“Service over self”: an overarching political ideology
TORONTO – In the “cut and thrust” of political activity and machinations, it too often easy to overlook the purpose of political structures. Aspirationally – naively, some would say – the purpose and structures are founded on the improvement of the common good. News outlets are partly to blame for seeking out the alas too common ‘‘bad news” to sell as salacious attention-grabbers. The Corriere Canadese makes effort to provide space to politicos of any stripe without trying to ambush them.
But Canada, Ontario and Toronto are part of a rapidly evolving demographic whose culture of “political expectations” in the context of an ethic where “the rule of Law”, merit and democratic institutions are [happily still] considered as measures of a public individual.
Not many candidates for political office accept the challenge of submitting to an interview, much less one where the interviewer and the medium are seen in some circles as tending in a contrary direction, or “too independent”. Michael Kerzner was more than willing to take that chance. Good for him!
A structured Q/A interview soon evolved into a free-flowing dialogue on the issues that matter to a constituency that, not that long ago, was home to the largest collection of Italian Canadians and Jewish-Canadians in Toronto, if not Ontario. Without the cooperation of those two groups, there would be scant expectation of electoral success.
Well, the numbers and percentages of those two groups may have diminished relative to others, said Mr. Kerzner, but the need to nurture an alliance of interests based on their cooperation is as important as ever. “To build consensus, one needs to have a history of serving actively in many different organizations and inter-faith programs that keep the community fabric strong”, he noted as he listed the organizations, their locales and the personalities associated with them – with the borders of York Center and beyond.
When asked if that consensus had been shaken in the context of the perceived rise in anti- Semitism since October 7, 2023, his response was an unwavering “quite the contrary; Italians and Jews have a common history of mutual support in the face of hostilities dating from at least the occasion of the ‘riots’ at Christie Pits”.
“We both have a ‘can do’, forward-looking approach to life in Toronto, Ontario. We have lived the experience of sacrifice and hard work required to improving our environment. Together we have been co-builders, physically and culturally, the city and province we are proud to share with others. Obviously, we are not the only ones, but, when there was little, together we created the ‘more’ for others to develop going forward.”
He went on to add that, it may not all have been sunshine and roses, but we both focused on economic growth, public safety, a good education, access to quality health care, and nurturing community attitudes grounded in empathy, honesty and selflessness.
Those are principles lost in the “din of partisan battling”. Michael Kerzner was able to add modesty while illustrating his family’s ethic: “Service Over Self.”
In the pic above, the conservative candidate Michael Kerzner touring the Corriere Canadese’s editorial workplace with the Publisher, Honourable Joe Volpe; here below, Michael Kerzner with the journalistic staff of the Italian daily newspaper (photo: Corriere Canadese)
