PROVINCIAL ELECTION ALL CANDIDATES MEETINGS
Don Valley East
Thurs. September 29th,
7:00pm
Don Mills Middle School,
17 The Donway East(south east corner of The Donway East & Lawrence Ave.)
DMRI are hosting this year the meeting - please make an effort to attend, and tell a neighbour
With Liberal incumbent David Caplan not seeking re-election,
Don Valley East has become a riding to watch in the Oct. 6 provincial election.
Running for the Liberals is Toronto District School Board Trustee Michael Coteau.
He is facing off against Progressive Conservative candidate Michael Lende, vice-president of Zipcar, an alternative-style car rental company.
The NDP candidate is Dr. Bob Hilliard, a pediatrician at the Hospital for Sick Children and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto.
Aren Bedrosyan, the Green Party candidate, has a history in public service and business and is the former president of the Seneca Student Federation,
The Mirror asked the candidates of the four major political parties to complete a questionnaire.
Also running in Don Valley East, one of Canada's most culturally diverse ridings, are Family Coalition Party candidate Ryan Kidd and Freedom Party candidate Wayne Simmons.
1. What election issue have you been hearing about in your riding that you plan to act on? How? (100 words)
The way in which taxes are being spent by the Liberal government is a significant issue for Don Valley East residents. I want to see taxes used more intelligently and efficiently. The Green Party of Ontario has the strongest energy strategy compared to the other parties and part of the strategy includes lower energy bills by improving energy efficiency. Just one of the many ways I plan to do this is by reinstating and expanding the home energy savings program, which will create jobs and save money for residents.
2. What action do you feel the province should take in ensuring a long-term, growth-appropriate transit plan for Toronto? (100 words)
Our province needs a strong, sustainable transportation plan that will reduce gridlock, lessen the impact of increasing fuel prices and improve public transit. The way to reduce the price of fuel is by lowering demand and I will help do this by increasing incentives for people to purchase fuel-efficient vehicles. I will also reduce the cost of commuting by supporting public transit and providing incentives for ride-sharing, tax credits for public transit users and reducing the cost of using public transit. This strategy will help Ontario and Toronto reduce traffic congestion, fight high fuel prices and promote public transit services.
3. How do you plan to improve health care for your local constituents? (100 words)
Improving health care requires investing intelligently to get the most service for the money spent. I will invest in more family health clinics and ensure that home care services are available for those who need them. I will also concentrate on preventing illness, by providing incentives for people to live healthy lifestyles and supporting school-based nutrition, outdoor education and athletic programs. By working together we can improve our health care system to provide more quality services without more taxes.
4. Tell us a bit about yourself. (75 words)
I am a hardworking individual with public service and business experience. I was formerly a president of the Seneca Student Federation, a position that showed people I was honest and approachable. I have also worked with the York Regional Police, where I refined my ability to serve the community effectively. I want to represent the residents of Don Valley East and with my experience, they can trust my ability to work hard for them.
Michael Coteau
Liberal Party
www.michaelcoteau.com
vote@michaelcoteau.com
416-551-3570
1. What election issue have you been hearing about in your riding that you plan to act on? How? (100 words)
What remains constant among Don Valley East residents is the importance of family and the sustainable economy. It has been reported that by 2012 Ontario will have its highest rate of growth in a decade. From 20,000 new clean energy jobs, to being a leader in the auto manufacturing industry, Ontario is on the right track. While the accomplishments are vast, we still have a long way to go. I plan to work with my Liberal colleagues to champion a strong workforce, reducing our deficit and implementing new tax credits and reductions, while ensuring a strong commitment to new investments.
2. What action do you feel the province should take in ensuring a long-term, growth-appropriate transit plan for Toronto? (100 words)
An integrated transportation system is imperative in a province that continues to grow. Public transit helps move people, while contributing to the environmental well-being of Ontario. The Liberal government's investment in transit is the largest in Canadian history. I will support initiatives like the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown LRT and full-day, two-way GO service, that will benefit this community's ability to move throughout the city and province. A commitment to transit is a commitment to residents who need to get to work, to older adults who need to get to doctor's appointments, and to students who need to get to school.
3. How do you plan to improve health care for your local constituents? (100 words)
I am committed to continuing on the path led by the Liberal government that opens hospitals, improves wait times, invests in healthier children and gives our aging population a dignified quality of life. DVE's North York General Hospital is number one with improved surgical wait times, and with new funding just announced, we will be able to improve impatient facilities. I am also an advocate for an improved approach to mental health. It deserves our focus, because it affects the most vulnerable. Prevention, early detection and services for adults will decrease the burden so many families feel.
