By Pepper Parr

May 30th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

Andrew Drummond, the NDP candidate for Burlington, had no idea that things were going to work out the way they have.

He has been one of those behind the scenes political workers for the Burlington New Democrats – worked diligently and hoped that maybe at some point his political party would form a government for the province.
Early in his political life Drummond was a Young Progressive Conservative. Now he is a parent with two children edging into the teen years. Works as marketing type in Toronto and does the necessary trying to just keep up.

It is a busier campaign office now.

He felt he was ready for his first campaign but wasn’t able to take time off and devote himself to the campaign. The objective for the NDP in Burlington has been to keep the name before the public; showing the flag as it were.

Drummond attended the Bfast Transit Forum, which was the first truly public event; wearing the orange T-shirt sitting beside Walter Mulkewich who looked like a proud grandfather.

Drummond brought a lot more credibility to the race than past candidates.

The campaign team is small – but Drummond says he has knocked on more than 4000 doors and is at the point where he has had to order more signs.

Will Andrea be in the riding? Probably not said Drummond.

Burlington has never been seen as prime NDP territory – that stuff is in Hamilton.

His Dad went to Queen’s University and worked on the election campaigns that put the late Flora Macdonald into the House of Commons. “As a young man I worked on Conservative campaigns with my parents” said Drummond.

He went to the University of Waterloo and got a job with Rodgers where he now works on enterprise strategy – which means working out the details and the discounts for a client that buys 500 cell phones.

It was while he was at Waterloo that he got a look at the damage a government can do – the Mike Harris government was a political awakening for Drummond. His days at handing out campaign literature for the Conservative cause came to an end.

Drummond moved to Burlington in 2004, his children have grown up here – this is the kind of family community he likes.

He made is clear during the information session on Monday that his concern for community goes far beyond his own neighbourhood. He told that audience that he doesn’t understand how a developer can come in and raze an established community and more than triple the population through intensification; which is what is happening in the Warwick Surrey community in Aldershot. Many of the policies and regulations that make that kind of development possible are provincially based. Words like that should keep the “responsible development” people very happy.

Andrew Drummond and Jane McKenna – the body language tells it all. He could be first – she might be last.

His issues are family issues – school, health and safe streets.

He wants to see major changes in the wait time at the hospital. “If you have to take your child to the hospital in the evening – take a sleeping bag – you are going to be there a long time.”, said Drummond.

The decision to close Bateman high school is something he wants to see revisited. “I can save that school if I am elected,” said Drummond.

His views on transit are not as strong – Burlington was built for the car – a reality Drummond doesn’t see changing all that much. However he does want the municipalities to have sound funding and as much as 50% of their operational costs.

Educational funding is a major focus for him – he sees a situation where school boards create a program but are not assured consistent funding going forward. “It is difficult to plan a program without knowing if the operational funding is going to be there.”

Drummond doesn’t have any problems with the tax increases that will be needed to pay for the Pharmacare and the dental care. He feels that a 1% or 2% increase is more than manageable for those in the $220,000 household income levels.

Andrew Drummond at his first public event with former mayor Walter Mulkewich in a supporting role.

During our discussion with Drummond there wasn’t any of that always coming back to the role the unions play. His focus was on the quality of the lives people live and more sharing of the wealth we have. He understands that the NDP has deep union roots but he does not see himself as a “union man”. The only time he was a member of a union was when he was 17 working as a dishwasher.

He understands that hydro is an issue and believes there is a solution to the problem.

Not any mention of the plight of the indigenous community.

What Drummond isn’t is one of those “radical activists” that Doug Ford goes on about. Drummond is quiet by nature with the capacity to think through an issue.

His concern is people and the lives they get to live.

He is aware of the impact provincial policy is having on the need for Burlington to intensify

There are times when the pace of the election and the volatility of the change taking place seem to overwhelm Drummond.

Our interview took place before the Canadian Federation of University Women held their information night for all the candidates. During the evening one could begin to see the character and depth of the man – he not only handled himself very well – he exuded a level of confidence that was refreshing.

Andrew Drummond talking to a supporter during the CFUW event on Monday.

He is out 4 of the 5 weekday evenings  and all weekend knocking on doors. The campaign has eaten up the vacation time he had coming to him. Securing the traditional NDP vote and coping with the people who now want to take a longer look at the New Democrats keeps him moving.

The Monday CFUW event was followed by a Chamber of Commerce event the next morning. Drummond reports that he was the only person that got a strong round of applause when he made his closing remarks.

