(《渥京新闻》记者2023年5月27日报道)备受期待的多伦多市长补选候选人辩论于今晚在位于维多利亚公园大道(Victoria Park Avenue)3761号的直接民主(Direct Democracy)办公室举行。102名注册候选人中的12人参与了今晚精彩而激烈的辩论。
此次活动由阿山•费尔南多(Ashan Fernando)组织,其目的是为多伦多选民提供更多更全面的信息,使选民在即将到来的补选中投下自己神圣而正确的一票。
12名候选人通过这个辩论平台,努力表达其观点,讨论多伦多目前面临的紧迫问题,并展示他们为什么适合担任市长职位的能力。
参与辩论的候选人包括Peter Handjis、Michael Lamoureux、Lyall Sanders、Mitchell Toye、Jeffery Tunney、John Letonja、Weizhen Tang、Feng Gao、Partap Dua Singh、Michael Nicula、Isabella Gamk和Bahira Abdulsalam。每位候选人都带来了自己独特的观点和想法,为多伦多面临的挑战提供了多样化的解决方案。Weizhen Tang(唐炜臻)、Feng Gao(高峰)为参加今晚辩论的两位华人候选人。
在辩论中,候选人被要求阐述他们应对影响该市的关键问题的策略。一个重要的议题是令人担忧的财政状况,因为多伦多面临15亿美元的巨额赤字。候选人提出了他们解决这一财政危机并恢复市政预算稳定性的初步想法和解决方案。
公共交通安全是辩论中另一个备受关注的问题,特别关注的是多伦多市公共交通局(TTC)。候选人分享了他们改善安全措施、确保市内交通系统乘客福祉的观点。
心理健康和毒瘾问题也得到了广泛讨论,候选人概述了他们全面应对多伦多这些紧迫问题的方法。策略范围从增加心理健康服务的可及性到实施伤害减少措施和支持社区项目。
此外,候选人还分享了他们与联邦和省级政府合作的计划,强调为关键项目和倡议获得多伦多应有的资金份额的必要性。他们强调了对倡导城市需求和建立强大伙伴关系以实现多伦多潜力的承诺。
辩论还涉及到新副市长的选举、冻结物业税以及在所有选区(包括士嘉堡、北约克和东约克)公平分配资源的重要性等问题。
多伦多选民密切关注着辩论,候选人的表现和提议无疑将塑造选民在市长补选前决策过程中的态度。随着竞选活动的升温,每位候选人将继续努力与选民联系,分享他们对城市未来的愿景,并关注多伦多多样化人口的关切和期望。
这场热烈的辩论展示了候选人为争取领导多伦多的机会而展示的激情和奉献精神。随着补选的临近,多伦多的选民正认真考虑候选人的想法和计划,最终决定该市的未来方向。
72岁的士嘉堡居民大卫•麦德(David Madder)在教育部门拥有丰富的工作经验。在退休前,他在多伦多市教育局工作了23年,现在他将自己的时间奉献为社区服务工作者。大卫•麦德的背景和社区工作使他对多伦多面临的挑战有着独特的看法。
作为参加现场辩论的听众,大卫•麦德的言论揭示了所谓排名靠前的候选人和排名靠后的候选人之间在能见度和机会方面的差距。他强调说,许多排名靠后的候选人都拥有有价值的想法和见解,值得真正关注和考虑。
“能够在媒体平台上传播信息真的很好,因为前6名的候选人比其他人更有机会,”大卫•麦德说。他的观察反映了排名较高的候选人通常会得到更多的关注和资源,这使得其他候选人很难获得同等的能见度并触及更广泛的观众。
作为士嘉堡居民,大卫•麦德强调了确保代表性和解决当地社区特殊需求的重要性。他的评论突显了促进包容性和为多伦多各地区的居民(而不仅仅是市中心)发声的重要性。
今晚辩论的主办方代表,Partap Dua Singh总结说,他期待在今晚辩论中的12名候选人中有一位当选为新市长。此外,还对所有其他候选人在未来能够成为市议员、省议员或联邦议员等职务寄予厚望。
James Mcnair,Co-Leader of Canada’s Fourth Front and his lovely daughter Kira at the reception desk
Exchange before the debate
David Madder interviewed by reporter from Health & Life Report
Debate scene
Group photo of candidates and organizers
Group photo of candidates and organizers
Peter Handjis:I would like to restore balance and equity for all residents of the city
https://electpeterhandjismayoroftoronto.ca
Michael Lamoureux:Building a better future
https://michaellamoureux.ca
Lyall Sanders:… because I’m like you.
