Residents of the Brocton Triangle brought together the current nine candidates for councillor in Ward 18 for a debate focusing specifically on transit, development and councillor-community relations, Wednesday evening, June 23.

“Just your presence here tonight speaks to the value of this neighbourhood,” said Lance Dixon, minister at St. Anne’s Parish on Dufferin Street, where the all-candidates meeting attracted between 30 and 40 people, despite the stifling heat inside the church.

After introducing themselves to their audience, candidates, including Ana Bailao, Kevin Beaulieu, Doug Carroll, Frank De Jong, Nha Le, Kirk Russell, Jack Triolo, Hema Vyas and Ken Wood, were asked to respond to a previously prepared question, posed by Brocton Triangle resident Eli Malinski, who played moderator for the evening.

“How do you propose to balance the interests of cyclists, pedestrians and automobiles in our ward? We know there’s often competing interests.”

Candidates were invited to answer in no particular order.

Beaulieu said he’d add transit to that list.

“We take in 100,000 people a year in Toronto,” said Beaulieu. “We have to encourage people to ride their bikes, take transit. walk. You will have to work with the community. As a councillor, you have to show good judgment. You’ve got to approach every situation individually.”

Wood stressed the importance of consulting people in the local neighbourhoods.

“We have to get down to the local level,” he said. “We need a lot of innovative ideas.”

Bailao said she would like to extend the West Toronto Railpath and work with the Business Improvement Area (BIA) to make sure sidewalks are pedestrian-friendly. She vowed to improve parking in the area.

Vyas said it’s important to include everyone in this conversation.

De Jong pointed out that he doesn’t own a car and relies on his bike, public transit or his own two feet to get around. “Most people who drive don’t live here,” he said. “The vehicles we do have must be electric.”

Russell said the key to balance is “integration and accommodation.”

“All streets cannot have bike lanes. All streets cannot accommodate street cars,” he said.

Some streets should be exclusive to vehicles while others for bikes, according to Triolo.

“Safety should come first,” he said.

Malinski asked candidates how they would ensure that the neighbourhood becomes an attractive place for both residents and businesses.

Russell assured that he would involve residents in all decision-making processes surrounding potential developments.

“Residents must have a say,” he said. “I’d establish a consultation group.”

Davenport has many empty lots, Vyas pointed out.

“We need good green jobs,” she said. “We need a strong voice to advocate for affordable housing.”

Communities need to have a pre-conceived notion of what they’d like to see in their neighbourhoods, according to Carroll.

De Jong sang the praises of live-work spaces.

“Artists have pioneered this concept,” he said.

Beaulieu presented the idea of design charets to generate development ideas among community members. Bailao said the ward needs a councillor who will put the needs of the community first.

On the subject of councillor-community relations, candidates were asked how they would facilitate a strong relationship with their constituents should they be elected.

Wood promised to hold monthly town hall meetings while Beaulieu vowed to deliver his own notices in person as well as ensuring that interpreters were available for residents whose first language is not English. He said he is excited to reach people through social media sites like Twitter as well. Bailao echoed Beaulieu comments, saying she is technologically inclined, but she would hold meet and greets at local community centres and would send out multilingual notices in a timely manner.

De Jong said he would provide a live stream of community council meetings and public meetings.

– Lisa Rainford

Tags: Ward 18
Posted in Wards