There are certain aspects of a mayoral candidate’s platform that appeal to all students alike – if a candidate promises to get students to school on time, at an affordable price, and can guarantee a job market after graduation, they are probably more likely to vote for the candidate.
Mayoral candidate John Tory’s platform contains some of these student voter incentives, but not all.
John Tory told YouthfulCities, a global social initiative working to rank the world’s top cities from a youth (age 15 to 29) perspective, that his platform for this year’s election will touch on priority areas, such as public transit and employment.
With more than 20 per cent of Toronto’s youth being unemployed, Tory understands that in order for Toronto to become a more livable city for youth, changes need to be made in the job markets.
“It is the municipality’s job to grow and support businesses that will aid our youth in getting them that crucial and important first job. It is the Mayor’s job to act as youth ambassador as well as a salesman for the city. By attracting business, by making the calls that need to be made, the mayor can provide for the youth. With these two jobs under the Mayor’s purview a city can thrive, grow, and ensure the future of our city’s youth is secured,” Tory stated on the YouthfulCities website.
Tory outlines how he plans to change the public transit system so that students can spend their class time in class rather than stuck on a subway train.
“As Mayor my number one priority will be SmartTrack, a new 22-station surface subway that will move the most people in the shortest time across the entire city. My One Toronto Transit Plan will bring transit relief sooner in seven years, not 17.”
Tory has spoke very little on the subject of affordable tuition. Last month Tory was expected to appear at Ryerson for two separate events, one of which he cancelled three hours before start time.
“Students aren’t apathetic as many people think we are — we’re engaged,” said Jesse Root, the RSU’s vice-president for education. “In fact, a move like this from John Tory further disengages students in that it doesn’t give them access to the political process that they feel like they have a vested interest in.”
As of Friday evening, Tory was holding 43 per cent of the city’s vote, with Olivia Chow at 25 per cent, and Doug Ford at 29 per cent.
Pema was a reporter for The Ryersonian. She was formerly at The Peterborough Examiner.
Pema graduated from the Ryerson School of Journalism in 2015.