Everton Dixon

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

We can make our most meaningful community impact by establishing a collaborative Municipal Retrofit and Infill Program through Kitchener Utilities, working hand in hand with the Region, non-profit builders, and local homeowners. Heating and building operations generate the majority of our urban greenhouse gas emissions. By leveraging on-bill financing through Kitchener Utilities, our city can help property owners install high-efficiency heat pumps and low-carbon insulation without massive upfront capital burdens. This balances our shared climate goals with fiscal responsibility: the program is self-sustaining and repaid gradually through monthly energy savings rather than funded by property tax hikes that strain seniors on fixed incomes and working families. At the same time, City Council can collaborate with tenant advocates to tie all municipal retrofit financing to clear anti-displacement agreements, guaranteeing that green retrofits cannot be used as an excuse for unfair Above-Guideline Rent Increases or renovictions. When we unite our municipal utility assets, streamlined approvals for net-zero infill housing, and strong tenant protections, we cut emissions, lower energy bills, and keep our neighbourhoods intact.

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

Together with our Regional counterparts, we must ensure our critical infrastructure serves human needs first. Investments like the service upgrades to the Mannheim Water Treatment system and our local power grid represent vital public capital. City Council must work proactively with the Region through coordinated zoning and site plan controls to protect this capacity for everyday residents and affordable housing, rather than allowing our water table and energy grid to be overburdened by resource-heavy industrial operations like hyperscale AI data centers. Because Kitchener sits within the Haldimand Tract, true environmental stewardship requires genuine partnership with local Indigenous communities. Council must build collaborative tables alongside local Indigenous organizations, elders, and land-based educators, ensuring that watershed protection, urban forest expansion, and land conservation integrate traditional ecological knowledge alongside shared economic benefits and community land trusts. When we apply sound lifecycle cost analysis and risk management to municipal decisions, we quickly realize that climate resilience is fiscally prudent. Building durable, low-carbon storm and transit infrastructure today prevents catastrophic emergency repair costs tomorrow. By building consensus across all wards, we can ensure our community remains livable, equitable, and financially resilient for generations to come.