Ed Edwards
Regional Council · Region of Waterloo
Back to candidatesThis candidate finalized their responses after this guide and scoring methodology was published.
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
- Prioritize rapid acquisition or conversion of existing buildings
- Use publicly owned land for permanent or interim housing
- Increase funding for deeply affordable and supportive housing
B. Interim management of encampments
- Expand the hours and capacity of extreme-weather shelter protections beyond current levels
- Require that enforcement actions be linked to the availability of adequate indoor alternatives
- Allow temporary encampments to persist while permanent housing options are actively being developed
C. Accountability and collaboration between levels of government
- Actively advocate to the province for defined funding triggers and program supports
Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on housing?candidate's own words
Funding to social housing providers needs auditing. Some providers are receiving far more money from the region than they are spending, and we deserve to know where that money has gone.
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)
- Adjust signal timing, curb use, or intersection design
- Prioritize active transportation improvements during routine resurfacing
What role should public transit play in regional growth, and how should future transit investments be prioritized?ranked from highest to lowest importance
- Prioritize expanding coverage area
- Use transit to shape land use
- Invest in rapid transit to anchor growth
- Prioritize lower-cost or incremental transit improvements
- Prioritize maximizing operational efficiency
Do you support the municipality taking responsibility for snow removal from sidewalks adjacent to private properties?single choice
No, maintain the current system where property owners clear adjacent sidewalks
Do you support expanding fare-free transit for the Region?single choice
Yes, for specific groups
If you selected "Yes, for specific groups" above, which groups?candidate's own words
People with disabilities, Low-income residents
Please describe one criterion or principle that should not be compromised when making transit investment decisions.candidate's own words
leaving communities underserviced
Please name one specific street, corridor, or project where you would prioritize these changes.candidate's own words
Charles Street
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
- Climate change needs action and local governments can contribute in a few areas, but this is an issue better addressed at provincial and federal levels
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)
- Use development agreements to require climate sustainability measures as a condition of 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)
- Align municipal operations (fleet, facilities, procurement) with regional climate commitments
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
- Promote and support low-barrier spaces for local producers to distribute and sell food
- Partner with other levels of government to develop local food hubs that reduce costs and barriers for small businesses
- Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
- Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers
- Leave local food livelihoods to the private market
How should municipalities and the Region approach food insecurity and affordability?select up to 3 per part
A. Access to food
- Partner with local charities, non-profits, and other organizations to strengthen access to food and redistribution of surplus food and produce for low-income residents
- Support the development of community buying clubs or municipal grocery stores
- Support programs to prepare food for those who are unhoused or unable to cook
B. Access to land for growing food
- Make public lands (Regional and municipal) available for sustenance food provisioning, including in urban and peri-urban spaces as cities expand
- Enable access to land and resources for local people who want to grow their own food (e.g. the community-garden model)
- Encourage and support private landowners to make lots available for food provisioning
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
- Require detailed cost and risk analysis before approving
- Prioritize infill and intensification where infrastructure
- Use development phasing tied to infrastructure capacity
- Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle infrastructure
- Proceed with outward growth to address housing supply
How should councils balance provincial and regional mandates for increased housing density with neighbourhood opposition and local infrastructure constraints?select up to 4 per part
A. Planning & zoning tools
- Focus incremental density near transit, schools, and commercial areas
- Require area-specific planning studies before permitting additional density
B. Managing neighbourhood opposition
- Defer to neighbourhood opposition and reduce or stop contested density
- Phase or adjust density in response to neighbourhood concerns about design or servicing capacity
- Require demonstrated city-wide benefits to justify local impacts
C. Infrastructure & servicing
- Approve density where infrastructure capacity already exists
- Use development charges or conditions to fund needed upgrades
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 should be more 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
- Area-specific levies where residents in a defined area receive or request a distinct level of service
- Actively pursue provincial and federal transfer funding and grants
- Exploring new local revenue tools where permitted by provincial legislation
D. Growth & cost recovery
- Ensure new development pays a greater share of long-term infrastructure costs
B. Service levels
- Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access
C. Capital & infrastructure
- Require lifecycle cost analysis before approving any new infrastructure
Water Supply (Regional) 1 questions
Water Supply (Regional)
The Region of Waterloo's long-term water supply is under growing pressure. Water capacity in the Mannheim Service Area serving Kitchener, Waterloo, and parts of Cambridge, Wilmot, and Woolwich, is limited in supporting new development approvals. While additional supplies were found for easing immediate needs, what long term approach should the Region take? (rank from highest to lowest in importance)ranked from highest to lowest importance
- Commission an independent technical review of all options before committing to major new infrastructure
- Prioritize immediate investment in water conservation programs and demand management
- Pursue a Lake Erie pipeline connection with provincial and federal cost-sharing
- Accelerate exploration of alternative water sources (wells, treated wastewater reuse, inter-municipal supply)
- Approve developments now and resolve water supply constraints in the future
About the Candidate2 questions
About the Candidate
Why are you running for this position?candidate's own words
Dissatisfaction with the current councillors, and to be a voice to protect people from stong chair powers.
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