Home Tags Posts tagged with "election 2021"
Tag:

election 2021

Breaking NewsElection 2021ElectionsEngaging with DemocracyLocal NewsNewsOff CampusPoliticsTopTop stories

Green Party Leader Annamie Paul steps down

by Eduard Tatomir
written by Eduard Tatomir
Annamie Paul

Green Party Leader Annamie Paul announced in a press conference today that she is stepping down as leader of her party following electoral defeat and a tumultuous campaign.

“I just asked myself whether this is something I wanted to continue,” Paul said. “I just don’t have the heart for it.”

Paul’s decision to step down comes after the party initiated a leadership review over the results of last Monday’s federal election. She failed to secure a win or grow the party’s seat count in the House of Commons and Paul says she blames the party’s undermining of her leadership.

“When you head into an election being under the threat of a court process from your party, it’s going to be very hard to convince people to vote for your party.”

Last October, Paul was chosen to lead the Green Party following the resignation of longtime leader Elizabeth May. Paul became the first permanent Black leader of a major federal political party and pushed for diversity within the party. However, her time was hindered by internal conflict and attacks.

“This has been extremely painful. This has been the worst period of my life in many respects,” she said.

Under Paul’s leadership, the Green Party’s percentage of the national vote dropped from 6.5 per cent in 2019 to 2.3 per cent in 2021.

0 FacebookTwitterEmail
Breaking NewsElection 2021ElectionsNewsPoliticsTopTop stories

Liberal candidate Marci Ien wins Toronto-Centre riding

by Eduard Tatomir
written by Eduard Tatomir
Liberal Candidate Marci Ien. (Photo courtesy of the Liberal Party of Canada)

Marci Ien, the Toronto-Centre Liberal candidate, has won her riding with over 50 per cent of the vote. Brian Chang of the NDP is the runner-up, winning 26 per cent of the vote and Ryan Lester of the Conservative Party has won only 12.2 per cent of the vote.

The Toronto-Centre riding encompasses a large portion of downtown Toronto, from Bay Street to Bayview Avenue and from The Esplanade to Bloor Street East.

Toronto-Centre has been a consistent area of success for the Liberal party with the most recent win being Ien in the 2020 byelection and Bill Morneau in 2015 and 2019.

Voter turnout

In-person voting at advanced polls was higher than in the 2019 election. Elections Canada estimates 5,780,000 votes were cast from Sept. 10-13 this year, an 18.5 per cent increase. Mail-in ballots continue to be counted.

Annamie Paul

Media outlets have reported on internal conflicts within the Green Party, with Annamie Paul enduring “significant resistance” from the party’s most powerful governing body.

During the 36-day campaign, Paul left the Toronto-Centre riding only once, visiting British Columbia for the first time on Sept. 18. By election night, the Green Party was falling far behind the other federal parties.

She only received around eight per cent of the vote in her area.

“Clearly, I am disappointed,” Paul said Tuesday morning in a small rally, thanking her supporters. “It is hard to lose. No one likes to lose.”

0 FacebookTwitterEmail
Election 2021ElectionsEngaging with DemocracyNewsPoliticsTopTop stories

Q-and-A: People’s Party of Canada candidate Syed Jaffery

by Swidda Rassy
written by Swidda Rassy
Syed Jaffery

Syed Jaffery, the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) candidate for Toronto Centre, spoke with On the Record to discuss issues that matter to students.

While living in Toronto Centre for the last 10 years, Jaffery has volunteered with several political campaigns and worked alongside local politicians. Although he is not as popular as the other candidates, he says that his ideas are new and refreshing.

“If you go for the underdog, you have new ideas and then if you have the right leadership and the right person to represent, you can do wonders,” said Jaffery.

To learn more about Syed Jaffery, you can visit www.peoplespartyofcanada.ca/syed_jaffery.

This interview has been edited for clarity and flow. Ryerson University is undergoing a name change amid reckoning with its name’s link to Canada’s residential schools. Accordingly, some refer to Ryerson as X University.

On The Record: School tuition is being increasingly hard to manage and as a result, many students are finding themselves in serious debt. In what ways will the PPC help students with this issue?

