Victoria Richardson

City/Township Council · Waterloo Ward 5

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

Partner with non-profit and supportive housing providers
Increase funding for deeply affordable and supportive housing
Focus primarily on market housing to reduce overall pressure

B. Interim management of encampments

Establish and maintain clear minimum standards (sanitation, safety, outreach)
Expand the hours and capacity of extreme-weather shelter protections beyond current levels

C. Accountability and collaboration between levels of government

Establish clear regional leadership with coordinated municipal roles
Actively advocate to the province for defined funding triggers and program supports
Publish ongoing performance metrics (e.g. housing placements, shelter bed access)

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

Prioritize upstream approaches such as lobbying provincial government for funds for health, housing, and food access; increase ODSP; and explore the possibility of UBI

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

Housing is a human right

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

Reallocate space on selected streets (e.g. road diets, transit lanes, protected bike lanes)
Prioritize active transportation improvements during routine resurfacing
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
Use transit to shape land use
Invest in rapid transit to anchor growth
Prioritize expanding coverage area
Prioritize lower-cost or incremental transit improvements

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

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

I believe everyone should have a choice on how they travel (bike, walk, public transportation, car, etc) and not make any option signifigantly more difficult than another

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

People with disabilities, Low-income residents, Youth (age 12 and under)

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

Accessibility (in price, function, coverage)

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

Protected bicycle lanes on Erb/Bridgeport to bridge gaps in active road options between trails (Forwell Trail to Spurline)

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 is an urgent and defining crisis of our time; reducing greenhouse gas emissions should be a primary consideration across municipal decision-making
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, Commitments passed by previous councils, like the 50x30 pledge or declarations of climate emergencies, should guide current council decision making

B. Building and development standards

Where possible, require or incentivize energy efficiency standards in new development, beyond current provincial minimums, Require green infrastructure as part of development approvals (e.g. stormwater management, tree canopy, permeable surfaces)
Use development agreements to require climate sustainability measures as a condition of approval

C. Infrastructure and capital planning

Require climate risk and lifecycle cost analysis in major capital decisions
Require an assessment of impacts on aquifer recharge
Align municipal operations (fleet, facilities, procurement) with regional climate commitments

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

Sustainability changes that seem fiscally irresponsible must be evaluated for thier lifetime impact versus what it is replacing

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

While provincial/federal level are nice but unlikely to happen, we can start by trialing it here and prove it works!

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

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

How should municipalities and the Region approach food insecurity and affordability?select up to 3 per part

A. Access to food

Public access to food is primarily a provincial/federal and charitable-sector responsibility
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 local food procurement for school food programs, including processing/preparation infrastructure, food literacy, and youth learning opportunities

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

Increase access to community garden plots and run a youth growing program alongside

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

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

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

Expand as-of-right zoning to reduce case-by-case political decisions on housing forms
Focus incremental density near transit, schools, and commercial areas
Allow small-scale housing forms city-wide as-of-right (e.g. up to four units per lot)

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
Pair density approvals with targeted infrastructure upgrades
Use development charges or conditions to fund needed upgrades

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

Waterloo Initiative 9 - Change of zoning to allow for future development of church site, as per church's discretion

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

Focusing on infill development rather than expand outside current limits. Reclaim areas that need environmental transformation (old manulife lot on Columbia/Lexington/ Weber)

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

Holding charges. I'd be interested to see what else has proven to work in other municipalities

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

Moderate, predictable tax increases to maintain service levels
Actively pursue provincial and federal transfer funding and grants

D. Growth & cost recovery

No response

B. Service levels

Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access

C. Capital & infrastructure

Require lifecycle cost analysis before approving any new infrastructure
Defer or cancel capital projects with low long-term return on investment

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

Raising user fees inhibits people's ability to access vital services (eg. swim lessons)

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

Increased transparency makes understanding municipal politics easier and more accessibile

About the Candidate3 questions

About the Candidate

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

It was tha natural progression of my work in the community. I was asked to run by people in the neighbourhood as they thought I would be a good advocate for the area! I love to listen and learn from residents, experts and community organizations and want to continue to build a strong Waterloo that I've lived in for my whole life (and where I am raising my family).

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, I would support consolidation of some functions or municipalities

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

City council meetings can feel inaccessible due to thier offical structure. But there are lots of ways to get your voice heard other than being in council chambers and I feel we could strengthen those systems (community meetings, consultations, etc)