WEBSITE: www.robertfreedland.com

EMAIL: ttcadvocate@yahoo.com

1. What key issues define your campaign platform?

Key issue in my campaign is Public Transit. The main reason, is because public transit is the City’s largest expenditure – $1.4 billion dollars this year. This enormous expenditure will impact every other municipal issue – everything from municipal services, to swimming pool closures, gridlock, and arts and recreation. Therefore, regardless of what issue is most important to residents of Ward 10, it will be dramatically impacted by how well, or how poorly this $1.4 Billion is spent. Historically, the TTC and this city’s transit commissioners have a dismal record, as they have wasted millions of dollars on multiple boondoggle projects. Even taxpayers who don’t use public transit themselves, need to understand that they are paying for the this City’s (always) over budget transit projects, and it is in their interest to ensure their money is not squandered, but spent on viable and functional projects.

2. Why are you the best candidate for this position?

I am knowledgeable and well informed on transit issues. NONE of the other candidates in Ward 10 are knowledgeable on Transit issues and it well be to our City’s detriment if a candidate without transit insight is elected to city hall. I have been a public transit advocate for over 15 years, having met city councillors and advocated for transit issues many times. I have traveled around the world and seen and experienced much better public transit systems.  We have seen what happens when city councillors are uninformed on transit issues – the result is that they are easily persuaded to support large, expensive, unpopular, and unfeasible transit projects, that have often turned out to be boondoggles and money pits. A good example is the St. Clair right of way, first promised to cost around $30 million, final costs are now going to be over $120 million.

3. What specifically do you plan to do for your ward, if elected?

I will be the type of type of city councillor that everyone would want to have in office. Fighting to keep the system honest and accountable. I would conduct myself with Rob Ford’s motto, always protecting the interests and needs of the taxpayer, and putting their needs and interests above my own. Sadly, so few of our city councillors can make that claim.

4. Please provide details on your personal bio.

By profession, I work in the social service field. I am also the director of a small grass roots charity for the prevention of child abuse. I am a former commercial real estate agent and I also have a long history of working in the hospitality industry, previously owning and operating my own bakery/café.

5. Who do you plan to support for mayor?

I will work with and support any of the mayoral candidates that may be elected, with the exception of David Miller worshiper and follower — Joe Pantalone.  However, to be specific, my first choice for mayor is Rob Ford because he practices what he preaches, and he really does fight for the underdog and taxpayers.