Good Question.

Q: Downtown improvements - In your opinion what specific improvements are needed in downtown Elmira? What are the barriers to people spending time (and money) there? Do you shop downtown - why or why not? What can be done at the regional level to make these improvements?

Answer: Downtown Elmira will be reconstructed in 2025 - new road and sidewalks, streetscaping, and TREES again! The Woolwich Township portion is edging towards $2 million, a lot of money, but I believe we need to invest in our downtown cores because if we don't, who will. Barriers are unsafe crosswalks and sidewalks, places for people to congregate, shop hours, selection of services, traffic (large trucks and a highway through it). Adding density and people living downtown will also help local businesses.

I do shop downtown and other local businesses outside of the downtown core. I am also a local small business owner and prefer to patronize other local businesses as well that may or may not be located in the downtown core.

The Region is and will be addressing improvements through the reconstruction of Church St E, Arthur St. N, re-working the intersection at Arthur and Church and adding another turning lane, Church St. W reconstruction to start. At the moment and environmental assessment will determine the path and cost of a potential bypass route which will greatly improve our downtown to be more pedestrian-focused. Off road cycling infrastructure will likely happen perpendicular to Arthur on Memorial Ave. Those plans are still in the works.

Q: Vulnerable road users - What are your thoughts on the current state of cycling infrastructure in Elmira? What % of the transportation budget do you feel should go towards cycling infrastructure? In your experience, what do you think are the barriers to getting more people on bikes? Do you think there’s a need to improve road design in Elmira? What can be done to promote active transportation in the community? What can be done to encourage kids to walk/ride/roll to school instead of the current chaos of school drop off? Do you see a need to return streets for public use? How will you advocate for this at the regional level?

Answer: The cycling infrastructure in Elmira is generally on Regional roads. We do not create official bike paths within subdivisions or Woolwich Roads because of the significant costs to maintain. An official cycle path requires much higher standards for road maintenance that we simply can not afford. I am a cyclist and cycle to work most days I can and don't have meetings. The trail network is amazing in and around Elmira and my wife and I use those many times a week.

Transportation budget is a Regional budget item and makes up the GRT21 and the local Elmira bus. I believe that is about $1 million that we pay locally for those services. Woolwich Township will be undergoing a Master Transportation Plan in 2023 and I have been campaigning on a promise for a Master Trails Plan that will connect our communities — riding from Elmira to Waterloo off road for example.

Barriers for people biking are: geography, car-culture, busy parents/people whose work-life balance doesn't make room for cycling, community design, convienence.

Our new subdivisions should all be planned with off-road trail networks and easy, safe connections through raised crosswalks on busy roads like Whipoorwill and Barnswallow in Elmira. Physical road improvements need to be part of the solution; signs and other traffic-calming measures are proven to work for a short period of time.

Hopefully we will have an engaged community with plenty of suggestions when our Active Transportation Master Plan is developed next year. Getting kids involved in the process and having them talk about it with their family would be one way to promote that. We need to hear from everybody, not just advocacy groups.

The WRDSB changed school times and only allow kids to start arriving to school 10 minutes before the first bell. That is what created unsafe situations in most of the school zones as parents rush to get their kids to school then and then try to get to work. When my kids were going to school it was a nightmare situation. I work in town and was late to work everyday because of this rule. Schools should be designed with safe kiss and drop areas and be mandated to use them. I was disappointed with Riverside PS when township councillors insisted on a kiss and drop for the new school. It was built and then is not used which creates unsafe traffic situations.

Kids should all be walking or biking to school. Allow kids to be on school property at least 30 minutes in advance of the first bell. Schools should organize biking groups and work with Cycling into the Future to teach biking and assist low-income families with a bike for their kids.

Streets for public use? Do you mean closed for pedestrian use? In some situations, sure. Would have to look at where and if temporary and what impacts would be created. Open to that idea. Would certainly look at all of the information. There are examples now of closing lanes for cycling — I'd be interested in the data to see if we are moving the needle on more people cycling. I'm not against closing lanes for cycling, but would like to see that infrastructure being used.

Q: Connecting the township to the cities - Since a lot of residents work outside the township, what improvements do you think are needed to connect people to the cities? While public transit and connecting roads are regional, how would you advocate for improvements? Will you advocate for this at the regional level?

Answer: In my campaign I am promoting a Master Plan to network our trails to our towns and villages in Woolwich Township and to Waterloo. Expanding our our already amazing trails for safe recreation and transportation will help make two-way connections for our community and visitors. My office is beside the Kissing Bridge Trail and I speak to people coming from Toronto to cycle the trail frequently. Our trails are very well used and could serve a much broader community.

