I've heard that some parties are meddling in the Toronto election - sending out their 'machines' to ensure that loyal party members get elected to city council seats - so that they can push their affiliated party agendas.
Do you agree with this practice or do you think that the parties should stay out of municipal politics and allow the individuals to govern Toronto, rather than being beholden to the political parties that placed them there?
Since the beginning of time, the parties have been involved in municipal elections. Why shouldn't they? If someone is a federal Tory and they want to volunteer on the campaign of a small c conservative running for city council, that is their right. Also realistically in a city the size of Toronto it's almost impossible to build an electoral machine without tapping into what the parties can offer.
The most electorial successful municipal party in the country is the Burnaby Citizens Association. It has an NDP flavour because of its membership restrictions but it is its own party. For two elections in a row they have won all the seats on council and they have owned the Mayor's chair for decades because every one of the partys Mayors have provided good governance.
I acknowledge that I meet the requirements for membership in the Burnaby Citizens Association (BCA), specifically that I:
a) reside in the City of Burnaby, and
b) am a member in good standing of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP), and
c) am not a member or supporter of another civic political party or independent candidate running in opposition to the BCA in Burnaby, and
d) have paid the membership fee of $10.00 (please include payment by cheque or credit card with this application form - cash is not accepted), and
e) have included with this Application for Membership a legible photocopy of identification that confirms my name and address and includes my signature (one piece of ID that confirms my name, address and signature or two pieces of ID with one that includes my name and signature and the other with my name and current address).
Do you agree with this practice or do you think that the parties should stay out of municipal politics and allow the individuals to govern Toronto, rather than being beholden to the political parties that placed them there?
Whenever you get large groups of people together, those who think alike will align themselves and sort of act as a unit. Anyone who follows politics on municipal councils will understand where those alliances are. I think it's wise to do as BC has done and open the municipal field to political parties so that at the very least those alliances are out in the open so everyone can see plainly.