Syed Jaffery: Tuitions are going up and providing reimbursements and loan supplements is huge at this level. I propose that we bail out our students who are an integral part of the community. They’re the future of Canada. They’ll never be out of debt [if no action is taken in regards to tuition debt] and then they will always be kind of stuck. They will be constrained by the loan, so I understand this is a very big issue. What the People’s Party of Canada should do, and I think will do, is create subsidies, scholarships, loan programs and grants.

OTR: Ryerson University is in the process of changing its name amid the reckoning of Indigenous residential schools. In what ways will you be helping Indigenous communities in Toronto Centre?

S.J.: What the party is willing to do, or personally what I am willing to do for Indigenous communities, is to see what their vision is for the Indigenous communities in Toronto. In what ways can we help them? To select a name [for Ryerson University], obviously we’re going to have a panel. We can have [Indigenous people] come in and have a dialogue with the community and have them educate everyone. The most important thing is to have a dialogue. A strategy of communication.

OTR: During this year’s election, we have seen a dramatic increase of racism, misogyny and violence. Where do you think this came from?

S.J.: I think that diversity and immigration is not handled properly. So, it boils down to education. Indigenous education, philosophy, and diverse education should be taught. A lot of things could have been prevented if more people were vigilant, and society was better equipped with mental health [resources] as well. So it also boils down to mental health education because, again, mental health is not just one issue. That’s my take.

OTR: What is your favourite restaurant in Toronto Centre?

S.J.: Well in terms of my favourite restaurant, it does change. But I do love Red Lobster so I usually just go find a Red Lobster chain in the area. For breakfast, there’s a joint called Johnny G’s that is pretty good. That’s my breakfast area.

OTR: If you were to have a super power, what would it be and why?

S.J.: I wish I could make people understand things better. It takes me a good half an hour to an hour to explain things. I wish I could just have that power where they get the message. Communication is not easy. I am working on it. So let’s say if you don’t understand something, it will already be in your brain so understanding something will come instantly to you.

OTR: What message would you like to give to our students at Ryerson University?

S.J.: I would say combine all aspects of education, don’t just specialize in one. Focus on technology, engineering, [artificial] intelligence, psychology, philosophy, because when you combine all these, you become a better human. Learn all these aspects of knowledge, not just one, because you’re not getting educated just to get a good job; you have to become a good human being. And to become a good human being, get educated in all the aspects of life.

0 FacebookTwitterEmail
Community NewsElection 2021ElectionsNewsPoliticsTop

Election 2021: Toronto Centre, by the numbers

by Kayla Zhu
written by Kayla Zhu

A breakdown of Ryerson University’s federal riding

A map of the Toronto Centre federal electoral district. (Elections Canada).

Toronto Centre will be a key riding to watch in this year’s election, with the riding seeing a virtually identical race as the 2020 byelection.

Ryerson’s riding will have the same candidates from the four major parties running again for a seat in Ottawa – including Green Party leader Annamie Paul.

Housing affordability, post-secondary education costs, homelessness and mental health are a few of the key issues this riding is facing.

For voters currently living in Toronto Centre, here’s a rundown of the riding, and its history.

The numbers

Population (2016 census): 103,805 residents

Population density: 17,785 per km² (densest riding in Canada)

Median household income: $50,462

Largest age group: 25 to 29 years (14 per cent) 

20 to 34 years (37 per cent)

Private households by tenure: Owner (29 per cent), renter (71 per cent)

Currently represented by: Marci Ien (Liberal)

Number of electors on the list: 79,566

Previous voter turnout: 31 per cent (Oct. 26, 2020 byelection), 66 per cent (2019 general election)

The candidates

Seven candidates are vying for Toronto Centre’s seat in the House of Commons, including:

  • Marci Ien, Liberal Party of Canada, incumbent

  • Brian Chang, New Democratic Party of Canada (Read On the Record’s Q-and-A with Chang here.)

  • Syed Jaffery, People’s Party of Canada (Read On the Record’s Q-and-A with Jaffery here.)

  • Peter Stubbins, Animal Protection Party of Canada

The riding

The riding consists of several downtown neighbourhoods, including Regent Park, St. James Town, Church Wellesley Village, Cabbagetown, Rosedale and the east part of the financial district.