I have been advocating for improvements for GRT21 and supported the Kiwanis bus route in Elmira. I am currently working with Regional staff on finding improvements for businesses in the St. Jacobs Stockyard district that are unable to get their staff to and from work using the available routes. I would support those improvements and advocate for them during budget deliberations.

Q: 2SLGBTQIA + community - Do you think we should have a rainbow crosswalk in the township? Share an example of how you’ve supported the 2SLGBTQIA + community in the past. If you are elected, will you make decisions with an equity focus? Can you give an example of how you've done so in the past?

Answer: YES. I actually would like three. Elmira, St. Jacobs and Breslau. I have written a grant request through Woolwich Healthy Communities to pay for crosswalks, two large public events and staffing costs to organize, collaborate and create public programming.

I showed leadership immediately and without hesitation when homophobic words were allowed to be said in our Aug 22 Council meeting. I unsuccessfully advocated to our Mayor and Council to work together to create a strong statement rejecting the discourse and premise of hatred towards S2LGBTQI+. I created a motion calling for mandatory training, a DEI committee of Council and support for rainbow crosswalks. A motion that essentially called for the exact same direction was eventually passed. I participated in the Rural Rainbow Ride through Woolwich that was organized to show support for 2SLGBTQIA+.I have spoken with 2SLGBTQI+ organizations and with people who have offered their services to help train staff, council and the greater public. I fully intend to follow-up when I am mayor.

I have spoken with Township staff who are 100% supportive of these initiatives and will create an internal committee that will look at our municipal practices to ensure we have an equity focus on decision-making.

In the past I have particpated in some webinars on my own time to better understand issues with S2LGBTQI+ and with gender pronouns.

Q: Climate Emergency? During your term, will you make decisions with the climate emergency in mind? How do you currently support environmental sustainability? Will this be a focus when voicing concerns at the regional level?

Answer: I have either lead the charge and/or championed every climate initiative in the township. Council declared a climate emergency, but in my opinion, has been slow to act. We will have many more climate initiatives to move our township and region forward on. Mitigating our GHG and finding alternative solutions to reducing fossil fuels and other carbon-emitting processes should be part of every discussion. We need to empower staff to look at innovative solutions that may lack a proven track record. Staff tend to copy-and-paste solutions from elsewhere that are safe and proven. We live in an innovative region and should be looking at home-grown solutions. We should be building net-zero homes and facilities now. Municipal building enforcement can only enforce what is in the Ontario Building Code and the province has been slow to include more green initiatives.

I will definitiely be active and voice concerns using an environmental lens and looking for solutions that can advance our priorities sooner.

Questions posed by an Elmira resident on Oct 14, 2022

Q: I am sceptical about the region and provinces' commitment to the Go Station in Breslau as well as the Smart Centre development.

Answer: The Provincial government changed how Go Stations are to be funded, with more development charges, which is an unsustainable model and doesn't work in Breslau because maximum density can't be attained because of height restrictions due to the airport. The province must fund the GoStation as originally proposed instead of changing the rules after the fact. I recently heard that Smart Centres may withdraw plans for their expansion but not through official channels.

Q: Crossing Fountain St is a nightmare and walking towards Kitchener is absolutely a non-starter.

Answer: Yes. Agree. Fountain is a regional road and traffic lights and perhaps a roundabout are being considered.

Q: Even trying to access the new subdivision closer to Greenhouse Rd is a nice walk, but would appreciate a different route that could work. I am anxious about the development at Menno and how accessible it will be by bike or by walking.

Answer: Eventually, a connector road with an off-road multi-use trail for pedestrians and cyclists will be created. The road alignment was recently approved at Council. That road will be created through the development process when the MadWest Properties (Breslau Properties) come online. I am proposing a master trail plan for our communities that includes connecting to all of our communities.

Q: The investment in a parking lot for the Waterloo Regional Airport seems like a waste of resources as putting that towards a sensible transit plan would make sense.

Answer: The Region has big plans for the airport and the airport master plan calls for more future investments. Regional Council just spent $50 million this year, despite the airport not hitting the minimum targets for passengers. They are basing their expansion plans on Flair Airlines and a potential other competition in the market. Bus transit will be further justified with more traffic to the airport which can then also serve Breslau residents. A pilot project is underway in Breslau for an on-demand service. That project will be evaluated early next year.

Q: To me, I want Breslau to be a vibrant neighborhood with access to shopping and restaurants but also has accessible transit to Kitchener/Waterloo and beyond. I want to spend money in Breslau and help support Breslau businesses.

