We had a great turnout to our federal candidates meeting last night. DECA would like to thank Lindsay (Swooping Hawk) Kretschmer for her moderation of the debate, as well as the Board volunteers who worked to bring the event together under a very short timeline.
You can watch the recording on our youtube channel. Apologies for the giant timer taking up the screen! (Zoom records what it wants, not what the host has set up on the screen, we have learned. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErvQjBTTK3c
For a comprehensive comparison of the party platforms, we like this CBC site: https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/federal/2021/party-platforms/#section-pipelines
Our blog writer Tina Novotny has prepared this description of the candidates running:
BEACHES-EAST YORK FEDERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES
In this snap election, there is a full slate of candidates vying for the MP seat of Beaches-East York.
LIBERAL
Two-time incumbent (2015, 2019) Nathaniel Erskine-Smith goes by “Nate” in the community. Erskine-Smith lists ten priorities on his election website, detailing the bills he’s introduced and other ways he’s acted on important issues. Serious Climate Action is priority #1, and other planks in his platform cover poverty reduction, a public health approach to drug use, supporting reconciliation, and strengthening animal protection. Nate holds a Master of Laws from Oxford University. He hosts a popular podcast called “Uncommons”.
NDP
The NDP candidate in Beaches-East York is Alejandra Ruiz Vargas. Ruiz Vargas is a frontline worker at Fred Victor Housing and is Chair of the East York Chapter of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) Canada, leading anti-poverty activism. Originally from Bogotá, Columbia, Ruiz Vargas lives with her daughter in Toronto, and promises bold action on climate change and green jobs, pharma, vision and dental care, and reforming immigration law to protect human rights.
GREEN PARTY
The Green Party candidate in Beaches-East York is Reuben DeBoer. The former Eglinton-Lawrence candidate for the Green Party in the last federal and provincial elections, De Boer has now moved to the Beaches-East York riding. He recently retired after an 11-year military career as a reservist artillery officer and currently works as for a medical laboratory diagnostics company. DeBoer holds a master’s degree in sustainability and took part in a United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
COMMUNIST
The Communist Party of Canada candidate in Beaches-East York is Jennifer Moxon, who also goes by “Moxie”. Moxon has worked on the frontlines of social services for two decades and is seeking a “People’s Recovery” this election, with investment in green infrastructure, increased corporate taxation, and a focus on Indigenous rights. Moxon says the inequalities revealed by the COVID19 pandemic need to be addressed. Connecting the social and climate crises, her party’s platform prioritizes people over profit.
PEOPLE’S PARTY
The People’s Party candidate in Beaches-East York is Radu Rautescu. Rautescu was born in Romania and has been a naturalized Canadian since 1993. Rautescu vows to fight relentlessly for minimal government intervention, protecting Canadians from censorship, restoring Indigenous trust, building a strong Canadian identity, sustainable immigration and ensuring the prosperity of Canadians.
DECA is excited to host a candidates meeting for the upcoming federal election in the Beaches-East York riding this Monday, September 13 at 7pm. The meeting will be moderated by Lindsay (Swooping Hawk) Kretschmer, executive director of the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council.
Pre-arranged questions for candidates come from the community, the DECA board, and the moderator. We extended invitations to the four candidates representing the Liberals, Conservatives (not attending), Green and NDP based on the criteria set out Federal leader debates, which is:
(i): on the date the general election is called, the party is represented in the House of Commons by a Member of Parliament who was elected as a member of that party; or
(ii): the party’s candidates for the most recent general election received at that election at least 4% of the number of valid votes cast; or
(iii): five days after the date the general election is called, the party receives a level of national support of at least 4%, determined by voting intention, and as measured by leading national public opinion polling organizations, using the average of those organizations’ most recently publicly-reported results.
(Source: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/leaders-debates-commissioner-david-johnston-sets-participation-criteria-for-next-federal-general-election-843285606.html)
The meeting will be in a webinar format with time for questions from the audience. Here is the invitation:
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Sep 13, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Beaches-East York Candidates Meeting
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87846271984
Or One tap mobile :
Canada: +15873281099,,87846271984# or +16473744685,,87846271984#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
Canada: +1 587 328 1099 or +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588 or +1 778 907 2071 or +1 204 272 7920 or +1 438 809 7799
US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 301 715 8592
Webinar ID: 878 4627 1984
International numbers available: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kc6N1unx5X
Please note that we are awaiting consent from the candidates before we can assure a recording of this event.
Last week was the first week for our new vendor, Simret, who lives in the area and grows her AMAZING veggies at a farm in Brampton — how’s that for local?
Sept. 2 is first market of the month which means 32 Spokes will be on hand to do light repairs to your bike and give you great city cycling info! Look for them by the path in the park, 3-6pm.
Our market tees were a popular item last week but we still have some left! We’ve got unisex and fitted styles in S-XXL, $25 or pair it with a DECA membership for $40 (normally $45).
We are still collecting your black plastic containers for Case Reuse. Make sure they are clean and have their matching lids, then drop them off in the DECA tent when you come for your t-shirt!
Final market news… Oy’s Joys will be away this week as it’s Olivia’s birthday. Make sure to wish her a happy belated on Sept. 9’s market! This will be the last week for the wading pool, so don’t forget your flippers!
The market runs 3-7 pm at East Lynn Park, 1949 Danforth Ave.
Coming soon to a screen in your home! We are excited to host an all-candidates meeting for the upcoming federal election in the Beaches-East York riding on Monday, September 13, 7:00-8:30. The meeting will be moderated by Lindsay (Swooping Hawk) Kretschmer, executive director of the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council.
Please submit your questions in advance using this form: Questions for Candidates Questions may be themed/fused with other similar questions to allow for the most questions to be answered. All people whose questions are asked during the debate will be cited by the name submitted on the form.
The meeting will be in a webinar format. The link will be available at deca.to.
So excited that we now have East Lynn Market tees! Just like our produce, these tees are local and sweet! Artist Heather Corbin did our design, which we had screened at KT8 print shop in Scarborough. (The tee shirts themselves are from M&O knits, a vertically integrated, eco-minded company in Mexico.) Get yours while supplies last!
Tees are $25 (or $40 with a DECA membership!) with proceeds going to DECA’s work on the market and other community events. We will have them for sale in the DECA tent every week at the market, Thursdays 3-7 in East Lynn Park.
Questions? email green@deca.to