Toronto Centre has historically been a safe seat for Liberals, who’ve held this riding since 1993. 

Toronto Centre was previously represented by former Liberal MP and finance minister Bill Morneau until he resigned in October 2020 in the wake of the WE Charity scandal.

Before Morneau, the seat was held from 2013 to 2015 by Chrystia Freeland — who also coincidentally took over as finance minister when Morneau resigned from the position in 2020.

Marci Ien of the Liberal party won the riding’s October 2020 byelection, beating runner-up and Green Party leader Paul by over 2,000 votes.

As of Sept. 16, election statistical modelling website 338Canada predicts that Liberals will hold Toronto Centre.

Screenshot of 338Canada Toronto Centre projection page. (338Canada).
0 FacebookTwitterEmail
Election 2021ElectionsEngaging with DemocracyEnvironmentNewsPoliticsTopTop stories

Q-and-A: Green Party candidate and leader Annamie Paul

by Swidda Rassy
written by Swidda Rassy
Annamie Paul

Annamie Paul, leader of the Green Party and candidate for Toronto Centre, spoke with On the Record about issues that matter to students. 

Paul founded and directed the Canadian Centre for Political Leadership (CCPL) from 2001 to 2005. It trained women and under-represented minorities to run for elected office. Today, she is the first Black and first Jewish woman to be elected leader of a federal party in Canada.    

To learn more about Annamie Paul, you can visit her website at www.annamiepaul.ca. 

This interview has been edited for clarity and flow. Ryerson University is undergoing a name change amid reckoning with its name’s link to Canada’s residential schools. Accordingly, some refer to Ryerson as X University. 

On The Record: School tuition is becoming increasingly hard to manage and as a result many students are finding themselves in serious debt. In what ways will the Green Party help students with this issue? 

Annamie Paul: For quite a number of years now, the Green Party has been calling for the abolishment of post-secondary tuition. We agree with you that the debt loans have become completely unmanageable, particularly for low-income and marginalized students, and it just creates one more layer of inequality. We also think that post-secondary education is a necessary level of education, and fewer jobs are accessible without it. Even in terms of civic literacy, it’s become more important as well.

We believe that [education] should be universally accessible and we should join the countries that have made the commitment to offer high quality, no cost or very low cost, post-secondary education. And for students who have already taken on debt, we have advocated for the forgiveness of the federal portion of student loans. 

OTR: Ryerson University is in the process of changing its name amid the reckoning of Indigenous residential schools. In what ways will you be helping Indigenous communities in Toronto Centre?

A.P.: I’m sure you know Toronto Centre is home to one of the largest urban Indigenous populations in the country. During the pandemic, we’ve been virtually meeting with the Native Women’s Resource Centre and other groups that work with Indigenous peoples in Toronto Centre, and we talk about things like affordable housing and increasing access to services. We always talk about those things through an Indigenous lens. If you look at our platform it will have sections that relate to housing affordability and access to mental health services, all of which contain an Indigenous section as well. And of course, the underlying work of reconciliation and respecting Indigenous self-determination is something that our party is very committed to.

OTR: During this year’s election, we have seen a dramatic increase of racism, misogyny and violence. Where do you think this came from?  

A.P.: I think that people have seen rising inequality for many years and the pandemic produced even more inequality. Even with the emergency benefits programs, we saw that the pandemic disproportionately impacted low-income and marginalized people. When inequality rises, social cohesion is also undermined. It’s very important for us to attack the underlying causes of hate and discrimation if we’re hoping to maintain our social cohesion. Also, people being at home for very long periods of time and living in the echo chambers of social media hasn’t helped either. Social media giants must do their part to police their services so that hateful ideologies don’t grow [on their platforms]. 

Also, everyone needs to do their own part. They have to ask themselves before they say or do something whether it’s going to contribute to more solidarity between peoples or whether it’s going to contribute to more divisions. I think that politicians as well have a role to play in that because we can either say things that are polarizing and create divisions for our own personal political gain or we can keep in mind that we’re setting an example for the general public and that our words and actions have consequences.

OTR: What is your favourite restaurant in Toronto Centre?