Answer: I agree. I support the shop local movement as much as possible. Woolwich Township needs to start planning for a downtown core area and include more retail/commercial opportunities within neighbourhoods to abide by the 15-minute community principles. Breslau is earmarked as a settlement with unlimited growth potential and planning for that growth needs to happen now.

Q: To me, an ideal situation that I haven't heard anyone talk about is extending the LRT along Victoria St. and down Fountain to the Airport with stops around all Breslau developments.

Answer: I recently did hear the discussion of extending the LRT to the airport. With the population increase of up to 20,000 people in Breslau by 2050 and a more robust airport, an extension along Victoria to the airport may make sense.

Q: Curious about your thoughts. I understand Oversight of Public Spending is part of your priorities, but I wonder if you're able to see that there needs to be an investment in the community that the ROI may not be 5 years, but 30 years and if your term as mayor you'd be willing to steward things that you may not immediately see a benefit from until many years later.

Answer: Oversight of public spending doesn't mean saying no. Oversight is making sure that public spending is justified and aligns with municipal priorities. There are some big investments that Council will need to commit to in the next couple of years, and I'm prepared to make that happen — if we don't invest in our communities, who will? As mayor, I'll balance the priorities and spending with community need and always have the public interest guiding my decisions.

Questions posed by a Breslau resident

Q: As a resident of Breslau, myself and many of my neighbours have felt neglected. We feel that Elmira has been the main focus for the last 2 elections (prior to that I was not a resident of Woolwich). Please explain what you are planning to do for our growing community keeping in mind that we don't even have our own library branch. I look forward to hearing from you as I am Leary about voting for an Elmira resident given what we have experienced thus far.

Answer: Thanks for this particular question. Residents feeling neglected from local government is not a feeling exclusive to Breslau. I have been hearing from residents in Maryhill, Winterbourne, West Montrose and St Jacobs as well as Breslau that they are feeling neglected. That’s not good in my opinion. It’s the main reason my theme for my mayoral campaign is “A Woolwich for Everyone.”

I believe these feelings of neglect are one of the top priorities as local politicians and I have a plan to address this. The first priority is developing a true strategy for each of our communities – a township-wide cookie-cutter approach doesn’t address the individual needs of our towns and villages. In the case of Breslau, a strategy would include how, when and where to start building community amenities. An arena with recreation facilities, a library, public works facilities, community spaces for residents to gather is at the top of the list. Breslau will be the largest settlement in Woolwich by 2050. This type of growth demands new services to serve residents there. Breslau is 100% on my radar.

I also plan to further develop our trail networks to connect our communities to each other that would encourage walking and cycling within our township and another opportunity to connect with each other. Developing neighbourhood associations would provide connections directly in your community and tools to address communication, public safety, entertainment and avenues to solve community concerns.

I understand your reluctance to vote for an Elmira resident. If you look at my eight-year track record, I have always looked at my role as making decisions in the best interest of the township, rather than Elmira.

For instance, looking at my record on Breslau I’ll note:

• The Breslau Memorial Park is not a school site because I advocated strongly to ensure this space remained public. Mayor Shantz voted to sell the parkland to the Catholic School Board.
• Planning principles were not compromised in Breslau to allow A Better Tent City to house homeless people just outside of Breslau.
• Residents in Elroy Acres were again listened to and supported to not hook up to municipal water and wastewater despite the benefits.
• I have supported the addition of a splash pad in Breslau Memorial Park which hopefully can be installed in 2023.
• I have listened to residents and advocated with our planning staff to ensure adequate setbacks when new subdivisions connect to old parts of the community
• A $30 million connector road in Breslau is on hold because I advocated that a road does not make the connections residents are looking for. The cost, borne by all new development, is too great a burden versus the benefits.

Breslau is an important part of Woolwich now and well into the future. The pace of growth created issues for the municipality that have not kept up with community expectations. That will have to change. A plan forward with meaningful community engagement is a good place to start. A mutual understanding between local government and the community is to work together by both being engaged and producing results. That is our pathway forward.

Q: I like that your background is in Elmira. As Mayor, however, you will represent a broader range of constituents, interests etc than just Elmira. Council recently endorsed the Planning Partnership report for Elmira's urban renewal. As Mayor, what will you do to support budget, zoning and anything else that will lead to execution on the recommendations?

Answer: I have been actively working on advancing the improvement/rejuvenation efforts for downtown Elmira since I was first elected in 2014. I have been the only member of Council who participates and is active with the Regional project team and continue to advocate for Woolwich priorities described in the recently endorsed Planning Partnership report.

There is no question that Woolwich will have to make a significant investment in our downtown core (likely $2 million) to create the space residents and businesses desire. The plan is a framework that will develop over time and will need supportive Council members to see this through. I am a big fan of the plan and was active in helping it develop.

