Six-Pronged Fight for Vote-Rich Toronto Riding

 Volume 2, Issue No. 28

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail. com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . .

 The News UpFront: (TOP STORY) as of Wednesday, October 14, 2020 

~ Julius Tiangson, a Filipino Canadian businessman and youth advocate, throws his hat into the political ring to try to capture a parliamentary seat for the York Centre riding in Toronto. The electoral district is both a residential and commercial hub for Filipinos who comprised 17 percent of the population. Just to give an overview, York Centre is the birthplace of the immensely popular Taste of Manila street festival. The by-election is on Monday, October 26, 2020.

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YORK CENTRE BY-ELECTION IS ON OCT. 26

Filipino-Canadian Julius Tiangson Vies for MP Seat 

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

TORONTO - Rather than dwell on dissimilarities in communities in the Greater Toronto Area, parliamentary hopeful Julius Tiangson, a Filipino Canadian businessman and youth advocate, prefers to highlight commonalities, shared experiences, and joint aspirations. 

"Sama-sama tayo," the Philippine vernacular equivalent of "let's unite" or "let's get united" in English, resonates beyond race, culture, and religion. Far from being a mere political slogan, it is Tiangson's call to reach out across party lines, ethnic origins, beliefs, political leanings. "We actually have a lot more in common than differences," he says. 

His campaign of inclusivity is embedded in this practical approach to capturing the York Centre federal riding seat in the North York area of Toronto where 17 percent of residents are of Filipino descent - the highest, says Wikipedia, of all electoral districts within the city.

Tiangson, a Conservative, is one of six candidates seeking to fill up the post left vacant by the resignation in September of Liberal MP Michael Levitt. The by-election is scheduled on Monday, October 26, 2020. (Background: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_Centre).

The number of aspirants from different ethnic backgrounds reflects the diversity of the area, which also has Russian (9.5 percent of the population), and Jewish (5.6 percent) residents. 

The Liberal Party standard-bearer is Ya'ara Saks, a yoga studio owner and director of a local charity, who is born of an Israeli father. The New Democratic Party has community organizer and educator Andrea Vásquez Jiménez, an African-Latina born to Colombian parents in Toronto, Canada. 

There are three other candidates, namely: Max Bernier, People's Party of Canada; Sasha Zavarella, Green Party of Canada; and John The Engineer Turmel, independent.

Tiangson is the man! - that's what I wrote five years ago when he entered the race for Member of Parliament for Mississauga Centre, the suburban riding west of Toronto. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ1jtA5BSnk). He lost on that one to the Liberals.

Relevance and kinship felt with a majority of residents apparently inspired his move from Mississauga Centre to York Centre. 

"York Centre is a microcosm of Canada. The priorities in this riding are similar to the priorities in Mississauga Centre, and quite frankly are similar to many ridings across Canada," he explains in an interview by email this week. 

"Come to think of it, Canadians, regardless of our background, have a lot in common. Our dreams and aspirations for ourselves, our families and our communities are the same," he adds.

Tiangson said his background and experience in advocacy and public service through non-profit organizations he had led have given him a broader perspective in parliamentary representation.

If elected, local concerns he plans to champion include foreign credentials recognition, expanding the program for a pathway to citizenship for temporary foreign workers, job creation for youth and gig or precarious workers, strengthening small business investments and programs, and advocating against racism and anti-Semitism. 

"Canada has worked and has succeeded in developing a country that is successful in integrating newcomers. I think it is a credit to Canada and our immigration system that someone like me, who came to Canada in 1985 with $65 in my wallet, can aspire to represent an electoral district," Tiangson says.

"I will represent and advocate for all of York Centre with equal if not greater passion as an elected official. And I will do so as a proud Canadian!," he declares. 

Tiangson distances himself from the Liberals and takes a dig at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's administration. 

"The Trudeau Liberals are more focused on their elite friends on Bay Street (Canada's financial district) and party insiders. I will be focused on policies that will impact the day-to-day realities of ordinary York Centre residents," he stresses. 

To Filipinos in the district, they know that York Centre, specifically in the yet-to-be-named-officially Little Manila neighbourhood, is the birthplace of the popular Taste of Manila street festival. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nICEcg3G0us).

"I will work hard, together with our representative in the provincial and municipal governments, to ensure that festivals and celebrations like the Taste of Manila would be so integrated into the social fabric of York Centre and the Greater Toronto Area," Tiangson emphasizes.

York Centre has grown to be a microcosm of multiculturalism in Canada. The demographics show a population consisting of Jewish, Filipino, Tamil, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, Polish, and Hispanics. 

To them, says Tiangson, "I do share your experience, your struggle in raising and supporting a family, I share also your disappointments and hopes for a better future, so I am standing for this byelection to represent your dreams and aspirations for a better life for you and your family".

To Filipino voters, Tiangson has this to say: " . . . we are poised to have a breakthrough in Canadian politics. 'Kabayan,' we can hope again to make our collective voice heard through my candidacy and God willing as your only Filipino Member of Parliament. 'Tara na! Sama sama tayo!' "  (Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved).