WEBSITE: www.michaellaxer.blogspot.com

EMAIL: michaellaxer@hotmail.com

PHONE: 416-521-7324

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1. What key issues define your campaign platform?
My campaign is centred around the fight to reclaim our neighbourhood and city from corporate interests and politicians who sell the snake oil of short term tax gain for long term service and infrastructure pain. 
Fighting for the preservation of public services in public hands. Working to save Transit City, including the essential Waterfront West LRT. Standing up to include everyone in Toronto’s future growth, including small-business owners, workers and labour. Always understanding that diversity, be it immigrants or the LGBT community or working people, are what define Toronto and drive its economy and that a threat to them is a threat to our city and our ENTIRE community. Knowing that the cutting of services is a direct attack to our city’s families and our future in Etobicoke Lakeshore. This is where I stand.
These are issues of democracy, social justice, basic fairness and diversity, and they define my campaign.


2. Why are you the best candidate for this position?
I feel that I am the best person to achieve this as I have a proven commitment to this great community and to the people that define why I am running. For almost a decade my partner and I have run a retail business on Lake Shore Blvd in both Long Branch and New Toronto. I am proud to be a resident of the Ward with Natalie and my three small children who attend public school here, and I am proud to work, do business in and to meet and learn from its many diverse residents every single day. I understand from direct experience and commitment the needs of both small business and the working people and families that make this ward what it is. I will stand with them, against any right-wing, corporate agenda to sell out our public services and the ward we have all built together.

3. What specifically do you plan to do for your ward, if elected?
The three most important things that I would specifically like to work for in Ward 6 are standing up for Transit City and the Waterfront West LRT which I feel is an absolute necessity for the future of growth in our neighbourhood, working against mall culture and corporate interests and for our local commercial strips by fight unnecessary by-laws and implementing free parking in our retail areas, and by seeking a foot-patrol based community policing strategy on the Lake Shore that would include an effort to get our own division back! For further details, check out www.michaellaxer.com

4. Please provide details on your personal bio.
I live in the neighbourhood of New Toronto with my three children and partner Natalie. I hold an Honours B.A. in History from Glendon College of York University. With Natalie I have owned and operated a bookstore for the last nine years on Lake Shore Blvd.. Prior to that I worked in upper management for a Bay St. transportation firm. I have run as a candidate for the NDP both provincially and federally and I am a co-founder of the Ginger Project which seeks to create a Democratic Socialist election agenda for the province of Ontario.

5. Who do you plan to support for mayor?
Joe Pantalone.