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

Dorothy McCabe

City/Township Council · Waterloo

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All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes
Housing & Homelessness 3 questions

Housing & Homelessness

How should municipalities and the Region balance providing permanent housing with the management of encampments in public spaces?select up to 3 per part
A. Pathways to permanent housing
  • Increase funding for deeply affordable and supportive housing
  • This question isn't clear. The current situation is not one or the other - it's both and. As well, the option to increase funding for deeply affordable and supportive housing is a key priority but it is a provincial responsibility.
B. Interim management of encampments
  • Given the ongoing court case regarding encampments, I am declining to answer.
C. Accountability and collaboration between levels of government
  • Most of these options are already being done.

Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to address both encampments and permanent housing.candidate's own words

As Mayor, I initiated and led the housing development at 2025 University Avenue East - BuildNowWR - which is the largest per capita affordable, attainable and supportive housing project in Canada. The first building with 85 units is currently being constructed, servicing is being built and site planning for the remaining housing is currently underway. We are partnered with Habitat for Humanity and private and non profit housing developers. The city provided 25 acres of land, set high sustainability and accessibility standards for the entire site. The housing will remain in public ownership in perpetuity.

Getting Around 4 questions

Getting Around

How should municipalities use existing street infrastructure to better prioritize walking, cycling, and public transit?select up to 3
  • Reallocate space on selected streets (e.g. road diets, transit lanes, protected bike lanes)
  • Prioritize active transportation improvements during routine resurfacing
  • Focus improvements around schools, transit corridors, and commercial areas
What role should public transit play in regional growth, and how should future transit investments be prioritized?ranked from highest to lowest importance
  1. Use transit to shape land use
  2. Invest in rapid transit to anchor growth
  3. Prioritize maximizing operational efficiency
Do you support the municipality taking responsibility for snow removal from sidewalks adjacent to private properties?single choice
No response
Do you support expanding fare-free transit for the Region?single choice

Yes, for specific groups

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

Youth aged 18 and under should ride free. All others should apply for the Affordable Transit discount as needed.

If you selected "Yes, for specific groups" above, which groups?candidate's own words

Youth (age 12 and under)

Please describe one criterion or principle that should not be compromised when making transit investment decisions.candidate's own words

affordability of transit for users

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

LRT Stage 2; GRT service to Vista Hills and North Waterloo.

Please name one specific street, corridor, or project where you would prioritize these changes.candidate's own words

University Avenue, Bridgeport Road, Erb Street, Pedestrian scramble at King and University; University and Albert; University and Phillip.

Climate & Sustainability 3 questions

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
  • Commitments passed by previous councils, like the 50x30 pledge or declarations of climate emergencies, should guide current council 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), Provincial legislation does not allow municipalities to require sustainability measures as conditions for approval
C. Infrastructure and capital planning
  • Require climate risk and lifecycle cost analysis in major capital decisions
  • Require climate change mitigation and adaptation impact assessments for large growth decisions (greenfield expansions, settlement boundary changes)
  • Require an assessment of impacts on aquifer recharge

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

Support for the expansion of the RetroFitWR program to the Waterloo and Kitchener and the twps.

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

My decisions over my first term and my previous work as a Climate Action volunteer etc demonstrates my commitment.

Food Systems & Security 3 questions

Food Systems & Security

In the context of growing pressure for economic development and the connected loss of farmland, what role do municipalities and the Region hold in promoting local food livelihoods, production, and processing?ranked from highest to lowest importance
No response
How should municipalities and the Region approach food insecurity and affordability?select up to 3 per part
A. Access to food
  • Enable more community gardens and support residents where possible. Make city facilities available for partners to distribute food.
B. Access to land for growing food
  • Enable access to land and resources for local people who want to grow their own food (e.g. the community-garden model)
  • Over my term, we have updated bylaws to enable more community gardens and small scale food production by people at their residence.

Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to strengthen the local food system.candidate's own words

The City has partnered with the Food Bank of WR and provided space in a rec centre for a Food Locker.

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

A food strategy is needed first in order to determine potential priorities and partners.

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

The strategy is needed first in order to determine priorities and what may be possible.

Growth & Planning 4 questions

Growth & Planning

How should councils weigh the long-term cost of maintaining existing infrastructure when making decisions about outward growth and expansion?ranked from highest to lowest importance
  1. Prioritize infill and intensification where infrastructure
  2. Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle infrastructure
  3. Require detailed cost and risk analysis before approving
  4. Use development phasing tied to infrastructure capacity
How should councils balance provincial and regional mandates for increased housing density with neighbourhood opposition and local infrastructure constraints?select up to 3 per part
A. Planning & zoning tools
  • Waterloo has done all of this already except for bullet 5.
B. Managing neighbourhood opposition
  • Staff recommendations regarding development plans must be carefully considered prior to making decisions. They provide expertise which Council must consider.
C. Infrastructure & servicing
  • Planning can't proceed without the necessary infrastructure. Municipalities ability to charge and use DCs has been significantly restricted by the provincial government's new DC Reduction Act program.

Describe one concrete zoning, planning, or development decision you would support (or oppose) that reflects how you would balance these priorities.candidate's own words

My track record on housing approvals speaks for itself. Waterloo has a progressive planning regime.

Please describe one concrete example of a growth or infrastructure decision you would support or oppose using this approach.candidate's own words

I spoke strongly for maintaining the countryside line. Waterloo continue to prioritize infill developments.

What can the municipality/region do, if anything, about land which sits vacant for years because it is being used as an investment (land banking)?candidate's own words

The provincial government has created 'use it or lose' it options for planning approvals which are not being developed. This is a new option which can be utilized.

Budget & Taxes 5 questions

Budget & Taxes

Do you think the Region's or municipality's budget process should be more transparent and accessible to residents?single choice

It is already sufficiently transparent and accessible

Municipal and regional costs have generally risen faster than revenues restricted by property tax rules and limited local revenue tools. How would you balance tax increases against maintaining service levels and long-term financial sustainability?select up to 3 per part
A. Revenue approaches
  • Moderate, predictable tax increases to maintain service levels
  • Actively pursue provincial and federal transfer funding and grants
  • Exploring new local revenue tools where permitted by provincial legislation
D. Growth & cost recovery
No response
B. Service levels
No response
C. Capital & infrastructure
  • Prioritize maintenance and state-of-good-repair over expansion
  • Require lifecycle cost analysis before approving any new infrastructure
  • Defer or cancel capital projects with low long-term return on investment

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

Budgets are already open and transparent. Municipalities do a lot of work to try to communicate as much as and as effectively as possible about the budgets. But they are complex documents and not easily digestible.

About the Candidate3 questions

About the Candidate

Why are you running for this position?candidate's own words

To continue building Waterloo as an affordable, livable, vibrant community that is future ready.

How does the current two-tier structure of municipal and regional government affect the Region's ability to make coherent decisions on housing, planning, and infrastructure?candidate's own words

Structural reform deserves serious study before the next election cycle, I would support consolidation of some functions or municipalities

Please describe one specific area where you think the governance structure helps or hinders good decision-making.candidate's own words

The separation of planning (local) and water and waste water infrastructure (regional) greatly hinders good decision making.