How Do Suburban & Downtown Voters Differ?

Torontonians are largely united when it comes to issues facing the city, but geography appears to be playing a big role in determining who will be the next person to sit in the mayor’s chair.

There are claims that Rob Ford has spurred suburbanites to rise up against downtown-centric governance at City Hall, but do those who live in the hustle-and-bustle of the core differ so much from their fellow voters in the outer reaches of the city?

Not really, according to Jodi Shanoff, vice president of public affairs at Angus Reid Canada.

“Anytime we’ve looked at unhappiness in Toronto, it’s been pretty universal,” she told CityNews.ca.

A Citytv/Toronto Star poll conducted by Angus Reid shows Ford and George Smitherman in a virtual dead heat with 41 per cent and 40 per cent support respectively. Joe Pantalone trails significantly with just 16 per cent support.

“To a certain extent, familiarity plays a big part,” Shanoff explained. “Rob Ford, his home base is in Etobicoke, so he’s coming from a more suburban perspective.

“Mr. Smitherman, as a political representative, he’s always been affiliated more with the downtown area. So just by virtue of each candidate’s history and familiarity goes a long way when it comes to deciding who you’re going to vote for, they start from that position.”

CityNews.ca spoke with city council candidates and voters in two wards on the edges of the city (Ward 1, Etobicoke North and Ward 42, Scarborough-Rouge River) and in the heart of the downtown core (Ward 18, Davenport and Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina) to find out what sets the ‘burbs apart from the core.

The Suburban Wards

Etobicoke North: Ward profile

Ford-endorsed candidate Vincent Crisanti says taxes are the biggest issue he’s hearing about as he knocks on doors around the ward. He says people are angry because taxes continue to rise while services decline. 

“The $60 vehicle registration tax, that’s a big issue,” he said.

“Why is it just us and it’s not any other municipality around Ontario? North of Steeles, they don’t have to pay the $60.”

Ward incumbent Suzan Hall said while taxes are a great concern, especially among Ford supporters, she’s hearing more people frustrated by the bad state of some roads.

Hall also said public transit has been a key issue people bring up when she’s door-knocking.

She conducted a survey involving about 2,800 residents and said 86 per cent were in favour of having the Finch LRT come through their area.

“Everyone would love subways, but we have to face the reality of the cost of subways, the length of time it would take,” she said.

Voter Vishnu Persaud, 60, said transit is a big priority for him.

“You’ve got to wait a long time on the road … they need more buses on the road,” he said at the Albion Mall.

Persaud said he was initially a Sarah Thomson supporter and is now leaning toward Smitherman.

A public transit platform will also be a big deciding factor for a 20-year-old York University student named Caitlin.

“Transportation, definitely, in this area is horrible.”

“The bus shelters are horrible; most of them don’t have any protection, really. And there’s no seating, which sucks. And the buses don’t go where you need to go. They don’t come as frequently.”

The student admitted she hasn’t been paying a lot of attention to the campaign, but said she does intend to vote after doing some research.

Great grandmother Joan Deel said she thinks Ford would make a great mayor. When asked what her main issue is she said: “I don’t know that I have one. I’m 86, I have four beautiful great grandchildren that I’m obsessed with and as far as the election is concerned – dump it.”

Deel said City Hall needs a new type of leader.

“I think Rob Ford should be given a chance. He comes across as a bull in a china shop, but I think we need that. The others are too slick.”

She said his openness regarding spending “intrigues” her.

Bus shelter at Albion and Finch.

Scarborough-Rouge River: Ward profile

The vehicle registration tax was a sore spot with some people we spoke to at a plaza at Markham Road and Sheppard Avenue, but transportation was a top priority for others.

‘Transportation is a key [issue],” Bill Pagonis, 45, said.

Pagonis said he uses public transit every day to get to work and is fairly happy with the service. The Sheppard subway line has made his commute a lot easier he said.

“It is jammed a bit, but I still think it’s fair,” he said.

“The Sheppard line, it’s quite speedy for me and hardly any delays.”

“It’s great that they made it.”

Another transit rider named Vernon said transportation is a key issue for him, as well, but noted he’s generally happy with service.

Ward incumbent Raymond Cho said voters have also expressed concern about how a new development in the ward, Morningside Heights, is underserved by transit.

