Regional Council — Kitchener

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. Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
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

Building a stronger and resilient community requires a strong local food system. Right now, finding fresh, affordable local food in our city is far too difficult for many residents. By bringing this food directly into our neighborhoods, we remove the geographic and economic barriers to healthy eating. I support launching a network of neighborhood-scale community food hubs on public land to achieve three critical goals: 1) Barrier-Free Distribution: Providing rent-free market spaces so local producers and new farmers can sell directly to residents without high startup costs. 2) Affordable Local Access: Putting fresh, nutritious food within walking distance of our neighborhoods at prices families can actually afford. 3) Space to Grow: Creating dedicated incubator plots and community gardens to give new farmers and residents the physical space and resources to grow their own food. This will help keep our food dollars local, cut transit emissions, and ensure every resident has a direct connection to healthy, community-grown food.

Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to strengthen the local food system.candidate's own words

I would support a partnership between the Region, municipalities, local farmers, post-secondary institutions and community organizations to strengthen local food production and distribution. This could include making appropriate public land available for community growing or new farmers, supporting local food hubs and markets, and creating opportunities for institutions to purchase more locally produced food. At the same time, strengthening our local food system requires protecting the agricultural land and rural areas that make local food production possible. As we plan for growth, we need to balance housing and economic development with the long-term protection of farmland, water resources and the countryside.

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

I would support creating an inventory of suitable, underused public land and piloting at least one new community-growing site in partnership with an experienced non-profit organization. The pilot should include soil testing, water access, accessible garden beds and opportunities to distribute surplus produce through local food-assistance organizations. I favour beginning with a measurable pilot, similar to the approach I advanced for residential greywater and rainwater reuse. We should track participation, the amount of food produced and distributed, operating costs and community benefits before expanding the program.

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

Food insecurity is largely an income and affordability problem. Municipal programs cannot replace adequate provincial and federal income supports, but the Region can help coordinate community organizations, make better use of public assets and remove barriers facing local producers and residents. During my term, Regional Council supported community environmental funding for projects that expand urban gardens and pay-what-you-can food markets. I have also worked to protect the resources on which our local food system depends. My motion requesting a pause on new and expanded private water-taking permits in the Mannheim Service Area received unanimous Council support, and I have consistently advocated for stronger groundwater monitoring, aquifer protection and safeguards for rural well owners. Protecting farmland means little if farms do not have dependable water, viable markets or opportunities for the next generation of producers. My approach is to protect those essential resources while supporting practical partnerships and programs with clear, publicly reported results.

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

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

It may be repetitive, but of course, "care for people and the land we share" needs to be the priority. We can't ignore this value in decision making, and elected representatives should be held accountable for adhering to this value.

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. Leave local food livelihoods to the private market
5. Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers

Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to strengthen the local food system.candidate's own words

planting edible forests

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. Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
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

Establishing a policy for the use of community-gardens on community housing sites operated by the Region of Waterloo.

Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to strengthen the local food system.candidate's own words

I'm running for Regional Council because of an issue I'm having with a local business that also happens to have a contract with the Region of Waterloo. That business has asked me to take my patronage of their service elsewhere while refusing to provide an explanation as to why. My position is that Waterloo Taxi Ltd., if they wish to keep their MobilityPlus contract, has to provide me, and Waterloo Taxi's shareholders, an explanation as to why I was told to take my business elsewhere.

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

I'm running for Regional Council because of an issue I'm having with a local business that also happens to have a contract with the Region of Waterloo. That business has asked me to take my patronage of their service elsewhere while refusing to provide an explanation as to why. My position is that Waterloo Taxi Ltd., if they wish to keep their MobilityPlus contract, has to provide me, and Waterloo Taxi's shareholders, an explanation as to why I was told to take my business elsewhere.

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

I'm running for Regional Council because of an issue I'm having with a local business that also happens to have a contract with the Region of Waterloo. That business has asked me to take my patronage of their service elsewhere while refusing to provide an explanation as to why. My position is that Waterloo Taxi Ltd., if they wish to keep their MobilityPlus contract, has to provide me, and Waterloo Taxi's shareholders, an explanation as to why I was told to take my business elsewhere.