The Varsity

From a shortlist of three finalists, Amarjeet Chhabra, an undergraduate at UTSC, emerged as the Scarborough region winner of City Idol last Saturday.

“I’m someone who’s passionate about representing the needs of the people who give me the chance, because I believe…I work for each of them,” Chhabra told the audience in a packed committee room at the Scarborough Civic Centre.

“I do not believe in lip service, because I’m not a politician-at least not as of yet,” Chhabra said with a smile.

The competition is at the end of its first phase, in which four finalists from Etobicoke, North York, Toronto-East York, and Scarborough respectively, are selected by attendees. Each winner will receive campaign assistance for the upcoming municipal elections in November. Last week, Engineering grad student Bahar Aminvaziri won the City Idol title in the North York region.

Chhabra, who is studying life sciences and political science, will be running in Ward 44, where she lives and attends school.

An immigrant who arrived to Canada in 1999, Chhabra has been involved with student politics at UTSC, the Toronto Youth Cabinet, and the Youth Committee for the Canadian National Exhibition Association.

“Ever heard people say ‘Youth are the future of the country’? …Well, the future of the country wants to be involved, so here I am,” states Chhabra in her online profile.

Issues ranging from homelessness to energy concerns were addressed, by the Scarborough finalists, in short presentations and speeches to an audience of at about fifty.

In the audience were journalists from local Toronto media as well Toronto City Councilor David Soknacki-the first Councilor to attend one of the finals, organizers said.