Willowdale Monthly Newsletter July 2025
July 31, 2025
July 31, 2025
Dear Willowdale Friends,
It is one of the best times of the year! I hope you are enjoying this fine summer weather and have been able to go for a walk down vibrant Yonge Street, relax in one of our many local parks or take in a nice bike ride along the hydro corridor. The C.N.E. will be in full swing at the end of the month, marking the beginning of the end of summer, so enjoy the warm weather while it lasts.
This weekend is the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, known affectionately as Caribana. This is one of the largest cultural festivals in North America and is supported by the Ontario government with secure funding of $1.5 million. I’ll see you there if you are going to join the fun this weekend!
Though I’ve spent much of my time touring the province as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, I have also been able to spend time in Willowdale listening to local concerns and hearing your great ideas and suggestions. I paid a visit to 32 Division to wish them Happy 50th Birthday, ate lunch at newly opened Bonjuk Restaurant in the Yonge-Sheppard Centre and paid a visit to Sunnyside Up Camp to see kids have fun while learning.
Recent Government Initiatives
Ontario Investing $260 Million to Protect and Train Workers
To counter the constant and uncertain threat of tariffs from our neighbours to the South,
our government is protecting Ontario workers by launching its sixth funding round of the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream, with $260 million now available for innovative projects that support the hiring, training and upskilling of workers. This investment is part of the government’s $2.5 billion investment through SDF to protect Ontario workers by giving them the tools they need to land rewarding, good-paying jobs in manufacturing, healthcare, construction, automotive and other skilled trades, while helping Ontario remain competitive in the face of U.S. tariffs.
This is sure to result in more good-paying jobs for the people of Willowdale.
Ontario Launches Advisory Panel to Help Double Medical Nuclear Isotope Production by 2030
We recently announced the launch of the Nuclear Isotope Innovation Council of Ontario (NIICO) — a new expert advisory panel that will help leverage Ontario’s world-class nuclear fleet to double the number of medical isotopes produced in the province over the next four years. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, the integrated energy plan lays the groundwork to expand the province’s nuclear advantage as an essential part of the province’s life sciences strategy to drive innovations in health care, create good-paying jobs and strengthen supply chains to stay resilient in an increasingly competitive global market.
Medical isotopes are used for life-saving diagnostics and therapies like cancer treatment. With this investment, we hope to see a doubling of production of medical isotopes by 2030.
Saskatchewan Joins Alberta and Ontario in Agreement to Build New Energy and Trade Infrastructure
Recently, Premier Ford and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith welcomed Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe in joining the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build new pipelines, rail lines, and other energy and trade infrastructure necessary to bring Ontario critical minerals and Western Canadian oil and gas to new markets.
Ontario Signs New Free Trade Agreements with British Columbia and Canada’s Three Territories
To combat President’s Trump’s ongoing threats to our economy, Premier Ford was recently joined by the premiers of British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to sign two new Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) to boost internal trade, improve labour mobility, and tear down long-standing barriers to doing business between provinces and territories.
Ontario is the first, and so far, the only province or territory in Canada to eliminate all party-specific exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.
All the best,
Stan Cho
MPP for Willowdale
