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

Kim Huxted

Regional Council · Region of Waterloo

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All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes Water
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
B. Interim management of encampments
  • Prioritize clearing encampments to maintain public access to shared spaces
C. Accountability and collaboration between levels of government
  • 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

I would suggest a locally supported rehabilitation centre so those that ask for help can get the help they need to break the cycle of homelessness

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
  • 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
  1. Prioritize maximizing operational efficiency
  2. Prioritize lower-cost or incremental transit improvements
  3. Prioritize expanding coverage area
  4. Use transit to shape land use
  5. 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

Yes, for specific groups

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

Seniors (ex. extend Older Adult Day Pass pilot), Low-income residents, Post-secondary students

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

efficiency

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 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
  • Require green infrastructure as part of development approvals (e.g. stormwater management, tree canopy, permeable surfaces)
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

roof top green spaces

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
  1. Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
  2. Partner with other levels of government to develop local food hubs that reduce costs and barriers for small businesses
  3. Promote and support low-barrier spaces for local producers to distribute and sell food
  4. Leave local food livelihoods to the private market
  5. Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers
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
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)

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

planting edible forests

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. Require detailed cost and risk analysis before approving
  2. Use development phasing tied to infrastructure capacity
  3. Prioritize infill and intensification where infrastructure
  4. Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle infrastructure
  5. 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 3 per part
A. Planning & zoning tools
  • Focus incremental density near transit, schools, and commercial areas
  • Require area-specific planning studies before permitting additional density
  • Maintain existing zoning; manage density primarily through new growth areas
B. Managing neighbourhood opposition
  • Use public engagement to inform design, not to veto density
C. Infrastructure & servicing
  • Approve density where infrastructure capacity already exists

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

governments should not interfere with private land owners

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, Prioritize not increasing taxes and service fees
  • Actively pursue provincial and federal transfer funding and grants
D. Growth & cost recovery
  • Ensure new development pays a greater share of long-term infrastructure costs
  • Re-evaluate development incentives or subsidies that create long-term liabilities
B. Service levels
  • Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access
  • Reduce discretionary programs to protect core services
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

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

full transparency on the city website

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
  1. Commission an independent technical review of all options before committing to major new infrastructure
  2. Prioritize immediate investment in water conservation programs and demand management
  3. Accelerate exploration of alternative water sources (wells, treated wastewater reuse, inter-municipal supply)
  4. Pursue a Lake Erie pipeline connection with provincial and federal cost-sharing
  5. Approve developments now and resolve water supply constraints in the future

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

review water taking permits

About the Candidate1 question

About the Candidate

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

to help create a better community for us all