Oakville North-Burlington Newsletter April 24, 2026
April 24, 2026
“Our Ontario government has introduced the Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 (POWER Act). This proposed legislation is another important step to reduce red tape, speed up permits and approvals, and help projects move forward faster with greater certainty. It will support businesses, attract new investment, create jobs, and help workers transition into high-demand careers more quickly. Since fall 2025, Ontario has already made strong progress by reviewing and improving over 150 business permits and approvals. The province is on track to streamline or eliminate at least 35% of business-facing permits by 2028. Our government remains focused on building a stronger, more resilient economy and making Ontario the best place to invest, work, and grow”.—MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos
Important Discussion Was Held on Student Success
It was a pleasure to meet with Dominique from Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir to discuss the important work being done across our community and the vital role of French language Catholic education.
I appreciated the opportunity to hear updates on school board priorities and the ongoing efforts to support students and families in Halton’s francophone community.
Thank you for the thoughtful conversation and for your continued dedication to student success and strong communities.
Engaged with Sheridan College
It was a pleasure connecting with constituent Dr. Cindy Gouveia, President of Sheridan College, and I was glad she was able to receive my 2026 Householder hot off the press.
My Householder was distributed throughout the community, sharing updates on how we are working for our community in Oakville North–Burlington.
Celebrating Earth Day Through Community Action
It was wonderful to see our community come together this past Wednesday, April 22, to mark Earth Day. From local clean-up efforts to everyday acts of environmental stewardship, so many residents stepped up to help keep our neighbourhood clean, green, and vibrant. Thank you to everyone who took the time to get involved and make a difference. Your efforts truly help protect and preserve our community for future generations.
Thank You to Those Who Give Back
On this National Volunteer Week, I want to shout out to my Youth Council and the many dedicated volunteers who support our community in countless ways
Thank you for all you do to make our community so special.
Our Mayors Were Welcomed at Queen’s Park
Pleased to welcome Ontario’s Big City Mayors to Queen’s Park, including Marianne Meed Ward, Mayor of Burlington, and Rob Burton, Mayor of Oakville, for a breakfast reception in the Legislature followed by a full day of meetings as part of their Queen’s Park advocacy day. Key discussions focused on housing and infrastructure, homelessness, and crime and community safety.
Our government is taking action on the issues that matter most to municipalities by investing in housing enabling infrastructure, reducing barriers to homebuilding, expanding transit and transportation networks, and supporting public safety through stronger accountability measures and investments in policing.
By working together, we are delivering real results for residents across Oakville North Burlington and beyond.
Advanced Religious Freedom and Peace
Pleased to host Archon Evagelos Sotiropoulos, President of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Archons in Canada, representatives of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada, and fellow MPPs for “Beyond Borders – The 1,700 Year Diplomat: Religious Freedom and the Ecumenical Patriarchate as a Global Actor for Peace,” a thoughtful roundtable discussion at Queen’s Park.
During the discussion, Archon Sotiropoulos delivered an engaging presentation followed by a meaningful exchange on the importance of religious freedom, dialogue, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s longstanding role as a global force for peace.
Thank you to my colleagues MPP Aris Babikian, MPP Tom Rakocevic, and MPP Jonathan Tsao for joining this important conversation.
Affordable Housing Remains a Key Priority
It was a pleasure to meet at Queen’s Park with Habitat for Humanity CEOs David Waters of Sarnia/Lambton, Todd Davis of Thunder Bay, and Eden Grodzinski to discuss how we can continue building more affordable housing and expand opportunities for home ownership.
Our government is taking action through the 2026 Budget by removing the 13 percent HST on eligible new homes, increasing the HST rebate for new homebuyers, investing $1.2 billion through the Building Faster Fund to support municipalities building more homes, and adding $700 million for housing enabling infrastructure to support new housing.
We are working with partners to deliver real solutions and make housing more attainable across Ontario.
Ontario Celebrated Orthodox Christian Week
Honoured to attend the 2nd Annual Orthodox Christian Week Reception at Queen’s Park, hosted by MPP Tom Rakocevic, marking a continued milestone for communities across Ontario.
