Bill Graham: The defender
“I’m proud of the fact that we’ve put our country’s financial house in order,” said Bill Graham last Thursday at a Toronto-Centre candidates’ debate in Alumni Hall. “Our country witnesses real prosperity, [and] the only balanced budget in the western world.”
Graham is the Liberal candidate running for re-election in Toronto-Centre, which includes the east half of campus.
Before his election, Graham taught international law at U of T. He went on to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and is currently the Minister of National Defence. He has been voted best local MP six times in NOW magazine and he won the last election by a comfortable 32.7 per cent margin.
During the candidates’ debate, Graham’s opponents criticized the Liberal government’s cuts to social programs. His NDP opponent particularly criticized the lack of affordable housing in Toronto-Centre.
“Long-term affordable housing is important,” said Graham in response, “and we are now on the threshold of being able to do it, because we have a provincial government we can work with.”
Graham did not return repeated interview requests.-ALLISON MARTELL
