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

Ying Susan Jiang

City/Township Council · Waterloo Ward 2

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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.
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
No response
B. Interim management of encampments
No response
C. Accountability and collaboration between levels of government
No response
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
No response
What role should public transit play in regional growth, and how should future transit investments be prioritized?ranked from highest to lowest importance
No response
Do you support the municipality taking responsibility for snow removal from sidewalks adjacent to private properties?single choice
No response
Do you support expanding fare-free transit for the Region?single choice
No response
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
No response
B. Building and development standards
No response
C. Infrastructure and capital planning
No response
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
No response
How should municipalities and the Region approach food insecurity and affordability?select up to 3 per part
A. Access to food
No response
B. Access to land for growing food
No response
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
No response
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
No response
B. Managing neighbourhood opposition
No response
C. Infrastructure & servicing
No response
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
No response
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
No response
D. Growth & cost recovery
No response
B. Service levels
No response
C. Capital & infrastructure
No response
About the Candidate3 questions

About the Candidate

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

So why am I running? After living here for more than 20 years, I feel that Waterloo is not just the place where I live. It is my home. I have watched our community grow and change. I have seen new families arrive, children grow up, seniors build their lives here, and neighbourhoods develop. At the same time, I have also heard residents talk about their concerns: property taxes, housing affordability, traffic and road safety, community safety, infrastructure, parks and recreational facilities, and the quality of our neighbourhoods. When I started talking to residents, I realized something very simple: People want to be heard. They want their councillor to listen. They want someone who will bring their concerns to City Hall and follow up. That is one of the main reasons I decided to run. ________________________________________

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, The two-tier system can work, but it requires clear accountability, stronger coordination, and better communication between municipalities and the Region. Housing, transportation, water capacity, and major infrastructure cross municipal boundaries, so decisions should be based on shared regional priorities rather than jurisdictional divisions. Before considering structural changes, we should study the costs, benefits, and potential impacts on service quality, local representation, and taxpayers.

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

One area where the current two-tier structure can hinder good decision-making is the coordination of growth, housing and transportation infrastructure. The Region has an important role in regional roads, transit and broader planning, while municipalities are responsible for many local planning and infrastructure decisions. When these responsibilities are closely connected but decisions are made at different levels, there can be delays, gaps or duplication in coordinating new development with transportation, roads, transit and other community infrastructure. Better coordination, clearer accountability and earlier communication between the Regional and municipal levels could help ensure that growth decisions are matched with the infrastructure and services residents need.