George Smitherman was a no-show but five other mayoral candidates gave snapshots of their campaign platforms to seniors at Donway Place and Don Mills seniors' apartments last week.
Sarah Thomson, Rob Ford, Rocco Rossi, Joe Pantalone and Sonny Yeung gave short speeches to more than 100 seniors Friday Aug. 20 before speaking one-on-one with the residents during an informal meet and greet.Up first, Thomson said she wants to unlock Toronto's potential, reduce spending at city hall, build subways, introduce toll roads on the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway, restructure Toronto Community Housing and introduce a portable rental subsidy for low-income tenants so they can choose where to live.Ford focused on his record as a penny-pincher, saying he wants to rein in spending at city hall because he represents the "little guy" who doesn't have a voice. The frontrunner in the mayoral race, he wants to halve the number of councillors to 22 and would use the savings to hire more police officers. "We can never have enough police officers," said Ford, who made the comment a day after holding a press conference to address charges of driving under the influence and marijuana possession in Florida in 1999.Rossi also targeted ballooning spending at city hall, pointing out the city's operating budget has jumped 50 per cent to $9.2 billion up from $6 billion in 2003. You'd be hard pressed to find Toronto residents who believe their service levels have increased correspondingly, he said.Rossi, former director of the Liberal Party of Canada, also said it's time to elect a new face from outside city council ranks for mayor,Not surprisingly, deputy mayor Joe Pantalone, who has three decades of council service under his belt, urged seniors to stick with experience.Meanwhile, suggesting it's time to stop focusing on negatives, he said 85 per cent of Torontonians feel they live in a very nice city."Not a perfect city but a very nice city," he said, Yeung pointed out there are 34 people running for mayor so voters should consider candidates beyond the frontrunners.Rather than just spending money on hiring new police, he said he would like to establish a conflict resolution office.Whether they will vote for him remains to be seen but many seniors at the meeting said they were impressed with Rossi. Not only was he loud and clear enough to be heard but he was personable, many of the residents said."I was surprised listening to Rocco Rossi. I think I was more impressed with him," Doris Standing said."He seemed to be more sure of what he was saying."Ed Spiers said he is favouring Rossi because he speaks with clarity, connects with people and gives the impression he would follow through on his promises.While Gladys Houck agreed with Ford about cutting the size of council, she is concerned he courts controversy and could end up being "almost dictatorial."She was impressed with the ability of Rossi and Thomson to connect with people.Martin deGroot has narrowed his choice down to Rossi or Ford.Both are looking to cut spending at city hall, he said, adding he wants the next mayor to put an end to untendered contracts being handed out by council.deGroot doesn't support Thomson's idea of charging drivers on the Gardiner or DVP, complaining that is just another tax on already overtaxed Torontonians."I'm disappointed Smitherman did not show up," he added.Sigrid Angell said she admired Ford's bluntness."I think Ford was clear. He was to the point," she said."I like his ideas. I think they all had some ideas that were good. I like the idea of taxes being better spent."Angell also supports Thomson's plan for more subways to get cars off the roads.