Bloor West Villager

For the past three electoral terms, the Davenport riding has been held by Liberal Tony Ruprecht. However, after more than a decade as the incumbent MPP, Ruprecht decided not to seek re-election making it anyone's riding to win.

Davenport is the most ethnically diverse riding in the country as 60 per cent of its residents have a first language other than English. For a quarter of the population that language is Portuguese. At almost 30 per cent, it is by far the most dominant ethnic group, though residents of Italian, Chinese, East Indian and Jamaican descent are also well represented.

Davenport also has an average income significantly lower than the rest of the province. The average household income in the riding, according to the 2006 census is $57,766 - about $20,200 lower than the rest of the province. More than 30 per cent of residents earn less than $30,000 annually.

Also in the running for the Davenport riding seat are Franz Cauchi of the Freedom Party of Ontario, Miguel Figueroa of the Communist Party, Kiros Ghiwot for TOP, Independent Mark Jagg and Allix Thompson for the Party for Human Rights in Ontario.

CRISTINA MARTINS - Liberal
Phone: (416) 532-0503
Email: info@votecristinamartins.ca
Website: www.votecristinamartins.ca

1) What election issue have you been hearing about in your riding that you plan to act on? How?

Davenport residents want a government that places a priority on education and job creation. A Liberal government will provide middle-class families with a 30 per cent post-secondary undergraduate tuition grant. That will save a university student $1,600 per year in tuition, and $730 per year for a college student.

We will also invest in the infrastructure projects that create good jobs for Ontarians and continue our support for the new green energy economy, in which we are poised to become a North American leader.

If I have the honour of representing Davenport, I will work tirelessly on these issues.

2) What action do you feel the province should take in ensuring a long-term, growth-appropriate transit plan for Toronto?

The Ontario Liberal record speaks for itself. Our party has made the largest investment in transit in 40 years and our ongoing commitments are proof that we're the only party that can be trusted to fund transit in Ontario.

We will implement two-day, full-day GO train service on all seven GO rail corridors. We are investing $8.4 billion in the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown LRT. And we will continue to provide two cents of the gas tax to municipalities for transit. By contrast, the PCs would reduce funding for transit by allowing gas tax funding to be spent on non-transit transportation projects.

3) How do you plan to improve healthcare for your local constituents?

We are committed to hiring more full-time nurses and training more doctors and other health care professionals.

We will provide better care for our seniors, including house calls by health professionals and check-in by telephone and online. In many of this riding's diverse communities, there is a cultural resistance to sending mom or dad to a senior's home. House calls will make the everyday reality of these families - who are also raising families of their own - a little easier. We will also work to continue reducing wait times. Since 2003 the Liberal government has reduced wait times in almost every category we measure.

Also, as of last month the province offers two new vaccines and has made two others more available, which will benefit 140,000 infants and save families up to $1,400 per child.

4) Tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born in Portugal and raised in Davenport. After university, I worked in the health care sector both in Canada and abroad for 15 years. I am fluent in Portuguese and also speak Italian and French.

I am president of the Federation of Portuguese Canadian Business and Professionals and a director of the Greater Toronto Business Association. I am married and am the proud mother of two active boys.

JONAH SCHEIN - NDP
Phone: (416) 531-7495
Email: jonah@jonahschein.ca
Website: www.electjonahschein.com

1) What election issue have you been hearing about in your riding that you plan to act on? How?

Affordability is a really important issue for Davenport residents. With increasing transit fares, hydro and home heating bills, life keeps getting more expensive. We hear a lot from people about how much they value the services in their communities and how needed they are. New Democrats have a plan to remove the HST from hydro and home heating bills as well as to freeze transit fares in municipalities across the province. Our commitment to municipalities to reverse the downloading of the costs of provincial services will help ease the property tax burden and ensure cities can deliver high quality services.

2) What action do you feel the province should take in ensuring a long-term, growth-appropriate transit plan for Toronto?

Here in Davenport, access to transit is a huge issue. While we've seen fare increases year after year, bus routes that people rely on have been cut, and rapid transit on Eglinton remains stalled. New Democrats will freeze TTC fares for four years, and we'll do it by matching the municipal transit operating subsidy dollar-for-dollar. We're also committed to working with the city to build transit in a way that makes sense for our community. Later on in the campaign, we'll be announcing the Ontario NDP's plans for new transit projects and upgrades.

3) How do you plan to improve healthcare for your local constituents?

Davenport has a large population of seniors who are struggling to stay in their homes as they age. Ontario's New Democrats have a plan to increase funding and access to home care as well as long-term care by focusing more on delivering service. Far too many residents here do not have access to a family doctor. We'll ensure that everyone in Davenport - and across the province, has access to a family doctor. If people can see a doctor or nurse regularly, we can prevent more serious medical complications that are expensive to treat.

4) Tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in the west end of Toronto, and I've devoted my life to public service. I've worked in Davenport and across Toronto as a teacher, social worker and community organizer. I co-founded the Civic Engagement Program at the Stop Community Food Centre here in Davenport. I'm thrilled to be the NDP representative for our vibrant riding.

FRANK de JONG - Green
Phone: (416) 559-6941
Website: www.votefrankdejong.ca

1) What election issue have you been hearing about in your riding that you plan to act on? How?

Many Davenport voters support the Green Party stance on merging the Catholic schools with the public system. People want one non-religious school system, in French and English, an end to the funding for religious education in Ontario. Moving to one school system will save Ontario about $1 billion in efficiencies. Plus it is the most efficient and fairest way to save some of Toronto's under used schools by allowing for the optimal use of the best school buildings. It will shorten travel times for students, reducing bussing costs. Ontario should end the divisive practice of dividing kids along religious lines.

2) What action do you feel the province should take in ensuring a long-term, growth-appropriate transit plan for Toronto?

Toronto needs a low-energy, safe, inexpensive, green transportation system that serves all citizens both young and old. To achieve this, Toronto needs to be organized into walkable neighbourhoods linked by walking paths, cycling routes and clean fuel transit, with as few cars as possible. Everyone should be able to walk to schools, work, shopping, and entertainment. Car-free urban design makes communities safe, healthy, social and quiet. Imagine if all of Toronto was like Toronto Island, what a wonderful place it would be. Davenport should no longer be crossed by freeway style roads built to serve distant commuters travelling downtown.

3) How do you plan to improve healthcare for your local constituents?

Disease prevention, a healthy diet and plenty of exercise is the best way to keep Davenport people healthy. Seniors should stay in their communities, kids should be able to walk to school, adults should be able to cycle or walk to work. Local and organic food should be available and inexpensive. The Ontario government should change the health tax into a carbon tax, which would bring in the needed funds plus help reduce air pollution. The Ontario Medical Association tells us that 1,700 Toronto residents die from air pollution and 6000 residents hospitalized each year bad air.

4) Tell us a bit about yourself.

I have lived in Toronto, in Davenport riding, for 12 years with my partner, writer and artist Kelley Aitken. I was born in Ontario to Dutch immigrant parents and grew up on a dairy farm north of Guelph. I am a member of Active 18, a participant in The Bloor Street Festival. I am a teacher with Toronto District School Board and the past leader of the Green Party of Ontario. I'm a year-round cyclist, amateur opera singer and organic gardener.

NOTE: PC Party candidate Kirk Russell did not respond by Villager deadline