Paula Fletcher

Paula Fletcher (born 1951) is a Canadian politician. In 2003, she was elected to the Toronto City Council for Ward 30 Toronto-Danforth.

Background

Fletcher was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. She worked as an educator in third world development, and became a community activist in Winnipeg. She was a plant organizer in a Toronto garment mill in the early 1970s. After working at the mill, she worked at the Downsview DeHavilland Plant. When she worked there she went by the nickname ‘Rosie the Riveter’. At the plant she was involved in the women's committee of Local 112. Today CAW 112 represents the Aerospace workers at the Bombardier/DeHavilland plant.

As of 2010 she lives in Toronto with her husband John Cartwright and their two children. Her husband John Cartwright is the President of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council.

During the 2010 municipal election, the Toronto and York Region Labour Council endorsed Fletcher for re-election.

Leadership of the Communist Party of Canada

In 1980, she ran for the Winnipeg School Board for Ward 2, in the city's north end. In 1981, she was elected leader of the Communist Party of Canada in Manitoba. She stayed on as leader for five years. She ran twice in the 1981 and 1986 provincial elections in the Winnipeg riding of Burrows. She garnered 144 and 131 votes respectively, less than 2% of the popular vote. In 1986 she left the party and relocated to Toronto. In the 1990s Fletcher worked at Toronto City Hall as Executive Assistant to Councillor Dan Leckie.

2000 Election to Toronto District School Board

Fletcher spent a number of years as a union activist and Councillor's Assistant before being elected as a Trustee for Ward 15 in the Toronto District School Board in 2000. During her time on the Board, Paula was active in fighting the cutbacks of the Mike Harris and Ernie Eves conservative governments and was able to prevent two school closures in her area.

In 2003, Fletcher had a public feud with Toronto District School Board Director of Education David Reid. During a fractious public meeting on January 29, 2003 he accused her of deliberately misleading the meeting. At the meeting, Fletcher and Reid shared a heated exchange over a series of questions she said had not been addressed by staff.

2003 Election to Toronto City Council

When Jack Layton resigned as councillor for the City of Toronto's to run for the Leadership of the Federal New Democratic Party, Fletcher received the endorsement of the New Democratic Party to run to replace him in the ward. In the race she was endorsed by both Jack Layton, who by the time of the election was the Leader of the Federal NDP, and the local NDP Member of Provincial Parliament Marilyn Churley.

During the election she was described as "a high profile lefty who has the backing of the NDP." A key issue in the election was the fixed link to the Toronto Island Airport that Fletcher opposed.

The Ward 30 2003 election saw eight candidates competing. Prominent candidates included Chris Phipps, who was executive assistant to Toronto City Councillor Kyle Rae for 11 years, and Maureen Gilroy, a centerist candidate who had the backing of Liberal Member of Parliament Dennis Mills. Future 2006 Ward 30 candidate Suzanne McCormick also ran.

Fletcher won with 39.5% of the vote (6,460 votes) beating Chris Phipps who had 26.1% of the vote, Gilroy who received 19.3% of the vote, and McCormick who received 5.1%. The total number of votes cast was 16,373 votes.

Following her election, Fletcher became part of the governing coalition led by newly elected Mayor David Miller.

As a councillor, Fletcher rallied Toronto City Council to oppose the Portlands Energy Centre, a 550 megawatt power plant in the Port Lands district beside the Hearn Generating Station. The grassroots campaign was unable to stop construction of the plant which was completed in 2007.

Other significant developments in Ward 30 supported by Fletcher include FILMPORT (now known as Pinewood Toronto Studios), Canada's Largest purpose-built sound stage and film production space, as well as Zhong Hua Men Archway, the only traditional Chinese archway to be built in Toronto.

2006 Re-Election to Toronto City Council

In 2006 Fletcher ran for reelection in a field of six candidates. The overall turnout in ward 30 dropped to 13,181 votes. Fletcher won with 60.3% of the vote. With the drop in voter turnout, however, her vote total increased by just 1476 votes over the 2003 results to 7936 votes. Suzanne McCormick, who had run against her in 2003, was the second place candidate and received 26.3% (3470 votes).

She currently serves as the Chair of the Parks and Environment Committee where she spearheaded the City of Toronto's Climate Change, Clean Air and Sustainable Energy Action Plan and Climate Change Adaptation Strategy as well People, Dogs and Parks – Off-Leash Areas and Commercial Dog Walker Permit Policy.

