Community building in Toronto Centre

The following is an excerpt from my speech at the Green Party of Ontario's June 7 nomination meeting in the riding of Toronto Centre.

Although it is true that I have only lived in Toronto for a relatively short amount of time, I have come to greatly appreciate the city’s rich ecological and cultural history, which in my opinion, is captured best by Gordon McIvor, who described the city in the Toronto Star, “as the most successful experiment in diversity, tolerance and cultural richness that this continent has ever produced.” Toronto has the second-highest percentage of foreign-born residents among world cities, over 40% of which belong to a visible minority.

However, one of the biggest challenges we face, is the fact that Greens, as Peter Gorrie of the Toronto Star has written, are mostly white and middle class. In a June 2 article, titled, “Why are greens so white?”, Gorrie identified the biggest obstacle that our party faces.

In Canada,” Gorrie says, “the environment has traditionally focused on nature, the north, and green spaces. There’s been little focus on gritty urban issues, such as connections among pollution, poverty, race, housing, public transit, health care, and social justice, which aren’t defined as part of the environmental movement.”

However, when greens do step outside the comfort zone, we get great results. The Toronto Environmental Alliance works with a variety of groups, including those involved in low-income housing and racial equality. And the alliance’s work shows visible minorities are interested in the environment. As Katrina Miller of the alliance put it, “We know, when we go out and connect with the communities, other than the white middle class, we can get great action.”

And by building on the inclusiveness that only the Green Party can offer, I believe we can begin one of the most crucial tasks, which is comnunity building. By reaching out beyond our comfort zone we can connect with the residents of Tornoto Centre.

My name is Mike McLean and I am running for the candidacy of Toronto Centre to offer the reality of choice. As Canadian philosopher John Raulston Saul has said, ‘To believe in the reality of choice is the most basic characteristic of leadership.’

This is our time. We have a vision for Ontario. A vision that goes beyond the next budget, and beyond the next election. A vision for an Ontario that is fair and democratic to everyone. An Ontario with healthy communities, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy.

Choose the future, vote green. Thank you.