Toronto-Danforth to Mr. Layton: Where are ye, Jack?

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Hardly a lazybones, our Jack Layton. The NDP leader spends countless hours on the road and, undoubtedbly, pounds the pavement in his Toronto-Danforth riding. I couldn't find an itinerary at Layton's website, but (to be fair) the House just adjourned for the summer and he's likely taking a break.

But, I've lived in Layton's riding for five years, during which time we've had three federal elections, and he's never been to my door. Now, I admit I could have missed him, but I doubt it. NDP volunteers have been around and, like other political parties, left "Sorry, we missed you" tags. I've never found one saying the leader had been by. (Of course, for my job, I've talked to him countless times.)

I raise this because earlier this week, I opened my door on a steamy Toronto day to meet Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu - the Green Party's new candidate in the riding. She wanted to introduce herself, pass out some information and assure me she'd be back over the summer. Her card notes that, as a mother of five, she's "increasingly concerned about the climate and resource challenges my children will face." She lists groups she's involved with, including Post Carbon Toronto, Amnesty International and JustEarth. 

The underdog does the gruntwork and Mugnatto-Hamu is no exception. In Toronto-Danforth in last October's election, Layton sailed to victory with 20,416 votes (45 percent) to Green Party candidate Sharon Howarth's third place finish with 5,995 votes (13.2 percent). Liberal Andrew Lang was second (13,291 and 29.3 percent). There's virtually no chance an unknown like Mugnatto-Hamu could sneak up on a party leader like Jack Layton in the next federal election.

Right?

Comments

[Thomas]

I wonder what Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu thinks about the issue of the over-population of the earth and the astronomical challenges that it brings to the environment. Being in the Green Party, she must realize that if everyone had 5 children, the earth's population would soon double, making our efforts to survive without famine, water shortages, wars, etc., simply impossible. The first priority of anyone who cares about our children's future should be to sustain or decrease the earth's population. How can we be sure that this candidate will practice what she preaches?
T.

[Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu]

Hi Thomas,

I agree that over-population of the Earth brings astronomical challenges to the environment. Three of my children are adopted - two from Brazil, one from Korea. Initially, I thought they would all be adopted, but it worked out differently.

I won't promise you to always live as greenly as possible. I strive, as so many of us do, to always do a bit better, but my kids do tend to leave the lights on and I've been known to take last-minute cabs when the TTC won't get me where I need to be in time. I tried to do a 100-mile all-vegetarian organic diet beginning in November one year and failed miserably.

The reason I entered politics is not to preach to others, nor even to lead by example, but to implement the sort of structural changes that will make it easier for everyone to make the choices that will lead to a better future for all of Canada's children.

Best, Adriana

[Sandra (Sandy) Sutton]

I find myself very conflicted about this upcoming election. I took CBC's political survey and discovered that the Green Party best represented my views. However, I am very much against the current government's disdain for our parliamentary system and feel that my best bet would be to vote for the Liberal party as the party most likely to defeat the Harper party. On the other had I think it's very important that the Greens be represented in the house. What is your argument for voting Green to people like me, who are considering strategically voting Libertal just to get rid of our current government?