Following the passage of Bill 167 in 2024, the Orthodox Christian Week Act, Orthodox Christians throughout Ontario have been celebrating the first official Orthodox Christian Week, beginning each year on Orthodox Easter Sunday, the most sacred day in the Orthodox Christian calendar.
This proclamation recognizes the rich faith, traditions, and cultural contributions of Orthodox Christians, who have long been an important part of Ontario’s diverse communities.
Wishing all those celebrating a meaningful and joyful Orthodox Christian Week.
A Meaningful Visit to Queen’s Park
It was a pleasure to welcome Milton Parissis to Queen’s Park as we marked the 200th anniversary of the Exodus of Messolonghi, a defining moment in the struggle for Greece’s independence.
As the grandson of Epaminondas Deligiorgis, Milton also carries the legacy of Mitros Deligiorgis, a close friend of Lord Byron and one of the three generals who led the heroic exodus.
This historic anniversary serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring values of courage, sacrifice, and freedom that continue to inspire the Hellenic community here in Ontario and around the world.
Queen’s Park Weekly Update
Bill 105, Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience Act, 2026 (POWER Act).
On Monday, the Honourable Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Red Tape Reduction, introduced the POWER ACT. The POWER ACT, will, if passed, take the next step in our government’s plan to cut red tape and streamline provincial permits and approvals so projects can move forward faster and with greater certainty, while supporting businesses and helping workers transition more quickly into high-demand jobs.
Overall, our POWER ACT is designed to help workers access opportunities more quickly and support businesses by lowering costs and delays while reinforcing Ontario’s ability to attract investment. Together, these changes position the province to better withstand economic uncertainty while promoting job creation, productivity, and long-term growth.
Since the introduction of our government’s Building a More Competitive Economy Act in fall 2025, we’ve made significant progress in addressing key business permitting issues, including reducing and streamlining permissions, simplifying system navigation and improving accountability. With over 150 permits completed or currently under review, Ontario is on track to eliminate or streamline at least 35% of all business-facing permits by the end of 2028. To date, Ontario has the lowest regulatory burden per capita in Canada, saving people and businesses $1.3 billion and 1.8 million hours since 2018.
Members continued debate on Bill 105, which is now in 2nd Reading, throughout the week.
Bill 109, Protecting Ontario’s Food Independence Act, 2026
On Wednesday, the Honourable Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness, introduced the Protecting Ontario’s Food Independence Act, 2026. The proposed changes are designed to deliver on our government’s plan to protect Ontario by strengthening domestic food production and further protecting farmers and the quality of Ontario’s food system.
Specifically, this Bill will, if passed, unlock new agricultural opportunities in the Clay Belt by improving access to Crown land and cut red tape and streamline processes so farmers and processors can focus on producing high-quality, Ontario-made food. It would also ensure that the ministry consult with impacted stakeholders on changes to foreign acquisition of farmland.
Alongside these changes, we’re also taking next steps to update our “Grow Ontario Strategy” to build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant agri-food sector in the face of U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty.
These measures build on our government’s ongoing work since 2018 to support farmers, strengthen supply chains and protect Ontario’s long-term food security.
Worth noting is that Ontario’s province’s agri-food sector supports one-in-nine Ontarians, contributes $52 billion to our economy, and is the largest food processor in Canada and a leading agri-food jurisdiction in North America.
Bill 110, the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act, 2026
On Thursday, the Honourable Prabmeet Singh, Minister of Transportation, introduced the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act, 2026 that would, if passed, allow the province to take over the City of Toronto’s role in the tripartite agreement that governs the airport and take ownership of the city-owned lands at the airport in exchange for fair compensation.
The proposed legislation marks an important step in our government’s plan to support the long-term modernization and expansion of Billy Bishop Airport to help meet future demand in southern Ontario, reduce pressure at Toronto Pearson International Airport, increase competition in the air travel sector to support more routes and cheaper flights, and support the creation of thousands of good-paying jobs in Ontario’s aviation, tourism and construction sectors.
Under the Toronto Port Authority’s modernization plan, an expanded Billy Bishop Airport would serve millions more passengers each year and contribute up to $8.5 billion to Canada’s GDP annually by 2050.
