While major media outlets were busy covering the federal
Liberal policy convention in Montréal on February 22, 2014, there was another
significant political development that day which needs to be heard. In 141 ridings across Canada, a total of 2,172 volunteers mobilized for
the NDP’s first National Day of Action to promote their affordability campaign. I was part of this campaign with MP Peggy Nash and fellow members
of the Parkdale High Park NDP riding association. While canvassing, I found most of those who answered the door expressed their support and signed the petition, which Peggy confirmed in an earlier blog post.
One issue that is getting considerable media attention as of
late is the electoral system, which is the way people vote. At all three levels
of government in Canada, the current electoral system is called first past the
post, in which the candidate with the most votes wins the position he/she is
running for. While simplicity may be the primary advantage of the current
system, there are many drawbacks.
On Monday, January 27, I entered Toronto City Hall’s Council
Chamber for the first time ever in order to attend a consultation regarding
Porter Plans. For those not familiar what this is, Porter Airlines is currently
seeking to extend the runway at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport by 200 metres
in each direction in order to accommodate the Bombardier CS100 jet aircraft.
The Tripartite Agreement governing Billy Bishop Airport – signed by the City of
Toronto, the Toronto Port Authority (the airport’s managing body), and
Transport Canada – currently does not allow jet aircraft to fly there. As one
of the three signatories, Toronto city council would have to approve the
amendment of this agreement in order for Porter Plans to proceed, along with
subsequent approval by Transport Canada. The latest city staff report on Porter
Plans can be found at http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-64318.pdf.
