Who Torontonians are voting for, and why
Election day is October 19, and, if the advance polls are to believed, the final tally will be close. As the three party leaders make their final attempts to curry favour with GTA voters—Harper in Etobicoke, Trudeau in the Beach and Mulcair in Oshawa—here’s our own unscientific poll of people at both ends of Toronto’s north-south shopping mall axis: the Eaton Centre and Yorkdale.
Eaton Centre:
Andrea Spender, 39, PhD student in policy studies
“Liberals. I was on the fence with the NDP, but for the women’s issues debate, Trudeau was the only one to commit. I applaud Trudeau’s willingness to engage.”
Denis Doyle, mayor of Frontenac Islands, Ontario
“I’m currently undecided. The most important issue to me is getting infrastructure funding from the federal government. I think I’m more inclined toward the Liberals.”
Zian Nowosad, 60, retired
“NDP, always. I agree with their stances on health care, education and social issues. Libs would be my second choice. Conservatives, never in a thousand years.”
Diane Wallace, 52, public health worker
“NDP, because I loathe Stephen Harper. I do like Trudeau, and if I were voting strategically I’d vote for him, but I can’t do that.”
Esme Lei, 23, graphic design student
“Right now, it’s between the Liberals or the NDP. I’m watching videos on YouTube to learn more about their platforms. I’m not voting for the Conservatives. At least what the Liberals and NDP are saying about jobs and legalization of marijuana is promising.”
Jah-melle Pinnock, 19, HVAC student
“Right now, no one. No one’s really appealed to me yet. I already threw my voter card in the garbage. As a student, I feel voting affects older people more and affects us less.”
Travis Dunning, 32, banker
“Not sure yet, but I’m leaning towards the Liberals. I voted for the Conservatives last time, but they have no chance in my riding, so it’s a waste to vote for them. Also, some of their policies, like banning the niqab and Harper’s comments about marijuana, stray from what I related to in the past.”
Veronica Lopez, 33, social worker
“I’m voting Liberal, because I pay too much in taxes and the Conservatives don’t care for the middle class. I voted for the NDP last time, but won’t this election because they won’t win and I’m tired of the Conservatives.”
Vipin Bery, 69, retired
“I have always voted for the Liberals because they represent true Canadian values like fairness, inclusiveness, and diversity. It’s time for a change from the Conservatives. The NDP have some good polices, but I’m not ready to switch.”
Yorkdale:
Emanuel Yakobov, 20, alternative care student
“Stephen Harper. I come from Israel and he’s been the only one who supports them. And I think he’s done a good job as PM.”
Germain Noel, 62, general labourer
“Conservative. If the Liberals or the NDP get in they’ll mess it up and raise taxes like Chrétien did.”
GG Henny, 26, hairstyle and cosmetology student
“Justin. I voted NDP last time, but we need something fresh, and legalizing marijuana is necessary and one of my strongest political opinions.”
Ivan Bonilla, 30, construction worker
“Justin. First, the taxes. Second, legalizing marijuana. Right now that’s all I have on my mind.”
Shane Waters, 26, assistant manager at Johnston & Murphy
“I’m undecided. I normally vote Conservative, but I don’t necessarily agree with their direction. I met Harper before. He doesn’t care about young people and doesn’t support the middle class. I’ll never vote for the NDP, but I might vote for the Liberals for the first time this election.”
Steve MacEachern, 52, graphic designer
“I always vote Green. Without the environment, nothing else matters. All the other parties focus on the economy, but the planet can’t support constant economic growth.”
Mac Hundal, 30, customer service representative
“Undecided. I’m a last-minute kind of guy. I usually go Liberal, but this year I don’t know, no one’s sold me. I want to vote for a party that delivers better infrastructure, fights homelessness, reduces traffic, and makes Toronto a more affordable place to live.”
Josh Garbe, 38, musician
“I’m voting for no party. They’re all corrupt. Nobody cares about privacy and liberty. The Conservatives passed C-51 and the Liberals supported it. I think it’s all set up and Trudeau will win.”
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We don’t vote for leaders unless we live in their riding. In Toronto, none of the options above are available to voters.
The poll should perhaps be two questions; which party are you voting for, and which leader/party do you prefer? With so much strategic voting, the two questions may have very different results.
While that is technically true, its probably safe to say that for many if not most voters, the choice of which party/candidate to support in their riding is usually a reflection of which leader they prefer – for example, I highly doubt a hard core Conservative supporter will vote for the NDP or Liberal candidate in their riding because they happen to like them. At best, your views on your local MP may impact how you feel about the national party.
