Janet Cox

City/Township Council · Woolwich Ward 3

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

This 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
Partner with non-profit and supportive housing providers
Use publicly owned land for permanent or interim housing

B. Interim management of encampments

Establish and maintain clear minimum standards (sanitation, safety, outreach)
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

C. Accountability and collaboration between levels of government

Establish clear regional leadership with coordinated municipal roles
Actively advocate to the province for defined funding triggers and program supports
Publish ongoing performance metrics (e.g. housing placements, shelter bed access)

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

Urgently provide safe and flexible and publicly supported deeply affordable micro-house communities with access to communal spaces, support services and public transit.

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

I would like to see regulations that enable the rapid construction of compact neighborhoods that are deeply affordable, with supportive communal spaces, natural environmental infrastructure and transit connected.

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
Connect rural communities with safe
separated routes. Consider Mennonite horse needs as well.

What role should public transit play in regional growth, and how should future transit investments be prioritized?ranked from highest to lowest importance

Use transit to shape land use
Prioritize maximizing operational efficiency
Prioritize lower-cost or incremental transit improvements
Prioritize expanding coverage area
Invest in rapid transit to anchor growth

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

Improve existing subsidies and discounts, but maintain fares for most riders

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

I think we should have strong public transportation options, but I support innovations like transit on demand and an electrified fleet to align fully with sustainability goals and cost-effectiveness

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

People with disabilities, Low-income residents, 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

Operational and environmental sustainability

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

I am actually not pro growth if that means urban sprawl. I'd like to see intesified settlements irrespective of transportation.

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

Shantz Station Road from Hwy 7 to Kossuth Road is a natural N/S route connecting Woolwich to Cambridge and it is very dangerous. I would like to see a safe, separated route.

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

Create financial incentives for low-carbon construction (e.g. development charge reductions, expedited approvals, density bonuses)
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
Prioritize active transportation and transit investment
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

There should be strict energy performance standards for all municipal buildings and affordable housing. The energy savings will save money and benefit the environment at the same time.

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

In a time of climate change and an affordability crisis, ALL decisions should be subjected to a lens of sustainability. Wasting energy, water and other resources wastes taxpayer dollars.

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

Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
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
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 local food procurement for school food programs, including processing/preparation infrastructure, food literacy, and youth learning opportunities
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

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

I would support a program of giving low income or food insecure people money to pay market value for local farm produce. This can support local farmer and the dignity of the food insecure.

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

I would like to see education and encouragement for people to buy local food. I think children should learn basic thrifty food preparation of local food in school.

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

Support our local mennonite farmer neighbours who provide us with infrastructure like chicken processing that makes raising food on a local and smale scale feasible.

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

Prioritize infill and intensification where infrastructure
Require detailed cost and risk analysis before approving
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

Expand as-of-right zoning to reduce case-by-case political decisions on housing forms
Allow small-scale housing forms city-wide as-of-right (e.g. up to four units per lot)
Eliminate parking minimum requirements

B. Managing neighbourhood opposition

Use public engagement to inform design, not to veto density
Phase or adjust density in response to neighbourhood concerns about design or servicing capacity

C. Infrastructure & servicing

Approve density where infrastructure capacity already exists
Pair density approvals with targeted infrastructure upgrades
Accept short-term constraints in order to meet housing demand

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

I support as-of-right permissions for missing middle housing in areas intended for housing, but never at the expensive of local forest or meadow infrastructure.

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

Support the construction of new developments that prioritize higher density housing models that support natural area enhancement and transit connection.

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

I would be in favour of alternate models of community growth that favour eco-village and neighbourhood models that are integrated into the natural environment, provide opportunity for local habitat enhancement and local food production and have low carbon, healthy transportation modes integrated.

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

Support innovative service demonstration models.

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

Vacant land can be taxed with provision given for NOT taxing areas that are actually providing important ecological services. Vacant housing should be taxed as a dis-incentive.

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

Moderate, predictable tax increases to maintain service levels
Actively pursue provincial and federal transfer funding and grants
Rapidly implement energy saving technologies that lower the consumption of energy by municipal buildings and transportation to save money and green house gas emissions in the future.

D. Growth & cost recovery

Re-evaluate development incentives or subsidies that create long-term liabilities
Higher level governments should pay a greater share of sustainable long-term infrastructure costs
especially when promoting or mandating growth strategies.

B. Service levels

Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access
ensure that services that protect the environment
mitigate against climate change and support low-income and vulnerable residents are maintained.

C. Capital & infrastructure

Prioritize maintenance and state-of-good-repair over expansion
Require lifecycle cost analysis before approving any new infrastructure
All new capital projects should be durable and energy efficient to decrease unecessary energy use and repair costs.

Please describe one concrete example of a trade-off you would support (or oppose) when costs rise faster than revenues.candidate's own words

Seeking technical innovations that can accomplish needed services more efficiently and therefore cost effectively. Seek industry partners for demonstration projects and sponsorship to offset costs to taxpayers.

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

Plain language and graphic summaries that are up to date and using plain language should be available. Understanding budgets and financial literacy should be part of school curricula.

If you chose "It should be more transparent and accessible", please describe how.candidate's own words

Budgets should be shared with residents in a way that is clear and understandable. Tools to interpret information in a clear and non-technical way should be explored.

About the Candidate3 questions

About the Candidate

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

I would like to contribute to sustainable decision making for my township.

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

I feel that while decisions at the Regional level reflect ecological realities of watershed and landscape scale natural processes and transportation and social services needs, that democracy is best served by seeking input at the Township level.

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

Decisions about land use that affects regional scale ecological processes and social realities are hindered by being made the sole responsibility of the lowest tier, township municipalities. We need to see "the big picture"