1. Andrea Moffat (New Democratic Party)
Profile
Andrea Moffat, 31, has several years of business and community service experience in both Scarborough and Pickering. She has run her own business for four years providing diversity and equality consulting and training. She ran for the Ontario provincial election in the district of Pickering Scarborough East in 2007.
Major Issues
Moffat thinks it’s important to lower poverty rates and gun violence in the riding. She also wants the establishment of a $10 minimum wage for a decent standard of living, to decrease tuition fees at post-secondary schools and better access to family doctors.
What is Important
“I stand for justice and equality to make sure that everyone has a good quality of life. We should have a decent standard of living. We shouldn’t have poverty in Canada. It is also important to get young people involved and empower them.”
2. Rick Chue (Christian Heritage Party)
Profile
Rick Chue was born in Jamaica and has lived in Canada for 42 years. He lost three children due to a chromosome disorder, and he and his wife Joanne have two other children. He is a certified personal support worker and devoted to his family and the community based on biblical principles.
Major Issues
Chue opposes federal funding for abortion, the legal redefinition of marriage and plans for an airport in Pickering. He supports the elimination of federal income taxes, the implementation of fair national sales taxes and the elimination of national debt.
What is Important
* “The CHP is the only party in Canada that is pro-life and pro-family. Because of my Christian values, I could not support the party that would sanction the death of unborn baby or that would change the definition of marriage.”
3. George Khouri (Conservative)
Profile
George Khouri, 49, was born in Lebanon and he and his wife Leila, have three sons. He studied international relations and business. He runs a furniture company and has recently expanded its business globally. He has also been actively involved in local committees and community organizations.
Major Issues
The establishment of safe communities is important to Khouri, including protection of victim’s rights. He supports prevention of youth criminals through the leadership program . He’s a proponent of a more efficient government through tax cuts and improvement for a healthy economy.
What is Important
“People are worried about how easily crime occurs. Liberals are too easy to the criminals. Judges give them too easy sentences. We have to give them a life-sentence. But at the same time, we also need the guidelines for prevention.”
4. Dan McTeague (Liberal)
Profile
Dan McTeague, 45, has spent 37 years in Scarborough. The father of five has worked as a special assistant for the minister of housing, was employed by Toyota/Lexus Canada and involved in public relations for three years. He is serving his fifth term as a Member of Parliament.
Major Issues
The improvement of education affordability through tax deductible Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs). He opposes increasing gas prices and monopolies of the oil industry. He supports the green shift plan and tax for carbon emissions and encourages further technological investment.
What is Important
“The country’s investments should go to the improvement of student affordability in order to get them access to higher education. So, the Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) tax deductible will help many parents and students who seek financial support.”
5. Jason Becevello (Green)
Profile
Jason Becevello, 25, moved to Scarborough from Calgary at a young age He majored in political science, music, and philosophy at Wilfrid Laurier University. He was a member of the Environmental Awareness Committee and Women’s Centre, fighting inequality and violence against women. He joined the Green Party two years ago.
Major Issues
He believes in increasing energy efficiency through the “Carbon Tax Shift,” and reducing the emission of greenhouse gas. He is an opponent of the proposed Pickering airport. Reducing students’ debt is also important.
Put a stop to global climate change
What is Important
“We need to shift economy from huge oil-based economy to more renewable energy economy in order to cut down our emission of carbon dioxide and stop the climate change. It affects oil prices, health care, and other issues as well.”
6. Chaitanya Kalevar (Canadian Action)
Profile
Chaitanya Kalevar graduated from the Indian Institute of Science and worked for Atomic Energy of India. He came to Canada in 1965 pursuing a Masters degree in applied science at the University of Waterloo. He worked for the Ontario Coalition for Energy Planning and is actively involved in earth pollution issues.
Major Issues
Kalevar is against nuclear plants in Pickering. The protection of the high quality of water is an important issue. Kalevar is also an opponent of NAFTA and US multinational corporations.
What is Important
“Pickering has had nuclear power stations since the 1950s, but government could not find a way to manage the nuclear waste. Nuclear power directly harms the environment and human beings. It does take millions of years to fix.”