Cho also said taxes are a big issue in the area.

“A lot of people, they’re not happy with the vehicle registration tax and land transfer tax, so I respond to them that this year, I didn’t support the property tax increase,” he said, noting he also won’t support a property tax hike next year.

Council candidate Neethan Shan said transportation is a big issue in his ward, with many residents facing more than an hour commute to get to work downtown, but many voters are more concerned about the image of their area.

‘In Malvern, many people feel as though they’ve been stuck with a negative image because of lack of leadership,” he said. “When people hear about Malvern, which is a major part of the ward, there’s a stigma attached to it. And people want to see a way to change that around and see that their community is perceived well.”

Shan said there’s a lack of employment opportunities in the ward and many people are forced to make long commutes to get work. Small business is struggling in Ward 42, he added.

The candidate said voters in the ward don’t feel connected to City Hall.

“There’s lots of frustration about not having a say in the city processes,” he said.

Bus stop at Sheppard and Markham Road.

The Downtown Wards

Davenport, Ward 18 (current councillor Adam Giambrone not running) Ward Profile

Candidates Ana Bailão and Kevin Beaulieu both said they’ve been hearing a lot of concern over the rapid pace of development is this ward.

“New development on West Queen West, that’s a big issue in the neighbourhood,” Bailão said.

And not surprisingly, transportation is a big issue.

“Transit in particular, but also traffic congestion and difficulty getting around,” Beaulieu said.

“Transit riders are frustrated.”

Bailão said the quick pace of condo development is causing problems for TTC riders.

“We have the Dufferin bus, so people complain a lot about the delays on the buses … we have problems with the Queen Street car, which is overcrowded at rush hour,” she explained.

Bailão said she’s also heard a lot of concern about city services.

“I’ve had parents tell me they can’t take their kids to recreational facilities at the city. I’ve had seniors saying, ‘I’ve had to stop going to the City of Toronto and go to the local YMCA because it’s cheaper’,” she said.

Beaulieu said he’s heard similar concerns.

“One that I’m talking about and hearing from new residents is protecting public services, the things that we use everyday in light of mayoral campaigns that are talking about cutting, reducing and freezing.”

“My big issue … it’s probably the TTC. I don’t like it,” a 27-year-old voter named Mike said on Bloor Street West, adding he’s worried about the service being privatized.

“Streetcars are horrible, they’re always late. Buses are usually packed.”

The Dufferin bus, outside the Dufferin Mall.

Trinity-Spadina, Ward 19 Ward profile

It may come as a surprise to many Torontonians, but Ward 19 candidate Mike Layton said residents in his area are against the idea of cutting taxes.

“There’s a significant amount of fear about the … dominant trend we’re going in, in the mayoralty campaign, is this idea that you can cut taxes and provide better services. People just aren’t buying it,” Layton said.

“They want to talk about parks,” he added.

“They know that it’s not going to happen through cuts. They’re sort of going the other way, away from the dominant rhetoric that some of the mayoralty candidates have chosen to pursue.”

“You’ve got to pay taxes to build a better city. I think people know that,” he said.

Fellow candidate Karlene Nation had a much different take on voters’ views on taxes. She’s vowed to vote down both the vehicle registration and land transfer taxes.

“I get an earful about these taxes when I go canvassing door to door in Ward 19,” she said in an email.

Nation also noted people are very concerned about the rapid pace of development in Liberty Village and worry roads and transit won’t be able to accommodate the thousands of people flooding into the area.

She said it’s a similar situation at Lake Shore and Bathurst.

“The current council voted for all these condo developments — but made no provisions for cars,” she said. “In fact — this council has waged a war on people with cars. Council should have compelled all condo developers to build public parking spaces — to accommodate some of the demand in the neighbourhood.”

A voter named Bruce said he’s quite happy with the situation in the ward, but when it comes to the city as a whole, despite all the talk about transit and taxes, he said he’s concerned about another issue: “Truth.”

He said he’s been persuaded by materials online that suggest the city isn’t in as bad of a situation as we’ve been led to believe.

“I think there’s sort of a trend towards conservativism that’s been coming up from the south and so that’s what Rob Ford’s been taking advantage of,” the 52-year-old said on Bloor Street West.

Bloor Street West and Concord Avenue.

shawne.mckeown@citynews.rogers.com