Regional Council — Kitchener

1. Prioritize immediate investment in water conservation programs and demand management
2. Accelerate exploration of alternative water sources (wells, treated wastewater reuse, inter-municipal supply)
3. Commission an independent technical review of all options before committing to major new infrastructure
4. Pursue a Lake Erie pipeline connection with provincial and federal cost-sharing
5. Approve developments now and resolve water supply constraints in the future

Describe your position on how the Region should resolve this issue and what timeline is realistic.candidate's own words

I believe our Region must focus on water conservation, public education, and smart growth instead of jumping into massive, expensive new infrastructure. We should manage our current water supply responsibly by pausing new development approvals until we are certain we have the water capacity to support them. This plan must protect our townships and the private wells that rural families rely on. Rural areas like Wilmot and Woolwich have paid the price for urban growth by dealing with dried-up wells and water being quietly diverted away from them. The Region needs to treat rural well owners fairly by bringing in independent experts to handle well complaints and by legally protecting the Waterloo Moraine aquifer. This approach is realistic because it focuses on timely, low-cost actions right now rather than multi-billion-dollar pipelines. By expanding local water-saving programs today and doing an independent technical review over the next few years, we can make the most of what we already have. This protects our environment and keeps our taxes down by forcing new developments to pay for their own impact.

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

Water is fundamental infrastructure, and we need to plan for both current needs and future growth. My approach has been to support a forward-looking water resiliency strategy rather than making short-term decisions that could leave future residents and communities vulnerable. That means continuing aggressive water conservation and demand management, while also evaluating alternative water sources and larger infrastructure options. At the same time, development approvals need to be tied to realistic water capacity, with a clear and transparent allocation framework. I also recognize that some solutions—particularly major new water infrastructure—are beyond the Region's ability to deliver alone and may require provincial and federal partnership. We should not simply approve growth and hope water supply catches up. We also should not close the door on growth when there are responsible solutions available. The priority should be building resiliency, protecting existing communities, and making evidence-based decisions about how and where we allocate our limited water resources.

Describe your position on how the Region should resolve this issue and what timeline is realistic.candidate's own words

The Region should take a phased, evidence-based approach to resolving the long-term water supply challenge. We need to address the immediate capacity constraints while simultaneously investing in conservation, demand management and the evaluation of additional water sources. I support establishing a clear water resiliency and allocation framework that identifies how much capacity is available, what level of resiliency we need to maintain, and how future development should be phased accordingly. This should include continued exploration of alternative sources and major infrastructure options, with independent technical and financial analysis before committing to significant capital investments. We also need to recognize that the Region cannot resolve every aspect of this issue on its own. Major water infrastructure may require provincial and federal approvals, funding and partnership, so we should be engaging those governments early rather than waiting until capacity becomes critical. A realistic timeline is immediate action on conservation and allocation, with a 1–2 year period to complete the technical work and establish the long-term strategy, followed by phased implementation of the preferred supply and infrastructure solutions over the next 5–10 years. The key is to avoid both extremes: we should not approve growth without a credible water plan, but we also should not assume that the only solution is to stop growth. We need to plan for resiliency, make responsible allocations and invest ahead of the crisis.

1. Prioritize immediate investment in water conservation programs and demand management
2. Accelerate exploration of alternative water sources (wells, treated wastewater reuse, inter-municipal supply)
3. Pursue a Lake Erie pipeline connection with provincial and federal cost-sharing
4. Commission an independent technical review of all options before committing to major new infrastructure
5. Approve developments now and resolve water supply constraints in the future

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

Protect existing groundwater through monitoring triggers, aquifer-recharge protection and a transparent well-interference process.

Describe your position on how the Region should resolve this issue and what timeline is realistic.candidate's own words

The Region should use the extensive technical and consulting work already completed through the Water Supply Strategy rather than paying another consultant to repeat it. Any additional independent expertise should be targeted to an identified gap, not become another broad and expensive review. Our immediate priorities should be conservation, demand management, infrastructure rehabilitation and water reuse. I have already advanced a larger residential greywater and rainwater-reuse pilot, supported measurable conservation programs and brought forward the motion—unanimously supported by Council—requesting a pause on new and expanded private water-taking permits in the Mannheim Service Area. At the same time, the Region must accelerate work on additional wells, connections between service areas, treated-water reuse and other potential sources. I also raised the possibility of a Lake Erie pipeline because we need to consider generational solutions, not only measures that carry us through the next few years. A pipeline should remain under active consideration, but it would require a strong technical and financial case, environmental and Indigenous consultation, and substantial provincial and federal cost-sharing. The Water Supply Strategy should establish the long-term direction and implementation schedule in 2027. Conservation, rehabilitation and smaller supply projects must continue immediately, with medium-term capacity delivered through the early 2030s. If a Lake Erie pipeline is ultimately selected, it would realistically be a decade-plus project and would likely not be operational until the mid-to-late 2030s. I supported an independent examination of how the capacity problem was identified, reported and communicated. That accountability work is different from paying to duplicate the technical studies already underway. We now need to use the information we have, fill any specific gaps and make decisions.

1. Prioritize immediate investment in water conservation programs and demand management
2. Pursue a Lake Erie pipeline connection with provincial and federal cost-sharing
3. Accelerate exploration of alternative water sources (wells, treated wastewater reuse, inter-municipal supply)
4. Commission an independent technical review of all options before committing to major new infrastructure
5. Approve developments now and resolve water supply constraints in the future

Describe your position on how the Region should resolve this issue and what timeline is realistic.candidate's own words

When we consider this issue with "care for people and the land we share" as our primary consideration, it becomes clear that we need to make some substantial changes in the way we relate. There may be some easing measures to be introduced, but we are going to experience some hardship, and I think we need to work to really consider this core value in relation to surrounding municipalities when we formulate a strategy for transitioning to more sustainable water infrastructure for the region.

1. Commission an independent technical review of all options before committing to major new infrastructure
2. Prioritize immediate investment in water conservation programs and demand management
3. Accelerate exploration of alternative water sources (wells, treated wastewater reuse, inter-municipal supply)
4. Pursue a Lake Erie pipeline connection with provincial and federal cost-sharing
5. Approve developments now and resolve water supply constraints in the future

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

review water taking permits

1. Accelerate exploration of alternative water sources (wells, treated wastewater reuse, inter-municipal supply)
2. Pursue a Lake Erie pipeline connection with provincial and federal cost-sharing
3. Prioritize immediate investment in water conservation programs and demand management
4. Commission an independent technical review of all options before committing to major new infrastructure
5. Approve developments now and resolve water supply constraints in the future

Describe your position on how the Region should resolve this issue and what timeline is realistic.candidate's own words

In simple terms, the Mannheim Water Capacity constraint was brought about by delayed infrastructure renewal and expansion. We need to complete our Water Supply Strategy as soon as possible (ideally 2027) to be our road map for projects in our community. We also need to establish a public-facing dashboard with relevant system demand and usage figures and development tracking to provide greater transparency and build back trust.

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.

Describe your position on how the Region should resolve this issue and what timeline is realistic.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.