Jim Karygiannis: What I want to do for my city ward

Introduction
 
Jim Karygiannis, veteran Member of Parliament, sworn in to a life-time appointment as Privy Councillor with the right to attend cabinet meetings, left the House of Commons after 26 years in office to enter municipal politics. Is it because his traditional values are not compatible with the mainstream thinking of Parliament? In his four years as city councillor, what are his achievements? What does he want to do in his next term of office? Will he be able to do what he is promising? Being the representative of a truly diversified ward, what does he think of his Chinese, Greek, Italian, Indian, Pakistani and other ethnic residents?
 
I interviewed him six weeks before the Election Day of October 22, 2018. I asked challenging questions. No matter how direct, how abrasive my questions, he answered with candor. Oh, he is so human! He spoke with passion. Sometimes he had tears in his eyes and his voice broke in sobs. I agree with his philosophy and politics. I cannot help respecting him, admiring him, even loving him. I wish him success!
 
 
 
Peter Lam (PL): What do you think are the important issues facing your ward in the forth coming municipal election?
Jim Karygiannis (JK): We have a surge in gun violence. Safety is the number one issue. We have to take the guns off the streets. We need more police support. What is now being voted in Council is a gun repository. You put these guns in a safe place through public and private participation. When you want your guns for hunting or shooting, you take them out. Hand guns should be banned. Fifty percent of hand guns in crimes are stolen from legitimate owners or sold by people who can make a dollar. We should also make sure that our borders are protected to stop people from bringing hand guns.
 
The second priority is safe schools. We have moved to build speed bumps at dangerous school crossings. We are enhancing police presence to give tickets to people who make the wrong turns or drive aggressively. We also put up radars to see how people are speeding. Everyday every child must return home safely.
 
A third important issue is the Sheppard Subway. It stops at Don Mills. It should be extended to McCowan and beyond. There is no reason why people north of the 401 should be treated as second class citizens. There is a lot of development north of the 401 for businesses and homes. These developments need the subway. Seniors and veterans should be allowed to ride the TTC free after peak hours. They will do less driving and enjoy their trips more.
 
I want to get people off the road. I want to build bike lanes, so people can get off their cars, get on their bikes and travel safely.
 
My other high priority is seniors. We need day care programs for seniors, so that they can meet friends, have lunch and keep busy, keep young. I have initiated a program at L’Amoureux Community Centre. It should be like that in all communities.
 
PL: How would you be able to fulfil your promises?
JK: I have a lot of friends in city council. When the number of councillors are
reduced to 25, there will be more from the suburbs. Power will shift to suburbia. I have a lot of political experience. My friends will help me.
PL: What is your position on legalization of marijuana?
JK: I used to work with the police to shut down marijuana houses. When it is legalized, we must make sure it is not close to schools. Any marijuana store has to be half a kilometer away from any school. I do not support legalizing drugs, but I support legalization of marijuana for medical use. We must be able to test drivers under its influence.
 
PL: What is your position on same sex marriage?
JK: I believe in traditional family values. But marginalizing them is no option. Working with them is. We are all part of the human race.
 
PL: Can I say that you left the House of Commons because your traditional values are not compatible anymore with the mainstream thinking there?
JK: It was part of it. But the greater reason is I want to be close to my family. My mother is 85. I am the only child. I want to spend more time with her.
 
PL: What is your political philosophy?
JK: What can I do to make the lives of my constituencies better.
 
PL: Do you call yourself a “politician”?
JK: I don’t like the term “politician”. A politician is someone who says the right thing and gets a lot of votes, and them disappears. I live here. My wife goes to the same stores as the people here. I drive on the same streets, I have a calling to serve.
 
PL: If you want to replace the word “politician”, what would you use?
JK: Human. I am a humanitarian. In April 2004, I brought forward a private member’s motion which recognized the death of 1.5 million Armenians as a genocide. The motion was approved by Parliament.
 
PL: I want to say a sentence. You finish it for me: Jim Karygiannis is ……
JK: A man that cares about his family, cares about his constituencies. I am a man of integrity, a man of honesty. I am not in politics because I need a job. I have a calling. I can make a difference in people’s lives. If I can do a thing to make your day better than yesterday, that is an accomplishment. I am there for the people.
 
PL: What are your achievements as a city councillor?
JK: I worked with paramedics of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Their morale was low. We made our city respects them. I heard their complaints. We voted on changes and new equipment. Now they feel proud about their job.
 
I stopped privatization of garbage collection. It is cheaper to have it done by the Union.
I feel proud to make schools safe.
I am proud of my work in development. There were many rooming houses where people lived in dangerous situations. Now we live in the safest part of town.
 
PL: You have many ethnic communities in your ward. What do you think of them?
JK: In the 60s, when a person immigrated to Canada, officers may say his name was too long and cut it short. When I went to school, my name was Kary. This kind of red-neck behavior doesn’t exist anymore.
We don’t care where you came from. We all belong. You respect your neighbours. You accept your neighbours as equals. You celebrate Canadian diversity and embrace our future.
 
PL: What do you want to say to conclude this interview?
JK: The transportation in Toronto is the worst top six in the world. You need to build subway lines. We have to make sure the Sheppard Subway goes to McCowan and continues west to Downview. We have to make sure the Kennedy Subway goes to Scarborough Town Centre, not as one stop but three.