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

Stephanie Stretch

City/Township Council · Kitchener Ward 10

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All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes
This candidate finalized their responses after this guide and scoring methodology was published.

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. 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
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
  • Support programs to prepare food for those who are unhoused or unable to cook
  • Protect and strengthen community infrastructure such as the Kitchener Market that connects residents directly with local farmers
  • food producers and small businesses.
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)
  • 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

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