Toronto Board of Trade tries to raise interest in city politics
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 | 1:30 PM ET
CBC News
Related
External Links
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window)
The Toronto Board of Trade launched a campaign Tuesday to get residents interested in municipal politics.
With less than a year to go until the 2010 municipal election, the business-oriented group says this is the time to start pushing ideas and getting voters engaged.
On Monday, Liberal MPP George Smitherman showed that municipal politics can get attention when he grabbed the media limelight by announcing he would be seeking the Toronto mayor's job in next October's vote.
On Tuesday the board launched Vote Toronto 2010, which is "intended to spark debate in advance of the 2010 municipal election."
The board says it wants votes to get involved — and the best way to do that is to highlight key issues, such as public transportation, urban sprawl and the city's finances.
Tim Rider of the Royal Bank of Canada said Monday's report by the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development on how traffic congestion is affecting the city's economy is a perfect example of why people need to take an interest in the municipal vote.
Recently, said Rider, he found traffic so snarled in the city "I wanted to take all my people that are at Bloor and Yonge and move them to Highway 7, just because of the ease of getting around."
The board says it wants to develop ideas around specific policy proposals, including:
- Fixing the city's finances,
- Growing the city and regional economy.
- Improving civic democracy.
- Promoting social cohesion and economic inclusion.
The board says it will use the discussions and the ideas that result to promote participation in the election process while trying to inspire "the broadest possible participation in the democratic process."
"This election is not just about choosing new leaders," said board chairman Bill MacKinnon in a news release. "It is an opportunity for voters to choose a new vision for Toronto and a means for our government, economy and society to evolve in the decades to come."
Share Tools
Latest Toronto News Headlines
- Unknown remains found on Dellen Millard's farm
- Police searching the farm of Dellen Millard, the 27-year-old charged with first-degree murder after the remains of Ancaster, Ont., man Tim Bosma were discovered, have found other remains on the property, but it's unclear if they are human or animal. more »
- Man shot dead at barbecue near Ossington and Dundas
- A 67-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting a man with a rifle at a family barbecue in downtown Toronto Sunday night. more »
- Hidden camera catches abuse at Ontario seniors facility
- The Ontario government and police are investigating a long-term care facility after a hidden video camera captured an elderly woman with dementia being abused by her caregivers. more »
- Canadian on EI shut out amid foreign worker influx
- A jobless Canadian IT professional who is collecting employment insurance is upset because he now suspects several recent jobs he applied for went to temporary foreign workers. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- 51 dead after tornado levels Oklahoma suburbs
- A monstrous tornado almost a kilometre wide roared through Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighbourhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 322 km/h. At least 51 people were killed, and officials said the death toll was expected to rise.
more »
- NDP wants RCMP inquiry into $90K payment to Duffy
- The NDP has asked the RCMP to launch an investigation into the $90,000 payment from the prime minister's former top aide, Nigel Wright, to Senator Mike Duffy in relation to the Senate expense scandal. more »
- Will alleged Rob Ford video overshadow Toronto casino debate?
- A debate about a proposed downtown casino is supposed to take centre stage at Toronto City Hall on Tuesday, but it seems a safe bet that a still-unseen video of Mayor Rob Ford will continue to be a topic of conversation. more »
- Canadian on EI shut out amid foreign worker influx
- A jobless Canadian IT professional who is collecting employment insurance is upset because he now suspects several recent jobs he applied for went to temporary foreign workers. more »
- Unknown remains found on Dellen Millard's farm
- Police searching the farm of Dellen Millard, the 27-year-old charged with first-degree murder after the remains of Ancaster, Ont., man Tim Bosma were discovered, have found other remains on the property, but it's unclear if they are human or animal. more »
- Unknown remains found on Dellen Millard's farm
- Missing Toronto woman's parents unfazed by Millard link
- Rob Ford should resign if allegations true, councillors say
- Man shot dead at barbecue near Ossington and Dundas
- Busy weekend for OPP at Wasaga Beach
- Man dies after bike accident in Underpass Park
- Canadian on EI shut out amid foreign worker influx
- Rare, $26,000 bottle of scotch stolen from Toronto shop
- Will alleged Ford video overshadow Toronto casino debate?


Toronto traffic with Joan Chang