September 5, 2023 – September Updates

Dear Neighbour, 

It is officially time to head back to school!  

In this email, you will find updates on: 

• Back to School Homework Help Resources 

• Clean Energy Regulation Announcement  

• Visits to Long Point Biosphere Reserve and a Turbine Farm 

• The Toronto Choral Society’s 2023/24 Season Begins 

Back to School Homework Help Resources 

Voila Learning is an educational technology organization, which supports students in English, French and Math. The 2023-24 school year sees the launch of Voila Community Help, which is a comprehensive free homework help program. On September 26th, all Ontario students and parents will have unprecedented access to invaluable assistance in English, French and Math, all free of charge. This program operates from Monday to Thursday, between 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm. For more information, please see here.  

Clean Energy Regulations Announcement  

On August 10, I joined Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault to announce proposed Clean Energy Regulations. These draft regulations are based on three core principles: 

1. Maximize GHG reductions to achieve net-zero emissions from the electricity grid by 2035; 

2. Maintain electricity affordability for Canadians; 

3. Maintain grid reliability to support a strong economy and meet Canada's growing energy needs; 

Right now, we are in a 75-day consultation period, which will help inform the final regulations, expected in 2024. For more information, please click here. 

Visits to Long Point Biosphere Reserve and a Turbine Farm 

Over the summer, I had the opportunity to visit communities across the province to learn about different initiatives to protect the environment and support our planet.  

A couple of weeks ago, I visited Long Point Biosphere Reserve on the north shore of Lake Erie, to announce nearly $5 Million in funding for ecological conservation. I also got to do one of my favourite things: release baby turtles into the wild! At 32 kilometres, Long Point is the longest freshwater sand spit in the world, and is a critical stopover for hundreds of thousands of North America migratory birds. As well, the reserve’s wetlands are an international Key Biodiversity Area and an international Monarch Butterfly Reserve. If you would like to learn more about the great work Long Point is doing, please see here.

I also had the opportunity to visit a turbine farm in Ontario. I learned all about the skills required to operate turbines, such as millwork, electricity, and energy. It was also great to chat with some of the people who work so hard to make our electricity grid clean and reliable. Keep up the great work!

The Toronto Choral Society’s 2023/24 Season Begins 

If you like singing and have musical experience, The Toronto Choral Society is here for you! Come and be a part of a classic Canadian musical experience right in Riverdale.  Join us this Fall for the start of our 2023/24 season. We rehearse at Eastminster Church on Danforth on Wednesday nights from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Singers are welcome in all voice parts. We perform a wide range of musical styles from opera to musical theatre. Each year we present a minimum of 3 concerts, and this December we are performing Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at Koerner Hall,  the jewel of Toronto concert venues. We welcome you to join our choir and take your place in good company in spirit and voice. Please go to our website for more details torontochoralsociety.org 

I hope to see you around the community! 

Yours,  

Julie 

Julie Dabrusin

Member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth