Tony Stevens

City/Township Council · Woolwich 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
Focus primarily on market housing to reduce overall pressure

B. Interim management of encampments

Expand the hours and capacity of extreme-weather shelter protections beyond current levels
Require that enforcement actions be linked to the availability of adequate indoor alternatives
Prioritize clearing encampments to maintain public access to shared spaces

C. Accountability and collaboration between levels of government

Assign clear municipal responsibility for public-space management
Current coordination between levels is adequate; no new accountability mechanisms are needed

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

I think those within encampments should be offered alternative housing options. Once all campers have been provided the option the encampment should then be removed. If the campers chose not to use these options, they are free to do so but the encampment should not be allowed to be restarted on public property. I think that municipalities should require a certain amount of development to be across types of housing (high density, townhouses, etc) to create a wider variety of options within the market.

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
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

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

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

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

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

Seniors (ex. extend Older Adult Day Pass pilot), People with disabilities, Youth (age 12 and under)

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

Improvement of GO Train between major cities & regions in Ontario.

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 needs action and local governments can contribute in a few areas, but this is an issue better addressed at provincial and federal levels
Addressing climate change is not a priority at this time, given other more urgent issues facing local governments

B. Building and development standards

Require green infrastructure as part of development approvals (e.g. stormwater management, tree canopy, permeable surfaces)
Maintain current standards: additional requirements are best set at the provincial or federal level

C. Infrastructure and capital planning

Require climate change mitigation and adaptation impact assessments for large growth decisions (greenfield expansions, settlement boundary changes)
Require an assessment of impacts on aquifer recharge

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

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

Continuing to support & protect local spaces for food distribution (St. Jacobs Farmer Market, Elmira Farmer's Market, Local produce stands)

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

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

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

Require area-specific planning studies before permitting additional density
Maintain existing zoning; manage density primarily through new growth areas

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

Approve density where infrastructure capacity already exists
Use development charges or conditions to fund needed upgrades
Delay density until infrastructure is expanded

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

Prioritize housing development that also contains the extra commercial, greenspace and transportation development for long term sustainability. Lots of houses need more than just roads.

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

Incentivize and approve the proper kinds of development to encourage vacant land owners to sell for good development.

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

Prioritize not increasing taxes and service fees
Actively pursue provincial and federal transfer funding and grants

D. Growth & cost recovery

Ensure new development pays a greater share of long-term infrastructure costs

B. Service levels

Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access
Reduce discretionary programs to protect core services

C. Capital & infrastructure

Prioritize maintenance and state-of-good-repair over expansion
Require lifecycle cost analysis before approving any new infrastructure

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

There should be executive summaries of the budget available. These should allow tax-payers to get a brief overview of the budget and answer some commonly asked questions.

About the Candidate3 questions

About the Candidate

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

I am running for council because I want to lend my skills and leadership to help grow Elmira & Woolwich Township. We've come to appreciate how Woolwich, Elmira in particular, is such a great place to raise kids. We love the parks, the friendly community, local shops and the great town atmosphere. In being a councilor I want to preserve that and work on the things in Woolwich that could use improvement. We need to focus on solving the immediate problems that the municipality faces year after year - and then start building a visionary plan for the future. Finally, I hope that I can encourage & draw other people in to care about municipal politics. There are many decisions made at the municipal level that people are unaware of. And I want people, mainly those my age or younger, to start caring & bringing their voices to our township.

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

I am learning about the structure and holding my opinion until I have more experience.

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

I do think its better to have decision making as close to the people affecting it as possible. So I think its good when local municipalities have more power in making decisions about zoning & development within their region. Local councils & governance have a better idea about the needs of their communities.