The original objective was to keep the traditional NDP vote – that vote has grown requiring additional lawn signs.

What does all this mean to Andrew Drummond? Will he find himself sitting in the provincial Legislature in the fall? It is now something he thinks and wonders about.

He ran as the NDP candidate this time because he wanted to see the party get back to its traditional 19% share of the vote in Burlington. It was 14% in 2014.

What will it take to get that number high enough to take the seat?

That is something everyone in Burlington is thinking about.

By Pepper Parr

May 29th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

It wasn’t a debate in the full sense of that word but it was an opportunity for a full house at the Central High School Auditorium to hear what four candidates for provincial office had to say.

Andrew Drummond and Jane McKenna – he could be first – she might be last

The biggest surprise of the evening, there were several, was how well Andrew Drummond, the NDP candidate came across. Little has been heard from Drummond before Monday evening. He did say that at one point he was a young Conservative.

New Democratic candidate Andrew Drummond

He set out the NDP platform clearly and concisely. What was clear was that the New Democrats were prepared to tax more and spend more to improve the quality of life for the average person. The phrase “tax a little more” was heard often.

Pharmacare, dental care, more long term care beds, a better affordable housing policy. The quality of life was going to be better for the average person. Those who are truly poor will be able to live decent lives with dignity.

Drummond described Burlington as a wealthy community and Ontario as a province that can handle more in the way of taxation to improve the quality of life; Change for the Better or We can do better.
Drummond was very relaxed – he knew his file and was able to speak directly to his audience.
Paying for it all – he didn’t offer much in the way of explanation.

Vince Fiorito, the Green Party candidate, chose to refer to a binder that he had with all his briefing notes. Reading hurriedly due to the tight time limits, which the moderator was very strict about, made it difficult to keep up with what the Greens had to say.

Fiorito did however have the best line of the night. He said that many people are having difficulty making a decision and trying to figure out which was the better of two evils. Fiorito pointed out that choosing the best of two evils is still choosing an evil and said that there was nothing evil about the Greens.

Progressive Conservative candidate Jane McKenna

Jane McKenna tended to fall back on the Progressive Conservative party line. On the couple of occasions when she used the phrase “make Ontario Great Again” there was an audible groan from the audience.
Dorothy Borovich was the moderator, and mentioned that this was the sixth time she had served in that capacity. There was no nonsense with Dorothy at the podium. It was a typical polite Burlington event.

Eleanor McMahon, the incumbent had all her numbers at the end of her finger tips. She was supported by a solid team and didn’t apologize for the way she did her job.

Fiorito brought up the issue of multi-national corporations that draw water from municipal well, put it in plastic bottles and sell it – creating mountains of plastic waste. All the candidates agreed that what Nestle was doing was “atrocious”; that f they were going to be taking a public resource they should at least pay a fair rate – but not one of the candidates was able to point to a policy that there party had.

Liberal candidate and incumbent Eleanor McMahon

McMahon certainly had a command of the data but appeared a little hesitant at times. It was evident that the Liberals know they are under the gun and fighting to hold the office they have.

McKenna frequently fell back on the party line which had McMahon rolling her eyeballs and shaking her head. McKenna didn’t point to anything specific she had done when she was the Member of the Legislature for Burlington; saying that she was part of the Opposition.

To the best of our knowledge McKenna didn’t introduce any bills.

The dead heat polling numbers at the leadership level was the 800 lb. gorilla in the room. What the audience wanted to know was: what were the different candidates going to do for the citizens.

Education, the hospital and the environment were top of the line issues. Fiorito wanted everyone to remember that the condition of the environment is something “we created” and his focus was on doing everything possible to “save the planet” – and he didn’t get any argument on that point – neither did he get a burst of applause; not that Dorothy would have permitted it.

On the occasions when there was real applause it was clear that McMahon owned the room.

The closing of two of the city’ seven high schools didn’t get as much attention as one would have thought. The problem the Tyandaga community has with the Meridian Brick works got glossed over. Their license was up to date – what more was there to say.

Maureen Weinburger – CFUW

It was a solid presentation of just where the candidates stood. Andrew Drummond made the most important point – choose the candidate that represents your values.

Fiorito asked that people not vote strategically – If you are a Green – vote as a Green.

The Canadian Federation of University have been doing these information sessions for years – the hope is that they continue to do so. They reflect the civility of the city – good on them.