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Whitby Free Press, 30 Nov 1972, p. 11

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Bruno And tenants, strangely en- ough, don't often get in- volved in municipal elections. Much of the problem is that many don't think they pay for municipal services, nor pay appropriate school taxes. This, of course, is sim- ply not true. A portion of each and every rental dollar goes to pay for these services or these educational levies. Tenants are, indeed, taxpayers, too. The tax rebates, paid re- cently by the Province, may have created confusion and says tenants extra work for the Province, the municipalities and the landlords. However, if it did nothing else, it served to enlighten tenants as to their rights un- der the law. The relationship between tenants and their landlords is covered by the Landlord and Tenants Act. This Act, among other things, permits a municipal- ity to set up and appoint members to a Landlord and Tenants Advisory Board# Mr. Harilaid has said many are times that it is his personal view that such a committee should be appointed without fail and iminediately, to aid in solving the many prob- lems and misunderstandings between landlords and ten- ants. "As long as there are ten- ants and as long as there are landlords these differences of opinion will exist," said Mr. Harilaid. "This is an accepted fact and that is why the Prov- ince, in its wisdom, saw fit to include such an arrange- taxpayers, ment in the hope that mun- icipalities would take advan- tage of the provision and bring about a semblance of order in a field where often chaos exists. "As mayor, it would be my intention, and a top pri- ority one, to establish such an advisory committee. It would be conprised of a representative of the tenants, a representative of the land- lords and a representative of the municipal government. to@.... "I realize that under the law the committee would have no jurisdiction to act in disputes which come be- fore it. However, in my view, it would serve as an invaluable liasison between tenant and landlord and would, in fact, resolve many of the prob- lems facing the two parties before they reach a thor- oughly incompatible situat- ion. Hriaeid 's f or p eo ple Bruno Harilaid has set himself a new goal in life. He wants to be iayor of the Town of Whitby. And many people believe he would be a good one. What some can't under- stand is why lie wants to be mayor. Is it for the money? Power? or some other reason not evident? "The answer is quite sim- pie," said Mr. Harilaid. "I feel my organizational ability has been proven in the business world and it is that type of leadership that is re- quired to give the highly-paid experts enployed by the town, guidelines to build a better Whitby for the people of Whitby." "I feel that the people of Whitby are not getting the most out of their municipal government. I know I can head an administration that can do better. "I believe citizens are not being given an adequate voice in the conduct of town busi- ness. I don't believe they are getting full value for their tax dollars. I don't believe the present administration is mak- ing the correct decisions in matters that should reflect favorably on this community. In fact, some of their prac- tices work in reverse and, rather than encouraging com- mercial and industrial expan- sion which would bring as- sessment ratios into line, they tend to drive such expansion away when it is so badly needed. "In addition, I believe the present administration looks to the future to the extent that present requirements and, difficulties are ignored or overlooked to the detriment of all our citizens. "Money and power are of little interest to me. In fact, to prove the first point, I have pledged to donate my net salary from the post to cultural and youth groups within the town who do worthwhile work on behalf of our citizens. "As to- the question of power that, in itself, is ridi- culous. I am a successful and affluent businessman in sev- eral diversified companies, all of which would more than fulfill any need to react this way. "I have been accused, in a whispering campaign, that I an a slun landlord. 1, of course, unhesitatingly deny this. As proof I offer the following information. I do own a number of apartinent buildings within the town- none of which arc more than five years old. "I invite any citizen to go to these buildings and sec for theniselves. Thrce of these units arc located at 1526 Dufferin St., Victoria and Brock Sts., and at 500 Mary St. "Also in respect to these apartment holdings, I frcely admit that some tenants are unhappy. But this is the case wherever there are apartment dwellers and it matters not an iota who the owner is. "There has been rnisguided comment by some people that they did not receive the full extent of' their rent re- bates from the provincial gov- ernment. This I deny. Any tenant who was in arrears in rent payments got credit for the rebate against money ow- ing. All others received their rebates in full. In addition, I point out that ail my leases contain an escalator clause in respect to taxes. Very few of my ten- ants have had their rents raised over any necessary in- crease to take care of higher taxes. All of this can be proved. "I have a number of ten- ants who have been with me for up to five years and if anyone will take the time to ask them, they will be given a far more accurate, truthful picture of me as a landlord. "If there is one thing i have learned during the cam- paign," said Mr. Harilaid, "it is that some people will go to almost any length to throw disfavor on any candidate not of their choice. "I refer to the groundless, unfair attacks on my moral character - attacks which don't bother me since i know Continued on page 2. TVETE I 7777777777777 7 7

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