http://SandersForMayor.ca
Mitchell Toye:Economic, Social, and Ecological Redevelopment and Reconceptualization
Jeffery Tunney
https://jefferytunney4mayor.ca
John Letonja
http://johnletonja.ca
Weizhen Tang:Make Toronto Rich Again
https://www.torontonewsnet.com/weizhentang
Feng Gao:I am your last mayor
https://touchiartist.blogspot.com
Partap Dua Singh
https://electpartapdua.ca
Michael Nicula
https://crimetransitinfrastructure.ca
Isabella Gamk:Disability rights and housing advocate
https://www.isabellafortoronto.ca
Bahira Abdulsalam:Leading with Compassion and Justice
https://www.mayorfortoronto.ca
12 Candidates Engage in Lively Debate for Toronto’s Mayoral By-Election
World Chinese Media
Published May 27, 2023
Toronto’s highly anticipated Mayoral By-Election Candidates Debate took place on May 27, with 12 out of the 102 registered candidates participating in a spirited discussion on the city’s future leadership. The event, organized by Ashan Fernando, aimed to inform and engage Torontonians as they prepare to cast their votes in the upcoming by-election.
The debate, held at the Direct Democracy office located at 3761 Victoria Park Avenue, provided a platform for the 12 candidates to present their ideas, address pressing issues, and demonstrate their suitability for the mayoral position.
Among the candidates participating were Peter Handjis, Michael Lamoureux, Lyall Sanders, Mitchell Toye, Jeffery Tunney, John Letonja, Weizhen Tang, Feng Gao, Partap Dua Singh, Michael Nicula, Isabella Gamk, and Bahira Abdulsalam. Each candidate brought their unique perspectives and plans to the discussion, offering diverse solutions to the challenges facing Toronto.
Throughout the debate, candidates were asked to outline their strategies for addressing critical issues impacting the city. One crucial topic was the daunting financial situation, as Toronto faces a significant deficit of 1.5 billion dollars, with an immediate challenge of 880 million dollars in 2023. The candidates presented their ideas and proposals on how they would tackle this financial crisis and restore stability to the city’s budget.
Public transit safety was another pressing concern highlighted during the debate, particularly focusing on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). The candidates were asked to share their plans for improving safety measures and ensuring the well-being of commuters on the city’s transit system.
Mental health and addiction were also extensively discussed, with candidates outlining their comprehensive approaches to address these pressing issues across Toronto. Strategies ranged from increasing access to mental health services to implementing harm reduction initiatives and supporting community programs.
Furthermore, candidates shared their plans to collaborate with federal and provincial governments, emphasizing the need to secure Toronto’s fair share of funding for crucial projects and initiatives. They highlighted their commitment to advocating for the city’s needs and forming strong partnerships to fulfill Toronto’s potential.
The debate also touched upon matters such as the selection of a new deputy mayor, the freezing of property taxes, and the importance of equitable distribution of resources across all wards, including Scarborough, North York, and East York.
As Torontonians closely followed the debate, the candidates’ performance and proposals will undoubtedly shape the electorate’s decision-making process leading up to the mayoral by-election. With the campaign intensifying, each candidate will continue to work towards connecting with voters, sharing their visions for the city’s future, and addressing the concerns and aspirations of Toronto’s diverse population.
