slip through the cracks of government funding at the best of times.
Justin Antheunis — follow IATSE 58 here.
Justin Antheunis is the president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) Local 58, representing more than 500 stagecraft professionals working in Toronto’s live entertainment sector. A veteran stagehand with more than 20 years of experience, his previous positions include posts as the Head Electrician at the Toronto Centre for the Arts and Assistant Head Electrician at the Four Seasons Centre.
13 - Townhall for a Guaranteed Livable Income & Strong Public Services
The environment, our health, and economic well-being are inseparable. That's why Jagmeet Singh and the NDP are fighting to ensure all Canadians have the income they need to stay healthy. New Democrats fought for and delivered on enhancements to the CERB, pushed for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), Paid Sick Leave for every Canadian with the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), and we have done this by holding the Liberal Government to account for everyday people.
New Democrats continue to fight for Canadians with the leadership of Leah Gazan, whose Motion 46 in the House of Commons calls for a Guaranteed Livable Basic
- This townhall features:
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh
NDP MP Leah Gazan
NDP MPP Suze Morrison
Public Health Nurse and Urban Health Research Chair, Professor Josephine Wong
City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam
And Toronto Centre NDP Candidate, Brian Chang
Visit BrianChang.ca
12 - Townhall for a Recovery from COVID-19 that Challenges Racism and Climate Change
MPP Suze Morrison held a townhall on a what a recovery from COVID-19 that addresses racism and climate change would look like. She was joined by MPP Laura Mae Lindo, Tim Nash from Good Investing, labour advocate Brian Chang, and climate justice organizer Diana Yoon. Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
11 - A 'Rent Freeze' is Not Enough — We Need More Than Bill 204
The Ontario Government recently introduced Bill 204. But the 'rent freeze' you've heard of on the news still leaves many Ontarians vulnerable to exploitation by bad landlords. Bill 204 does not include the support small businesses on cultural mainstreets like the Church and Wellesley Village need to stay afloat. This episode includes tenants' stories facing challenges that fall through the holes in Bill 204 as MPP Suze Morrison debates the Bill at Queen's Park last week.
If you have questions about your tenant rights, please visit SuzeMorrison.ca
10 - The 6 Steps to Moving Your Coworkers — Part 4: Unionize Your Workplace!
Happy Labour Day! In June, labour activists and Suze Morrison pulled together a workshop on how to unionize your workplace. You can access the slides and worksheets from this workshop here. Thank you to Tania Liu from UFCW Local 1006A, Bryan Cox, and Samantha Easy.
Resources
- Slide Deck on How to Unionize Your Workplace
- MP3 Recording of our Training
- Contact a Union Organizer! Referral Service by the Canadian Labour Congress
- Information About Electronic Union Cards & E-Voting
- A Guide to Major Labour Unions in Ontario
- 1 pager on planning conversations to unionize your workplace
This episode was produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
9 - Example Unionizing Conversation — Part 3: Unionize Your Workplace!
Happy Labour Day! In June, labour activists and Suze Morrison pulled together a workshop on how to unionize your workplace. You can access the slides and worksheets from this workshop here. Thank you to Tania Liu from UFCW Local 1006A, Bryan Cox, and Samantha Easy.
Resources
- Slide Deck on How to Unionize Your Workplace
- MP3 Recording of our Training
- Contact a Union Organizer! Referral Service by the Canadian Labour Congress
- Information About Electronic Union Cards & E-Voting
- A Guide to Major Labour Unions in Ontario
- 1 pager on planning conversations to unionize your workplace
This episode was produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
8 - The Law and Your Legal Protections — Part 2: Unionize Your Workplace!
Happy Labour Day! In June, labour activists and Suze Morrison pulled together a workshop on how to unionize your workplace. You can access the slides and worksheets from this workshop here. Thank you to Tania Liu from UFCW Local 1006A, Bryan Cox, and Samantha Easy.
Resources
Slide Deck on How to Unionize Your Workplace MP3 Recording of our Training Contact a Union Organizer! Referral Service by the Canadian Labour Congress Information About Electronic Union Cards & E-Voting A Guide to Major Labour Unions in Ontario 1 pager on planning conversations to unionize your workplace
This episode was produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
7 — Why Workers Join Unions — Part 1: Unionize Your Workplace!
Happy Labour Day! In June, labour activists and Suze Morrison pulled together a workshop on how to unionize your workplace. You can access the slides and worksheets from this workshop here. Thank you to Tania Liu from UFCW Local 1006A, Bryan Cox, and Samantha Easy.
Resources
- Slide Deck on How to Unionize Your Workplace
- MP3 Recording of our Training
- Contact a Union Organizer! Referral Service by the Canadian Labour Congress
- Information About Electronic Union Cards & E-Voting
- A Guide to Major Labour Unions in Ontario
- 1 pager on planning conversations to unionize your workplace
This episode was produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
6 - Education Townhall - A Safe Return to School?
Suze Morrison joined Trustee Chris Moise, Trustee Norman Di Pasquale, child therapist and parent Helen Hargreaves, Maseeda Majeed — a resident of Regent Park and parent of 3 children in TDSB schools, and Maggie O'Connor — who is the mother of a child entering Grade 2 at Wandering Spirit School who is very involved in Parent Council. You can sign the petition for a safe return to school at www.suzemorrison.ca/safeseptember
5 - BONUS - Tenant Rights & COVID-19: What to do When You Are Faced With an Illegal Rent Increase?
