Here is what local candidates have to say:

Donna Braniff
If I WIN this election, you the people will win as I am a strong advocate for the needs of the people.
The issues facing our community:
•Taxes – every year we must fight for fair market values. I would like to propose an intervention process by setting up a ward by ward assistance program.
•Rental Properties - The city has the power to ensure the assessments to your rental properties are reasonable. Let’s work toward changing the status quo.
•Incentives for New and Old Businesses – Increased business means lower taxes to homeowners and renters.
•Seniors – To keep them informed of every tax incentive and program available to them.
•Child Care – Let us invest in a system to help them grow up to be productive adults in our society.
•Vision for the Beaches – We need clean water and air so that our community can safely enjoy our beaches. The washrooms and boardwalk require extensive repairs along with making safer access to the beach available to the residents and visitors. I want the BEST for our Ward and that also includes enhanced safety features, road improvements, water and sewage systems brought up to current specifications.
www.donnabraniff.com – Candidate for Councillor Ward 32

Alan Burke
Hello, my name is Alan Burke. I am running for the privilege of representing you at city council, and working for the betterment of the community I live, work, and play in. I have been very active in the Beach community for over 10 years, assisting residents, and merchants in dealing with the city, and supporting Community Centre 55, and the Beaches Lions Club.
One of the main reasons I am running is I am concerned about the culture of entitlement that pervades city council, and about a council that still does not get it. Council endorsed the recommendations of Judge Bellamy in the MFP inquiry; key to Justice Bellamy’s recommendations was that city council must operate in an open and transparent way, and ensure a fair and open tendering process. Yet in the last few months, we have seen the city spend $500 million on a land fill, and $700 million on new subway cars - without tender.
Important issues for me are:
•311 telephone service, one easy to remember number to call for all city services
•TTC service
•Recreation programs for teenagers
•Improving our waterfront including beaches
•Affordable daycare
•Economic development
•Crime & policing issues including graffiti

Sandra Bussin
It is an honour to serve you as your City Councillor and Deputy Mayor.
Our neighbourhoods have grown, changed and met challenges. We have worked on building solutions together – toward creating stronger and healthier communities. Now with your help, I want to do more for our Ward and Our City.
Good things have happened in the last term. We now enjoy the Beaches Library’s glorious addition and restoration—use is up 150%!
The skateboard park is underway, and look at the construction of the East Lynn Park playground. A real celebration of community involvement and results!
We are building better communities together! That’s my plan.
The most important issue facing us is the challenge to find a solution and a site to deal with our residual garbage. Potential locations may include Ashbridges Bay and the Eastern Portlands. I am one of the authors of a citizen-lead advisory team to help us make the right decision on this pressing matter.
As an environmental leader, I will take a strong leadership role in this decision. The quality of life of our community must be guaranteed. I know how to get results—results that will work for us!
Let’s continue to Build Better Communities Together—Re-elect Sandra Bussin.

William Gallos
Candidate for City Council, Ward 32 Beaches/ East York.
“The waste of 95 million for any city is a tragedy!” Tony 0’ Donohue, P. ENG. author of “THE TALE OF THE CITY” quotes, “Poorly managed foul-up that cost Toronto Tax Payers dearly ... The first months of the new amalgamated city council provided a management vacuum and an opportunity for local experts and politicians to micro-manage the coup to destroy the incinerators. The new Price tag ... at the end of 2003 is 95 million” (pg 216-219).
VOTE William Gallos for city council, ward 32 Beaches East York and let’s work together as a community to fix this problem!
For further information please go to http://www.gallosward32.com
William Gallos
gallosward32
Tel/Fax: (416) 551.0772
URL: www.gallosward32.com
info@gallosward32.com

John Greer
The most important issue facing this city and Ward 32 is FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
Everything that we, the taxpayers, want costs money and we are continually told that there is not enough to go around.
We want safer streets, a better transit system, great waste management, and lower taxes. These things all cost money and the way to have them all is through FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
Our politicians waste our money. They commission countless reports and studies and when they don’t like the answer, they send it back to be done again or hide the report. They make poor decisions, sign bad contracts, break the contracts and get our City sued for millions. They lease computers for approximately $100 million when we all know they can be bought for $500. Our councillors vote yes for a pay raise then say they did not know what they were voting on.
THAT IS EITHER A LIE OR STUPIDITY AND BOTH MAKE THEM BAD LEADERS.
We need to have people that will spend our money wisely so that there is more than enough to have all that we want and more.
WE DON’T NEED CAREER POLITICIANS, JUST EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE. I AM THAT PERSON.

John Lewis
My name is JOHN LEWIS, I have lived and worked as a firefighter in Ward 32 since 1972. 1 am very concerned about how our City Council is doing business.
The City should NOT be giving out commercial leasing contracts, or purchasing goods and services without asking for tenders. The tender process is there to PROTECT taxpayers and get maximum value for money spent.
We must try to reopen the issue of Market Value Assessment with the Province. Property owners and tenants in Beaches/East York are paying FAR MORE for city services than other neighbourhoods.
TTC fares must be LOWERED substantially to get people to leave their car at home and put up with the inconvenience of public transit. This would greatly reduce air pollution.
I have many innovative ideas that will improve life in this City, I will NOT be using plastic election signs, as there is no recycling program in place for them and they will wind up in our environment!
If you missed my three page letter that I delivered to your door, please call for another. If elected I pledge to be ACCESSIBLE and ACCOUNTABLE. If you have any questions please call me at 416-690-0117 or e-mail me at votejohnlewis@gmail.com

Erica Maier
Our area is a unique family community within a major city.
In order to preserve our quality of life, we must be ever vigilant to ensure we aren’t overrun by oversized building developments, graffiti, vandals or petty crime.
My aim is to hire a graffiti removal team that would be available daily. Eradicate the graffiti and keep it away. Continue to work with police and have police more visible in the area, walking along our streets, parks and school yards. Police would get to know our neighbours, business owners and the local children which would return a sense of well being to our inhabitants.
I encourage taking art to the streets. Have billboards in various locations that locals can contribute to monthly. Thus promoting our area and the artists of our community. We need additional programs for teenagers that get them involved and keep them interested in community development.
Finally I would continue the work of preserving the heritage of our neighbourhoods, while helping the local businesses get the much needed assistance to grow and develop into thriving commerce This could be achieved by having events and venues that add to our uniqueness and increasing consumer traffic and spending.

