Saeed Soltanpour and Andrea Horwath
Interview with Andrea Horwath , Leader of NDP ( Ontario)
By Saeed Soltanpour
The participation of Andrea Horwath, the new leader of NDP Ontario, in some of the Iranian Community events such as last year’s Norooz , shows a positive approach and a change in the Ontario NDP Party. As such, I ended my long boycott of the NDP coverage, which was originally started because of their lack of care in outreaching the ethnic communities.
We met Andrea at the NDP office on the 4th floor of the Queens Park on a sunny but very cold day of winter. I took the opportunity to ask Andrea questions regarding Ontario’s economy, politics and community concerns and she was quite open and willing to answer them.
The crew were Mohammad Reza Tabrizi ( Camera) , Jila Pour Hajian ( photographer) and Hamid Dabaghian ( logistics).
Saeed Soltanpour: Thank you for having us at Queens Park and I also want to thank Massimo Ponzino for facilitating the interview.
Andrea Horwath: It is my pleasure and honor to spend some time with you today.
Saeed Soltanpour :
As the new leader, it seems like new waves of change have reached the NDP with this election. There are a lot of activities within the ethic communities ; how do you see the future of the NDP?
Andrea Horwath:
I am glad you mentioned the changes. Because I come from the tradition of community development and community organizing, from my own experience, even before I had been elected as MPP, I was reaching out to the communities. I strongly believe to spend time with the communities in order to find solution with them , not for them. It is my perspective that I am going to bring into the party.
It is very important to connect to the community and the prospect of my job as the new leader means much more connecting with various communities, be that business, labor, or geographic communities. I cannot be an effective leader unless I find out what the communities’ dreams, hopes, concerns and possible solutions are. It’s about finding the solution with people and not for people.
Saeed Soltanpour:
In the last 10 years, Ontario NDP has been fading through their loss of seats. Knowing that they are losing its Party status though can be stronger, how do you see the future?
Andrea Horwath:
The province Party lost the party status back in 2003 in the general election, but six months later I was elected from Hamilton in a mid election. And the party status restored again. That’s a trend the party can follow.
Saeed Soltanpour:
Then, the party owes you double?
Andrea Horwath:
Yes, they do. (Smiles )
It is a good point you mentioned.
Why am I recommitting to the grass root kind of work? Because I think that for a quite some time we stayed back from that path. I believe going back to the first values and the first principals that the NDP was built on, is important. It is in the history of our party to be with the community and connecting to the grass roots.
I am firmly telling you that we are going back to the grass roots again. I do not think we can gain seats from a top down approach, but rather the building and foundation is important. Not only have we believed in the building of the communities but also the structure of the party, which I am happy to share with you.
I made some changes in the establishment and staffing of the Party to reinvigorate the Party. I hope the combination helps us.
Saeed Soltanpour: How do you define NDP, a socialist, or a social democratic party ?
I think the party has been, for a long time, a social democratic Party, which I am comfortable with; It is part of the belief system that I come from. We see more and more, as we watch the economy and the world’s economic organizations that we really do not take care of the people. Grate wealth is generated, but concentrated between few hands; many communities are suffering in Ontario and the world for lack of enough jobs and resources and there is polarization around the world too. While a few have a lot, many do have a little.
Saeed Soltanpour: The NDP is doing very well at the city level, there are many popular candidates which include yourself, so why is the NDP fading at the Ontario level when many people are in favor of European socialism?
Andrea Horwath:
That is real challenge to us. That’s why I am excited to be the new leader.
At the municipal level, it is very close to the people. People recognize the closeness between politicians and citizens. We can translate this desire to the province level.
We had a good outcome of a 14% increase in the popularity vote in the Toronto riding, which was known to be a Liberal strong hold and our candidate Cathy Crow, a health care worker and street nurse, received 8685 votes, finishing second. We have to provide support for our candidates to run.
Saeed:
The first generation of immigrants, and the younger generations many are in favor of social justice the same as European socialist style. Most of them are recruited by the Liberals ha because NDP abstain from the Iranian community. Do you have any plan to attract them.
