The Green Party candidate for Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte (BSOM) says she feels a “personal responsibility” to the area in which she's looking to win a seat at Queen's Park.
Elyse Robinson will represent the Green Party in the north-end riding in the upcoming provincial election, which is set for June 2.
And although she grew up in Brampton, the 22-year-old says she has roots here, spending half her life in the region.
“My dad’s family has lived in BSOM for generations. While I personally grew up in Brampton, I have spent every summer at Orr Lake with him and his family," Robinson said. "Because of (my grandparents), I have always felt a responsibility to protect this riding’s fragile ecosystems, from the freshwater I have drunk my entire life, to the frogs my grandfather made sure I set free after they found themselves trapped in my little mesh net.
“Such responsibilities extend towards the people who make up this community," she added.
Robinson said she's running so she could tell her future children she did everything she could to build them a better world.
“A world that is built upon the principles of justice, of equity, and of compassion. Where all Indigenous communities have access to freshwater, to stewardship of their lands, and where learning about our treaty obligations is as common as learning algebra,” she said. “A world rich in biodiversity, where fossil fuel reliance is a relic of the past, and where local, nutritious food, and the ability to grow it, is abundant in every community. A world where addiction is treated, not punished, and where no one has to wait to access adequate mental health services.”
Robinson said she has heard that residents are worried about the harm that expanding current gravel mining pits or creating new ones would have on their groundwater, as well as the hot topic of affordable housing being the major issues in the area.
Robinson said too many politicians are prioritizing going viral over the real work that needs to be done, which often leads to them taking cheap shots at their opponents.
“We need to get back to focusing on how to create the best policies for our constituents rather than creating the most 'clickbait-able' sound bite,” Robinson said. “It’s one thing to talk about where you think your opponent’s policy misses the mark, but to attack who they are as a person is just out of line.”
Robinson said Lake Simcoe is always at “the top of our minds” at the Green Party. Robinson is opposed to the Bradford Bypass — which the Greens refer to as the 'Holland Marsh Highway' — saying road salt pollution and paving over parts of the marsh wetland threatens Lake Simcoe’s fragile watershed.
She said it's also important to mention that the Holland Marsh wetland is home to many species whose very existence is threatened by this highway.
“I understand that many residents of Barrie travel for work and are looking for more convenient ways to do so, but the Holland Marsh Highway is just not it. It has been proven through decades of research that building more roads does not help relieve traffic in the long run,” Robinson said. “We need to better incentivize local business growth and work-from-home options, so fewer residents have to travel far distances in order to access well-paying jobs.”
