Green leader tours region in support of business
MPP Mike Schreiner impressed by grassroots efforts of charity for childhood development
WATERLOO — Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner was impressed to hear about the grassroots efforts of a Waterloo charity focused on healthy childhood development through building community.
The Guelph MPP was in the region on Wednesday, making stops in Kitchener and Waterloo to learn about what more can be done to support local small businesses and talk about the party’s new housing strategy.
Schreiner visited Adventure4Change, which takes a preventive approach to issues related to poverty and inequity for children, youth and families.
Director Jeremy Horne explained how the organization operates, surrounded by those who run programs, including the outdoor summer day camp now underway. Many joined activities hosted by Adventure4Change when they were children, and now they’re lending a hand to give opportunities to others.
“A lot of what you get, you’ve got to pass on,” Horne said. “Then it has the potential of going a lot further.”
More funding and access to resources are on the wish list for Adventure4Change, and Schreiner was asked for his support of their mentorship program.
“I’m just really excited about the opportunity to help promote the program,” Schreiner said.
He plans to take what he learned during his visit to Adventure4Change back to Queen’s Park when MPPs return in the fall, and push for more funding for programs and supports like the Waterloo organization offers.
“I think it’s vital that we create opportunities for everyone,” he said.
But more investments are just the first step.
“We need to make sure how they’re deployed, how they’re used has input from members of the community so it’s well spent,” Schreiner said.
His other stops included the UpTown Waterloo Business Improvement Area and the KW Urban Native Wigwam Project site to talk about Indigenous housing, then canvassing with local candidate Mike Morrice.
Across the province, housing is too costly for many — and the pandemic has pushed the shortage of affordable options to a breaking point.
“So many people are really struggling to find an affordable place to call home,” Schreiner said.
His party’s affordable-housing plan, which includes more government investment and working with the private sector, would build 100,000 new affordable rental units and 60,000 supportive-housing units with mental health and addictions support to address chronic homelessness.
Their goal is to create more connected, sustainable and affordable communities in already developed areas to address the climate crisis, Schreiner said. Sprawling development into green space requires cars to get around and it also comes with the cost of building new infrastructure.