Marty Rempel

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

A coordinated approach utilizing all levels of government with integration of health care and social workers and nutritionists.The problem is too deep and long standing for one level of government to handle. Establishing housing provides security to mental health. Government provide funding to meet that goal.

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

Governments to save money have shed responsibility for mental health while society tends to blame people for being Lazy and not willing to work. The homeless get stigmatized and forgotten. Society loses a sense of humanity as we trample over the rights and needs of the homeless. Some of the mental health facilities shut down had bad practices but now we have new treatments and drugs. Preventative treatment before people hit the streets is more compassionate and economical an approach. Open new institutions on a provincial level that provide community and treatment.

• Reallocate space on selected streets (e.g. road diets, transit lanes, protected bike lanes), Focus improvements around schools, transit corridors, and commercial areas

Yes, sidewalks should be cleared alongside roads as part of regular winter maintenance

Yes, for specific groups

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

We need more connectivity and integration of say buses to the ION system. A better east/west and north/south system if we ever wish to reduce reliance on cars as seniors for example stop driving or just as population grows. Constant emphasis on reliability and efficiency. More smaller buses why run huge buses when they aren’t full? Allow unlimited one directional transfers with longer limits. Safe sidewalks to stops * Protected cycling connections * Secure bicycle parking * Better lighting * Accessible bus stops * Weather protection * Safe pedestrian crossing Going to stops

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

Seniors (ex. extend Older Adult Day Pass pilot), 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

Integration, density and reliability. Parts of the system should connect and synchronize the volume of ridership may follow the establishment of a route and the service must be dependable…run on time carrying capacity and safety

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

Lincoln heights where saint Columbus church has been removed with recent road construction so has a cross walk. With whatever new construction goes in at the church site and given the lack of parking g and volume of pedestrians and vehicular traffic it is creating a perfect storm for accidents involving students either walking or on scooters and bikes. The intersection leading up to the school will become a potential danger zone. Mediation is required to study the future of this area for safety

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

One policy I would prioritize is a Climate-Smart Capital Standard for major municipal infrastructure projects. Before Council approves a major capital project, staff should be required to compare options based on their total lifecycle cost and greenhouse-gas emissions—not simply the initial construction price. Smart Growth!

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

Our current water supply is not sustainable simply by digging deeper and adding more wells does not equate to longevity of supply. Decelopment disregards the aquifers ability to recharge.

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

The Region would work with local farmers, municipalities, community organizations and food businesses to identify gaps in the local food chain—particularly processing, storage, distribution and neighbourhood access—and use existing public facilities and land where practical to help fill those gaps. The objective would be to make it easier for local farmers to get their products to local consumers. This could include supporting seasonal farmers’ markets in underserved neighbourhoods, community gardens, local food hubs, shared cold-storage or processing facilities, and improved distribution networks connecting local producers with schools, community organizations and local institutions.

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

Too complex for a local council this is a joint effort with regional and provincial inputs

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

believe Waterloo needs more housing, and I do not think established neighbourhoods should be frozen in time. However, I also don’t believe that every neighbourhood should be expected to absorb high-rise development simply because it is within the existing urban boundary. I would support allowing appropriately designed duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses and similar forms of “missing middle” housing without requiring a rezoning application, provided they meet predetermined standards for height, setbacks, parking, tree retention, stormwater management, privacy and building massing. The greatest density should continue to be directed toward major transit corridors, ION stations and other areas where infrastructure can support it.

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

Building anything while water supply is in question

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

Keep the decision making process as local as possible

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

Calculate the full lifecycle cost before approving expansion.I’m

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

Council could examine whether the existing taxation treatment creates enough incentive to develop appropriately zoned vacant land, and advocate to the Province for stronger municipal tools if it does not.

It should be more transparent and accessible

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

For Waterloo, I would support setting a clear target for a modest tax reduction and requiring Council and staff to identify efficiencies and lower-priority expenditures that can be deferred, reduced or eliminated to achieve it. I would not support simply cutting essential services or necessary infrastructure maintenance to produce a lower tax bill. Instead, I would look first at administrative costs, discretionary programs, duplication of services, consulting expenditures and projects that can reasonably be postponed. My concern is that continually increasing taxes to match rising costs is not a sustainable long-term strategy. Residents are facing higher costs in virtually every part of their household budgets, and municipal government has a responsibility to recognize that reality.

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

The budget should never be the source of economic inflation. Long term infrastructure should not add to debt. Infrastructure should be funded as much as possible up front and not exceed budgets

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

I would support a budget process that presents each major proposed increase alongside the alternatives: what it costs, what service it provides, whether it is essential, and what the consequences would be of delaying, reducing or eliminating it. Residents should be able to see not only the proposed budget, but also the choices Council is being asked to make. I would also support publishing a clear, plain-language summary showing how much of a typical property tax bill goes to each level of government and identifying the specific factors responsible for any municipal tax increase. Multi-year commitments and the future operating and infrastructure costs of major projects should be clearly identified rather than looking only at the current year’s expenditure.