All that is to say that pointing out that these folks won’t actually be directly voting for Harper, Trudeau Mulcair, as if they don’t understand our voting system is just being a smarmy ass.
Very few people have a strong idea of the platforms each of the parties are running.
Elections would be a whole lot more interesting if people took a few hours and familiarized themselves with their policies and platform summary, instead of the medias editorialized platforms…
Who knew that the pothead vote was going to be such a factor in the election? Well, unless they smoke a big blunt, pick up the doritos and say screw it, I’ll vote next time.
I believe the huge turnout in advance polls is reflective of an appetite for change. I’m also seeing and hearing more young people involved and committed to vote. That can’t be good for the PC’s. But never overestimate how stupid voters can be…Rob Ford, for example. Or Wynne after all of the scandals and lies Ontario Liberals were reelected twice! Not the Ontario Tories have picked an unelectable leader that’s gone on record as against marajuana, abortion, sex education and gay marriage.
Excuse me, but this is clear,y not reflexive of what REAL TAXPAYERS think of the RIGHT honourable Stephen Joeseph Harper. Silly lefties, you need to learn reality.
Emanuel Yakobov – Focus your vote on Canada rather than Israel. We have more than enough issues to deal with at home before even considering other countries, and our citizens need to be engaged here, at home, first and foremost.
I never thought that the pot debate would be first and foremost on people’s mind, given the economy is where it’s at. Did you stop people who were sitting in the food court, that could explain it. My other guess would be the arcade but those malls haven’t had arcades in years.
As for Josh and Jah-Melle there is a reason politicians don’t focus on people like you and that’s because of the apathy; no need to address your concerns if you’re not going to vote. When you graduate or decide to put down the guitar, don’t complain about the lack of well paying jobs.
Conservatives for sure. With the other parties… one looses you money, the other looses you money faster.
I don’t know how a party can “loose” you any money. But I’m not that worried my money is pretty tight.
I am truly disappointed with Canadians though I am one, to again throw in the towel with their votes with a former PM’s brat. NDP will never get my vote or Tories so even though people don’t care about the environment in Ontario or Canada still thinking we aren’t having climate change. I do care so I am going with Green Party, hoping one day they will be taken seriously instead of always being the low percentage party. Because Canadians will wake up sooner or later when it’s too late or get out of the stone age and elect a woman for PM.
There has already been a female Prime Minister – and she was a Progressive Conservative too!
Chretien lowered taxes, repeatedly. He lowered the low rate from 19% to 15% and the second lowest rate from 26% to 22% and lowered the top rate by creating a new tier that dropped it from 29% to 26%. Harper has kept those same rates the same while indexing the brackets to inflation. Harper has only lowered taxes through tax deductions and rebates. You only get a reduction if you jump through the right hoops.
No there hasn’t Kim Campbell was only an interim not an official PM and she served as the 19th Prime Minister of Canada, from June 25, 1993 to November 4, 1993. For me this is not a real representative PM to make any difference we need one that does her time as PM doesn’t count.
Unfortunately for you, you are not the arbiter of what counts as a prime minister. She served briefly in an interim capacity but as you mentioned, she is the 19th Prime Minister of Canada. Elizabeth May is almost certainly never going to be prime minister, so you are better off looking elsewhere if you want a female PM (speaking as someone who has voted Green Party in the past and who would also like a female PM).
Well, she was never “elected” PM, so the original statement was correct. She became PM when Mulroney resigned and she was selected as PC party (as it was then) leader, but her party never won an election with her as leader.
They caught me running errands at the mall while I was on lunch. The only reason I mentioned pot was it was top of mind because Harper had just said “marijuana is infinitely worse than alcohol”, and I don’t think that type of hyperbole is useful for discussions of public policy.
If you’re a banker I’m surprised that you employer hasn’t warned you about speaking with the media. I’m sure in the context of your conversation your quote makes sense as does your reply to my initial comment. On it’s own it makes you look like you’re more concerned with your buzz than economic policy or taxes.
So you’re saying if someone doesn’t vote, he/she doesn’t deserve support from the government? I vote, and I encourage others to vote, but that doesn’t mean that I believe those who have voter apathy don’t deserve services and initiatives. They’re still citizens of the country and have problems and concerns of their own.
And maybe they would vote if campaigns paid any group other than “the middle class” any attention.
Not what I said at all, but you can’t democracy to work for you if you’re not willing to put in an effort.
Do they really have issues or concerns if they’re not willing to express them or work towards change?
If you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice. It’s really quite simple.