Willowdale MPP David Zimmer seeks re-election

Tories set sights on Willowdale riding
But Liberal Zimmer vows to defend his seat
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier March 3)

Liberal MPP David Zimmer seeks a third term in Willowdale. Photo courtesy of David Zimmer.

Liberal MPP David Zimmer knows the Progressive Conservatives have set their sights on Willowdale, but he’s ready to fight to keep his seat in the upcoming provincial election.
He first came to power in 2003 beating then PC incumbent David Young.
“All the pundits, polls, newspapers and blogs in 2003 (stated) the conventional wisdom was Conservatives would lose all seats in 416 except Willowdale,” recalls Zimmer.
The commentators were mostly correct as the PCs lost all their Toronto seats including Willowdale.
“David Young was a good candidate, a lawyer. I know him and we had a good campaign,” said Zimmer, also a lawyer by trade. “I won by 2,000 votes.”
Fast forward to the 2007 provincial race and then PC leader John Tory looked closely at running in Willowdale against Zimmer but settled on Don Valley West where he eventually lost to Kathleen Wynne. The PCs ran Willowdale Councillor David Shiner as a star candidate, but Zimmer held on, beating Shiner by almost 6,000 votes.
“This year the Tories are anxious to try and get Willowdale,” Zimmer said.

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MPP Monte Kwinter seeks 8th term

Oldest member of provincial parliament runs again
Kris Scheuer
(Written March 3 for Town Crier)

Liberal Monte Kwinter, first elected in 1985, is running again in the provincial election. Image courtesy of Monte Kwinter.

Liberal MPP Monte Kwinter is running for an eighth term this fall.
He has represented Toronto’s North York at Queeen’s Park since 1985 and was officially nominated by the Liberals on March 1.
“My reasons for running now is the same as in 1985 – to make a difference and help people,” said Kwinter, rep for York-Centre.
Over the last 25 years, he’s held five different portfolios and is currently the parlimentary assistant to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade.
“We are a very heavily trade dependent jurisdiction. We have to export to the world,” he said. “Ninety percent of our trade is to the U.S. They are going through difficult times right now. We are looking at other areas to trade with China, India, Brazil and Russia.”
He is also quite pleased that his government is opening a new accute care centre in his riding near Keele Street and Wilson Avenue.
The hospital will serve 600,000 people in the surrounding area and is in the design stage after three years of planning. He expects to see a shovel in the ground this later year and for the hospital to take two years to build.