The Kleinburg and Area Ratepayers Association will host a Meet and Greet session for Mayoral, regional and Ward 1 candidates tonight (Oct. 19) at Kleinburg Public School.
It’s a long one – from 7 p.m til 10 p.m. Starting at just after 7 or so, each mayoral, regional and Ward 1 candidate will be invited to make a two-minute statement. Then the remaining of the evening will be meet and greet style — you can mill about and chat to the candidates (til about 10 p.m.)
Here’s your chance to chat face-to-face with some of the candidates. If you don’t live in Ward 1, you can still meet the mayoral and regional hopefuls.
(Why not make a night of it, go for dinner in the village!)
Tag Archives: Robert Craig
Hey York U Students: The polls are coming to you (and you, staff and neighbours)
14 OctYork University may be outside of Vaughan’s borders (just barely), but Vaughan has long sent many a student to study there.
And this year marks the first time Vaughan residents who study or work at York University can cast a ballot for their municipal and regional reps there, too.
It’s actually the first time that you can cast your ballot for Vaughan outside of Vaughan (and, correct me if I’m wrong, but this may be a first for the province? It was a recommendation from the Democratic Taskforce).
But wait, there’s more: Any Vaughan resident who happens to be in the York U neighbourhood on Oct. 18 or 19 can cast a ballot there.
All you need is photo I.D (one piece of ID with your name, address and signature, for example your Ontario Driver’s Licence or two pieces of ID – the first with your name and signature, and the second with your name and Vaughan address. For example: A Canadian passport AND a Statement of Old Age Security) If you got a Voters Card in the mail, bring that too. (If you didn’t get one in the mail call the City Clerk’s office at 905-832-8504. Or you can check to see if you are on the list by going to the, “AM I ON THE VOTERS’ LIST” section on VaughanVotes website.
Here is the city’s press release on the subject:
CITY OF VAUGHAN HOLDS ADVANCE VOTE AT YORK UNIVERSITY
VAUGHAN, ON – Staff, faculty and students at York University who are residents of the City of Vaughan don’t have to wait until Election Day to cast their ballot. Voters will head to the polls across the province on Monday, October 25, however, Vaughan residents who attend the school or work there are encouraged to take advantage of Advance Voting opportunities.
The City has two Advance Voting Days at York University, Monday October 18 and Tuesday October 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The poll is located in the Bear Pit in Central Square.
Voting at York University will employ ‘ballot-on-demand’ technology to print the appropriate blank ballot according to the ward and school support shown on the Voters’ List. Though back-up ballots will be on hand, ‘ballot-on-demand’ will produce the correct ballot from among the 25 different ballot faces in use for the election.
The City of Vaughan has also developed the ‘This is Your Space’ promotional campaign. It reminds voters that by simply filling in voting spaces on their ballots they are making choices that will shape the future of their community. Ballots in the 2010 election feature a red arrow pointing to the name of each candidate – the voter marks the ballot by filling in the space with the special pen provided. ‘This is Your Space’ is designed to encourage voters to come out and vote, and to inform them about election opportunities and procedures.
Ed. Note: I talked to the city’s communications team and they’ve confirmed that you actually don’t even need to know what ward you live in. Just bring your ID (and voter card if you have it) and mark your ballot.
But, just in case you wanna read up on your candidates (and, not to nag, but I think you should), here’s a Ward Map again!
Is change in the air? Incumbents see no advantage at regional council debate
8 Oct
Regional council hopefuls duke it at a debate Thursday
(Note: Post updated Oct 12 — see below)
By Josh Freeman
The so-called incumbents’ advantage was nowhere to be seen last night as regional and local councillors Joyce Frustaglio, Gino Rosati and Mario Ferri found themselves vulnerable to attack in a debate with nine rivals jockeying for their jobs.
About 150 people packed Vellore Village Community Centre in Woodbridge to check out 12 of the 13 candidates in a three-hour debate hosted by the Vaughan Citizen and The Vaughan Social Action Council.
Although the first hour of the debate was fairly tame, with candidates sounding off on questions about improving services for kids with mental health issues and increasing affordable housing in the city, it began to pick up when a question was posed about transit services for seniors.
Frustaglio and Rosati both pointed to Metrolinx and the region as the arbiter of such problems, with Rosati adding he supports full free access to transit services for seniors and students. Their comments, however, were fodder for Deb Schulte, who followed.
“It’s nice to hear our incumbents actually saying they’re going to make a difference. It’s too bad very little has been done up to now,” Schulte said. “Why can’t our seniors ride around for free outside of rush hour now? Our buses are riding around almost empty anyhow. It shouldn’t be an issue,” she quipped to applause from the audience.
