Tag: NDP

YSW NDP holds fundraiser

Yafet Tewelde is the York South-Weston New Democratic Party candidate running to unseat Liberal MP and Immigration Minister, Ahmed Hussen in October’s federal election. In a short upbeat speech yesterday, the candidate outlined the major platform planks and stressed that the riding is hungry for change after Liberals’ broken promises and ambiguous messaging on green energy. The event was held in a beautiful back yard overlooking the Humber in glorious weather.

Campaign Manager Riley Peterson asking for volunteers and donations before introducing the candidate.
Yafet Tewelde addresses supporters in a beautiful backyard setting on Saturday.

There’s a lot of time between now and voting day on October 29 but the local party seems ready, organized and enthusiastic.

Yafet Tewelde to be NDP candidate

Yafet Tewelde will be named the federal NDP candidate this weekend. He’s joining a tight race with Mark DeMontis (Conservative) and Ahmed Hussen (Liberal).

York South-Weston now a safe NDP seat?

US political site Counterpunch.org has an article commenting on the current provincial election campaign. Apparently the Ford name has piqued interest down there. The author, Canadian political commentator, Doug Johnson Hatlem claims that no Liberal seat in Ontario is safe and that York South-Weston has become a safe NDP seat. The author states that when families get together over a long weekend, they have a chance to mull over the political situation as a group and opinions become firmer.

Read his article here.

Andrea Horwath outlines NDP platform.

Provincial NDP Leader Andrea Horwath speaking at the York Civic Centre on Monday night.

On Monday night at the annual general meeting of the York-South Weston NDP, special guest speaker, Party leader Andrea Horwath outlined the major planks of her platform for the upcoming June 7th provincial election.

In his introduction to Ms. Horwath, York South-Weston riding nominee Faisal Hassan described her as an incredibly strong, passionate woman and a champion for working families who is working hard to build a brighter future for all Ontarians.

Ms Horwath went on to outline what an NDP government will do if elected.

Specific promises:

  • Bring Hydro back into public ownership and lower bills.
  • Expand affordable not for profit quality child care (currently over $2000 monthly in Toronto).
  • Expand minimum wage to everyone (e.g. restaurant servers)
  • Make it easier to form unions
  • Make temporary  workers permanent after 3 months
  • Match funds with the Federal and City governments for social housing repairs and maintenance
  • Give all Ontarians access to free prescription drugs
  • End the layoffs of workers
  • Fund healthcare to cover inflation and take care of the unique needs in each community.
  • Make sure healthcare funding matches population growth
  • Stop school closings – schools will become vibrant, well-funded community hubs
  • Combat anti-black racism through re-innstituting the Anti-Black Racism Secretariat (an earlier version of today’s Anti-Racism Directorate) and fight all forms of discrimination and hate.
  • Reduce our carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions in a way that’s fair and not costly to the poor – make polluters pay.
  • Ensure that indigenous people are able to have a decent life.

Mr Hassan will be facing Liberal incumbent Laura Albanese and Conservative nominee Mark DeMontis.

Longtime York South—Weston resident and advocate to become NDP candidate

Faisal Hassan, a resident of Weston and a longtime community advocate, is set to become the NDP’s candidate in York South—Weston for the upcoming provincial election.

Hassan says that this community has given him a lot; he wants the same opportunities that he has received to be accessible to all residents of York South—Weston. He believes in job creation, addressing income inequality, public health care, affordable housing and child care, and environmental sustainability. He sees a bright future for all residents of York South—Weston.

Currently Hassan serves on the volunteer board of the Weston King Neighbourhood Centre (WKNC) in Weston, and has been an active union member. Earlier on his career, Hassan hosted a popular current affairs radio program and served on the volunteer boards of the Centre for Equality in Accommodation and Brampton’s Habitat for Humanity.

As a politically active community member, I have been able to witness Faisal’s commitment to his community. He has canvassed all the issues that we care about and that greatly impact residents of York South—Weston; universal pharmacare, labour law reform, and the privatization of hydro, among many other things.

If you would like to meet Faisal Hassan, join the York South—Weston NDP at their nomination meeting on Wednesday, November 8th, 6pm at Weston Collegiate (100 Pine Street).

New PC candidate: Mark DeMontis

The Progressive Conservatives have long been total also-rans in York South–Weston, but that looks about to change. Mark DeMontis has announced his candidacy for the PC nomination.

DeMontis, a Westonian, is well known for rollerblading across Canada to raise money for Courage Canada, a charity that helps blind and low-vision people get into hockey. DeMontis was a promising hockey player himself before losing much of his sight in early adulthood.

Past PC candidates have been total duds, and have barely campaigned. DeMontis, by contrast, has been present in the community and has been increasing his presence on Twitter for several months. He may prove a challenge in this traditionally centre-left community.