The lively debate showcased the passion and dedication of the candidates as they vied for the opportunity to lead Toronto. As the by-election approaches, the voters of Toronto will carefully consider the candidates’ ideas and plans, ultimately determining the city’s future direction.
David Madder, a 72-year-old Scarborough resident, has had extensive experience working in the education sector. Having spent 23 years at the Toronto school board before retiring, he now dedicates his time as a community service worker. Madder’s background and involvement in community work provide him with a unique perspective on the challenges facing Toronto.
As an audience member, not a candidate in the debate, Madder’s remarks shed light on the disparity in visibility and opportunities between the so-called top-ranked candidates and those further down the list. He emphasized that numerous candidates outside the leading positions possess valuable ideas and insights that deserve attention and consideration.
“It’s really nice to have these media platforms where they can get the word out because the top six at the top really have more of a chance than everybody else,” Madder stated. His observation reflects the reality that candidates with higher rankings often receive more attention and resources, making it challenging for others to gain equal visibility and reach a broader audience.
Being a resident of Scarborough, Madder expressed the importance of ensuring representation and addressing the unique needs of his local community. His comments highlighted the significance of promoting inclusivity and giving a voice to residents from all areas of Toronto, not just downtown.
As a sponsor of tonight’s debate, Partap Dua Singh summarized that he looks forward to seeing one of the 12 candidates in tonight’s debate elected as the new Mayor. Furthermore, he expressed his hopes that all the other candidates have the potential to be chosen as councilors, MPPs, or MPs in the future.
The full list of candidates for Toronto’s mayoral election:
After the May 12 deadline, there are 102 candidates successfully registered to run in Toronto’s mayoral by-election, according to the city’s website: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/by-election/by-election-candidate-list, in alphabetical order, these are the contenders:
Bahira Abdulsalam
Emmanuel Acquaye
Blake Acton
Sharif Ahmed
Asadul Alam
Gru Jesse Allan
Atef Aly
Dionysios Apostolopoulos
Darren Atkinson
Jamie Atkinson
Ana Bailão
Jose Baking
Ben Bankas
Claudette Beals
Glen Benway
Eliazar Bonilla
Brad Bradford
Chloe Brown
Brian Buffey
Celina Caesar-Chavannes
Mason Carrie
Roland Chan
Matti Charlton
Danny Chevalier Romero
Olivia Chow
Logan Choy
Kevin Clarke
Sarah Climenhaga
Gordon Cohen
Paul Collins
Frank D’Amico
Frank D’Angelo
Phillip D’Cruze
Rob Davis
Samson Deb
Habiba Desai
Cory Deville
Simryn Fenby
Monica Forrester
Anthony Furey
Scott Furnival
Isabella Gamk
Feng Gao
Xiao Hua Gong
Adil Goraya
Brian Graff
Ari Grosman
James Guglielmin
David Gulyas
Thomas Hall
Peter Handjis
Heather He
Toby Heaps
Monowar Hossain
Mitzie Hunter
Sheila Igodan
Daniel Irmya
Syed Jaffery
Michael Jensen
Patricia Johnston
Walayat Khan
Serge Korovitsyn
Michael Lamoureux
Kris Langenfeld
Rick Lee
Mark LeLiever
John Letonja
Norman MacLeod
Giorgio Mammoliti
Steve Mann
Cleveland Marshall
Josh Matlow
Faizul Mohee
Bob Murphy
Michael Nicula
Jamil Nowwarah
Anthony Perruzza
John Ransome
D!ONNE Renée
Willie Reodica
Walter Rubino
Chris Saccoccia
Lyall Sanders
Mark Saunders
Rocco Schipano
Robert Shusterman
Knia Singh
Partap Dua Singh
Raksheni Sivaneswaran
Erwin Sniedzins
Sandeep Srivastava
Meir Straus
Weizhen Tang
Mitchell Toye
Reginald Tull
Jeffery Tunney
Kiri Vadivelu
Jack Weenen
Yuanqian Wei
Jody Williams
John Winter
Nathalie Xian Yi Yan
Photos by Shaoren Gou