Things continued to get rocky for the incumbents. Asked about traffic problems in the city, Frustaglio lamented gridlock as an issue that exists everywhere and will never be solved. Richard Lorello seized on the comments:
“Well, you heard your answer from at least a couple of your members of council right now … They have no solutions. The problem is everywhere, so we’ve got to live with it too,” he said.
However, the most heated comments were reserved for a question about what candidates would do to stop the political theatrics that have dogged the city for the past four years.
Citizens embarrassed
To applause, Schulte said the past four years have been a disgrace that has left citizens embarrassed to say they’re from Vaughan.
Rosati, who spoke next, said he did his best under difficult circumstances and that the troubles of the last few years had actually brought council closer together.
“Some of the issues people have been referring to have been beyond the control of some of us. Hopefully all of that should be behind us and will be resolved.”
Frustaglio more bluntly blamed Mayor Linda Jackson.
“When you have a good leader, you create good followers. It is unfortunate we did not have a good leader the past four years,” she said to an immediate round of boos and heckles from the audience. “I’m going to continue to be the very best representative this city has ever had.”
To boot, her comments earned her a chastisement from the moderator, who reminded her of the ground rules forbidding speakers from maligning others.
Ferri said the city needed to have more of a team approach, but stopped short of making any apologies for the last four years.
Other challengers echoed Schulte’s sentiments.
“Whoever is voted in is in your team and you support that team,” said John Ross Harvey. Domenic Del Luca added there should be a recall mechanism for councillors.
Note: The original version of this post incorrectly attributed comments by John Ross Harvey to Robert Craig. The mistake was corrected within hours, but for the record, Craig responded to the same question with the following:
“A lot of the problems that we’ve had with this previous council is that last election they ran on a slate if nine. Everyone got on except for one person. Now for these eight people to come forward and ask the new mayor to resign and think that their opinion outweighs the 26,800 people that voted last election is absurd… council should have respected what the citizens of Vaughan voted for and got.“
Joanna Cacciola-Lionti said, “that day (when council asked Jackson to resign) was truly a day when Vaughan was disgraced… If you think she’s unfit, why aren’t you running for mayor?”
No clear winner, but incumbents didn’t impress
Although there was no clear winner, random audience members said afterwards they were variously impressed with Schulte, all challengers, and none of the incumbents.
The debate was at times stymied by its format, which had candidates passing a microphone from one to another to answer questions in 30-60 second allotments. Because of the sheer number of candidates to get through, each one generally stuck to his/her points without addressing one another’s comments, making it feel at times more like a class presentation than a debate. Speakers also had their microphones cut off when they had reached time, ruling out the possibility of off-the-cuff discussions.
The audience was allowed to contribute questions by writing them down and dropping them in a box at the back of the room by 8pm. Although there was a full box of questions, time only allowed for three or four to be asked. The result was a furious outburst by mayoral candidate, Savino Quatela, who jumped from his seat near the end of the debate and repeatedly screamed “scandal.” He had to be verbally subdued by the firm voice of moderator Daniele Zanotti, CEO of the United Way of York Region.
Regional council hopefuls set to spar tonight at Vellore Village
7 OctThe race for regional council could be the hottest of this municipal election in Vaughan. We’ve got three incumbents clinging to their seats with 10 hopefuls — including a former mayor and several long-time candidates, a former trustee and some council watchdogs — vying to overtake them.
Thanks to our media friends the Vaughan Citizen and its community links panel who are hosting a regional council debate tonight. It’s your chance to see the candidates go head-to-head: Where do they stand on the issues? What’s their vision for Vaughan? How do they carry themselves? Who’s got good ideas?
Thursday, Oct. 7 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Vellore Village Community Centre, 1 Villa Royale Ave., in the cafetorium.
Daniele Zanotti, CEO of the United Way of York Region, has been given the daunting task of moderating the large debate (12 of 13 candidates have confirmed attendance, according to organizer Kim Champion.)
Participating candidates: Joanna Cacciola-Lionti, Robert Craig, Domenic De Luca, Michael Di Biase, Mario Di Nardo, Mario Ferri, Joyce Frustaglio, John Ross Harvey, Carrie Liddy, Richard Lorello, Gino Rosati and Deb Schulte.
The panelists will be members of the Vaughan Citizen’s Community Links group and members of the Vaughan Social Action Council. There will also be time for audience questions. If you’ve got a burning query for your regional hopefuls, come on out and put them on the spot.
Please bring a non-perishable food donation for the Vaughan Food Bank.
-AD
Stage set for regional councillor candidate debate Oct. 7
30 SepThis came through the wires yesterday from the Vaughan Citizen. They are going to host a regional councillor candidate debate on Oct. 7. Here’s the press release in its entirety:
THE VAUGHAN CITIZEN AND ITS COMMUNITY LINKS PANEL, TOGETHER WITH THE VAUGHAN SOCIAL ACTION COUNCIL, WILL HOST A DEBATE WITH ALL REGIONAL COUNCIL CANDIDATES RUNNING IN VAUGHAN
The Vaughan Citizen and its Community Links, together with the Vaughan Social Action Council, present an all-candidates debate for those seeking election at the regional council level in Vaughan.
