Dear friends,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the new Toronto Centre NDP website. The Toronto Centre NDP electoral district association (EDA) is the local community NDP organization here in Toronto Centre. We are dedicated to building strong community relations, increasing opportunities forpolitical engagement and addressing the political issues that affect us all.

Elected at our annual general meeting in June, the new Executive of the TCNDP is excited about the work of our party and our association. With the very real possibility of a federal election in the upcoming year, and a provincial election on the horizon, the TCNDP is already planning for success and is optimistic about the future. Whether it is outreach events, fundraising initiatives, or participation in local community festivals and culture, our Executive is ready to get out and meet the individuals that make our party and our community such a vibrant, diverse and exciting place to work and live.

We also want to hear from you. Building a community of local, politically progressive individuals requires the efforts of the many to achieve our common goals. So get in touch! We want to know about the issues that you’re concerned about. Where do you like to eat and meet? Are you involved in a community organization or a local group that we should know about?

Toronto Centre is a great place to live and the TCNDP wants to be a part of improving our community and the lives of those who make this their home. We also want to help strengthen our political institutions and support policies that better the lives of all Canadians and all Ontarians. TCNDP is proud of the work being done by New Democrats at Queen’s Park and on Parliament Hill. We want you to be proud too.

While Liberals and Conservatives play politics over an election nobody wants, Jack Layton’s New Democrats are attempting to make Parliament work for Canadians and ensure that $1 billion in employment insurance benefits get into the hands of those who need it most urgently.

While Premier McGuinty and Steven Harper collude to increase sales tax on everyday items such as rent, gas and condo fees by up to 8% through the new HST, Andrea Horwath’s Ontario New Democrats have been standing with Ontarians, demanding a change. Join the voices of thousands as we let our government know, this is the wrong tax at the wrong time.

So, I encourage all residents of Toronto-Centre, regardless of your political stripes, to check out our website and join the discussion. Join us as we learn more about our community, interact with our neighbours and strengthen our province and our country. Together, we can make a difference!

Sincerely,

Susan Wallace President,
Toronto Centre EDA New Democratic Party /
Ontario New Democratic Party

About the Toronto Centre NDP Electoral District Association (EDA)

The Toronto Centre NDP Electoral District Association is the local, community NDP organization in Toronto Centre elected from the membership by members. The EDA is responsible for local organizing, community outreach and development, candidate search and selection, election planning and preparation for both the federal and provincial NDP.

The Executive body of the Riding Association is made up of 17 positions elected annually. This year, the Executive has established four major priorities for riding association efforts in 2009-2010. These priorities are as follows:

1) Membership development and growth through neighbour-to-neighbour engagement, community involvement and participation, and volunteer recognition.
2) Local, community and membership fundraising initiatives.
3) Increased communication with members, residents, and community groups.
4) Empowerment and training of members and residents as local organizers.

The Toronto Centre NDP EDA is dedicated to electoral success at both the federal and provincial level as well as building strong community relations with Toronto Centre residents and increasing participation of local residents in political dialogue.

Leadership: Jack Layton

Through three decades of public service, and as Leader of Canada’s New Democrats since 2003, Jack Layton is delivering the kind of change that can make life better for you and your family.

Months after taking his place in Parliament, Jack Layton successfully rewrote the 2005 federal budget. In place of $4.6 billion in corporate tax giveaways, Layton secured investments in better priorities for Canadians –affordable housing, training, public transit, energy efficiency, development assistance and wage protection.

For Jack Layton, leadership is all about teamwork. Since 2003, he has been building the strongest possible team – diverse, committed and national – to represent all Canadians. For more information about Jack, his team and Canada’s New Democrats visit www.ndp.ca.

Andrea Horwath

Andrea Horwath, MPP for Hamilton Centre, was elected Leader of Ontario’s New Democrats on March 7, 2009. She is the first woman to lead the Ontario NDP and only the second women in history to lead a major party in Ontario.

Andrea has always fought on the side of working Ontarians. In 2007, her Bill 111 calling for presumptive legislation for firefighters received the rare privilege of being adopted into law as a government bill. Andrea is proud that she successfully pushed the government to compensate firefighters for their occupational diseases. She has been a strong advocate against workplace harassment and violence, and has led the fight to stop big box commercial day care and new, for-profit, child care centres from being established in Ontario.

For more information about Andrea, her team, and Ontario’s New Democrats visit www.ontariondp.com