Victoria Robertson

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

I am in favour of the proposed places of worship re-zoning by-law amendment, as I think it’s an excellent way to use land already within our city, designated for community support already, towards better housing. I would fight hard to make sure that most of all of that housing is affordable or explicitly supportive housing.

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

One of my main concerns with current housing practices, particularly, in this ward, is that the city has been incentivising and allowing the building of mostly 1-2 bedroom apartment buildings, which are unaffordable and inaccessible. A main priority for me would be to push towards building apartments and townhouses which have 3 or 4 bedrooms, to support families; and to be intentional about building accessible housing for seniors to downsize in the neighbourhoods they’ve lived their whole lives. These need to have sufficient affordable units to be viable and actually support people in their neighbourhoods.

• 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

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

Yes, sidewalks should be cleared alongside roads as part of regular winter maintenance

Yes, for all residents

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

I feel very strongly that connected and functional transit and active transportation are critical to the effective functioning of a city, and this is my main election priority in Ward 3.

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

Equity of access - many of the people relying on transit are not able to simply substitute car use, for accessibility or financial reasons, and we need to prioritizing supporting universal city connectvity.

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

In Ward 3, my biggest transportation concern is the speeding on near elementary schools. Northlake/Conservation is a corner which needs much more traffic calming, and would benefit from narrower roads and cycling safety infrastructure. Glenforrest, in front of Sir Edgar Bauer has significant traffic calming and residents point out that it still isn't working.

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

Prioritizing effective land use choices such as mixed-use zoning, density, and active transport networks tied into greenways are campaign priorities, all of which tie into GHG emissions reductions. By incentivizing areas for effective public and active transport, we build a city where residents are not as dependent on cars, thereby reducing one of our primary emissions concerns.

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

I have a Masters in Environmental Sciences, studying carbon emissions from thawing permafrost plateaus. I am intimately familiar with the urgency of this work, and feel that all levels of government must be taking responsibility for climate sustainability policy.

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

Ward 3 is home to a number of excellent community gardens, which are critical to the food systems for a number of the people in the community. There is currently work being done to expand a new Glenelm community garden, and I would be strongly in support of more community gardens and spaces across the ward. A component of this is also a public education campaign surrounding how to grow, and not picking other peoples foods.

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

I feel strongly that we should be partnering more effectively with our local farmers to have more local food available in small farmers markets, or even grocery stores. I believe prioritizing locally grown food is critical to continuing to support those food systems and growing a diversity of crops in the area.

1. Prioritize infill and intensification where infrastructure
2. Limit outward growth unless full lifecycle infrastructure
3. Use development phasing tied to infrastructure capacity
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

A top priority for me is to avoid paving any more farmland, and solve city size issues within the currently developed areas. I would propose adding mixed residential and commercial zoning in areas that are currently small plazas, you could have the exact same businesses on the ground floor while adding housing above. This would also encourage accessible housing for folks who maybe cannot drive or need easy access to pharmacies or corner stores, etc.

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

I believe that we should be using infill to meet growth goals.

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

We should implement significant fees for land sitting vacant. Particularly in the context of developers, there is no reason to leave houses boarded up for years waiting for the market to "get better".

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

I would like to reduce or end our leaf collection program, potentially in exchange for a universal snow clearing program.

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

In the process of running for office, I have tried my best to understand the budget documents and process from the outside and found it rather opaque. I would love for the operating budget to have more clear language and be presented in a way most people could understand. Additionally, I believe that governments are responsible for taking care of their people, and that the city needs to run like a government, not like a business. Our goal is sustainability and long-term choices, not profit margins.

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

Right now the budgets are hard to parse as an outsider, and often the Master Plan reports are unclear. As a city councillor I intend to speak better to my constituents about the decisions I'm making, and push for clearer language in our budget documents.