Smitherman fought for voiceless
I can’t tell you how tired I am hearing progressive Torontonians talking about how George Smitherman and Rob Ford are practically the same or that Smitherman is the “lesser of two evils.†Nothing could be further from the truth. From personal experience as a longtime housing activist and as a parent, I can assure you that progressives can safely vote for Smitherman without holding their noses.
Just like thousands of other Torontonians, my son Kenny struggled with mental illness, living on the street, lost and hopeless. What he needed was help and thankfully we were able to find it. When Smitherman was minister of health, he expanded supportive housing to those suffering from mental illness and addiction. This allowed Kenny to move into a home with supports where his recovery empowered him to work again. Today, my son contributes to our community. With Smitherman’s help, he went from receiving welfare to being a taxpayer.
Despite Furious George’s gruff exterior, he has a heart as big as Toronto. For years, low-income residents in St. Jamestown and Regent Park and psychiatric survivors all over Toronto have watched with gratitude as Smitherman listened to their concerns and ignored the NIMBYs who didn’t want them around. As a member of the McGuinty cabinet, he often advocated against his right-wing colleagues for the return of rent controls and other policies that would benefit the poor.
Smitherman has always fought for the voiceless because it was the right thing to do. I will cast my ballot proudly for him and I hope other progressives do the same.
Mark Shapiro, Toronto