NDP wins Beaches—East York By Marjan Asadullah
Volume 47 No. 8
June 12, 2018
BEACHES—EAST YORK has a new Member of Provincial Parliament, and she’s a Beacher. Rima Berns-McGown, who has lived in the area with her family for 25 years, was left speechless by the cheers and applause by her supporters, volunteers and staff who were gathered at the Firkin on Danforth to watch the election results roll in on several big-screen TVs. She was ready to talk to Beach Metro News about her win shortly thereafter, touching on her concerns about housing, healthcare, education, childcare, eldercare, energy and transportation. Although the newly elected
MPP has no previous political experience, she has a long history of working with people, for the people. “I’m really excited. I’ve never done this before, but I’ve certainly had a lifetime of standing up for people and standing up for human rights and people who need change—I’m excited to put ideas into action,” she said. After her win, Berns-McGown says she felt exhilarated and grateful for her team of volunteers and supporters because “it does take a village” to go through an election like this. Continued on Page 3
Slobberfest 2018 Molly, a four-year-old Boston terrier, may have been yawning, but Community Centre 55’s annual Slobberfest on May 26 was not short of action. Puppers went head-to-head in a hot-dog-eating contest, an Instagram-famous pair of Yorkshire terriers posed for photos, and, of course, there was the fourth-annual Beagle Wiggle Walkathon. See many more Slobberfest photos at www.beachmetro.com and page 2. PHOTO: JOSH SHERMAN
Outbound Liberal MPP Arthur Potts takes loss in stride By Josh Sherman
AS THE provincial election results flashed across the TV screens at the Beach House Grill on the night of June 7, Beaches—East York MPP Arthur Potts knows he has lost his riding to the NDP’s Rima BernsMcGown. “Listen, I appreciate why people wanted to move to the NDP in order to stop Doug Ford. It didn’t work for them,” he said moments after his riding’s results were broadcast. Potts said he had hoped voters in the riding would have supported him based on his experience, which he said would have helped him try to hold inbound Ontario Premier Doug Ford, whose PC Party has a majority government. “Good luck. It’s unfortunate. I think we did some good stuff,” he said. “The people are never wrong,” Potts continued. Asked what he was most proud of during his time as a provincial politician, Potts mentioned how he introduced five Private Member’s Bills. Earlier this year, he introduced one such bill to lower the
voting age in Ontario elections to 16 from 18. He also brought up his role in helping out the local craft cider, spirits, and beer industries. “Now we’re growing those industries,” he said. In 2015, Potts co-sponsored Dufferin—Caledon PC MPP Sylvia Jones’ Private Member’s Bill, 110 – the Growing Ontario’s Craft Cider
“”
“Arthur was a strong local representative …” – Nathaniel ErskineSmith
Industry Act. Potts, who is part owner of the Pilot restaurant in Yorkville, said he plans to return to the consulting work he was doing in the
sustainable-technology industry before becoming an MPP in June of 2014. “I’ll just move on to another phase of my life, and I’ll be quite happy,” Potts said. Had there been a minority government, which would present the prospect of another election sooner, Potts might have considered running again. But with the PC Party firmly in control with a majority government, Potts has no plans to return to politics, he confirmed. “You never know,” he added. Potts said he was proud to represent the community and wished the NDP’s Berns-McGown “all the best.” Liberal MP Nathaniel ErskineSmith attended Potts electionnight event and lamented the provincial politician’s defeat. “Arthur deserved much better. Arthur was a strong local representative. He delivered for our community in a number of different ways,” he said. Erskine-Smith noted specific achievements such as Potts’ Private Member’s Bill to ban expiration dates on loyalty plans includ-
PHOTO: JOSH SHERMAN
Arthur Potts enjoying a lighter moment outside The Beach House Bar and Grill on Queen Street East on provincial election night. ing Air Miles, and his efforts to secure funding for the Michael Garron Hospital in East York.“I could go down a long list,” said ErskineSmith. The MP recognized that people voted strategically. But he also said Potts was “sacrificed” in the process. “Guess what? We got Doug Ford anyway, and we don’t have Arthur
to hold Doug Ford to account.” Susannah Kelvin, a volunteer for the Liberal campaign, was understandably disappointed in the result, both for Potts and outbound Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. “I’m sad that we’re not going to see more of him (Potts) because he cared about the environment and also about the community, and it’s a shame,” said Kelvin.