WEBSITE: www.votefrankdejong.ca

EMAIL: fdejong@sympatico.ca

PHONE: 416-559-6941

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1. What key issues define your campaign platform?
My campaign is focused on the pressing issues facing Ward 18, specifically, making our neighbourhoods safe, green and prosperous.
* Community involvement: The extensive re-development happening in Ward 18 is very welcome but only if community groups are directly involved at the planning stages.
* Local jobs: Ward 18 needs new employment and commercial zones which include lofts, live-work design and flexible office and meeting spaces.
* Green: Davenport buildings should be retrofitted to be energy efficient using heat pumps, active and passive solar systems.
* Public places: New housing and street designs should include extensive public spaces and public facilities so citizens of all ages and backgrounds can come together as a community.
* Local control: Abolish the unelected Ontario Municipal Board to return zoning and development decisions to elected Toronto City Councillors.
* Safe: Lobby the federal government to ban hand guns in Toronto.

2. Why are you the best candidate for this position?
I would make an excellent Ward 18 Councillor because:
* I have strong skills at bringing people together so that community decisions are inclusive and everyone wins;
* I care deeply for the people in this Ward and in this City. My parents were immigrants so I understand the challenges of learning new languages and customs, getting a job, finding a home;
* My many years as a public school teacher have taught me that every person has unique talents and skills, and everyone can make valuable contributions;
* Being a home owner, I understand the challenge of paying the mortgage, doing repairs, keeping the neighbourhood safe and beautiful;
* On my travels to other countries, I have learned that the best designed communities are walkable, have very few cars, and have many public spaces and facilities so everyone feels they are part of a caring and vibrant community.

3. What specifically do you plan to do for your ward, if elected?
If elected I would specifically work to:
* Adopt “Complete Streets” to make Davenport more pedestrian and bike
friendly;
* Ensure that the Pearson rail link is electrified and publicly owned;
* Build more studio, gallery and performance spaces for artists and musicians;
* Expand local, organic food markets, urban agriculture, and community gardens;
* Shift taxes off buildings and onto land to encourage building improvements;
* Change zoning to encourage family businesses instead of strip clubs;
* Provide high quality facilities and services for seniors;
* Promote local, organic food markets, urban agriculture, and community gardens.

4. Please provide details on your personal bio.
Frank de Jong is a 13-year home owner in Ward 18. He is the past leader of the Green Party of Ontario and is a teacher with the Toronto Board of Education. Frank lives with his partner, teacher, writer and artist Kelley Aitken. Frank was born in Ontario in 1955 to Dutch immigrant parents and grew up on a dairy farm north of Guelph. Frank is a year round cyclist, an amateur opera singer, and an organic gardener.

5. Who do you plan to support for mayor?
Undecided.