4. Tell us a bit about yourself. (75 words)
I have been Don Valley East's school board trustee since 2003, dedicated to student nutrition, community use of schools, environmentally-friendly schools, and educational technology. I am also the executive director of a national literacy organization.
I grew up in Don Valley East, attended Don Mills M.S. and Victoria Park S.S. In 1997, I graduated from Carleton University in political science and Canadian history. I am blessed with a wonderful wife, Lori, and two beautiful daughters.
Dr. Bob Hilliard
New Democratic Party
416-443-1441
bobhilliard@ontariondp.ca
http://bobhilliard.ca/
1. What election issue have you been hearing about in your riding that you plan to act on? How? (100 words)
Money and jobs! There are higher taxes, many essentials are more expensive while incomes haven't increased. Seniors on fixed pensions are particularly worried. The NDP will make life more affordable, cutting the provincial component of the HST on electricity, home heating and gas. The NDP will develop a program to control the price of gas at the pumps. We will give tax credits to small businesses that invest in Ontario, creating new jobs for all.
I also hear a lot of cynicism about politics and mistrust of politicians. I will be hard-working, open, honest, respectful, reliable, responsible and accountable.
2. What action do you feel the province should take in ensuring a long-term, growth-appropriate transit plan for Toronto? (100 words)
Public transit is expensive and time-consuming. The NDP will share the operating costs of transit equally with Toronto. In exchange for this new commitment, we will require municipalities to freeze transit fares for four years. We will also invest in new transit projects and upgrades for public transit systems; we will work with Toronto to expand transit. The NDP has always been willing to collaborate with other levels of government and to be a strong equal partner with Toronto municipal and federal government leaders in the future transit plan. Future transit plans should also include an "invest in Ontario" plan.
3. How do you plan to improve health care for your local constituents? (100 words)
The NDP will maintain strong, universal, patient-centered, timely and effective health care that focuses on preventive health. We will strengthen services to seniors in their homes and increase the number of long-term care beds to make these services more readily available and eliminate wait times. We will increase the number of family care centres providing 24-hour services and staffed by physicians, nurses and other health professionals. These new clinics will meet local community needs and help ensure every Ontarian has access to high-quality health care. Altogether, these services will help reduce the wait times in emergencies by 50 per cent.
4. Tell us a bit about yourself. (75 words)
I have always advocated for children, youth and families as a staff pediatrician at SickKids and professor of pediatrics, University of Toronto. Born in China, I grew up in Saskatoon and was educated in Toronto. I worked as physician/pediatrician for six years in East Africa. I am currently past-president of the Canadian Pediatric Society and a pediatrician for the Children's Aid Society. I have chaired several church committees and am a long-time Sunday school teacher.
Michael Lende
Progressive Conservative
416-735-3100
VoteLende@gmail.com
http://michaellende.com/
1. What election issue have you been hearing about in your riding that you plan to act on? How? (100 words)
The biggest issue I've been hearing about at the doors is the economy. I've spoken to far too many residents who have lost their jobs or are seriously concerned about the economic climate here in Ontario. As MPP, my top priority will be applying my business experience with Zipcar to government operations, making sure we're creating jobs by lowering taxes and getting rid of red tape. Investing in all levels of education will help secure our children's future employment in a modern, knowledge-based economy.
2. What action do you feel the province should take in ensuring a long-term, growth-appropriate transit plan for Toronto? (100 words)
There are two main actions the province should be taking immediately. The first is to permanently remit a fair portion of the gas tax to the city, for a stable revenue base off of which to build transit infrastructure. The second is commit to providing real-time information on all infrastructure projects so that government can be held accountable and projects can be kept on time and on budget. We also need to make sure that the people in charge of our transit system are planning with our future in mind.
3. How do you plan to improve health care for your local constituents? (100 words)
The first step in improving health care is eliminating fraud and waste, including the expensive and ineffective LHINs. Every penny saved will be invested in frontline health care, including new hospital beds, improving home care and training more doctors. Equally as important is ensuring patient satisfaction by holding hospital CEOs to account. A large part of this will be specific, measurable and enforced wait-time and patient satisfaction guarantees.
4. Tell us a bit about yourself. (75 words)
I am a family man first and a green businessman second. My wife, Melissa, and my kids, Stevie, Jasmine and Marlon, are the real reason I'm running - I want to make Ontario a better province for them. I want to bring my experience as VP of Zipcar, a company that has created green jobs and taken cars off the road, to Queen's Park and help build an Ontario we can really be proud of.
source the mirror
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