Stephanie Stretch

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

During my term, the City has supported 11 affordable-housing projects representing more than 420 homes and nearly $59 million in municipal investment, including five projects in Ward 10. I want Kitchener to keep using every appropriate municipal tool available including land donation, while continuing to press the Region, Province and Federal Government for the supportive housing, shelter, mental-health and addiction resources that fall within their responsibilities.

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

Housing is a good example of why municipal responsibilities need to be clear. Kitchener cannot control interest rates, market rents or provincial housing policy, but we do control important tools including land use, approvals, municipal land, incentives and property taxes. During my term, the City has supported 11 affordable-housing projects representing more than 420 homes and nearly $59 million in municipal investment, including five projects in Ward 10. I want Kitchener to keep using every appropriate municipal tool available while continuing to press the Region, Province and Federal Government for the supportive housing, shelter, mental-health and addiction resources that fall within their responsibilities.

• Reallocate space on selected streets (e.g. road diets, transit lanes, protected bike lanes)
• Adjust signal timing, curb use, or intersection design
• Prioritize active transportation improvements during routine resurfacing

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

No, maintain the current system where property owners clear adjacent sidewalks

Yes, for all residents

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

Transportation should be about practical choice. Residents should be able to walk, cycle, take transit or drive safely depending on the trip they are making. I support building those choices through safer streets, connected active-transportation infrastructure, reliable transit and land-use planning that puts more homes and destinations close to transportation options. I do not currently support city-wide municipal sidewalk clearing because of the significant additional cost. I do support enforcement, assistance for residents who cannot clear sidewalks themselves, and targeted solutions for recurring problems such as windrows, curb-facing sidewalks and publicly owned properties. I requested city staff to review our winter operations for 2026 that report was received in June. I believe exploring curb-facing sidewalks and windrow clearing would be a clear next step in expanding this service.

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

Transit investments should connect transportation and land-use planning while providing reliable service and good value over the full life of the investment. A growing city needs transportation choices, but those investments also need to be operationally and financially sustainable. That being said I would love for our regional government to be able to afford to make public transit free. A mix of private and public funds would need to be used and the political will. Timing of such a vision would also be crucial.

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

I would prioritize the Victoria Street North/Ahrens Street West/Transit Hub area. In 2026, I brought forward a motion directing City staff to work with Regional staff on temporary and permanent intersection improvements and better winter maintenance around Regional and Metrolinx properties. As the Transit Hub and GO expansion move forward, this area needs to work safely and effectively for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and drivers.

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

I would like to highlight a City of Kitchener project and motion I brought forward in 2026 to have our arenas use cold water, instead of hot water to make ice in out arenas. As part of the 2027 budget process the potential to expand this program to Grand River Arena, Don McLaren Arena and the Kinsmen and Kiwanis ice pads at The Memorial Auditorium shows has the potential to demonstrate measurable environmental and financial benefits, including a reduction in energy usage, CO2 emissions and operational costs. These environmental, financial and operating improvements were achieved while maintaining a good quality of ice and a positive user experience. This is a great example of reducing CO2 emissions, operational costs and improving user experience. I would continue implementing Kitchener's Corporate Climate Action Plan with a focus on investments that reduce both emissions and long-term operating costs. The new Southwest library and new Cowan Rec Centre are great examples of this. Energy efficiency in municipal buildings and a responsible transition of the City's fleet are good examples. Climate investments should be evaluated over their full lifecycle so we recognize savings in energy, maintenance and replacement costs rather than looking only at the upfront price.