Andrea Horwath:
You are right . The relation was not enough. We are more than happy for engaging with your community. I am desire to work with your community. It doesn’t have to be Nourooz , it could be any student activities at York , u of T or any student club . Also, any community gathering , a small group of community leaders which we are invited to .
. We not only do willing to talk but desire to direct talk to the community. I do not believe in just showing up in an event it is a productive way to developing the relation and connection at all level of your community.
Saeed Soltanpour: it paves the path to a strong dialogue.
Andrea Horwath
We do not want just to show the meeting and leave, we want to make a relationship. It is important to make the relationship.
Saeed Soltanpour : Considering the current record of the Liberals , they will lose the majority government in the next election, On other hand , considering the facts that NDP can not get the majority, so , what can we do to make the Liberals accountable and functional for the people but not falling in the hand of conservative with the bad experience of Mike Harris era . Tim Hudak, the new Conservative leader is the same as Mike Harris. What is your platform to address the
Andrea Horwath:
We do not want to go back to the days of Mike Harris. The liberal government have done a lot different than Mike Harris did when we see their record on privatization for hospitals, We still have Same formula for the schools and hospital as Mike Harris
Still INCREASE in TUTION fees for the universities and college which cause graduation of students with huge debts SAME AS Mike Harris
Lack of childe care program for Ontario
Mental health is another issue which had not been changed. In addition, nothing has been changed in the labor law to protect workers particularly immigrants workers. The latest tragedy of losing 4 foreign workers in the construction in Toronto Still Ontario is short fall of affordable housing. While, many people are getting poorer.
People have to remember these important issues in the next election
The Liberal talk, good talk, they cut the ribbon and sing but people o the ground can not see improvement. Such as how the wealth is shared.
With development of NDP platform and more out reach to the communities we hope to get more seats in the next election.
We commit to changes.
Saeed Soltanpour:
So much of the credit for the increase of minimum wages from 8 to 10.25 going to NDP , particularly Shelly Donovan ( MPP-High Park)
Do you think the final stage of increase to be implemented in April, considering the economic recession, and a 25 billion dollar deficit.
Andrea Horwath:
I do not believe government has to slow down the implementation of the minimum wage increase.
The government will have two billion less because of tax cut package. They cut corporate taxes on the back of individual Ontarian.
The new tax “HST “is going to have negative impact on the economy because it
is in wrong direction.
The Government is giving huge tax brakes away to the insurance , banks while Ontarian are in a challenging time when the economy need stimulation packages.
This means more service down .and is not going to stop closure of schools and expansion of hospitals.
Saeed Soltanpour: we are coming from the countries that we are struggling for the democracy
So, I can not see that much difference between. Mr. Khamenei and Mr. Dalton Mc Guinty since Khameni is telling Iranian what ever that I say it is good for you but you do not understand the same logic Mc Gunity is forcing on implanting HST. While many Ontarian include Iranian Canadian community are opposing the HST five months before the legislation, Revenue Canada has set the new building and transferring the employees to the new place, so it was a done deal .
Increase of medicines due to monopoly be a few pharmacologists , insurance ,tuition , rental apartments and so many other services that makes people getting more poor. Why you do not set rallies to protest the undemocratic actions the same as European socialist partie did?
Andrea Horwath:
We had a big rally against HST in front of parliament. We did a lot to object the new tax bill. You said right. It is a little bit frustrating. You described it very well.
The two times majority of the Liberals has made them arrogant and causing them not to listen to the people. They do not understand what is happening to the people. They are out of touch. People’s daily life is worsening everyday.
We can organize the rally but if people do not show up enough, then it will not be successful.
It is about a accountable government but .it is a challenge as a Canadian and Ontarians who want the changes we want to see. But democracy is about voting, too. In the recent by election n people when I knocked the door People telling we are fed up “ we do not vote” .But we have to Participate in democracy by voting. .
Our people are not rallying the same as European. For instance, 200000 people signed up the petition on the internet if a percentage of them showing up in a rally, it will be a Quite rally but looks people preferring electronic rallies.
Saeed Soltanpour: as a popular socialist councilor and MPP in Hamilton you know that people do not forget those politician who fought and work for them , even though they are not agree politically with the politician. This is a fact around the world.