Fletcher is also a member of Mayor David Miller's Executive Committee and serves on the boards of Toronto Public Health and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), and she chairs the Aboriginal Committee and the Animal Services sub-committee.

Calling herself "an unapologetic, unadulterated left-winger", Fletcher is regarded as an advocate for affordable housing, environmentally sustainable municipal policy, social justice, and good land use planning.

In 2008, Fletcher caused anger among the regular patrons at Leslieville’s Duke of York Tavern after she was successful in asking the bar’s owners to remove an iconic mural of a rifle-wielding John Wayne. Fletcher said the bar’s patrons will have to “learn to live with it.”

Opposition to Smart!Centres Development

More recently, Fletcher campaigned against an application by Smart!Centres, Canada's largest retailer to build a 700,000 sq ft (65,000 m²) retail facility in the City's 'Studio District'. The application was denied by the Ontario Municipal board (OMB) in March 2009. In his decision, however, OMB vice-chair James McKenzie was highly critical of measures taken by Fletcher to block the redevelopment of the Toronto Film Studios lands by SmartCentres.

The board found, he wrote, "the city (planning) instruments represent a panicked response to an unwanted development scheme and are neither measured nor rational response. They are not the product of a bona fide planning initiative - they are not appropriate, practical, workable or achievable and they do not represent good land use planning."

Sponsored Motion Against City's Legal Advice

In December 2009, Fletcher sponsored a motion by Toronto City Council that went against its own legal advice regarding a proposal to reimburse Ward 35 councillor Adrian Heaps for legal fees stemming from a three-year-old lawsuit.

Fletcher moved that council pay the outstanding $36,000 balance of Councillor Heaps’ legal fees, incurred as a result of a defamation suit brought against him in 2007 by Michelle Berardinetti, the candidate whom Heaps had narrowly defeated in the 2006 municipal elections.

City solicitor Anna Kinastowski had advised against reimbursement in a Nov. 30 memo to council. She warned the courts have found “municipal council has no authority to reimburse a member of council for legal expenses incurred in relation to activity engaged in outside of the office of councillor” including activities as candidates prior to becoming councillor. Council voted 21-4 to adopt the motion.

In January The Toronto Party launched a lawsuit against the City and councillors for ignoring the solicitor’s advice. Councillor Doug Holyday also launched a lawsuit. They claim those councillors failed their fiduciary duty. A recent decision on the lawsuit was released by the Toronto Party who is claiming a victory on the case.

In January 2010, amid growing media attention on the issue, Heaps wrote his colleagues on council telling them he would not accept the money anymore. The council subsequently reversed its position.

Budget 2010 Outburst

On 2 March 2010, Fletcher "interogated" a man who was identified as John Smith during deputations on the City of Toronto Budget. The interrogation can be seen on Youtube. Ms. Fletcher wanted to know if he expected her to cut the arts budget, the 12% the city puts into breakfast programs, or subsidized daycare spots.

"Councillor, you're asking me to do your job. Are you seeking reelection in [October]? You're being paid to make tough decisions," said Mr. Smith. After a further exchange he added: "You Should be fired."

The Toronto Star then reported that Fletcher yelled back:"Oh, come and run against me. Come on down, baby!"

Fletcher subsequently apologized to Toronto City Council for her comments by letter writing: "if my tone was argumentative or if they believe I do not value their participation in the budget process." The outburst was covered by major media in Toronto including an editorial in the Toronto Sun and an article about the outburst from the point of view of her fellow city councillors.

Mis-vote Against Bike Lanes On University Avenue

In May 2010 Fletcher voted against a proposal to install bike lanes on University Avenue in downtown Toronto. The proposal failed on a 15-13 vote. She said she had intended to vote in favour of the proposal and blamed fatigue and city hall technology for her mis-vote. Consequently, her vote had cycling advocates mourning the loss of "the ultimate in bike lanes".. Toronto Life covered her actions in an article called: "Paula Fletcher accidentally kills bike lanes she championed."

External links

• Paula Fletcher official website
• Paula Fletcher profile on City of Toronto website
• Toronto councillor Paula Fletcher 2010 budget outburst
• Toronto Radio Station AM640 commentary on Fletcher outburst
• Toronto Radio Station CFRB 1010 on Paula Fletcher's Outburst
• Paula Fletcher Politician Facebook Page