July 28, 2011
PHOTO COURTESY GEORGE GANETAKOS
EMPOWERMENT: Parkdale-High Park PC candidate George Ganetakos says he’d like to develop a website that would show citizens where their tax dollars actually go.
The lead designer for video game development company Ganz, Ganetakos has been nominated as the Conservative candidate for Parkdale-High Park. He will face off against NDP incumbent Cheri DiNovo and Liberal candidate Cortney Pasternak.
Ganetakos has never run for office before but said he is hoping to use his background and experience to help citizens keep track of government spending.
“What I’d love to do is find a way to bring transparency and I mean that in a real way,” he said. “I want you to be able to be empowered to see where your tax dollars go.”
By using his technological expertise, Ganetakos said he wants to champion a website where anyone can go and look at where government funds are allocated.
“Having that on the table would keep us very accountable and keep us always working towards doing the absolute best for you and always being mindful that it’s your money, not ours,” he said.
He also said he realizes not everyone is so tech savvy and that he wants to make it as easy as possible for people to see this information.
“What I’d love to do is make these types of tools really accessible so you don’t have to be a video gamer to understand it,” he said.
Game development can be a highly demanding field and there are many other skills that he learned in that profession that can be applied to politics, according to Ganetakos.
“I’m used to a very fast-paced and results-driven business,” he said. “But I’m also used to an extremely collaborate and iterative team dynamic.
“I love working with people and going towards a common goal together and getting it done.”
Ganetakos’ other stated goals are to attract more businesses to the area and to help local seniors.
“What I hear at the door frequently from our seniors is that they just can’t afford any additional tax strain,” he said. “They’re just really limited because of their fixed incomes.
“I want to make sure that the seniors are respected because they built this place.”
Ganetakos said that much of his agenda would be determined by what the people of Parkdale-High Park want and said he hopes they vote for him on Oct. 6.
“Ultimately I’ll be working for the people,” he said. “If I’m fortunate enough to get in they’ll decide and they’ll talk to me about what they need.”
