WEBSITE: http://electkarlenenation.com

PHONE: 647-857-4946

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What key issues define your campaign platform?
I am running on a platform of fiscal responsibility, city renewal and improved services to Torontonians.
As residents of Toronto, including those of Ward 19, we must all be engaged in stopping the culture of wasteful spending at city hall.  There’s been a serious lack of oversight on city projects like the Peter Street homeless shelter, originally budgeted at $5 million, now more than double the cost.
The St Clair streetcar lanes: originally budgeted to cost $48 million, it ballooned to more than $100 million. The millions of dollars wasted under this administration could have been used to provide better services to residents and businesses, and beef up transit across the city.
I am not advocating slashing and burning services: it is about being accountable and not wasting millions and millions of taxpayers dollars.

Why are you the best candidate for this position?
I’ve lived in Toronto for 33 years. I’m a condo owner who has lived in Ward 19 for six years. I have strong communications and organizational skills and a strong knowledge of diverse groups in Toronto.
I worked as a broadcast journalist with CTV News for 16 years. For the past nine years, as CTV’s diversity producer. My mandate included broadening CTV’s coverage of issues in diverse communities and increasing the accessibility of senior news managers at CTV to community groups.
I educated community groups about how to get coverage for their issues. I also worked with management on Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) issues and  filed stories for our week-end newscast.
These responsibilities have given me the understanding and sensitivity required to tackle the issues facing the diverse communities, in Ward 19 and across Toronto.

What specifically do you plan to do for your ward, if elected?
Toronto businesses pay three times more property taxes than businesses in 200 municipalities across Ontario. Homeowners and businesses are now paying a Land Transfer Tax and a Vehicle Registration Tax on top of their property taxes, which I would vote to repeal if it came up for a vote.
We have to look at improving transit solutions in the neighbourhoods. We need a good mix of all kinds of businesses.
Ward 19 residents want their tax dollars to be used efficiently to beef up TTC service, programs for youth and seniors, increase safety and help struggling businesses.

Please provide details on your personal bio.
I came Canada in late 1976.  I was a pregnant teen. I worked nights as a dishwasher, kitchen help, hostess and waitress. I finished high school, graduated from University of Toronto with a degree in political science. I worked at U of T and  the Toronto Stock Exchange as a corporate communications officer. I studied journalism at Humber College, worked at the Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, CBC, Canada AM, CTV National and later in 1993, CFTO (now CTV Toronto) as a news reporter. Over the past nine years, I have worked as CTV’s diversity producer.

Who do you plan to support for mayor?
I am looking at the three frontrunners in the campaign – Rob Ford, George Smitherman and Rocco Rossi.  I like that they are focusing on strong fiscal management at city hall.