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Let me remind you of your right, but not a word about duty

City_View_column1I’m not going to tell you to vote.

I’m not going to be one of those people who blathers on telling you about how it’s your democratic right and so on.

What I will tell you, however, is the most important vote you have is for your councillor.

A city councillor is the politician who most directly impacts your life. Decisions made by federal and provincial politicians impact you, but in more of an abstract way.

Are cars speeding down your street? It’s your councillor who can introduce traffic-calming measures.

Is a developer looking to raze half your street and put in a massive condominium? It’s your councillor who will go to bat for you and fight intensification.

Is the rusty swing set in your park falling apart? It’s your councillor who can secure funding from the city’s parks department to fix it.

The trees that fell in the ice storm, the basements that have flooded, and even the lead service lines some homeowners have their water come through — the most directly impactful aspects of living in the city are dealt with by your city councillor.

The mayor can have a hand in these things, but is not present in the day-to-day functioning of your ward, street or home.

Choosing who to elect as your representative at City Hall is of vital importance to how your neighbourhood functions within Toronto.

Whoever you decide to support, it is incumbent (no pun intended) upon you to make sure you trust this person will be there for you when cars race down your street, when developers come knocking and when parks begin to weather.

On Oct. 27 you will decide who bears that responsibility and who will be your sole voice on the issues that impact your life, and that of your family, most directly.

Be vigilant in your research, ask the difficult questions of your candidates and be satisfied that you’re marking an X beside the right person for the job, because your neighbourhood depends on it.

It’s your right to be represented well.

But I’m not going to tell you to vote.