A.P.: Oh, I don’t have favourites. My kids will always ask me what’s your favourite this or that and it all just depends on your mood. You may absolutely love Indian food or you may have a craving for Mexican [food] on that particular day. There’s so many beautiful restaurants in Toronto. When it comes to choosing just one, you’re really spoiled in that sense. Let’s just say that, whatever your preferences, you can absolutely find it in Toronto Centre. 

OTR: If you were to have a super power, what would it be and why?

A.P.: My answer would change depending on the day but for today I would say that my superpower is the ability to have a full day of activities, while at the same time being able to sleep. So I don’t know if that’s something like astral projection or something like that but somehow being able to do those two things at once. I think that every other politician you speak with today, that would be their answer.

OTR: What message would you like to give to our students at Ryerson University?

A.P.: Please vote. Even with a week left, there’s still enough time for you to become actively engaged in the campaign of someone that you support. The most impactful thing that students could do this year for the climate or for the students who are suffering with debt or who didn’t have a summer job this year because of the pandemic, any of the other issues that students have said that they care about, the most impactful things they can do is vote. Vote for leadership that is going to be supportive of those issues and that are going to prioritize those issues because, unfortunately, the student voice is still very much taken for granted and that would definitely change if the students turned out to vote in greater numbers.

0 FacebookTwitterEmail
Election 2021ElectionsEngaging with DemocracyLocal NewsNewsPoliticsTopTop stories

Q-and-A: NDP candidate Brian Chang

by Swidda Rassy
written by Swidda Rassy
New Democratic candidate Brian Chang. (Photo courtesy of Brian Chang)

Brian Chang is the New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate running for Toronto Centre. Since winning the contested nomination to become the NDP candidate in Toronto Centre in 2019, Chang has prioritized issues such as affordable housing, climate change and workers’ rights.

As a racialized and queer person, Chang says that his lived experience and genuine desire to help his community makes him the ideal candidate for Toronto Centre.

“I can relate to the issues that people are having,” said Chang. “It’s why I’m stepping forward to represent my communities, because I’m tired of seeing my friends struggle, I’m tired of seeing my family struggle, I’m tired of seeing people I love struggle.”

On The Record spoke with Chang to discuss issues that matter to students and what he promises to deliver. To learn more about Brian Chang, you can visit his website at www.brianchang.ca.

This interview has been edited for clarity and flow. Ryerson University is undergoing a name change amid reckoning with its name’s link to Canada’s residential schools. Accordingly, some refer to Ryerson as X University.

On The Record: School tuition has been increasingly hard to manage, and as a result, many students are finding themselves in serious debt. In what ways will the NDP help students with this issue?

Brian Chang: So, we just have to look at what we’ve been able to do for students in terms of fighting for student benefits. Last year was a hot mess for students and new grads as well. People who graduated at the end of 2019 or right at the beginning of 2020 were hit by the pandemic hard. It was the New Democrats who have fought really hard for the student benefit. It was the New Democrats that fought for an enhancement of CERB, which did help a lot of students.

What New Democrats work towards is making post-secondary education part of the public education system, fully. This means that there would be no tuition fee, and that’s something I’m committed to fighting for. I was in the University of Toronto Students’ Union. I was in the graduate Environmental Studies Student Association at York University. So, the fight for accessible education, because education is a right, has long been something that I’ve been part of, and I’ll continue to advocate for that at the federal level.

OTR: Ryerson University is in the process of changing its name amid the reckoning of Indigenous residential schools. In what ways will you be helping Indigenous communities in Toronto Centre?

B.C.: Excellent question. So I was there when the statue of Egerton Ryerson was taken down at X University and I think that there’s some really important pieces that we need to consider in terms of the history of the university, but also Canada’s systemic role in the genocide of Indigenous peoples since its founding. This is an ongoing issue that continues to this day. I think it is really important that the university is stepping forward to have these consultations, I hope they do so in a meaningful way. So I think that there are some steps that they’ve outlined and I’d like to see that work out. I will happily support that as a member of Parliament for Toronto Centre.

OTR: During this year’s election, we have seen a dramatic increase in racism, misogyny and violence. Where do you think this came from?

