JACK PULLS OUT OF THE LOCAL DEBATE LAST MINUTE — an open letter from a constituent.

Dear Jack Layton,

My name is Gabe.  I’ve lived in Toronto-Danforth for 21 years.  I haven’t been a voter very long.  But every time I’ve voted in a federal election, I’ve voted for you. 

But this time, you’ve lost my support.  You take my vote for granted.  You insult me and my neighbours by asking for our votes, and then lie to us when we ask if you’re going to be here in Toronto-Danforth to debate the local issues.

On October 5th, I called your campaign office.  I asked your staff if you were going to be at the debate.  I asked your staff if I was finally going to get the chance to hear you speak to me about the issues that you purport to fight for.  Well, they lied to me.  They told me you were going to debate.  They told me you cared about the local issues, and that you cared about local voters. 

So why are you in BC?  You didn’t think I’d find this, did you?  It’s an article from the Comox (BC) Valley Record.  It says, in plain language, that while you’re supposed to be in Toronto-Danforth at a debate that was scheduled at a time that you said was convenient for you, you’re going to be speaking to a crowd of Vancouver Island residents.  The article says it’s your second time in that riding since August.  How many times have you been in Toronto-Danforth since August??  Well, your campaign office says ONCE.  Once.  It’s shameful – but then again, they could be lying to me about that too.

I can’t believe the arrogance.  I can’t believe the disrespect.  You tried to pull a fast one on your constituents, Jack, and we’ve had enough.  Between now and October 14th, Mr. Layton, you’ve got one hell of a lot of explaining to do.

Respectfully,

Gabe.

Where’s Jack??

My name is Gabe. I’ve lived in the riding of Toronto-Danforth my entire life. Toronto-Danforth is known across the country for its strong community. It’s the Danforth, East York, Chinatown East, Little India and the Gerrard Street Bazaar, Leslieville, Greektown, and Riverdale – we’re a riding of communities.

For as long as I could vote in federal elections, I’ve only ever voted NDP. But this election’s different. Like so many of you, I’m tired of the kind of representation that our Member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth, Jack Layton, has been giving us. I’m tired of the political calculations (bringing down the Martin government, and bringing in Stephen Harper), the empty rhetoric, and the promises that Jack has never had the opportunity to break. I’m tired of Jack Layton – of his unwillingness to debate local issues in Toronto-Danforth, and of his undemocratic attempts to prevent the Green Party from debating nationally.

For the community of communities that is Toronto-Danforth, I believe that Local Matters. And while Jack is off travelling the country on his airplane, Andrew Lang and the Liberals are in our community, knocking on doors, meeting neighbours, working to build a richer Toronto-Danforth, a fairer Toronto-Danforth, and a greener Toronto-Danforth. But all we see of Jack in Toronto-Danforth are his lawn-signs, and news-clips of his empty speeches to NDP rallies hundreds of kilometres of away.

This is a site for all of us who deserve strong local representation. It’s a site for all of us who deserve a local advocate who knows our community, and who lives in our community. It’s a site for all of us who wonder, every day: Where’s Jack??