Regional Council — Waterloo
4 candidates responded
Chantal Huinink See responses
- Moderate, predictable tax increases to maintain service levels
- Actively pursue provincial and federal transfer funding and grants
- Exploring new local revenue tools where permitted by provincial legislation
- Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access
- Prioritize maintenance and state-of-good-repair over expansion
- Require lifecycle cost analysis before approving any new infrastructure
Please describe one concrete example of a trade-off you would support (or oppose) when costs rise faster than revenues.candidate's own words
In an affordability crisis, it is essential to maintain regional services and help ensure that all residents have the supports they need to live their best lives in Waterloo Region
If you chose "It should be more transparent and accessible", please describe how.candidate's own words
All of the Region's committee meetings, budget meetings, and budget processes can be observed or participated in, online or in person. As Regional Councillor, it is my responsibility to ensure that residents know where to find the information they are looking for and when to advocate for policies, services, and programs that matter to them.
Lindsay Manary See responses
It should be more transparent and accessible
- Moderate, predictable tax increases to maintain service levels
- Exploring new local revenue tools where permitted by provincial legislation
- I would take a balanced
- transparent approach that protects essential services while ensuring long‑term financial sustainability.
- Ensure new development pays a greater share of long-term infrastructure costs
- Re-evaluate development incentives or subsidies that create long-term liabilities
- Maintain current growth and cost-sharing approaches
- Maintain current service levels, even if taxes rise
- Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access
- Reduce discretionary programs to protect core services
- Prioritize maintenance and state-of-good-repair over expansion
- 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
I would protect essential services like transit reliability, winter maintenance etc. by delaying non‑essential capital projects. This balances rising costs with service levels and long‑term financial sustainability in a responsible, transparent way.
If you chose "It should be more transparent and accessible", please describe how.candidate's own words
I believe the budget process should be more transparent, more accessible, and more understandable so residents can clearly see how their tax dollars are being used and how decisions connect to community priorities. Clear and precise messaging, community feedback opportunities and updates on discussions and decisions at council should be widely promoted and displayed in various formats so that residents can understand what decisions are being discussed, and how/why decisions were or are made, what impacts they have on the community and have ample opportunity to provide discussion. Decisions should be reflective of the communities needs.
Rami Said See responses
It should be more transparent and accessible
- Prioritize not increasing taxes and service fees
- Actively pursue provincial and federal transfer funding and grants
- Exploring new local revenue tools where permitted by provincial legislation
- Re-evaluate development incentives or subsidies that create long-term liabilities
- Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access
- Prioritize maintenance and state-of-good-repair over expansion
- 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
A priority would be to ensure tax payers are getting value for what they pay. That often means trying to avoid large tax increases and thus at times may involve deferring or cancelling capital projects that the community may not be fully in favour of.
If you chose "It should be more transparent and accessible", please describe how.candidate's own words
Many discussions (such as our water crisis) are hidden behind unacceptable NDAs which result In no access or transparency of how decisions are made. Notes and discussions that affect decisions should be open to our community in a plain, easy to read format to ensure accountability.
Sarvesh Pratap Singh See responses
On the ballot but have not responded to survey (3)
- Jim Erb
- Soo Bok Lee
- Chris Moser
Full candidate list: CBC Waterloo Region election coverage ↗