Hospital and transit plans for the area dominate election debate

Concerned about crime, limited services and a lack of ambition among his neighbours to create a better life for themselves, resident Kawani Simon is moving his young family out of Ward 8 to a home in Brampton.

“You just got to get away. I would like to move up in life,” said the married 27-year-old electrician, who has a 21-month-old son.“I want (my son) to get away from crime and struggling people. I want him to see a better lifestyle.”

Simon, a native of Grenada who came to Canada at the age of five, lives in a high-priority neighbourhood near Jane Street halfway between Steeles and Finch avenues.

He would like to see more programs in his neighbourhood, especially those aimed at keeping youth out of trouble. At the same time, Simon argues it is up to individuals to take advantage of available services and to motivate themselves to improve their lifestyles.

He is also concerned about the impact on Humber River Regional Hospital’s Finch site when a new state-of-the-art hospital is built at Keele Street and Hwy. 401 in 2014.

The Finch campus will remain open as an ambulatory care centre and will continue to provide emergency room care.

Despite that assurance, Simon and candidates running in Ward 8 remain fearful of jobs leaving the area and about residents having to travel further for some hospital services.

“The loss of such a big resource will create a negative social impact on the wellbeing of the community,” said candidate Naseeb Husain, who has been part of the Humber River Health Coalition.

“What services will there be? I want to address that issue with residents. Losing a hospital in the community is definitely something that scares a lot of people but if they have input, there will be more well-being.”

In addition to poverty, lack of services and the impact of the new Humber River on the Finch site, other notable issues in Ward 8 include the 8.6-kilometre extension of the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line from Downsview station to Vaughan, condominium development at Fountainhead and Sentinel roads northwest of Finch and Keele Street and a 25-year plan for York University which includes future development in York’s academic core and six outer “precincts.”

Incumbent councillor Anthony Perruzza is facing seven challengers including Husain, Antonius Clarke, John Gallagher, Gerardo Miniguano, Arthur Smitherman and Ramnarine Tiwari.

But all eyes are on the rematch between Perruzza and former councillor Peter Li Preti.

Both men say they want to avoid a repeat of the animosity in the 2006 municipal election. Things got so bad, the city took the unusual step of hiring police officers to oversee polling stations on election day after confrontations and accusations flew between the two camps at advance polls.

Despite the desire for a tame campaign, there are indications it could be turning nasty.

Li Preti is accusing Perruzza of being “slimy” for taking credit for the subway extension, which Li Preti said he worked on for 20 years.

“I’m very, very upset. My main opponent is going around saying he brought in the subway and he created jobs. I think it’s very unfair, very inappropriate. I think it’s slimy,” said Li Preti, who served as a councillor from 1985 to 2006.

Perruzza, who has served as a school trustee, MPP and councillor since 1985, called Li Preti’s accusation ridiculous.

He said he fought for the subway extension for many years, both as a councillor and MPP. He said he led the fight in bringing the subway to Downsview and now sits on the TTC Spadina York Subway Extension Committee.

“I make no claims beyond the work I have done to get the shovels in the ground and get this moving,” Perruzza said.

“Most certainly, he (Li Preti) is aware of my support for the extension, my advocacy for it.”

Perruzza argued that in 1988, he voted for the Spadina subway while Li Preti instead supported the Sheppard subway.

Li Preti also said Perruzza has “failed miserably” on past campaign promises such as lowering rents and cleaning up apartment buildings.

And while he said Perruzza has accused him in the past of being pro-development, Li Preti said Perruzza has opened the door to massive development such as the condos at Finch and Sentinel.

In addition to bringing attention to what he sees as Perruzza’s shortcomings, Li Preti said he has four other priorities: pinning down exactly what will be offered at Humber River’s Finch site, an issue he said he’s been working on for many years, getting rid of the city’s land registry and vehicle registration taxes, creating three or four more training centres to address the link between poverty and youth unemployment and improving lighting, cleanliness and social programs in vulnerable neighbourhoods.

Steering away from criticizing Li Preti, Perruzza is focusing his campaign on improving Toronto Community Housing’s rental stock, continuing his efforts to relieve the burden of taxes and utility costs on seniors, making sure the Finch hospital site addresses the needs of the community and helping marginalized youth.

While the rematch between Perruzza and Li Preti is capturing much attention, other candidates are also campaigning on a number of issues.

Clarke, a community activist, was a friend of 26-year-old Eric Osawe, who was shot and killed in a confrontation with police late last month.

“It’s just a tragedy,” he said. “We need police, yes, but we need effective police, not arrogant police. (I want to) start creating dialogue.”

Clarke also wants to set up a trade school for high school drop outs, inmates released from jail after serving their sentences and older adults working in dead-end jobs.

After hearing many complaints that people have trouble getting information from city hall and their councillor’s office, Clarke also promised to be a more responsive councillor.

Arthur Smitherman, estranged brother of mayoral candidate George Smitherman, has four demographics he would focus on.

Pointing out Ward 8 has residents living in some of the poorest postal codes in Canada, he wants to use unused classrooms in under-enrolled schools for training programs and daycare.

He also wants to start a job-matching program between York University and the community, introduce programs to help small businesses and address the concerns of higher-income earners in the ward whose needs are often over-shadowed by the ward’s impoverished areas.

Husain’s first order of business would be creating a more responsive office because many residents complain they don’t get answers when they try to access city hall.

He would also generate more communication with the community especially through the internet, focus on creating educational opportunities so residents can learn skilled trades and improve interaction between the police and the community.

Gallagher, a York University student, wants to find ways to make transit more affordable for low-income residents and students.

He also said the city needs to review its policing strategies to make streets safer and he promised to have an open-door policy so residents feel comfortable coming to him with their concerns.

Tiwari, a tour operator, wants to improve living conditions for seniors, through discounted utility bills and removing the education portion from their property taxes, for youth, through a number of initiatives such as a post-secondary scholarship program and breakfast programs for all school children and for low-income families, through more daycare spaces.

He also wants to turn low-income rental housing into affordable condominiums and hopes to introduce a subsidy on TTC fares for low-income earners.

Miniguano did not provide contact information.

Issues to keep an eye on in Ward 8:
• Extension of the subway through York University north to Vaughan
• The impact of the new Humber River Regional Hospital on the existing Finch site
• A 25-year redevelopment plan for York University
• Proposed condominium development, including more than 1,000 units in eight buildings ranging in height from six to 12 storeys and a recreation centre, at 470 Sentinel Rd. and 1, 35 and 40 Fountainhead Rd.

- Lisa Queen

Posted in News, North York - York