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

Environmental sustainability and investment got hand in hand. Building in social responsibility and togetherness is a big part of moving forward on our sustainability goals. I would like to highlight some really good work being done by WR Community Energy. It is a voluntary program that works to help developers make decisions to include high-performance development standards into their design. I am happy to continue to help inform and support their work at the council table. 1. Low-risk way for developers to influence high-performance design in the municipal planning process 2. By participating, developers will be able to showcase leadership and innovation 3. Will be able to connect one-on-one with the HPDS contact while going through the approvals process 4. Opt-out of other requirements like the Kitchener Sustainability Checklist 5. Be recognized through award programs like the Kitchener Great Places Awards 6. Gain early insight and preparedness for emerging performance expectations across the province and country I do not see environmental sustainability and affordability as competing goals. Good long-term decisions can reduce energy use, protect infrastructure from extreme weather, expand transportation choices and lower future operating costs. I also want Kitchener to continue investing in its urban forest, stormwater infrastructure and green public spaces as the city grows. RetroFitWR Program is hopefully launching in Q4 of 2026 and is something I have been in support of. Having a local program that is unique and specific to Kitchener is something I have been working toward with my colleagues for some time and am looking forward to its launch.

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

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

I will continue to commit recourses to the recovery and long-term strength of the Kitchener Market as a place where local farmers, food producers, entrepreneurs and residents connect. Following the 2026 fire, the City kept the Market operating, invested in temporary infrastructure and reduced vendor rents while businesses recovered. I want to make sure the rebuilt Market remains accessible to small vendors and continues connecting residents with locally produced food. I will also continue supporting community gardens through neighbourhood programs and consider opportunities for additional gardens where residents identify demand and appropriate land is available.

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

Food insecurity is fundamentally connected to income and affordability, so municipal programs alone cannot solve it. The City can still play a useful role through partnerships, community infrastructure, land, neighbourhood programs and support for local food producers.

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

My focus would be on protecting low-barrier opportunities for local farmers and food producers to sell directly to residents, supporting community gardens, and working with partners where municipal land or infrastructure can strengthen the local food system

1. Prioritize infill and intensification where infrastructure
2. Use development phasing tied to infrastructure capacity
3. Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle infrastructure
4. Require detailed cost and risk analysis before approving
5. Proceed with outward growth to address housing supply

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 supported Kitchener's decision to permit up to four residential units on eligible lots across the city. I also supported its new Official Plan. That creates more housing choices through incremental density within existing neighbourhoods.

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

I have supported substantial growth around major transit areas. Growing Together East alone created planning capacity for more than 35,000 homes around the Block Line, Fairway and future Sportsworld transit areas. My approach is not that every neighbourhood needs exactly the same form or scale of development. I support more housing and greater housing choice, while also considering infrastructure capacity, neighbourhood context, green space and the services required to support growth.

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

Kitchener needs more housing, but successful growth also requires water capacity, transportation, parks, community facilities and other infrastructure. I support adding housing in established neighbourhoods and significantly more density around transit while planning the infrastructure and public spaces that allow those neighbourhoods to remain good places to live, where people are proud to live.

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

Municipalities should use the legal tools available to encourage development-ready land to move toward construction rather than remaining vacant indefinitely. I would consider tools such as servicing agreements with clear timelines, phased approvals and expiry provisions where legally available. Before introducing a new tax or charge, I would want evidence that it would actually accelerate development, clear provincial authority to implement it, and an assessment of unintended consequences.

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

When costs rise faster than revenues, I would protect core services and maintaining the infrastructure we already own before adding lower-priority projects. The 2026 budget is an example of the balance I am looking for: Kitchener held the City property-tax increase to 2.2%, approximately $29 for the average household, while maintaining core services and continuing necessary infrastructure investment.

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

Fiscal responsibility is not simply about spending less. It is about getting good value for public dollars, protecting essential services, maintaining the assets we already own and avoiding decisions today that create unnecessarily large costs in the future.

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

There is always more work to do to help make budgets more transparent, accessible and digestible. It is complex work that needs to be translated into very concise and clear understanding. I would like residents to be able to understand more easily what services cost, where their property-tax dollars go, how large capital investments affect future budgets, and what results those investments produce. This is particularly important in a two-tier system. Residents should be able to see clearly which services and taxes belong to Kitchener, which belong to the Region, and who is accountable for each decision.