Brampton politicians out early

 

It was a political convergence of the unlikely kind at Brampton's Mount Royal Public School, where mayoral candidate Bruce Haines, a one-time Green Party candidate, turned up promptly at 10 a.m.

The school sits in the centre of an enclave of middle-class and excutive homes near Airport Road, north of Boivard, which is designed in the Parisian arrondissement style.

If it's not in the architecture, perhaps there's something in the water there, because it was like a political homecoming this morning. Also voting at the school were local Conservative Parm Gill, who came a close second to Liberal Ruby Dhalla in the federal Brampton-Springdale riding two years ago.

Frank Corvese, who is running for Wards 9 and 10 on regional council, was also there voting with his wife, Eve.

Haines was upbeat, greeting neighbours and voters on his way to and from his Chevy Tahoe. He talked about the need to increase Brampton's sustainability and his desire to attract one or more university campuses to the northwest of the city, even though he knows some people would like to see that kind of facility go into the downtown.

While he campaigned on an anti-sprawl platform, Haines said this election has mostly been about integrity, since Mayor Susan Fennell's commuity fund has been making headlines for its failure to disclose its finances.

But in the diverse community of Brampton, he said, many people may not have absorbed the gravity of the situation.

Comments

[Sean]

Wait a second - the former Green Party candidate drives a Chevy Tahoe?