Capobianco: Etobicoke-Lakeshore’s Conservative Contender

One of the most heated races in the federal election is in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. The riding, which has a sizeable Ukrainian-Canadian population (and in which the Toronto UNF Community Centre is located), first garnered attention when the Liberal Party parachuted in Michael Ignatieff. Through the acclamation of Ignatieff, an academic who has written negatively about Ukrainian independence in his book, Blood and Belonging, the Liberals locked out other potential candidates, including two Ukrainian-Canadians, Marc Shwec and Ron Chyczij.  As a result, many in the riding, including some disgruntled Liberals, have been supporting Conservative candidate John Capobianco. The New Pathway’s Olena Wawryshyn speaks to Capobianco about his stance on issues that concern Ukrainian-Canadians.

NP: Why are you the right candidate for Etobicoke-Lakeshore?

JC: First and foremost I am from the community. I know about the community and I believe in it. It’s important for somebody who wants to run and represent a riding to be a strong voice in Ottawa, not Ottawa’s voice for Etobicoke-Lakeshore.  For me it’s important to be able to know and understand all the various communities within the riding – Mimico, Lakeshore, Long Branch, Kingsway –…and you have to understand each of those areas, know what their strengths are, where their challenges are in order to be an effective representative…It comes to a question of understanding, knowing and believing in the community.

Etobicoke-Lakeshore is my first choice, and it will always be my first choice, and I will represent it strongly in Ottawa….In this riding  there’s a choice. You’ve got a choice between someone who is prepared to fight for and work for the community first and foremost as his first priority versus somebody who doesn’t have a sense of this riding who hasn’t picked this riding first of second who hasn’t had a legitimate vote by way of a nomination meeting.

NP: Tell me a bit about your ties to the community.

JC: My parents, when they moved from Italy here, in the 60s, immigrated and came to Etobicoke, and stayed in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. I was born 40 years ago and I’ve lived in the riding ever since. I went to school in the riding, to Alderwood Collegiate, Lakeshore, and Norseman Middle School. And, I worked in the community as well. In university I had a summer job at a sub store on Lakeshore and I worked with my dad at the factory, side-by-side on the line to put me through university.  Now I raise a family; my wife and I and four-year-old girl Isabella live in the riding. To be able to shop in the local stores, talk to local people and see what they’re doing and go to local festivals is very important for somebody to understand what the community believes in.

NP: Can you tell me a bit about your career?

JC: I’m vice president at Hill & Knowlton, an international strategic communications firm [where] I run the public affairs department [for the Toronto area] which deals with public relations, public advocacy… and government relations.

NP: Why do you want to run for office?

JC: Etobicoke-Lakeshore needs a strong voice in Ottawa. Far too long every other region and every other part of Toronto has received a lot of programs, a lot of special attention from Ottawa. Etobicoke’s always been missed. We haven’t had strong representation... Somebody like me who believes in and comes from the community is able to have a strong voice and give Etobicoke a strong voice.

Also, they need somebody who is prepared to fight for them, especially on law and order issues. For me, law and order is very big. [It’s] one of the key things that I hear at the door…People are worried about the crime and the gun shootings...It’s time for somebody to go to Ottawa and propose tougher sentencing, mandatory sentencing, no early parole, and consecutive non-current sentencing.

And, as a son of immigrant parents, I believe it’s important to have somebody in Ottawa who is prepared to fight for immigrants.

NP: What would the Conservative Party do on immigration?

JC: One of the key things is to make the immigration process fair and to stop the queue jumping and to allow people who want to come into Canada legitimately, to come to Canada and to give them the support they need in order to get jobs that they deserve to have... We would make sure that [in] all the areas that certain skills are required we would match them with the community outside. In other words, if we need people to be in a certain sector, we would go out and ask various countries and see who has the special needs to come in and fulfil those.

Secondly, for those who are educated at a certain level outside of Canada, we would make sure that when they come to Canada their education/training is equalized in Canada, so you don’t see engineers from other countries who are driving taxi cabs.

NP: Immigration from Ukraine had been cut off for 50 years. Now, immigrants from Ukraine make up only 1 percent of the total.  Would you be in favour of increasing the level of immigration from Ukraine?

JC: Ukrainians who have immigrated to Canada have become very productive members of society, have built homes and communities and have done so many things to make Canada a wonderful place. I think it’s important to recognize the fact that we have to have more immigrants from Ukraine coming in who can help and keep building and make Canada more prosperous.

I would raise the awareness and make sure that we have an immigration system that is fair and equitable, especially to the Ukrainian people, to make sure that their numbers are equal to the others that are coming in from the other countries and I would fight for the cause. It’s important for Europeans to come into Canada as they have been such productive members of society, and it’s important for them to have that access and to ability to come to Canada if they wish to come…

One of the things that I would also fight [for] is to get back is a trade commission…Some time ago the trade commission [was closed down in] Kyiv, and I think it’s something that we would certainly want to bring in and that would get high priority…so there is that connection with Canada in Ukraine…With the change of government in Ukraine, democracy is more free and more visible. It’s important to re-establish those links.

NP: Some people have suggested setting up a Canada House in Kyiv, like the Canada House in London, England, or like France’s Alliance Francaise, which would be a centre where links between the people of Canada and Ukraine could be established in the areas of education, business and culture.  What do you think of that idea?

JC: I think it’s a great idea– it’s certainly something that we need to look at…you want to be able to look at all of the options to make sure the ties between Canada and Ukraine are stronger than ever. 

NP: Tell me a bit about your involvement with the Ukrainian-Canadian community.

JC: As somebody who has lived in the riding all his life, I know that the Ukrainian community has a very strong community in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. I ran last time and came pretty close to winning, but I stuck around and stayed with the community and worked the community.

I went to all the various activities, including the Ukrainian Festival (on Bloor Street), which is where I met many leaders within the Ukrainian-Canadian community. Having met with them and gone to a number of Ukrainian events throughout the summer and even more recently when I was nominated again in a democratically contested race here.  I’ve been invited to a lot of Ukrainian activities and meetings.To be able to have strong support from the Ukrainian-Canadian community is very important for me, and I want to make sure that they know that they’ve got a strong supporter in John Capobianco.

NP: An agreement-in-principal on the internment (of Ukrainians during the First World War) has been signed between the Ukrainian-Canadian community and the current government, but the money earmarked for the community has not yet been received. If you got elected what is your stance on honouring the agreement?

JC: There have been a number of Private Members’ Bills [on internment, put forward by] Conservative MP Inky Mark.

I think the fact that the government has recognized it is good. What we need to do now is to take it to the next step...I assure you, we will make sure that process is sped up, that the money is given as a result of the internment because it’s strongly deserved.

 PHOTOS

1 - Conservative candidate John Capobianco

2 -   Foreground L. to R.: Conservatives – Peter MacKay, Jurij Klufas, John Capobianco