WEBSITE: www.cliffjenkins.com

EMAIL: cliff@cliffjenkins.com

TELEPHONE: 416-449-3585

What key issues define your campaign platform?
Protecting Neighbourhoods – People invest in their neighbourhoods. I believe in protecting that investment. As councillor, I will continue to work for policies to provide residents a greater say in the future of their communities and for planning policies to prevent incompatible development in our stable residential neighbourhoods.
Fiscal Responsibility – The city has a spending problem – created by those with little regard for people’s ability to pay. I opposed the new vehicle and real-estate taxes; annual spending and tax increases; and the unaffordable wage settlement with City workers during the last term of Council – and will continue to oppose wasteful spending and unfair taxation. By applying sound business principles to the management of the city’s finances, we can control costs and hold the line on property taxes – and at the same time strengthen our infrastructure and improve the quality and reliability of our municipal services.

Why are you the best candidate for this position?
Over the past seven years, I have earned the trust and support of Ward 25 residents by emphasizing service over self-interest; principle over politics; and delivering honesty, integrity and the highest standard of professional conduct.  My proven track record of protecting neighbourhoods and the interests of taxpayers, and my wide-ranging business and community experience including 30 years in the private sector with IBM, 12 years as President of the York Mills Ratepayers Association and 7 years on Toronto City Council, make me the best candidate for the job.

What specifically do you plan to do for your ward if elected?
I will work to:
- reinvest in core infrastructure including storm sewers, roads, parks and community facilities.
- control development to fit existing communities
- eliminate wasteful, unproductive spending
- reduce the property tax burden that weighs on our homeowners and tenants, hurts the competitiveness of Ward 25 businesses and stifles job creation.
- create a Local Appeal Body, to eliminate the influence of the OMB in neighbourhood planning matters.
- implement a business approach by adopting  zero-based budgeting, value for money reviews and service level management to allocate resources more efficiently and deliver better, more accountable services to you.

Personal bio:
Family
- Ward 25 resident for more than 25 years
- Married to Liz, a long-time volunteer in the community
- Three grown sons, Neil, Scott and David, all university graduates
Experience
- Currently serving as city councillor for Ward 25 – Don Valley West
- 30 years with IBM Canada as a Client Executive leading a team of information technology professionals to meet the business needs of a large client.
- 12 years as president of the York Mills Ratepayers Association.
Education
- B.Sc.; McMaster University
- M.Sc., B.Ed.; University of Toronto

Who do you support for mayor?
Like many of the people I have met at the doors while campaigning in Ward 25, I have yet to decide who to support for mayor.  Ultimately, the candidate that gets my vote will be the one who presents a strong and realistic plan to get the city’s financial house in order and refocus council’s attention on improving the basic, fundamental municipal services that you rely on.