Waterloo — Ward 5
4 candidates responded
Eda Dede See responses
- Climate change is an urgent and defining crisis of our time; reducing greenhouse gas emissions should be a primary consideration across municipal decision-making
- Climate change needs action and local governments can contribute in a few areas, but this is an issue better addressed at provincial and federal levels
- Commitments passed by previous councils, like the 50x30 pledge or declarations of climate emergencies, should guide current council decision making
- Where possible, require or incentivize energy efficiency standards in new development, beyond current provincial minimums
- Require green infrastructure as part of development approvals (e.g. stormwater management, tree canopy, permeable surfaces)
- Use development agreements to require climate sustainability measures as a condition of approval
- Require climate risk and lifecycle cost analysis in major capital decisions
- Prioritize active transportation and transit investment
- Require climate change mitigation and adaptation impact assessments for large growth decisions (greenfield expansions, settlement boundary changes)
Marty Rempel See responses
- Climate change is an urgent and defining crisis of our time; reducing greenhouse gas emissions should be a primary consideration across municipal decision-making
- Our local and regional governments need to renew coordinated action towards implementing the Transform Waterloo Region strategy
- Where possible, require or incentivize energy efficiency standards in new development, beyond current provincial minimums
- Require green infrastructure as part of development approvals (e.g. stormwater management, tree canopy, permeable surfaces)
- Protect groundwater recharge to preserve water sustainability
- Require climate change mitigation and adaptation impact assessments for large growth decisions (greenfield expansions, settlement boundary changes)
- Require an assessment of impacts on aquifer recharge
- Coordinate road reconstruction with underground infrastructure So you dig once
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
One policy I would prioritize is a Climate-Smart Capital Standard for major municipal infrastructure projects. Before Council approves a major capital project, staff should be required to compare options based on their total lifecycle cost and greenhouse-gas emissions—not simply the initial construction price. Smart Growth!
Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on sustainability?candidate's own words
Our current water supply is not sustainable simply by digging deeper and adding more wells does not equate to longevity of supply. Decelopment disregards the aquifers ability to recharge.
Scott Piatkowski See responses
- Climate change is an urgent and defining crisis of our time; reducing greenhouse gas emissions should be a primary consideration across municipal decision-making
- Commitments passed by previous councils, like the 50x30 pledge or declarations of climate emergencies, should guide current council decision making
- Our local and regional governments need to renew coordinated action towards implementing the Transform Waterloo Region strategy
- Where possible, require or incentivize energy efficiency standards in new development, beyond current provincial minimums
- Require green infrastructure as part of development approvals (e.g. stormwater management, tree canopy, permeable surfaces)
- Use development agreements to require climate sustainability measures as a condition of approval
- Require climate risk and lifecycle cost analysis in major capital decisions
- Require climate change mitigation and adaptation impact assessments for large growth decisions (greenfield expansions, settlement boundary changes)
- Require an assessment of impacts on aquifer recharge
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
Waterloo should look at every development and site plan approval application through the lens of the impact it will have on the demand for water. In practice, that will mean limiting growth until our water issues are resolved (something that I actually advocated in my Waterloo Chronicle column way back in the late 1990s). That includes carefully reviewing major industrial uses; a moratorium should be placed on approving any such uses that would consume an inordinate amount of water, which means no new data centres in the City of Waterloo or the Region of Waterloo.
Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on sustainability?candidate's own words
The above policies may seem like hard choices, but they should have been made twenty-five years ago instead of after we discovered what every farmer in Wilmot Township already knew -- that the underground water supply is not infinite and has to be managed more responsibly. I believe that politicians of that era knew that as well, but they didn't want to admit it publicly and face criticism for stymieing economic growth.
Victoria Richardson See responses
- Climate change is an urgent and defining crisis of our time; reducing greenhouse gas emissions should be a primary consideration across municipal decision-making
- Climate change needs action and local governments can contribute in a few areas, but this is an issue better addressed at provincial and federal levels
- Commitments passed by previous councils, like the 50x30 pledge or declarations of climate emergencies, should guide current council decision making
- Where possible, require or incentivize energy efficiency standards in new development, beyond current provincial minimums
- Require green infrastructure as part of development approvals (e.g. stormwater management, tree canopy, permeable surfaces)
- Use development agreements to require climate sustainability measures as a condition of approval
- Require climate risk and lifecycle cost analysis in major capital decisions
- Require an assessment of impacts on aquifer recharge
- Align municipal operations (fleet, facilities, procurement) with regional climate commitments
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
Sustainability changes that seem fiscally irresponsible must be evaluated for thier lifetime impact versus what it is replacing
Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on sustainability?candidate's own words
While provincial/federal level are nice but unlikely to happen, we can start by trialing it here and prove it works!
On the ballot but have not responded to survey (1)
- Andrew Portwine
Full candidate list: CBC Waterloo Region election coverage ↗