Three longtime incumbents face challengers such as a former Vaughan mayor, several of Vaughan city hall’s most outspoken critics, as well as first-time candidates and community activists.
A significant portion of Vaughan residents’ tax bill — 48.8 per cent of every dollar — goes to the region, which provides services to more than one million York Region residents. Those services include transportation, housing, family and children’s services, public health, court administration, economic development and tourism, and more. This second-tier regional council is made up of mayors and regional councillors from York Region’s nine municipalities. Members of regional council elect the chairperson. Vaughan has four representatives at the region, three local and regional councillors and the mayor.
WHAT: All-candidates debate for contenders vying for three local and regional seats in Vaughan’s 2010 municipal election
WHO: Moderator: Daniele Zanotti, CEO of the United Way of York Region
Participating candidates: Joanna Cacciola-Lionti, Robert Craig, Domenic De Luca, Michael Di Biase, Mario Ferri, Joyce Frustaglio, John Ross Harvey, Carrie Liddy, Richard Lorello, Gino Rosati and Deb Schulte
Panelists: Members of the Vaughan Citizen’s Community Links group and members of the Vaughan Social Action Council
WHERE: Vellore Village Community Centre, 1 Villa Royale Ave., in the cafetorium. Woodbridge, Ontario
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 7 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
CONTACT: Kim Champion, Editor, Vaughan Citizen, Tel: 905-265-4148
(Note: It says “all candidates”. I notice two missing – Mario Di Nardo and Krystof Klabouch. I’ll try to find out if they’ll be there.)
Regional council candidates talk about development
29 SepJoshua Freeman caught up with the regional council candidates at the Meet and Greet session Sept. 21. He asked: Places to Grow has targets set for Vaughan’s growth and density. What will you do to ensure responsible development?
Joanna Cacciola Lionti
Ensure we don’t continue with urban sprawl that’s not necessary. First, we need to build up what we have and ensure our residents have a city where they can work, play, learn in and enjoy. Right now we don’t have that. … We need to protect the environment. Before anybody touches (protected lands), there has to be justification.
Robert Craig
Density numbers in Places To Grow have to be supported with infrastructure improvements. We can’t keep growing the city without providing essential services, like a hospital and proper roads. Putting homes here and nothing else just won’t work.
Dominic De Luca
I would encourage future residential intensification on sites that provide direct access to city, regional, Metrolinx transit routes. … Thatwould hopefully alleviate any future gridlock and traffic congestion.
Michael DiBiase
You have to make sure that what is approved is what the community wanted. … You have to have patience and listen to everybody. We cannot have the densities the region wants us to build.
Mario Di Nardo
Development needs to be looked at on a case-by-case basis. We need to ensure that nothing is overbuilt, that they don’t go past the targets
Mario Ferri
There’s a phasing and staging component to identify criteria to be met before development happens—availability of services, type of housing. (We) need to have work-live situations—balancing employment opportunities with residential, making sure we implement pedestrian and cycling paths, integrating transit for the community and of course making sure there’s also social health services in the area so we’re not just building structures, but building communities.
Joyce Frustaglio
I want to ensure the corridors that have been identified for intensification are dealt with first. It’s important we ensure those corridors are intensified because that will play a major role in assisting rapid transit.
Richard Lorello
Transit is always an afterthought. … Public transit capacity has to be tied to development at the beginning of the planning process.
Gino Rosati
I’ll ensure development occurs in a reasonable fashion and that we don’t overlook one part over the other. I don’t believe we should put a priority on high density while forgetting other types of development like low density.
Carrie Liddy
The big missing part of the official plan is that they never developed an economic plan to go along with it. It should be put on hold until the economic plan is done.
John Ross Harvey
The higher densities need to be in the core of the city. That’s Hwy 7, Jane Street, Yonge Street. It is not Major Mackenzie, not Rutherford, it’s not Weston Road. It has to be right where the core is going to be. Vaughan Metropolitan Centre is the perfect place for it.
Deb Schulte
I’m probably going to be appealing the Vaughan Official Plan because it doesn’t actually follow the spirit of Places to Grow. There are numbers missing, which means there’s intensification that will occur, that is planned for and it’s not being recognized or accounted for … We need to make sure that if we have intensification, we plan for it. And if you do plan for it, we don’t need the urban boundary expansion.
Krystof Klabouch
Ed. Note: Krystof Klabouch did not attend the Meet and Greet session nor respond to a phone message by press time.
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