Date set, but Etobicoke vote still uncertain

Mayor favours Nov. 25 byelection to replace Holyday, but others continuing to lobby for caretaker appointment

Voters in Ward 3, Etobicoke Centre, will go to the polls Nov. 25, if city council calls a byelection to replace former councillor Doug Holyday.

Mayor Rob Ford has said repeatedly he wants a byelection to be held, at a cost of up to $225,000, because residents deserve an elected representative.

Ford has called a community meeting in the ward this week to whip up support for a byelection.

Others, however, including Holyday himself, would prefer appointing someone in a caretaker role, to finish out the final year of the four-year term before the next general election on Oct. 27, 2014.

Councillor Ana Bailao, a centrist on council, said that with three-quarters of the council term completed, she’s leaning toward supporting an appointment.

Bailao said she was concerned about the cost of holding a byelection so close to the regular election, noting that campaigning for the 2014 election can start as early as January.

“There are so many needs in this city we could spend that money on,” Bailao said. “I know that democracy shouldn’t have a price, but it’s a few months. I think someone (appointed by council) could do a good job for a few months for us.”

The seat became vacant because Holyday was elected Progressive Conservative MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore in the Aug. 1 provincial byelection to replace former MPP Laurel Broten.

Former Toronto District School Board trustee John Campbell, who grew up in Ward 3, is advocating for a byelection and wants to run.

“In an age of declining voter participation and interest, it would be kind of a slap in the face to voters for them just to appoint somebody,” Campbell said.

“I don’t think someone who’s appointed would have the same level of commit- ment to the task at hand and responding to constituents’ needs than if they were voted in,” he added.

In recent years, council has appointed caretaker representatives when a councillor has left mid-term.

Appointments were made in 2005, when former councillor Olivia Chow ran for federal office, and Bas Balkissoon ran provincially. In 2006, a caretaker was picked when Gerry Altobello quit to be appointed a justice of the peace.

City council will meet next Monday to decide which route to take.

Existing council policy calls for a byelection if there’s at least a year left in the term, so Ford is following policy by supporting a byelection.

In that case, advance polls would be set for Nov. 16 and 17, with voting day on Nov. 25

However, council is not bound by a policy set by a previous council and is free to choose an appointment, city staff say.