Ford kin faces a Ford loyalist in Ward 1
Councillor Vince Crisanti canvases Etobicoke North in the final week of his re-election campaign. Incumbents have similar views on taxes, transit
In Ward 1, Etobicoke North, home to neighbourhoods long beset by high unemployment, low salaries and inadequate transit, two conservative councillors with intertwined pasts are doing electoral battle.
Vince Crisanti was elected with help from then-councillor Rob Ford in the new ward’s northernmost section in 2010, and claims loyalty to the famous family that includes Premier Doug Ford. Michael Ford, the young nephew of those politicians, won the seat to the south in a 2016 byelection triggered by Rob Ford’s death, and is the only city council candidate officially endorsed by the premier.
The cut in council seats forced by Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government — and long advocated by Rob — pushed their wards together, setting up a surprisingly bitter contest.
“Not every Ford is the same, quite frankly, and this Ford doesn’t have the background, the experience, the life skills,” to lead the big new ward, Crisanti said. He accuses Michael Ford of failing to maintain Rob’s famed reputation for good, prompt customer service for residents.
Michael Ford, not surprisingly, disagrees while adding that he is trying to run a “positive” re-election bid.
“I have been to people’s doors. There is absolutely no difference or veering away from how Rob did his work,” he said, noting his youthful outlook and en- ergy. “I learned a lot from Rob’s work.”
Both claim some credit for a full casino going into Woodbine race track with a community benefits agreement guaranteeing Rexdale residents share in the windfall, and vow to help keep property taxes low, spur job creation and improve transit to an area now reliant on buses.
Naiima Farah, one of seven other Ward 1 council candidates, says neither incumbent would deliver what will really help the 118,000-plus residents, more than three-quarters of whom are visible minorities, with an average household income of $73,734 — 28 per cent below the citywide average.
“We need real change. We need to provide equitable opportunities in a city that says diversity is our strength and we need fair wages to help make prosperity equitable,” for Black Torontonians and other residents, said Farah, a licensed social worker and rookie candidate.
Farah criticized Crisanti’s July 17 tweet — “We lost close to 800 officers, took them out of schools and out of communities (and) eliminated carding; it will only get worse unless we get serious about hiring and reinstate all of the above” — in response to a police comment about gun violence. A flood of police and the return of random checks would hurt rather than help the community, she says.
Crisanti makes no apologies for lobbying for increased police presence or for supporting the austerity agendas of Rob Ford and Mayor John Tory, who last fall stripped Crisanti of his deputy mayor status after Crisanti said he would support Doug Ford if he ran for mayor against Tory.
“I’ve always been fiscally responsible but when it comes to jobs in this area, turning it around, I am always happy to help people,” Crisanti said, pointing to work getting council to approve a casino at Woodbine in 2015, before Michael Ford’s election.
Michael Ford said he got investment for parks and other projects in his ward, but added, “I don’t think we just revert to higher taxes to solve serious problems.” When the Woodbine casino community benefits agreement was before city council last April, Ford was among four councillors who originally voted against enhancements to the deal supported by Tory and Crisanti. Ford later voted for the amended agreement.
“I didn’t want to tamper with anything that might make (the deal) go sideways,” by adding obligations for the casino operator, Ford says now, acknowledging the deal survived the extra conditions.
Other candidates interviewed include:
Christopher Noor, who says he has been campaigning since losing a 2014 bid for the Ward 1 seat. He is promising to fight for new affordable housing and other services for low-income residents.
Michelle Garcia, a grocery store worker who lost in Ward 2 in 2014. She says as councillor she would draw on her past experience in the shelter system to “advocate for little guy who doesn’t have a voice,” at city hall.
Carol Royer, who ran as an independent in Parkdale-High Park in the 2015 federal election. She says she would fight to boost affordable housing, employment and recreational while reducing gun violence.
Shirish Patel, a condo manager, who says he would work to increase public safety, find job opportunities for youth and improve rules around tenant and landlord issues.
The Star was unable to reach Peter D’Gama and Gurinder Patri.