Archive for 2010
Levy: ‘Closet’ Ford Supporters Can Finally Speak
The Sun’s Sue-Ann Levy thinks that the “silent majority” may not admit they support Rob Ford, but will speak tonight: “Why should they come out of the closet, so to speak, when the elitist Lib-left — who feel it is their divine right to control the fiefdom of Toronto — are ready to pounce on them [...]
Torontoist: Twelve Wards That Could Reshape Council, And Our Picks For The Best Candidate In Each
Online magazine Torontoist offers their picks for council in some of the hotly contested ward races across the city: Ward 29: Mary Fragedakis “Despite her slew of NDP endorsements, Fragedakis sounds a lot like her opponents on the major issues facing the ward and city at large. However, she is more nuanced than her opponents [...]
Granatstein: A Chance For The ’Burbs To Yell
The Sun’s Rob Granatstein notes that the fate of the election largely resides on whether suburban voters exercise their democratic rights: “This is your chance, great people of Toronto’s suburban neighbourhoods, to be heard. Known for a propensity to whine and moan how no one downtown at City Hall listens to you for four years, [...]
Woodcock: T.O. Election Has Shaped An Entire Country’s Campaigns
Connie Woodcock writes in the Toronto Sun that the impact of the Rob Ford campaign is being felt across the GTA: “[I]n municipalities both near and far — from Durham Region to Edmonton and Winnipeg — you can see signs of the massive, news-dominating Toronto campaign’s effects. In Oshawa, for instance, Mayor John Gray has [...]
DiManno: Riding A Bad Mayor Out Of Town On A Rail
Star columnist Rosie DiManno feels that Toronto could benefit from recall legislation at the local level: “So, yeah, one or t’other, I think Toronto needs the parachute of recall as fail-safe to what either candidate might unleash on the city — impeachment legislation as introduced in 40 jurisdictions across North America, including British Columbia and [...]
Gee: Toronto, It’s No Time For Cynicism. Every Vote Counts
The Globe’s Marcus Gee implores voters to make their voices heard through the ballot box: “Who that winner is depends on the informed judgment of Torontonians. In a jaded world, cynical about politics and skeptical of politicians, voters often complain they are powerless. Here is a case where they can really make a difference. The [...]
Warmington: Dalton Closely Watches T.O. Election
Sun pundit Joe Warmington figures Premier Dalton McGuinty is quite interested in the results of the mayoral contest: “If all goes well Monday, he — with the Liberal Party machine he controls — may even have his own man in place to open up a new pipeline of cash to pay or cover for his [...]
Toronto Voters Grapple With Competing Anxieties
The Globe and Mail speaks to a number of Toronto voters and find that they are going to the polls with significant concerns about their future in the city – regardless of who wins: “The way a cascading series of public-opinion polls have set up this election, Monday’s results come down to competing anxieties. Whichever [...]
Bitter Rivals, Bulletproof Incumbents Face The Music
The Toronto Star reports on the final weekend of campaigning, as well as a listing of some of the hotter races across the GTA: “The mayoral race, which focused on city spending and transportation, has generated headlines across the country, most focusing on colourful Councillor Rob Ford and his jump last summer to front-runner status. [...]
Toronto Mayoral Campaign Ends On A Hateful Note
The Globe and Mail reports that the final weekend of campaigning featured heavy schedules, but also some aggressive attack ads from unknown parties: The final weekend of Toronto’s too-close-to-call mayoral race veered into dirty territory with an advertisement on Tamil radio and derogatory signs that denigrated Mr. Smitherman for his sexual orientation. Mr. Ford said [...]
Siemiatycki: Is it Party Time For Municipal Elections?
Academic go-to guy Myer Siemiatycki offers 10 reasons why it may be time for political parties to be permitted at the municipal level: • Elections would more likely be waged on issues than on sheer name recognition. Parties would present their candidates for mayor and city council, backed by a shared program. The ballot would [...]
Kinsella: How To Win Elections
In his column for the Sun, Warren Kinsella uses two campaigns – Calgary mayor-elect Naheed Nenshi and Toronto’s Rob Ford – to remind readers that “campaigns matter”: “Both men have run classic “outsider” campaigns that have left political veterans nodding their heads in approval. Their campaigns rolled out with military precision, rarely wavering from their [...]
Toronto Editorial: Change At City Hall Is Possible
The Toronto Sun editorial board encourages voters to support candidates for council who share their views on spending and taxes: “While the mayor leads council, when it comes to the actual voting, he’s just one voice of 45. So, how did you like those other 44 votes, collectively, for the past two terms and seven [...]
Blizzard: Smitherman Is George Of The Bungle
The Sun’s provincial affairs columnist Christina Blizzard reminds her readers of George Smitherman’s long history at Queen’s Park: “Smitherman proudly calls himself the father of the Green Energy Act. You will remember that piece of legislation, of course. It’s another boondoggle in the making. It is partly responsible for pushing up our hydro bills and [...]
Star Editorial: Pros And Cons Of Strategic Voting
With many voters still weighing their options on who to vote for, the Toronto Star editorial board offers a strong defence of voting strategically – in this case, or George Smitherman: “First of all, they allege that Smitherman is no better or actually worse than Ford. Miller has stated that Smitherman, like Ford, wants to [...]
Levy: Furious George Can’t Change His Spots
Sue-Ann Levy believes that George Smitherman has not changed his ways, despite his pledges of fiscal conservatism: “[H]ow is the Smitherman engaged in pre-election pandering any different from the Smitherman, who during his watch as health minister from 2003-2008 allowed millions of dollars of cushy contracts to go to Liberal-friendly consultants and companies allegedly working [...]
Ashton: Why Rob Ford Doesn’t Get My Vote
Former colleague Brian Ashton gives his reasons why he won’t be supporting mayoral candidate Rob Ford: “I observed Rob Ford over 10 years and found him to be a solitary councillor largely absent from the day-to-day political dynamics at City Hall. When picking away at some perceived political sore, his social skills were coarse if [...]
