Kishan Patel

City/Township Council · North Dumfries Ward 1

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
Increase funding for deeply affordable and supportive 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
Allow temporary encampments to persist while permanent housing options are actively being developed

C. Accountability and collaboration between levels of government

Establish clear regional leadership with coordinated municipal roles
Assign clear municipal responsibility for public-space management
Actively advocate to the province for defined funding triggers and program supports

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

reallocating funding between shelters, outreach, and permanent housing design or quality standards for new affordable housing

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

Adjust signal timing, curb use, or intersection design
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

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

Do you support the municipality taking responsibility for snow removal from sidewalks adjacent to private properties?single choice

Yes, but roads should take priority; sidewalks cleared after

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, Youth (age 12 and under), Post-secondary students

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

equity of access

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

transit access to the Region of Waterloo International Airport GO or ION station access improvements. transit access to North Dumfries

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
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
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)

C. Infrastructure and capital planning

Require climate risk and lifecycle cost analysis in major capital decisions
Align municipal operations (fleet, facilities, procurement) with regional climate commitments

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

energy performance standards for new municipal or affordable housing

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
Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers
Leave local food livelihoods to the private market
Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system

How should municipalities and the Region approach food insecurity and affordability?select up to 3 per part

A. Access to food

Public access to food is primarily a provincial/federal and charitable-sector responsibility
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

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

a local-food procurement target for schools or institutions supporting a local food hub or low-barrier market space

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

Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle infrastructure
Require detailed cost and risk analysis before approving
Use development phasing tied to infrastructure capacity
Prioritize infill and intensification where 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

Use public engagement to inform design, not to veto 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

Use development charges or conditions to fund needed upgrades
Delay density until infrastructure is expanded

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

allowing ground-floor commercial near a transit stop

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

prioritizing state-of-good-repair over new expansion

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

holding charges, servicing agreements with construction timelines, phased approval conditions.

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
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
Re-evaluate development incentives or subsidies that create long-term liabilities

B. Service levels

Reduce discretionary programs to protect core services

C. Capital & infrastructure

Require lifecycle cost analysis before approving any new infrastructure
Defer or cancel capital projects with low long-term return on investment

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

a tax increase tied to a specific service reforming a policy affecting long-term costs

About the Candidate3 questions

About the Candidate

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

I’m running for council because I see a growing township that needs clear communication, careful spending, and a stronger connection between residents and the decisions that shape our future.

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

The structure creates gaps or duplication that lead to worse outcomes, Structural reform deserves serious study before the next election cycle

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

Planning and growth is the area where our structure both helps and hurts. The Region brings scale and expertise for big systems like water, roads and transit, but the two‑tier approvals and overlapping plans can slow down good local decisions. My goal on council is to make our part of that process clear, predictable and honest – and push for fewer duplicated steps between the Township and Region so residents can actually see homes, parks and roads delivered on the timelines we promise.