Andrea Horwath:
That ‘s true
Saeed Soltanpour: let go back to Iran. first, we thank parties include NDP for rightfully standing with Iranian Canadian community on Democracy movement in Iran but when we see the mismanagement of 1 billion dollar ( e- health under two Liberal ministers – and lottery cooperation ) , they resign and walk away to run for another public post , just the same as Iran I have to mention that there is blessing law in Canada which is big differences between Iran and Canada . As an ethnic Canadian how can I convince our readers and viewers that politics in not the same?
Andrea Horwath:
This is the challenge of we have as a citizens. It is our responsibility to make them accountable. My role as opposition leader is to uncover these problems and to bring them to the public light. Also, to create public awareness. So you are right. One billion dollar went into the drain.
Inside deals, private tenders are corruption and undemocratic practice in Ontario.
We see the mistier of the helm resign a seat running for the Toronto Mayoral race.
The next mental is to taken up is the communities like your own and organization like yours to continue remember. Because they always say “voters forget,” . They say people have short memory. Activists have to make sure people do not forget the misleading the public, So we do not end up with the situation the same as politician who are broking their promises .
Saeed Soltanpour: I met a group of mothers of our community whose their young children have problem with the law due to lack of mental treatment.
A psychologist told me that at the Queen mental hospital the beds cut in half to 500, the layoff some security staff and nurses. For sure the mental people are not less but they are losing on the street due to shortage of the budget.
So, it is so much pressure mostly on ethics who can not speak English and having different cultural back ground. How can NDP to make it right ?
Andrea Horwath:
You are absolutely right.
The jails have been the place of e mental facility. The mental people are ended up in judiciary locked up in jails. It is unfortunate that the government is reviewing the study but they are not making financial commitment
To give money to cooperation. they say to the cooperates not to
In put for the brighter communities
People have to say we value this services and taxes must be dealt fairly.
Saeed: in regard of
We have to thank NDP and Micahle prue on the raising slash fund while John Tory ignoring the concerns
First of all for the sake of multicultural Canada all the community has to have community centers
While as Gorge Smiterman said in the parliament that John Tory helped to get 12 million dollar to Canadian Jewish community in GTA so, when I see the help which is rightful
But the government should do indiscriminately to all the communities include our community.
They paid just $200, 000 to a so called friend of Mr. Greg Sorbara, then Minster of Financial , which is last two years have not been accountable to the community. while the $20,000 of the fund is short . So how can we make sure the fund to spend for the community ?
Andrea Horwath:
You are so right
Is important for the government to provide the services equally to the membership any services from child care service, English service, fate groups, and all organization
The fund has to be available to every body. Organization should be accountable to their memberships.
There is a way to design the funding program with accountability. Unfortunately, money is given away with no process while no body knew of the existence of such fund.
Thank fully some organization such as yours who speaks up then we are prepare to blow the whistle. We are happy to shed the light more brightly on that.
I fear that when this kind of scandals come up, then some political parties might say let ‘s shut the door on this activities and the organizations. We do not want to see that..
Saeed: Soltanpour : Grek Sorbara, then Finance minister , told me that
Saeed: while so many lower and middle economic class are laid off. While many of the ethnics are suffering from the recession we hear news of multi million dollars salary and bonus to the managers of big c operations. How do you see?
Andrea Horwath:
You are right. The salary of the CEOs is absolute scandal. Ten years ago, salary of a CEO was 150 times more than salary of a worker. Right now it is 250 times more than salary of a worker.
The salary of the worker who create the wealth are laid off CEOs walking millions of dollars bonus and stocks market, villas around the world , Golf club membership and so on . It is failure of our economic system. Mostly entice people’s are left alone
Saeed: I hope we see the result of greed and out of control of capital in south of boarder, do the policy makers get a lesson?
Any message to the community?
Andrea Horwath :
I had the privilege to have grate friends with Iranian community in Hamilton
And expand to the Iranian community in Toronto. your readers and viewers can Contact me via email, telephone . I am looking forward to get closer relation ship with your community.
Saeed Soltanpour : thanks again for your time to answer my question
Andrea Horwath:
Thank you.
You can watch the interview at
http://www.youtube.com/glassceilingtv#p/a/u/2/dkNmtUIp_4E
www.youtube.com/glassceilingtv
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