City Council's Lack Of Diversity Irks Voters

City Council's Lack Of Diversity Irks Voters
Friday October 20, 2006
They represent you at City Hall but do they really represent Toronto as a whole?

You'll be getting a chance to tell your local councillor exactly what you think of his or her work on your behalf when the election is held November 13th.

But many communities in the city are wondering why, when they look at council chambers, they don't see their own ethnic members sitting in the seats.

Many believe it's because voters tend to re-elect the same people over and over again.

"The way elections are structured right now, it's heavily weighed in the favour of the incumbents," suggests Karen Sun of the Chinese Council of Canada. Her group has launched an offensive to change that before the big vote.

Of 44 councillors, almost all are white and most are men. Only 13 women and just two visible minorities make up the rest of the politicians at City Hall.

"It's the same ideas that are going around and around and around, and I think if you have someone who comes from a different background, from a different culture, from a different part of the world who might speak a different language, there is a different way of thinking," Sun believes.

Some advocacy groups want fixed terms as a way to encourage diversity on council, but others are sure the entire system needs a major overhaul.

"I think more should be there, but is the opportunity there for them to present themselves is another matter," worries voter Eleanor Campbell.

"It sounds unfair," adds Abie Takeuchi. "But I don't know what the cure is."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Toronto
• Election
• 2006
• Votes
• City
• Council
• Lack
• of
• Diversity

[IndividualAutonomy]

@janewarrant

Actually they don't. They lower the standards and put in quotas. They couldn't even get the representation they have now based on merit alone. Why should a private business have to hire people they don't want? Why should economic policy be held down by diversity fantasies? One part is for sure. Diversity is not a strength. It is a weakness.

[janewarrant]

If you are talking about employment equity or affirmative action then it because minorities get discriminated against. If you live in Toronto you will get a chance at least half the jobs. They only do it when two people are equally qualified for the job. Otherwise they would lose money doing it. Stop complaining and blaming minorities for your own failures.

[phexus82]

The Whole diversity issue bugs the hell out of me.. I wish it would go away.. If a minority is qualified, hire them, if not, don't.. simple as that.. Don't hire them simply because they ARE a minority.. My friend didn't get a job today because she wasn't "Diverse" enough, even though she was really REALLY qualified for the job and had allready been working for the place for months and had demonstrated that she could do the job very well... Its so unfair..