Matt Williams
Government waste is the most important issue facing residents of Ward 32, and the City of Toronto. Waste of time and waste of money. Most of the major issues facing this city, including crime, taxes, waterfront development, waste management, and the TTC would see dramatic improvements if our current City Council stopped wasting time and money.
The only solution is to put people on city council who will solve problems using viable and economical solutions. We don’t need to bury issues under study after study. We don’t need to delay while we seek consultation after consultation.
It’s as though if the current city council doesn’t like the answers they get from studies and consultations, they ignore them, and keep looking for the answers they want to hear. This is not responsible government.
Being responsible means doing the right thing, even if you don’t like it. Let’s start working today to solve the issues facing Toronto. Let’s work on small things, and build up to the big things. More trashcans on our streets means less litter. More community programs means less crime. More consistent TTC service means less rider frustration. It’s the little things that make a difference.
www.mattwilliams.ca

Trustee candidates speak out
by Emily Bellavy

An advocate for a skateboard park, a mother of five, a business owner, an advocate for equal opportunity and a champion of a ‘No Sweat Shop Purchasing’ policy, are all local candidates for school board trustee in the Nov. 13 election.
With the all-candidates meeting for trustees not happening until Nov. 8, Beach Metro Community News asked those running for trustee in this area what their solutions are for the board's funding crisis and what fresh perspectives they would bring to the table.

WARD 11, Toronto Catholic District School Board

Angela Kennedy, current trustee:
“The fundamental flaws in the government's funding formula must be fixed. One possible solution is for the province to recognize the unique needs of Toronto school boards and to work with us to implement ‘The Toronto Solution’ – a collaborative approach to capital planning that would ensure the best use of school infrastructure in the city.
“During my two terms…I have always put the needs of children first, have listened to parents and have been fiscally responsible. I've been engaged and fully immersed as a member of the Special Education Advisory Committee and the Race Relations Committee... I've advocated for each of my schools for site improvements, playgrounds and summer school literacy programs. I also championed the board's ‘No Sweat Shop Purchasing’ policy and initiated the “Kids Can Make a Difference” program."

Cindy Beman:
“TCDSB has a deficit of approximately $34 million. We have closed schools and did not receive the funding that was promised to us if we did this. What is the problem?... The funding formula does not provide sufficient money to provide the education our students deserve... We can't cut more. There has to be a change to the funding formula!
I have been an active education advocate for the last six years. I have sat on the Closed School Committee at TCDSB as well as the Playground Committee and other smaller groups as well as school councils. I believe in youth and the need to provide excellent education as well as community programs for the youth. I have been active in the Southeast Toronto Skateboard Association and in getting a skateboard park at Ashbridges Bay.
“I am patient about Catholic education and work… hard to provide support for the three partners in Catholic education – home, school and church.”

WARD 16, Toronto District School Board

Sheila Cary-Meagher, current trustee:
“The funding crisis …was badly designed from the very first second of its conception and no amount of tinkering will make it right. It is kind of like buying a car that is a lemon. No amount of messing around will make it a good thing. The idea that one formula will ever fit all boards in all areas of the province on all issues is foolish.
“Scrap the funding formula and begin again to build a financial delivery system that is based on the needs of children.There will have to be an understanding of equity and a definable bottom line.
“I bring to the position more than 20 years of experience as a trustee. I have done everything from being vice chair to attending all committee meetings to visiting every school regularly to…working with parents on individual problems. I work 60 hours a week looking after our schools and our school system. I love the work I do and the people I do it for.
“[Swimming pools] are an asset. We now have the responsibility to keep the pools in good and usable condition so that the taxpayers who own them can use them."

Anwarul Kabir:
“Recently the concern has been about using a funding formula mandated by the province that is not open to local needs, and which requires improvement. The TDSB's unique need to address a large, diverse urban population places special pressures upon it, distinctive from those faced by other school boards in Ontario.
“I need to include strong involvement with parents and school councils. [I will] propose sufficient funding for programs, equal opportunity and childcare, improve facilities and encourage innovative thinking.
“The (TDSB) needs to sit down with the city in order to negotiate a new agreement to cover all swimming pools operated by the TDSB.
“I believe that we need each and every one of our pools and recreation programs to stay open to provide the opportunity for all children to learn how to swim, to keep fit, and stay active."

John Kalimeris:
“My take on the crisis can be attributed to two factors. The first issue is when the Harris government created the funding formula they failed to include provisions for inflationary pressures. The second factor…is the expectation of provincial bailouts has the trustees not looking at costs when decisions are made. The trustees gave themselves a 420% increase.
“My solution to the problem is to use the purchasing power to get fixed costs for big tickets items such as natural gas. An organization as large as the school board can save millions with purchasing power.
“I am the most qualified for the position as I have owned and operated my own businesses for many years. I have worked within budgets and have made the hard decisions required to be successful.
“I think the funding for the school pools is essential to the schools. The problem is Toronto is making money from the school pools but not contributing enough for maintenance. Many parents are unable to get their children into swimming lessons because there are not enough spots available."

Here is a link to information you may need to review before you vote.

http://www.toronto.ca/vote2006/