All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes

David Alton

City/Township Council · Kitchener

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All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes
This candidate finalized their responses after this guide and scoring methodology was published.

Climate & Sustainability

How should municipalities and the Region incorporate climate and sustainability into policy, including development and infrastructure decisions?select up to 3 per part
A. Perspective on climate change
  • Climate change is an urgent and defining crisis of our time; reducing greenhouse gas emissions should be a primary consideration across municipal decision-making
  • Our local and regional governments need to renew coordinated action towards implementing the Transform Waterloo Region strategy
B. Building and development standards
  • Where possible, require or incentivize energy efficiency standards in new development, beyond current provincial minimums
  • Require green infrastructure as part of development approvals (e.g. stormwater management, tree canopy, permeable surfaces)
  • We should be leveraging social housing as a model of fiscal and environmental sustainability.
C. Infrastructure and capital planning
  • Require climate risk and lifecycle cost analysis in major capital decisions
  • Prioritize active transportation and transit investment
  • Require climate change mitigation and adaptation impact assessments for large growth decisions (greenfield expansions, settlement boundary changes)

Describe one concrete policy, incentive, or decision you would prioritize to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Where possible, explain how it balances environmental goals with fiscal responsibility.candidate's own words

Schneider's Creek Watershed Park. Implementing a secondary planning framework for lands adjacent to the Schneider's Creek watershed to create more active transportation corridors, sustainable ecosystems, water conservation and quality measures, and responsible human/nature relationships.

Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on sustainability?candidate's own words

I have a whole platform on the rights of land and water that was co created with local advocates. It can be read at davidalton.org