We need affordable housing, and schools, hospitals

We need affordable housing, and schools, hospitals

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Willie Reodica: For mayor of Whitchurch-Stouffville

By Maria Assaf

Willie Reodica is running for mayor of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario. His political career includes having run for Ward 38 in Scarborough in 2003, and then in 2006. He lost to incumbent Glen DeBaeremaker both times. Reodica, 62, works as a real-estate agent at Remax. He has lived in Canada since 1977 and has been residing in Stouffville since 2007. Reodica is a member of the Stouffville Lions and Royal Canadian Legion. He is also one of the founders of the Filipino Canadian Real Estate Association and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Canada.

TPR: Why did you decide to run for mayor of Stouffville? And what do you hope to accomplish during your candidacy?

REODICA: I love local politics, the issues and concerns of taxpayers, youth and seniors. I can represent them in a transparent and equitable manner. I want to build affordable housing for seniors, veterans and economically-challenged Canadians. I want to help build a new college or university campus and a new Catholic high school. I also want to negotiate with federal and provincial governments to have new offices in the town of Stouffville and a hospital.

TPR: Why do you think the town needs a new hospital?

REODICA: York Region population is over 1.3 million and we only have five hospitals there. In Toronto, there are over 3 million people and they have 35 hospitals. Plus, there is another one that’s presently under construction. We have to plan ahead. The population of York Region has increased exponentially. So we have to have these facilities, because, for example, now that we have this Ebola virus, what if something happens somewhere in York Region? How can the hospitals sustain and serve the people of Stouffville and surrounding areas if the current facilities only have 200-300 beds? Also, if you have a hospital, it will become a good source of employment for residents.

TPR: How do you plan to make this happen from a municipal office?

REODICA: We will set up fundraisers for us to build our own hospital. I know that building hospitals is the responsibility of the province, but I think the new mayor should be the one to tell the two levels of government, provincial and federal what we need. If we don’t ask now, they won’t put an item in their agendas that is badly needed for the booming town of Stouffville. They have the funds to build this sports centre for the Pan Am Games. Billions of dollars. I know it will generate some economic or employment opportunities, but the hospital is a long-term gain for the people of Stouffville.

TPR: What do you think are the biggest problems your town is facing right now?

REODICA: We are losing a lot of business. Every time you lose any businesses with more than 100 employees, the local commercial businesses there in Stouffville suffers a lot. There is also a lack of public offices and services in the town. The other issue there is that the commercial area is far from the main highway.

TPR: Why would you like to build a Catholic high school? What other infrastructure would you hope to build in your town?

REODICA: Right now there is one public high school, but there is no Catholic high school. This will be good for the town because right now the ratio is four elementary schools to one high school. It’s becoming uncomfortable for students. I also want to build indoor tennis courts. The town has two hockey arenas and a brand-new indoor soccer field, but we don’t have any indoor tennis courts or any indoor basketball sports centres. I think they have to balance it out. These kinds of sports facilities are important in our town because strong body means strong mind.

TPR: What do you think are the problems affecting healthcare in Stouffville?

REODICA: The other problem that we have there is newcomers who move from different areas in the Greater Toronto Area. We need more family doctors to have their practices there. Especially at night. I don’t know why doctors’ offices are not open in the evening. Because most parents work during the day.

(This interview has been edited and condensed)