Glebe Report

13Iebe repart September 21, 1990 Vol. 19 No. 8 Provincial Election Wrap-up BY MICHAEL PANKHURST 38.3%. In 1987 the Pro- The minority/majority steep learning curve, de- gressive Conservatives pick- question aside, Gigantes ex- feated candidate Richard In the aftermath of the ed up 10.6% of the riding's pressed delight with the Patten is assessing his stunning NDP victory in the votes. In this election, results. "It's a great thrill future. He is not bitter, recent provincial election, support for new PC candi- and quite a responsibility. however, he has become a bit some of the candidates in date, Alex Burney, slipped We will proceed judiciously." disillusioned with politics. Ottawa Centre were asked to 8.9%. John Gay of the Her feelings, she said, went In his eyes, he and his to reflect on the outcome Family Coalition and Bill from initial disbelief to Liberal colleagues "worked of the election and about Hipwell of the Green Party joy as the reality of the hard" in "very stressful their plans for the future. managed to pick up 2.6% and win sunk in She called the jobs" and did not deserve The election result in 1.8% of the vote respective results both "frightening" the kind of trouncing the Ottawa Centre offered no ly. Support for Indepen- and "exhilarating." electorate laid on them. surprises. Evelyn Gigantes dent candidate John Turmel He feels that people are and Richard Patten were run- plunged from 2% to one half "too quick to criticize" and ning neck and neck, although of one percent of the vote. Cabinet Post to "assume the worst" about Gigantes had a clear ad- Of the total votes cast, Given her legislative ex- governing politicians. Nev- vantage in lawn signs. The Gigantes won 14,510, Patten perience and longstanding ertheless, he explains, result that did take nearly 11,651, Burney 2,712, Gay commitment to the party and individuals did not realize, and did everyone by surprise was 809, Hipwell 575 and Turmel its leader, and as the only not expect, the col- the extent of the NDP win 162. In all, 30,419 people government member elected lective impact of their in- across the province. The voted in Ottawa Centre, up from this region, Gigantes dividual votes. His explanation for the NDP picked up 55 more seats by 3.5% from the 29,377 is a shoo-in for a cabinet than they held at the dis- who cast ballots in 1987. post. Potential cabinet early election call, a stra- solution of the Legislature I spoke with Ms. Gigantes ministers do not readily tegic error in hindsight, and about 12% more of the a few days before the elec- admit to such things, for is that the party was seek- popular vote than they did tion. At that time, with fear of appearing presumpt- ing a new mandate to prepare in the 1987 election, while the NDP holding just 19 uous, but given a choice for the troubling times the Liberals dropped 57 seats in the Legislature of portfolio, she would be ahead, particularly with seats and about 15% of the compared to 93 for the Lib- most happy with a role respect to the national popular vote. The Tories erals, she stressed the which would allow her to unity question. Perhaps the gained 3 seats and maintained value of minority over maj- work in Energy and Environ- early call was not alto- their portion of the popular ority government in Ontario. mental matters. In a time gether normal, he explains, vote. Her point was that a min- when energy and environmen- but we are not in normal In Ottawa Centre, the re- ority Liberal government tal issues are coinciding times. The country is frag- sults were slightly differ- would offer better govern- to a much greater extent menting like never before. ent, even though the out- ment than a Liberal major- than ever before, either of He was "astounded" by the come was essentially the ity. These days her views these portfolios would negative reaction to David who he same. The NDP's Gigantes on the value of majority give her the chance to put Peterson, felt had rose from 40% of the popular government are more sanguine her experience in these Cont'd. on P. 2 vote in 1987 to 47.7% in "This majority," she con- fields to good use. this election, while Richard tends, "is a different kind As Gigantes readies herself 111 111111111111111111 Patten went from 47.2% to of majority." to face a ne w career and a INSIDE Whyte House may be demolished Opinion 5 Law Talk 13 BY INEZ BERG issued by the City allowing Another concern that they demolition of only the north had was The Whyte House at 520 potential liability Clothing Collection 15 wall at the rear of the for any damage to Queen Elizabeth Driveway is the inner, building. This was to allow new structure Focus 18,19 again the object of neigh- if any de- access to the interior to bourhood concern. In late stabilization took place in clean up the site, and to Observation Post .. 24 August the developer, the heritage shell surroun- erect supports for the other ding Carling Realty, applied to it. Hobin claims that three walls and stabilize as Books 28 the City for a permit to various consultants ex- their foundations. pressed doubt about their demolish the entire building Art 31 On This change, from their September 16, Barry ability to guarantee the Hobin, earlier plan to stabilize architect for the stabilization of the walls, Church News .... 32-33 developer, the walls and build within said that the doubts about going with that them original plan could result in the to save the option increased. loss of structure and the site's heritage build within "We did not want to have it was designation. It has also proving to be much to worry that someone who too expensive Quote of the Month raised fears among residents for Carling had paid $500,000. for one Realty's Jack and heritage supporters Aaron. of the units would be sueing "Finally "Oh, to be only half as that a development could re- our engineer's us a year later because report had wonderful as my child sult that bears no resemb- come in, the their property had shifted." drawings thought I was when he was lance to the one for which justifying what we he said. small and only the City has issued site would do were all done, we half as He said that if permission had our building permit, stupid as my teenager plan approval, and that may demolish the is but when the prices came to building thinks I am now." be of higher density. in the owner put his foot Rebecca Richards In June a permit had been down." Cont'd. on P. 2 N EWS Election Wrap-up Conted. from pg. 1 been totally committed to election promises. The NDP doing the best for Ontario will now have to "take stock and Canada. In the present of realities in the economic ,and eletelffet political climate in which sphere" and, he notes, "will gonokie politicians are not held in soon learn that businesses ANTIQUE SILVER high repute, he would have are free to move" if they difficulty encouraging are unhappy with the business 27 Hawthorne Ave. young people to enter pol- climate. ARTHUR BOUSQUET Ottawa, Ontario ( 6 1 3 ) 2 3 2 - 5 6 6 5 K1S 0 A 9 itics. He, himself, has not John Turmel, the perennial ruled out running again, independent candidate with and says he is willing to over thirty election losses help get the party back in to his credit, sees a "sil- form for the next election. ver lining" in the NDP from p.1 He will continue to be in- victory. Now people will Whyte House, volved in community activi- see that the NDP is just as ties but is unsure about equipped as the other big granted that the developer replica of the Whyte House future career moves. He parties to pile up loads plans to go ahead under the using the stones from the gave up a 21 year career of debt, he maintains. Will same site plan for which a outer layer of a demolished with the YMCA to run in the Mr. Turmel run again? Of building permit has been Whyte House as a facade. he 1987 election. He says, half course. In the meantime issued. That plan was for "The difference is consider- to his poem, tongue in cheek, that he will add lines a total of 13 units, four able," he said,"and it will long, may be packing boxes in the currently 600 lines of which were to be in the be a matter of public record his views on the supermarket for all he knows outlining Whyte House itself. when the estimates go in to He is also writing at this point. Although he economy. the City." The figures and his own ad- Stuart Lazear of the City feels that the last three a book about reports will also have to mis-adventures Heritage Branch said that years offered him a "tre- ventures and go before the LACAC Commit- gamb- before any permit is granted mendous learning experience" and will continue his tee for their approval. he wonders whether the work ling career. the developer has to provide Unfortunately Green Party reports from a few engineers involved in governing is Both Alderman Lynn Smythe candidate Bill Hipwell was specializing in restoration fully appreciated by the and Stuart Lazear feel the out of town and could not be to justify demolition.

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