I have met with the new candidates on the campaign trail and discussed the importance of investing in our downtown — if we don't, who will? Those candidates appear to share my desire for a more vibrant, rejuvenated downtown. It takes Council to make those investments, so I will also be watching the other campaigns and hope to be working with a new, fresh set of members of Council.

Zoning, parking, public spaces and streetscaping all cost money and will need to be supported financially. Property owners will also have to agree to re-zoning properties. Allowing service/commercial/retail on the ground floor and higher density residential units above will bring more people to the core. I would hope that property owners could see the increased value of their properties with this plan and work with the township to make this happen.

This Urban Design Study Plan has seen the most engagement with residents and businesses than any other in the township. I am committed to seeing this develop for our community.

Read the Elmira Urban Design Study

Questions posed by local residents.

Q: If elected Mayor, as the representative on Regional Council, what would you do to bring back Hazardous Waste Days to Woolwich Township?

Answer: Thanks for your question about Hazardous Waste Days. Like many useful services the Region once provided within the townships, the Hazardous Waste Day program was a good program to make sure our household paints, solvents and chemicals are properly disposed of.

I will advocate for the return of the service as it is an opportunity to educate the public about how to properly dispose of waste, and will keep unwanted hazards out of the landfill and out of our water system.

Thanks for reminding me of this service. As mayor, with a seat at the Regional Council table, I will be able to effectively work with Regional staff and Council to return useful services back to the townships.

Questions posed by local residents.

Q: I am curious what your plans for industrial development would be if elected as mayor. I ask, as I own a small trucking business and have found it next to impossible to find any space in Elmira that is a) conducive to trucking industry b) space that isn’t already owned by one of the larger businesses in town and sitting vacant.

Are there plans for future growth in this area? So far I have found Woolwich township to be very difficult in this endeavour. Why would businesses stay in Woolwich? Would love to know your thoughts. Thanks.

Answer: For the past eight years Woolwich Council has been addressing the shortage of employment lands in Elmira and other parts of the Township.

Just recently through the Waterloo Region Official Plan (ROP) process more lands east of Elmira have been earmarked for future development. Woolwich will be going through an official plan update to add those lands into our settlement boundaries. The ROP also added additional employment lands in St. Jacobs and a lot in Breslau.

The lands added in Elmira will also serve a bypass route that will link more future employment lands to the North of Elmira.

Sorry to hear you are having difficulty finding space to operate. I would be happy to put you in touch with our Economic Development officer and have her assist in your search. There will be significant growth in Breslau’s employment lands that would accommodate large-scale enterprises. Let me know if you would like me to set up a meeting with staff here at the Township.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Questions posed by local residents.

Q: Cities/urban centres are responsible for 80% of our greenhouse gas emissions. What is in your plans to reduce that?

Answer: Woolwich Township has declared a climate emergency and has made commitments through Transform Waterloo Region to reduce GHG by 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. Woolwich Township is a member of Climate Action Waterloo Region working as a region collectively to reduce GHG. Woolwich has a Climate Action Implementation Plan and is working towards more concrete measures. Through Trees For Woolwich we have planted over 50,000 trees and that group is also working on a tree reserve in Elmira.

As an elected official, I joined the Climate Caucus, a national environmental organization of elected officials and policymakers in 2018. I use the Climate Caucus to get additional resources and information about the action taken in other parts of the country.

Q: What are your plans to support a 15-Minute City where everything we need can be accessed by foot or bike in that time and reduce vehicle use?

Answer: Through the planning process I will continue to support the concept of 15-Minute communities. I support the mix-use of commercial/retail with residential providing services right where people live. I participated and supported in the creation of the Elmira Downtown Urban Review and forward-looking plan for redevelopment of our downtown core. Increasing building height with main-floor commercial/retail with higher density residential will be a boon for our core and support the 15-Minute community concept.

Q: The Doughnut Economy is a working model that addresses both social and environmental issues to create a livable future for everyone without exceeding Earth’s ability to provide. What are your priorities to meet these challenges?

Answer: As a small municipality we have a role to play in curbing our GHG emissions. I will continue to make sure we apply a climate lens to reports and projects that come forward and be mindful of the impact we have on our lands in Woolwich and Waterloo Region. Protecting farmland should be more of a priority here in Waterloo Region as we are fortunate to have prime agricultural lands ideal for crop and food production. Policies to further strengthen those protections must happen to curb unnecessary mining of aggregate and destroy the quality of the soils for future generations.

Q: Optional question: Do you have campaign donations from speculators/developers and, if so, what percentage of your funding?

