Thornhill heading to the polls in February
Candidates pulling out all the stops for provincial byelection
Post City Magazine
February 2014
By Bree Rody-Mantha
Liberal candidate Sandra Yeung Racco toured Thornhill with Justin Trudeau.
Following the resignation of Conservative member of provincial parliament for Thornhill Peter Shurman, voters in the riding will head to the polls on Feb. 13 to elect a new representative at Queen’s Park. The candidates for the three major parties are hard at work on campaigns. Coun. Sandra Yeung Racco, whose husband, Mario Racco, represented the riding from 2003 to 2007, is the Liberal candidate. Beverly Glen Ratepayers Association president Gila Martow is running on behalf of the Conservative party. Representing the New Democrats is Cindy Hackelberg, who ran in the riding for the 2011 election.
Though many of the candidates’ issues of importance were the same — all three expressed concerns about decreasing unemployment and enhancing local transit — each came with a different approach.
“When I look at cars or buses on the road, I’m thinking about the people in them, [because] I’m a taxpayer, too,” said Martow.
Hackelberg thinks her experiences may be a bit more hands-on. “I think I’m the only candidate who is a commuter,” said Hackelberg, who rides the train to Toronto daily. “This is about making things affordable for families in Thornhill.”
Yeung Racco, who was able to kick off her campaign with federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau by her side, says she’s choosing not to focus on her competition. “I welcome all competition, but my focus is on my goals,” she said. Instead, she’s focused on building up Premier Kathleen Wynne. “She’s been investing in people and in infrastructures.”
But Hackelberg and Martow have not embraced that ideology and have taken the opportunity to capitalize on the Liberal government’s recent controversies, such as the GTA gas plant cancellations and the eHealth and Ornge scandals. “[Wynne] had a hand in the gas plants,” said Martow.
Hackelberg also didn’t hold back. “I think people are ready for change,” she said. “People don’t trust the current government. They’re disappointed in the amount of waste.”
