I am writing this letter to provide you with
further information regarding my background
and my qualifications for the position of City
Councillor, which I now seek in the upcoming
Municipal Elections. I am running in wards 2
& 6 and Election Day is Monday, November
13th, 2006.
I have been asked many times why I have chosen
politics as my career path and more recently
I was asked by the Toronto Star why I have chosen
the most grassroots level of Municipal government
as my starting point. The answers to these questions
touch upon many factors, yet the underlying
force which drives me towards this path is very
simple: government and policy is my passion
and my expertise. I have always had a strong
interest in politics and so I have pursued this
by studying hard so that I can one day become
the ideal candidate and representative. I have
taken part in many projects and studied politics
throughout school and outside of school in the
hopes that I can change the face of politics.
I have grown up, attended school and worked
in Brampton. I have taken part in many athletic
clubs and have even coached. Through this I
have come to realize the importance of sport
and activities in the lives of children and
adults.
I am a Political Science graduate and I received
my Honours Degree from York University. I have
spent many years interacting with and working
alongside many politicians. Through this I have
been given the responsibility of organizing
political groups in various communities as well
as stepping in as coordinator for political
candidates in previous federal and leadership
elections.
I have organized conferences that advocate
raising international political awareness amongst
people, especially the youth. I have carried
out the role of Vice-President and Under-Secretary
General for York Model United Nations, which
is an organization dedicated to realizing the
goals of the United Nations. This initiative
has taken me to many conferences worldwide,
including the United Nations Headquarters in
New York City, meeting with prominent world
leaders and political activists. In January
of 2006, I conversed with Princess Badiya of
Jordan while she was present in Montreal to
deliver an inspiring speech regarding foreign
diplomacy.
These interactions have allowed me to get an
inside look at diplomacy, policy, and the affects
on citizens. With my degree in politics I am
able to approach policy and government in a
scientific manner, as I am able to understand
the intricate workings of this particular area
and the impact it has on residents.
My leadership abilities were most tested when
I helped to organize a Model United Nations
conference in Toronto, bringing many people
together from diverse backgrounds and providing
them with a forum to debate and resolve world
issues. For this particular event, Hon. Navdeep
Bains from Mississauga-Brampton South, and Hon.
Ruby Dhalla from Brampton-Springdale, attended
as Guest Speakers.
I understand the issues that face our neighbourhoods
and among them are safety and equality for all
ages and both genders. Effective parks &
recreation facilities and programs are also
of great concern, as these programs affect how
we live our lives. Programs are important for
the health of our children and each other; however
they must also be culturally sensitive. Immigrant
seniors do not have the sorts of programs that
will enable them to feel a part of the Brampton
Community. They do not have programs or activities
that will give them a place to go in the daytime
or evenings where they can pass the time and
feel actively a part of the community. Their
voices need to be heard, but without effective
representation they will continue to face obstacles.
Our current increases in tax property are also
of major concern. Brampton has been developing
rapidly, but it has never had an effective plan
to manage it accordingly. The result has been
that residents in Brampton now are paying high
amounts in tax property. Instead of an increase,
Brampton residents should be seeing a serious
decrease in their tax rates, thus benefiting
from this development. Again, this comes down
to effective management and representation that
can only be achieved by people who are trained
and educated in the political sphere.
Living in wards 2 & 6, I have realized
that our neighbourhoods are undergoing drastic
changes. In the past three years there has been
a lot of development with new housing projects
and new schools and facilities being constructed.
As a result of these changes traffic concerns
have also increased. Much work remains to be
done and a new perspective is needed.
I believe I am the ideal candidate because
of my strong level of commitment and my expertise
in political science. I want to help progress
the quality of life not only for my fellow citizens
but for Punjabis also and I believe that my
candidacy represents this.
