Isabelle Champagne – Ward 37
EMAIL: isabelle.champagne123@hotmail.com
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What key issues define my campaign platform:
City budget: You cannot run a city on a credit card. We must establish a lean and transparent budget to lessen the burden of existing large expenses. Trust, truth and teamwork will create opportunities to “find the cash” and create savings.
Urban planning: Our transit system needs to make the city more accessible, local businesses need support to create new job opportunities and our community needs to plan for better integration of newcomers.
Customer service: I intend to simplify municipal issues to make it easier for all of us to work together and drive change. It is important to me to be there for constituents and to be accessible. Citizens should expect every phone call and email to be answered within 24 hours.
Why are you the best candidate for this position:
Collaboration: I never assume I have the only answer, it takes many minds to solve Ward issues. We do not live and work in silos and we need to expect the best from every one: elected council, staff and contractors alike. That is how trust, truth and teamwork can bring positive change.
Planning: My 23 years in the private sector has taught me to plan for the short and long term as the decisions we make today greatly impact our future. I can work on small tasks, I can focus on large projects and I can prepare for tomorrow.
Experience: My background in manufacturing has given a depth of experience in working with people and understanding what needs to be done. Over six years as the chair of school councils, I found a solution to avoid a school closing and raised enough funds to restore a school playground.
What specifically do you plan to do for your ward, if elected?
Driveway bylaw: This is a source of great concern and frustration for many residents. I will work to amend the existing bylaw to enable residents to maintain their current driveways without financial penalties. The bylaw should apply to new subdivisions but established neighbourhoods should not suffer.
Improved transit: Ward 37 needs more buses and subway connections to the north and east. The current structure does not carry our growing workforce far enough or fast enough. I will support initiatives like a Sheppard subway extension to Scarborough Town Centre and increased bus routes in under-serviced neighbourhoods.
Personal bio:
I live in Ward 37 with my husband Ted, our son, Justin and the family dog, Rosie. Born and raised in Montreal, I moved to Scarborough in 1987 and understand the feeling of settling into a new community. For the past 23 years I have been a customer advocate with a large manufacturing company and that’s how I see the role of city councillor. As Chair of the Toronto chapter for a national association of professionals in the construction industry, I also know the importance of sharing expertise and reaching consensus across all constituents.
Who do you support for mayor?
I support Rob Ford for mayor.
