- Central YMCA A summary observation:
It was a rainy night and the five candidates did not have their spirits washed clean. Another night of ignoring the truth of the opportunity. A shining light in the person of Charles Coffey was there to brighten the event which was classed as a debate. The only issue that was brought up for debate - the Toronto Dollar was not understood by any of the candidates - not to exclude Barbara Hall was slightly aware of it and spoke positively about it. Awareness is a first step , but if you are aware of something and do not understand it, that is dangerous. So Ms. Hall continues to be a dangerous person. Aside from Mr. Coffey the only other sign of over-all intelligence (aside from some of the questioners) is clearly Mr. David Miller. David has a clear understanding of the Issues - has worked on most of them in the past, and has some ideas as to how to proceed. What was really lacking in this debate -aside from debate - was vision and passion. None of the candidates have a future vision that they are working towards.. If you do not have a vision of where you are going - how will you ever get there? Vision 101 - was first taught through the Vision Changer Program that we developed in the early 90's and is now in over 35 countries. These people obviously never took it.
As a more critical point of view and addressing the issues of the evening. Nutrition was treated as a word with no understanding attached to it. What does nutrition mean? If you do not identify a meaning for nutrition - how can you implement a strategy? This excellent question was not addressed. To understand the meaning of nutrition you require a holistic approach to life. This means physical nutrition, mental nutrition, emotional nutrition and spiritual nutrition. And in each of these areas of human behaviour we need to understand how to feed that aspect of the being, and then have a program in how to implement it. This process can easily be taught as part of a holistic program of education pedagogy and can be implemented through community programs working together to see that "the whole community takes responsibility for the children". Just a breakfast fast food feeding is not an answer.
User fees was intended to be debated. Do we need them? Perhaps. Even Mr. Nunziata expressed clearly that some cannot afford them. These great debaters were sitting in a YMCA and probably had no idea how the program to assist those that cannot afford it - get to use it. The very building that they are in is an excellent example of Community participation. That is all that is necessary. A support program for any that need the support - a simple program - not too challenging as you do not want any social stigma attached to it - but a definitive program to assure that ALL have access to all facilities.. We have the facilities. The real problem is not access but rather supervision and responsibility. This must come through education in the Golden Rule - treat others as you which to be treated - and respect for property of others and society. And we need to nurture a volunteer supervision protocol in the community to enable use. But how will our Unions allow us this? That is another issue that was not brought up and is fundamental to the debate.
How do we increase the supply of licensed quality child care and parent supports? Some existing programs were addressed but none with any new ideas. This can only be addressed by looking at the larger systems in place. We would need to bring together the stakeholders in the community and address how it can be achieved. IMHO building a support network through the local BIAs may be a starting point and funded through specific Toronto Dollar programs. This would only be a stop gap suggestion as I believe we need to look at the Healthcare system, the education system, and the social welfare system in concert. It is time to apply holistic concepts to solutions and to get away from the reductionist thinking models that clearly are not working.
The real problem here is that ALL candidates (excluding myself of course) are not aware of the distinctions between reductionist thinking models and holistic thinking models. A sad statement of our times - and outside of the ken of ALL media that I am aware of. (I am open to debate this with any media mental giant that you care to bring forth).
With regards to developing more affordable family housing. There were some ideas brought forth - even by Mr Tory who likely does not remember the (H.O.M.E. ) Home Ownership Made Easy program of the late sixties as he expressed the idea as a new concept. This program - where land is rented to the homeowner under a long term lease has value in lowering the costs on new housing - but ignores the reality today as interest rates are going down in any regard and is not such a problem as it was in the past. The problem here is how to develop systems of support for families when they run into trouble as our systems go through "shifting" job allocations. Our vacancy rate in Toronto is up over 3% and rents are coming down. But does this help the family? I do not believe so. This must be addressed with a larger overview and a future vision of how we might like it to be in the future in downtown Toronto - The development of the Portlands is case in point. How will affordable Family housing be able to exist in this $17 billion dollar development? None of the candidates even contemplated the issue.
And lastly City Budget. Other than the Toronto Dollar suggestion to this meeting there was NO ideas of how to create new funds to support the education and lives of our children.
In short - this was not a debate on children's issues - no mention of content, no mention of values - no mention of process - just more rhetoric by some old thinkers that are really stinkers.
Our children deserve more, and better than these myopic thinkers are able to deliver.
Where is the teaching of democratic values? How are children to understand ethics when they watch this electoral campaign. My 10 Year old knows better than these people about ethics and values - perhaps she should teach them what democracy means. And how will you in the media react when you too are culpable in a distorted process of achieving democratic values and ethical considerations? I leave it for you to consider. As Mr Coffey said in his closing remarks - it is up to each of us to remember that it is up to us and not the Mayors. What will you do for our children? And when?
May peace be with you as you try to be the best that you can be.
Mitch Gold
/Peacemaker.
From desk of: Mitchell Gold for more info: www.homeplanet.org/mayorgold
International Association of Educators for World Peace
Vice President North American Affairs (IAEWP)
2 Bloor Street West
Suite 100-209
Toronto, Ontario
M4W 3E2
Telephone: 416-924-4449
Email: mgold@homeplanet.org