Bill 100, Better Regional Governance Act, 2026
Throughout the week, Members continued debate on our “Better Regional Governance Act”. This Bill, will, if passed, make a number of changes to the way regional governments function in some of Ontario’s fastest growing regions. These changes would support lower costs for municipal taxpayers and better alignment between regional decision-making and shared provincial-regional priorities. Bill 100 has been referred to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy.
Bill 97, Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2026
On Thursday, Members passed our Budget, As a reminder, our Budget focuses on protecting Ontario’s economy while making strategic investments to drive growth, support workers, and keep costs down for families and businesses. At the same time, the Budget establishes a new $4 billion investment fund to attract private capital and strengthen Ontario’s long-term economic priorities, particularly in critical and emerging sectors.
The Budget also makes significant investments in health care, infrastructure, and housing, while responding to global economic uncertainty and trade pressures. It increases hospital funding, expands home and community care, and invests in training more nurses to strengthen the health system. At the same time, it supports housing affordability through enhanced HST rebates for first-time homebuyers and continued investments in supportive housing.
With a capital plan exceeding $200 billion over the next decade and targeted funding for transit, research, and innovation, the 2026 Budget is positioning Ontario to remain competitive, connected, and resilient in a challenging global economy.
Also at Queen’s Park
Sponsors the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) Reception at Queen’s Park
As Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture & Gaming, I was honoured to sponsor the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association’s Annual Queen’s Park Reception on Tuesday evening. My office also had a productive meeting with three members of their delegation during the day.
The ORHMA is the largest provincial hospitality association in Canada. With over 5,000 members, representing more than 11,000 establishments across the province, members of ORHMA in Oakville North–Burlington are key drivers of local jobs, tourism, and community life. Their members create employment, support local suppliers, and help position the riding as a vibrant destination for residents and visitors alike.
Province Welcomes Ontario Chamber of Commerce to Ontario Corps
Ontario Chamber of Commerce has a vast network that represents over 60,000 members that are locally owned, Ontario businesses,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “Becoming an Ontario Corps partner means we can collaborate to ensure urgent, timely communications reach businesses most impacted so we can act quickly and respond effectively during emergencies.
Learn more: Province Welcomes Ontario Chamber of Commerce to Ontario Corps
Province Introducing Legislation to Protect and Strengthen Ontario’s Agri-Food Sector
province’s workforce and helping put food on tables at home and around the world,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “In a time of global uncertainty, it’s vital we give our farmers and businesses the tools they need to succeed. With these changes, we are continuing to build a more productive and self-reliant agriculture and food sector.
Learn more: Province Introducing Legislation to Protect and Strengthen Ontario’s Agri-Food Sector
Ontario Investing $21 Million to Support the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum
AGO and ROM are world-class institutions that attract visitors from home and abroad with their innovative programming,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “Our government is proud to invest in their long-term success. By providing critical funding to these national treasures, we are protecting our invaluable tourism and cultural sectors and ensuring they remain must-visit world-class attractions for years to come.
Learn more: Ontario Investing $21 Million to Support the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum
Province Protecting and Expanding Ontario Farmland
Ontario farmland is an important, limited resource and it should be owned by Ontario farmers,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Now more than ever we need to protect and grow our agri-food sector. These proposed changes will protect local food production, grow our economy and keep our farmland under domestic ownership for future generations.
Learn more: Province Protecting and Expanding Ontario Farmland
Honours and Awards: Volunteering
Learn how to nominate someone for honours and awards for achievements in volunteering. Click here
Experience the Beauty of Nature’s Divine Hands
Celebrate the beauty of growth and renewal with Oakville Choral’s Nature’s Divine Hands Join an evening of stunning vocal and instrumental performances on Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 PM at St. John’s United Church. A wonderful way to welcome spring through music your tickets today! Click Here to Get Your Tickets Today
Treat Mom to a Special Night Out
Looking for a special way to celebrate Mother’s Day? The annual Mom’s Night Out is coming up on May 8!
Enjoy a 1-hour workshop featuring three tea and treat pairings, a signature tea cocktail, a mini scone from COBS, and access to the Joseph Brant Museum galleries. Doors open at 6 PM, with the workshop beginning at 7 PM.
Tickets are $55 per person, don’t miss this lovely evening out!
More info and tickets: Click here
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