Has your landlord illegally increased your rent? Join MPP Suze Morrison as she has this conversation with Karen Andrews from the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO).
Here are some critical resources to support you:
- MPP Suze Morrison's List of Key Resources for Tenants
- Talk to MPP Suze Morrison's office
- If you are struggling to pay your rent — the Toronto Rent Bank, a community service from Neighbourhood Information Post
- Tenant Organizing Best Practices Slides — courtesy of the 280 Wellesley St. E. Tenants' Association
- Tenant Survival Manual — Federation of Metro Tenant Associations
- Tenant Organizing Tips — Hamilton Tenants Solidarity Network
- Tenant Organizing Manual — Community Legal Education Ontario
If you are facing harassment:
- Demand letter about harassment courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Form for documenting harassment by your landlord courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Steps to Justice — Online Guide to Tenant Rights in Ontario
- What Tenants Need to Know About the Law Guide — Community Legal Education Ontario
If you have problems with repairs and maintenance in your unit:
- Demand letter to your landlord about repairs and maintenance courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Form for documenting incidents and communication with your landlord about repairs and maintenance courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Steps to Justice — Online Guide About Repairs and Maintenance
Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
4 - BONUS - Tenant Rights & COVID-19: How to Ask for a Rent Reduction During COVID
Is your landlord offering units for less than you currently pay in rent where you live? Join MPP Suze Morrison as she has this conversation with Karen Andrews from the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO).
Here are some critical resources to support you:
- MPP Suze Morrison's List of Key Resources for Tenants
- Talk to MPP Suze Morrison's office
- If you are struggling to pay your rent — the Toronto Rent Bank, a community service from Neighbourhood Information Post
- Tenant Organizing Best Practices Slides — courtesy of the 280 Wellesley St. E. Tenants' Association
- Tenant Survival Manual — Federation of Metro Tenant Associations
- Tenant Organizing Tips — Hamilton Tenants Solidarity Network
- Tenant Organizing Manual — Community Legal Education Ontario
If you are facing harassment:
- Demand letter about harassment courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Form for documenting harassment by your landlord courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Steps to Justice — Online Guide to Tenant Rights in Ontario
- What Tenants Need to Know About the Law Guide — Community Legal Education Ontario
If you have problems with repairs and maintenance in your unit:
- Demand letter to your landlord about repairs and maintenance courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Form for documenting incidents and communication with your landlord about repairs and maintenance courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Steps to Justice — Online Guide About Repairs and Maintenance
Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
3 - BONUS - Tenant Rights & COVID-19: Understanding the Eviction Process
What does the eviction process look like under COVID-19? How has it been changed by Bill 184? Join MPP Suze Morrison as she has this conversation with Karen Andrews from the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO). Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
Here are some critical resources to support you:
- MPP Suze Morrison's List of Key Resources for Tenants
- Talk to MPP Suze Morrison's office
- If you are struggling to pay your rent — the Toronto Rent Bank, a community service from Neighbourhood Information Post
- Tenant Organizing Best Practices Slides — courtesy of the 280 Wellesley St. E. Tenants' Association
- Tenant Survival Manual — Federation of Metro Tenant Associations
- Tenant Organizing Tips — Hamilton Tenants Solidarity Network
- Tenant Organizing Manual — Community Legal Education Ontario
If you are facing harassment:
- Demand letter about harassment courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Form for documenting harassment by your landlord courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Steps to Justice — Online Guide to Tenant Rights in Ontario
- What Tenants Need to Know About the Law Guide — Community Legal Education Ontario
If you have problems with repairs and maintenance in your unit:
- Demand letter to your landlord about repairs and maintenance courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Form for documenting incidents and communication with your landlord about repairs and maintenance courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Steps to Justice — Online Guide About Repairs and Maintenance
2 - Tenant Rights Townhall Part 2
What happens to a Toronto tenant served an eviction order in the middle of COVID-19 by her landlord? Will tenants be able to negotiate lower rents if the market crashes? How can rent control help fix the housing crisis? Join Toronto Centre MPP Suze Morrison as she discusses housing and tenant rights with Neighbourhood Legal Services lawyer Brendan Jowett and three tenants: Emily Jenkins, Janet-Rose Nguyen, and Tyrel Olton. Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
1 - Tenant Rights Townhall Part 1
What are Toronto tenants facing during COVID-19? Join Toronto Centre MPP Suze Morrison as she hosts a tenant townhall to discuss tenant rights in Toronto during COVID-19. Suze is joined by Neighbourhood Legal Services Lawyer Brendan Jowett and three tenants — Janet-Rose Nguyen, and Tyrel Olton — who share their experiences as tenants during COVID-19. Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.
0 - Stories for Change with Suze Morrison: Episode Zero
Welcome to the introductory episode of Stories for Change with Suze Morrison! Please visit Suze Morrison's Youtube channel if you need to read subtitles to make this and future episodes accessible. Produced by Benjamin Donato-Woodger.