Poole has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Trent University, and was a law clerk and social worker before entering political life.
She also served as chair of the Women's Perspective Advisory Committee, and was a member of the French Immersion Task Force of the Toronto Board of Education.
Poole ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1985 general election, losing to Progressive Conservative David McFadden by 914 votes in the Toronto constituency of Eglinton.
The Liberals were defeated by the New Democratic Party in the 1990 provincial election, and Poole was re-elected by only 173 votes over Progressive Conservative candidate Ann Vanstone.
[4] Poole also called for the Ontario Film Review Board to impose greater restrictions on sexually explicit and violent materials entering the country.