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

Matt Rogers

City/Township Council · Cambridge Ward 2

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All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes
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
No response
B. Interim management of encampments
No response
C. Accountability and collaboration between levels of government
No response
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
No response
What role should public transit play in regional growth, and how should future transit investments be prioritized?ranked from highest to lowest importance
No response
Do you support the municipality taking responsibility for snow removal from sidewalks adjacent to private properties?single choice
No response
Do you support expanding fare-free transit for the Region?single choice
No response
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
No response
B. Building and development standards
No response
C. Infrastructure and capital planning
No response
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
No response
How should municipalities and the Region approach food insecurity and affordability?select up to 3 per part
A. Access to food
No response
B. Access to land for growing food
No response
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
No response
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
No response
B. Managing neighbourhood opposition
No response
C. Infrastructure & servicing
No response
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
No response
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
No response
D. Growth & cost recovery
No response
B. Service levels
No response
C. Capital & infrastructure
No response
About the Candidate3 questions

About the Candidate

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

I'm running because I love our community, and because I believe I can make a meaningful contribution to its future. I first ran for city council in 2022, while I was still a university student. I am forever grateful to have received the support of 721 friends, family members, neighbours and business owners - and I said at that time that I would see everyone again in 2026. I'm here to keep that promise. Since then, I've graduated with honours from the University of Waterloo with a degree in urban planning and built professional experience working in both the public and private sectors in urban development, transportation, infrastructure, municipal and regional government, and land use planning and forecasting. I've also spent more than a decade working in customer service, which has taught me something as equally important in a councillor: how to listen, communicate clearly, understand what people actually need, and how to help solve problems. Over the years, I've seen Hespeler and Cambridge from a lot of different perspectives. As a lifelong resident, student, volunteer, customer service worker, and as a candidate. Those experiences have reinforced my belief that good city government requires both attention to the everyday concerns residents bring forward and the willingness and ability to think decades ahead. I'm running because I want to bring those perspectives to council, so we can make Cambridge work better today while making decisions that leave our city stronger and more resilient for those who are following in our footsteps.

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

Many Cambridge residents see the Region as a group of 'elites' out to screw Cambridge. While the Region is made up of a LOT of Cambridge residents as staff members (ironic), who are trying to help Cambridge fix the very problems we voice concern over. I don't know if it's an ego problem, or something else, but this childish behaviour that comes with every Region-led initiative or project needs to end. All it does is delay things, costs more money, and invites the emotional arguments to win rather than the more objective and fact-based arguments.