JANE/FINCH RESIDENTS ASKED TO VOTE FOR A FAIRER TORONTO

With just 9 days to the October 25 municipal election, a coalition of community groups are hosting a community meeting to encourage local residents to make an informed vote to improve their community and protect public services.  The event will take place on Saturday, October 16 from 5pm – 8.30pm at the Driftwood Community Centre, 4401 Jane Street, Toronto.

“Just 39% of Torontonians vote, but 100% of us will be affected by the outcome of the October 25 election,” says Rosemarie Powell, local resident and member of the Jane Finch Green Jobs Coalition.  “Candidates elected this October will have a say over the future of the many critical services that our community depends upon – from schools to policing to public transit.  It’s our responsibility to meet with candidates and decide whether we want to hire them to run our city.”

Saturday’s community meeting is one of a series of events being organized by the Good jobs for All Coalition as part of its Public Services for All campaign.  The campaign aims to engage Torontonians in the election to ensure public services remain public, well-funded, and accessible to all.  The management of city services and the city’s budget has become the defining issue of the 2010 municipal election.

“We need to build up Toronto, not tear it down,” says Good Jobs for All Coalition co-chair, Winnie Ng. “If we don’t fight for the services we need to survive and thrive we risk losing them to spending cuts and privatization.   We can’t forget that a cut in spending means less funding for libraries, schools, and transit, and less quality services for all of us.”

Saturday’s non-partisan event is free and open to the public.  During the community meeting, residents will have the chance to mingle with invited candidates and interview them on topics important to them.  Residents and local public sector workers will share personal stories describing their experience with public services, both as a place of employment and as a user of the service.  Participants will also discuss ways to protect and improve public services.  Over 100 community residents are expected to attend the event.

For more go to: www.goodjobsforall.ca or contact jbell@labourcouncil.ca