B.C.: I think this has been ongoing for a long time. I feel surprised every time the media decides to write about this in the election because elected officials have made it very clear over decades and longer that the political system in Canada is actually [a] very violent and dangerous place for my marginalized and equity-seeking groups. And as a person of Chinese and Jamaican descent, it’s personal for me because over the course of the last year, the Asian hate has been truly awful. In the byelection last year, I was punched in the chest on an occasion. I was kicked earlier this year. I had a bike thrown at me. We get lots of racist social media. This is the reality for racialized candidates, queer candidates and disabled candidates when you step up.

But [the racism] isn’t new. If you ask anybody who’s running for political office, and they told you this has never happened to them, I wouldn’t believe them. This is the reality of running in our political system and it does seem to be getting worse. We have a lot of work to do towards making sure that racial justice is the reality. And it’s one of the reasons why I’m running in the NDP, because we talk about these issues. We don’t have all the answers, but we’re willing to recognize that there is a problem and to implement action and action plans to make sure that we can address these things on an ongoing basis.

OTR: What is your favourite restaurant in Toronto Centre?

B.C.: OK, let’s see. If you want to do ramen, I have a thing for this spicy pork garlic [ramen] at Kinton Ramen. If you’re talking about solid Thai food, then probably Sukhothai. If we’re talking about Jamaican food, Mr. Jerk. If you’re talking about brunch, then absolutely drag branch at Glad Day. In terms of bubble tea, Baroness has just opened their first Toronto location in the riding; it’s right across from College Park on Yonge Street. For dessert, there’s a place called T-Swirl Crêpe, which is on Yonge Street (just north of College Street). They have these delicious crepes. They’re the most delicious thing I’ve ever had in Toronto. And then of course a staple for me is Ginger. Ginger at Church Street and Wellesley Street is a staple for really delicious, well-made, yummy Vietnamese/Asian food.

OTR: If you were to have a super power, what would it be and why?

B.C.: I would like the ability to know if people are telling the truth. I wouldn’t want to be able to control people in any way. I wouldn’t want to be the strongest person in the room, but I would like to know if there was a way to gauge people’s truthfulness.

OTR: What message would you like to give to our students at Ryerson?

B.C.: One thing I will say is that I was that student who was looking ahead and trying to get involved in politics. When I was in university, I knew that we needed to start the work. If we want a better world in 10 years, we need to start that work now. I want students to think about what 2031 will look like. I think what the New Democrats have to offer is that we are putting forward bold plans. If you think that the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was a great program, know that the Democrats were the ones that fought for it. That’s just an example of how New Democrats will stand up for you and do the best that we can to help you.

0 FacebookTwitterEmail
Community NewsElection 2021NewsOff CampusPolitics

Number of polling stations in 11 GTA ridings reduced by more than half compared to 2019 election

by Camilla Bains
written by Camilla Bains

Fewer polling stations could cause backed up lines, with the most drastic difference to be seen in Toronto Centre

Toronto Centre will see just 15 polling sites open on Monday. (Image via Unsplash)

Eleven ridings in the Greater Toronto Area will see fewer than half the number of polling stations open on election day compared to 2019, Elections Canada confirmed with CBC News.

The most drastic difference can be seen in Toronto Centre. In the previous 2019 election, 91 polling sites were open. This election, there will only be 15 polling sites open, marking the largest reduction in locations for any riding across Canada.

Given that Toronto Centre is one of the most populous ridings per square kilometre in Canada, voters in the downtown core could be looking at longer wait times than expected.

Eighteen of the 20 federal ridings with the largest reduction in polling stations on election day are in Ontario. Another four ridings — Whitby, Brampton North, Ajax and Scarborough Centre — will have more than 40 per cent fewer polling stations open on Monday as well.

John Beebe, founder of the Democratic Engagement Exchange at Ryerson talked to CBC News, cautioning that voting will likely take longer than expected on Monday and saying voters should be patient.

This news comes after Elections Canada did not offer the Vote on Campus program this year.

Over 21,000 people signed an online petition organized by students calling for the Vote on Campus program to be renewed.

Twitter user @bkolisniak expressed her displeasure in the decision to cancel Vote on Campus, tweeting a photo showing the 30-minute commute it would take for her to cast her ballot.

Voters can find polling stations in their riding on the Elections Canada website. 

0 FacebookTwitterEmail