Former Toronto City Councillor Karen Stintz Hopes to Run for Conservative Party in Federal Election

Former Toronto city councillor Karen Stintz is looking to make a political comeback by running for the Conservative Party of Canada in the upcoming federal election.

Stintz, who previously served as the chair of the TTC, was elected as a councillor for the Eglinton-Lawrence ward in 2003. After an unsuccessful bid for Toronto’s mayor in 2014, she stepped away from politics. However, she now feels inspired by Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre and his vision for the country, prompting her to reconsider her retirement.

Stintz, who currently holds the position of president and CEO at the non-profit recreational center Variety Village, initially believed she would never return to politics. However, she now sees an opportunity to better serve her community, which she believes is currently underserved by the current government.

In her bid to represent the Conservatives in the Eglinton-Lawrence riding, currently held by Liberal MP Marco Mendicino, Stintz acknowledges Mendicino’s popularity and likability within the community. Nonetheless, she believes that the community is dissatisfied with the performance of the Liberal government and sees an opportunity for change.

Stintz received overwhelmingly positive feedback from community members and party members alike when indicating her intention to run as the Conservative candidate. With her long-standing presence in the community, having served as a city councillor for 25 years and representing half of the Eglinton-Lawrence riding, she is confident in her ability to bring about a positive and managed change.

Claiming to possess a blend of progressive and conservative views, Stintz points out her past support for initiatives such as bike lanes, highlighting that she is not viewed as a hard-line conservative. Instead, she sees herself as right of center and aligned with the progressive views of the city, while also recognizing the importance of conservatism in various aspects of governance.