Written by: HuSainatu Barrie, from Citizen Empowerment Project
Toronto is an extremely diverse and multicultural city. If I were mayor, I would acknowledge this and emphasize it in all the decisions and choices I make. The first thing I’d do is work to create many opportunities for citizens by increasing employment and producing more jobs. I believe this city is a unit and in order for it to improve and get better, every voice needs to be heard. Growing up in Toronto has allowed me to grow into an aspiring advocate for those in need and I want to eliminate negative societal barriers as well as the stigmatisation within various communities.
Lately, the city of Toronto has endured multiple homicides and violence; we are now at a point where our society has normalised this news and people are getting used to hearing about it. My goal is to eliminate this desensitization towards violence orbiting the city’s atmosphere.
Additionally, the city of Toronto has hundreds of residential housing neighborhoods, and the living conditions in many of these locations are inadequate. I’d really speak out on this particular issue and make sure that we immediately improve the housing in these areas.
In today’s society, the whole ideology of “going to school to get an education that will lead to obtaining an amazing career/job” is turning into somewhat of a fantasy. Poverty is an increasing issue within the city of Toronto, and as Mayor I will acknowledge this and work to eliminate as much as it as possible. I’d work to improve our health care systems, sheltering, food banks, and recreational programs.
Moreover, as Mayor I would become an advocate for the youth and citizens of Toronto. I’d really want to involve people in decision making and what’s going on within our political system. One way I could do this is by using papers, news cast and social media as a huge platform where citizens can see and take part in whatever is happening at the time. Furthermore, I would want to be the person who Torontonians could trust and come to for any concerns and believe that something will be done.
The “If I Were Mayor” blog series profiles the ideas of youth and rising leaders from across the GTHA as a way to add their voices to the municipal conversation. Posts have been curated by CivicAction’s Emerging Leaders Network, For Youth Initiative, Laidlaw Foundation, Toronto Youth Cabinet, Citizen Empowerment Project, Young Women’s Leadership Network, and the Centre for Community and Immigration Services. The views contained in this post are the author’s and are not reflective of CivicAction or the CivicAction Leadership Foundation.