by Erica Phillips

Princess Boucher no longer wants to sit on the sidelines and simply watch her community be managed.

The single mother of seven children, ages 14 to 31, is running for a seat on the Brampton City Council in October’s municipal election. She is one of six contenders hoping to represent the residents of Wards 2 and 6. Two popular candidates with whom Boucher is going toe-to-toe are John Hutton, who has held the position since 1985, and Dough Whillans, son of the late mayor Ken Whillans.

For her part, Boucher is offering change and commitment. “The council needs an injection of new blood,” she says. “It needs people with fresh ideas and enthusiasm who will bring a new perspective with the insight to reconceptualize problems and the energy to formulate and implement creative solutions.”

Boucher, who was born in Jamaica, came to Canada at age 10 and has lived in Brampton for five years. Ward 6 — where she resides — has more than 50,000 residents (more than 25,000 of whom are immigrants). Its population increased 715.1 per cent between 2001 and 2006. Ward 2, geographically smaller, has more than 43,000 residents (more than 16,000 of whom are immigrants). Its population grew by 16.1 per cent between 2001 and 2006.

The owner and president of Princess Promotion Inc. and an event planner, Boucher feels that residents in those wards face challenges in four main areas: security, social services, housing and employment insurance. In regards to security, Boucher would like to see a police station for those wards, as there presently isn’t one, and speed bumps in family neighbourhoods.

From social facilities to services she says Wards 2 and 6 require homeless shelters, youth programs, teen pregnancy programs, recreational facilities, a centre for seniors, a food bank, another community centre to reflect the diversity of the wards and rehabilitation programs for ex-convicts.

Her agenda also states that there must be improvements in property taxes and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board as well as affordable housing for low-income families. Lastly, Boucher is concerned about a controversial Ontario Municipal Board decision that allows a high-density development in Brampton, which other councillors are also opposing.

“Politics at the local level touch our lives in very profound ways, perhaps more so than at any other level of government,” Boucher says.“It is about grassroots issues that truly affect the daily lives of my constituents and their children. I want to be at the table when those decisions are being made, representing what is in my city and my constituents’ best interests.”

For more information about Princess Boucher, call 416-662-2458 or visit voteprincess.com

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