Calgary has become the first major city in North America with more than one million people to elect a Muslim mayor. A reader writes:
I was reading the Toronto Star this morning about how Calgary elected a young intellectual Muslim, the author of the article said that Calgary has the intelligence and the courage. Why is it that the most multicultural city in Canada (or the world) who you identified as part of a megacity, can’t produce fresh blood, who truly cares about revitalization, about stopping urban sprawl and improving public transportation, like the newly elected mayor of Alberta? I live in London, Ontario, and the choices here are even more dismal.
That’s the question all of us in Toronto and in major cities across North America should be asking.
October 20th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
I also live in London, Ontario – we can’t change much this year but there is a growing community that is looking to 2014 already. I hope your reader will get involved.
http://www.hackthevote.ca
http://london.changecamp.ca
October 20th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
In London, mainstream media has classified everyone but the current mayor and her main competitor (a former MP) as ‘fringe’ and ‘crazy’. The marginalization of new candidates has made it impossible for that sort of magic to happen here. Reporters from the London Free Press and AM980 seem to be interested in the status quo. Meanwhile, independent ‘fringe’ media has been more professional, open and engaging.
I think we’re too stuck in our ways here in Ontario, focusing on the same industry, the same politicians, and the same ’solutions’ to new problems.
October 20th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Looks like Nanshi is an Obama-style charismatic progressive, voted in by a plurality (not majority). So Nanshi will be under huge pressure to deliver on his vision. Can he succeed where Obama is faltering?
October 20th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
because along with revitalization, public transit, and “stopping sprawl,” and things that actually improve life, usually come other predilections that create “charismatic progressives,” as Mike L phrases it, who, like Obama, can’t stop themselves and fail.
October 20th, 2010 at 11:55 pm
Rocco Rossi was a non-career politician who seemed to have some fresh ideas but wasn’t able to get his message across effectively enough to even make it through the campaign. Rob Ford by comparison has been highly effective in sticking to simple key messages that seem to resonate with voters. When you’re stuck in grid-lock “ending the war on the car” sounds like a great idea. The reality is managing a city as large and complex as Toronto requires a thoughtful reasoned approach but most voters are simply not prepared to make a real effort to understand the issues and hear from a candidate that wants to tackle these issues in a thoughtful and dare I say truthful way. We want to listen to the candidate that presents easy solutions but the reality is there are no easy solutions. It’s more true than ever – we get the government that we deserve.