Oakville North-Burlington Newsletter May 24, 2024

“I am thrilled to share that our government  is delivering on our commitment to give consumers in Ontario the choice and convenience they deserve, and we’re making these changes sooner than expected.

Starting in August, Ontarians, like many Canadians, will be able to conveniently purchase new products like coolers and ready-to-drink beverages at their local grocery stores.

By the end of October 2024, every convenience, grocery, and big-box store in Ontario will offer an expanded selection of beer, cider, wine, and ready-to-drink options. This not only enhances convenience for everyday purchases but also provides greater support for our local breweries and wineries.” – MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos

The phased expansion and rollout will begin later this summer and will include the following milestones:

• On August 1, 2024, the up to 450 grocery stores that are currently licensed to sell beer, cider or wine will also be able to sell ready-to-drink beverages. These grocery stores will also be able to start offering consumers large-pack sizes like the 30-pack that is popular in Quebec.
• After September 5, 2024, all eligible convenience stores will be able to sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages.
• After October 31, 2024, all eligible grocery and big-box stores will be able to sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink beverages, including in large pack sizes.

Learn More: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1004633/ontario-delivering-choice-and-convenience-by-expanding-the-sale-of-alcoholic-beverages-starting-this-summer









Welcome Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity to Oakville North-Burlington

I was pleased to welcome the Minister of Women’s Social and Economic
Opportunity Charmaine Williams to Oakville North-Burlington this week.
 
It was an opportunity to profile women leaders in our community who are making a difference – from restauranteur Julia Hanna at Ritorno, to Nancy Romic providing a safe haven for homeless girls at Shifra Homes, to Andrea Florian of Florian Realty Team who organizes food drives in our community to Kelly Duffin at Goodwill Amity who supports women and men through the power of work. Each visit was truly inspiring. These remarkable women are change-makers!  When women succeed, Ontario succeeds!

See a recap video HERE



Building a Brighter Future for Women and Children in Ontario

Thanks to Evelyn for the invitation to attend the inaugural CONNEXSUS event! I was also pleased to join Sonia and Kirk Robinson in a panel to discuss their advocacy on Keira’s Law and thank them for their support of women and their children fleeing intimate partner and gender-based violence.
Connexsus has a community focus on health, wellness, work-life balance, and real estate strategies to build generational wealth, enabling women to build the financial freedom they need to prosper.



Celebrating Business Excellence

I was delighted to participate in a great evening at the Burlington Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards!  It was a testament to the incredible talent and entrepreneurial spirit within our local business community. Many thanks to great host Frank Vismeg. Congratulations to all nominees and winners! Here’s to continued success and growth for Burlington businesses.




Meeting Oakville North-Burlington’s Future Leaders


Just wrapped up a fantastic week full of Take Your MPP to Work Days visiting John William Boich Public School, Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School, Alton Village Public School, and Charles R. Beaudoin Public School! It was incredible to see the passion, innovation, and dedication from both students and staff.
 
These schools are nurturing the leaders of tomorrow, and the future is looking incredibly bright with such talented young minds paving the way.
 
Keep shining!


Celebrating Vaisakhi with the Halton Sikh Cultural Association

Thank you to the Halton Sikh Cultural Association for welcoming me to the annual Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan Celebration! It was an honour to join in the vibrant parade and experience the rich cultural heritage of the Sikh community. Vaisakhi celebrates the spring harvest and the founding of the Khalsa in 1699, bringing the community together in unity and joy. May we carry these teachings with us throughout the year.






Ontario Expanding Support for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

The Ontario government is investing $4.8 million over the next two years to expand the Starter Company Plus program, helping an additional 500 entrepreneurs seed, start or grow a business.

The Starter Company Plus program, delivered through the province’s Small Business Enterprise Centres, provides entrepreneurs aged 18 and up with one-on-one support, access to workshops, seminars or networking events and grants up to $5,000 to help start or expand a business.

Over the past five years, Starter Company Plus has supported over 5,500 companies resulting in the creation of more than 6,300 jobs across Ontario. This new investment will increase total funding for the program to $6.5 million per year.

LEARN MORE: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1004618/ontario-investing-in-more-accessible-communities



Applications are now open for the 2024-25 Sport Hosting Program Intake II

The Sport Hosting Program provides project-based funding to help applicants deliver national and international amateur sport events that help develop Ontario athletes, strengthen local communities, and create sport legacies.

Eligible Applicants:

– Provincial Sport Organizations
– National Sport Organizations
– Ontario municipalities
– Not-for-profit organizations (including Universities and Colleges)
– Indigenous organizations, First Nation, Metis or Inuit communities

The event start date must take place between November 2024 to July 2026.



Ontario Investing in More Accessible Communities

The Ontario government is investing up to $1.5 million in the EnAbling Change Program this year to support not-for-profits, municipalities, and other organizations across the province that are developing and implementing innovative initiatives to make Ontario accessible to people of all abilities.

Applications for the 2024-25 EnAbling Change Program are open now until June 27, 2024. Eligible projects can include those that increase the accessibility of community programs and services, as well as online initiatives, educational tools, and public outreach programs that help communities and businesses understand the benefits of accessibility and inclusion.

Learn More: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1004618/ontario-investing-in-more-accessible-communities





MPP Youth Council Litter Cleanup!

Join the Oakville North-Burlington MPP Youth Council this Sunday, May 26th, from 10-11 am for a litter cleanup event!

Students can earn volunteer hours while making our community cleaner and greener. Let’s show our collective commitment to a cleaner future!

Shoutout to Environment Minister Andrea Khanjin for leading the way with Bill 130, Combatting Litter for the Environment and Nature Act, 2019, which has designated the second Tuesday of May each year as the Provincial Day of Action on Litter.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association Invites you to Donate Blood

The Muslim Youth from the Burlington & Oakville chapter of Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association Canada, will be donating blood as part of their nationwide blood drive campaign on June first, 2024 from 12PM – 1PM.

You are invited to join this life saving campaign! Details Above:

Oakville North-Burlington Spirit Awards

It’s truly an honour to shine a light on the dedicated volunteers who have contributed to making our community better. Thank you for your community spirit. If you would like to nominate a member of our community who has gone above and beyond to contribute to our community, please contact my office and let me know at Effie.triantafilopoulos@pc.ola.org