John Tory to host mayoral Debate on “Building a Fair Toronto for All”

EQUITY TORONTO & GOOD JOBS FOR ALL COALITION

For information:
Jessica Bell,
416 937 0076, jbell@labourcouncil.ca

Alina Chatterjee,
416.392.0335 ext.230, alina@scaddingcourt.org

Profiles of spokespeople available to speak in multiple languages, including
French, Tamil, Italian, English, Spanish, Cantonese, Hindi, Punjabi, and Mandarin.
Profiles are online: http://goodjobsforall.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Spokespeople-for-the-Public-Services-for-All-Campaign-August-26-2010-3.pdf


John Tory to host mayoral Debate on “Building a Fair Toronto for All”
Radio host John Tory to Moderate; Keynote Speaker, Hamlin Grange

Equity Toronto and the Good Jobs for All Coalition are hosting a public mayoral debate to assess the candidates’ positions on building a fair Toronto for all on Tuesday, September 14 from 7pm to 9pm at Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave, University of Toronto, St. George Campus.

Following an opening speech by Hamlin Grange, moderator, John Tory, will ask the mayoral candidates questions that reveal their position on tackling inequity, and ensuring good public services and good jobs are available to all.

“We must reverse the growing gap between the haves and have-nots in our city,” says Anita Khanna, interim executive director of the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians. “Good public services that are informed by the communities they serve, that provide good jobs for all, and address the needs of all Torontonians help foster a thriving fair city.  Torontonians deserve to vote on October 25 knowing whether our mayoral candidates will use our public sector to build a fair city for all or one scarred by inequality.”

“Making sure our public services are planned, managed and delivered in a way that ensures they are accessible to everyone is becoming this year’s top election issue,” says Tam Goossen, co-chair of the Good Jobs for All Coalition.  “We have elected officials who are cutting funding to services, such as the TTC. We also have politicians who are threatening to privatize our assets, like Toronto Hydro.  But slashing budgets and selling off services to be run for profit is no way to address our city’s inequalities.”

Equity Toronto and the Good Jobs for All Coalition believe building a fair city means ensuring all Torontonians have a say in how public services are designed and delivered, as well as equal access to publicly owned and well-funded services and good jobs.

Equity Toronto and the Good Jobs for All Coalition are affiliated with over 70 organizations, including Toronto’s unions, social service agencies, environmental, social justice and community groups.   Collectively, these organizations represent over 200,000 Torontonians.

Six mayoralty candidates will participate in this event. The candidates were chosen based on their standing in the polls and their responses to a questionnaire sent to all candidates that gauges a candidate’s position on how they intend to build a fair Toronto.