Gerl going again in York - Simcoe

Sylvia Gerl

The York - Simcoe Federal NDP riding Association acclaimed Georgina resident Sylvia Gerl as their candidate for the next Federal election at their nomination meeting in Bradford Feb. 13.

Gerl, 47, has carried the New Democrats' colours in York - Simcoe in the last two federal elections, each time seeing an increase in her vote total. She was also the provincial standard bearer in York North in the 2003 campaign.

"Sylvia Gerl will effectively represent the NDP," said riding President JP Rosevear. "Her strong environmental background has been expressed in campaigns over the Georgina smelter issue and runoff effects on Lake Simcoe. Sylvia is an avid proponent of better public transit. She has not come recently to an environmental consciousness and is not simply trying to grab votes by paying lip service to the environment. I'm pleased she has agreed to run in this riding in the next federal election."

"(Prime Minister Stephen) Harper has realized that many people are becoming concerned about the state of the environment, not only air quality but long term sustainability," Gerl remarked. "He and his party members are willing to make promises just to fool voters into waiting for something that will never happen. I am proud to be a member of the NDP, which is once again taking the lead to promote actions to reduce the negative impacts of global climate change."

"People who care about the environment must get this," she declared. "We in the NDP aren't jumping on the environment bandwagon because of political opportunism. We have been fighting for these changes for the last 20 years."

"Just as appalling to me, though," she added, "is the continuing 'prosperity gap.' In a country where there have been fiscal surpluses at the federal level for years, there are people working 40 hours a week and more, struggling to provide the basic necessities for their families. It is time that the minimum federal wage be reinstated, and set at $10 per hour. I understand what it means to struggle. I am a working person and have raised three children. I have owned a business and understand how important it is to pay an employee a living wage."

"I hope that voters will stand up for what they believe in this coming election, instead of settling for the lesser of two evils," she added. "It is time for moral and principled people to realize that without their participation, the government will always be something that they 'ended up with,' rather than something that they chose."