I Want a Better Ontario Blog

Barbara Kay: Jack Layton shouldn’t get a state funeral

suresh — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:21:47 +0000

It seems the rules are changing on who gets a state funeral in Canada. Jack Layton never led a government, never sat in cabinet and never served as governor-general. According to protocol and tradition, he should not be getting one. Why is he? [Read More]

Parliament Hill opens doors, hearts to Layton and family

suresh — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:13:14 +0000

OTTAWA—Formal displays of a nation’s grief greeted Jack Layton’s flag-draped casket as it arrived on Parliament Hill Wednesday, but the day was marked especially by the kind of spontaneous informality Layton loved. [Read More]

Popular councillor joins the fray in Brampton

suresh — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 04:34:44 +0000

Life in the Liberal stronghold of Brampton suddenly got tougher for the Grits, with news that popular Mississauga councillor Eve Adams is running for the Conservatives in a bid to oust Navdeep Bains.

The Tory strategy leans heavily on capturing key ridings just west of Toronto, but so far it has lacked a star candidate. While Brampton-Springdale, just to the north, has grabbed early headlines because of Liberal incumbent Ruby Dhalla’s perceived weakness, Adams’ arrival on the scene in Mississauga-Brampton South instantly makes the riding one to watch. [Read More]

Seven hot ridings to watch in the GTA during the federal election

suresh — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 04:32:01 +0000

Of all the battles to be waged across the country during the election, few are more important than the ones to be fought between the Liberals and the Conservatives in the 905.

If Stephen Harper is to win his first majority government he will have to pick up seats in the GTA. To that end, his party is already targeting several Liberal incumbents.

But the Liberals have their own targets and are hoping to make three key gains in the region. [Read More]

Who can vote?

suresh — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:47:17 +0000

You can vote in the municipal election if you are: a Canadian citizen at least 18 years old a resident of the city a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the city, or their spouse not prohibited from voting … Continue reading →

Mayoral candidates face off in Whitby debate

suresh — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:28:06 +0000

WHITBY — Taxes, traffic and trashing of reputations were all topics thrown around during an hour-long mayoral candidates debate in Whitby on Oct. 5.

Hundreds packed into the lecture hall at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences on Tuesday evening to watch the candidates, incumbent Mayor Pat Perkins, former mayor Marcel Brunelle and business owner Rocky Varcoe, duke it out for the top spot. [Read More]

Oshawa’s regional candidates say downtown’s on the right track

suresh — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:26:31 +0000

OSHAWA — The candidates in the running for Oshawa’s regional councillor seats may not agree on everything but the majority say the city’s downtown is on the right track, especially now that UOIT has set up shop.

There are a whopping 26 candidates battling it out for the seven regional seats and 23 were on hand Wednesday evening as the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce hosted the second of three all-candidates’ debates at the Legion hall on Simcoe Street South. [Read More]

Markham candidate hopes to draw on business experience

suresh — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:23:20 +0000

Peter Usprech has lived in Thornhill Markham’s Ward 2 his entire life and now wants to provide his community with strong representation at town hall.
He believes he has the skills and passion to do so.
While attending the University of Toronto and York University where he obtained his BA, he said he learned to work hard and give back to the community by starting his own landscape maintenance company. [Read More]
The business enabled him to create jobs, provide a valuable service to Ward 2 residents and keep the community beautiful for more than a decade.

Thornhill candidate takes aim at bags, bans, speed bumps

suresh — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:22:17 +0000

A resident in Thornhill Markham’s Ward 1 for 18 years, he ran for regional office in 2000 and Ward 1 in 2003 to fulfill his desire to be involved with issues in the community.
An employee in the food and grocery industry, Mr. Klinger was an Olympic torchbearer in Nobleton in December, has volunteered with the Toronto International Film Festival since 1997, the Grey Cup in Toronto and is a soccer volunteer at BMO Field. [Read More]

Why vote?

suresh — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:15:04 +0000

Politicians don’t listen. My vote may not make a difference. I don’t know anything about politics. None of it affects me anyway. They’re all crooks. I don’t believe in the system. I don’t have time. Sound familiar?

Well, you’re right about some of these things, some of the time. But there’s other ways to think about politics. If every single one of us get out and vote, we can make them (politicians) listen to what we have to say.