Answer: All of my campaign donations are from private donors as per the Ontario Election Finance Act. Candidates can not accept donations from corporations or private enterprises.

Questions posed by Susan Coswan of Waterloo Region Elections

Q: Will you support the Township of Woolwich continuing the legal process with the OLT against the Shantz Station Pit in Maryhill?

Answer: Yes

Q: How will you deal with a gravel pit application if one comes before the new Council?

Answer: Council and I supported a Wilmot motion for an Ontario moratorium on new gravel pit applications. I would advocate at the Province for more local controls on new gravel pit applications. The current provincial government has taken away tools from local Councils regarding gravel pits. I would advocate that prime agricultural land remain undisturbed from extraction.

Q: Will you support the Township of Woolwich continuing the legal process with the OLT against the Shantz Station Pit in Maryhill?

Answer: Yes. 100%

Questions posed by local residents.

Q: What do you believe are the most critical issues for the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community? If elected, how would you work with the local community to address these issues?

Answer: Mental health associated with homophobia, discrimination and being marginalized by society. Public safety in smaller communities with a public that is unfamiliar with 2SLBGTQIA+ communities. In Woolwich Township I have made the commitment to require mandatory inclusivity, diversity and equity training for staff and Council. I have made the commitment to start an official inclusivity, diversity and equity committee of council. I have made the commitment to support symbols of inclusion in our communities.

Q: Have you ever participated in 2SLGBTQIA+ Cultural Competency Training?*.

Answer: No. But will make that part of training for council members and senior staff at the township.

Q: Systemic homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia are still prevalent in our community, resulting in significant socioeconomic disparities within 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. If elected, how will you combat homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia?

Answer: Creating a commitee of council including the resources to create education and opportunities for residents to learn about 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Required training for staff and council and supporting symbols of inclusivity in our communities. I have spoken to many parents of young families that want to raise their children in an accepting and inclusive community. I support that 100%.

Q: If elected, how would you address the ongoing issues of homelessness and mental health, especially as they disproportionately affect members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community?

Answer: The Region of Waterloo was slow to act on homelessness issues until it became a humanitarian crisis. I was disappointed in how they approached the encampments in Kitchener. I am supportive of sanctioning encampments rather than evictions.The 2SLGBTQIA+ are disproportionately affected by homelessness and mental health. One option would be for the Region to directly support grassroots organizations that provide upstream support for 2SLGBTQIA+ to ensure that those funds will directly impact affected people. Government's prescriptive approach to aid is often bogged down in bureaucratic roadblocks that end up helping fewer people.

Q: Do you agree with the statement that “trans rights are human rights, and must be protected as such?"

Answer: Yes.

Q: What is one motion would you bring to council that you think will improve the lives of specifically queer people, racialized individuals and/or marginalized residents and why?

Answer: I currently have a motion before Woolwich Township council that addresses recent inappropriate comments from a Woolwich councillor. The motion speaks to mandatory training for staff and Council. The formation of a new inclusivity, diversity, and equity committee of council and committing to symbols of inclusion like rainbow crosswalks.

Q: When thinking about our schools, do you agree that 2SLGBTQIA+ representation in books and lessons is critical at all grade levels? How would you support 2SLGBTQIA+ students in schools?

Answer: It was important to my wife and I to raise our two boys knowing that families are not just a mom and a dad. They knew from a young age that, no matter who they loved, they had two parents that supported them. I think that is a lesson that can be shared at an early age. Learning about different ways that people live their lives is good to start young. Kids should grow up learning to be inclusive and accepting — isn't that what we all want as parents: to raise kind, empathetic people that are happy and productive. I want to start Woolwich Township's first youth council and would hope to attract a variety of students that includes everyone.

Survey questions from SPECTRUM and OK2BME

Q: What is the number one reason you are running for office?

Answer: I have developed my skills as a local politician, learned how local government works, and developed relationships across the township over the past eight years as a Woolwich Township Councillor. From my experiences in the position, listening to residents, and working through difficult situations, I see how local government can do a better job at serving residents. That starts with leadership and developing a Council and staff strategy that excels at serving constituents. A brand-new Council that is trained and supported in developing their skills will benefit all residents now and for the future. I am committed to mentoring and supporting each member of Council to shorten the learning curve for their development as local politicians. Empowering staff to bring innovation to the township is also a priority. As Council and staff we solve problems and look to enhance all of our communities for our residents.

Q: What is the number two reason you are running for office?

Answer: Real strategy. Strategic planning is not strategy; it is a to-do list. I want to develop a strategy through engaging Council, staff and the public for a way forward for Woolwich Township and our individual communities. Listening to residents across the township, they are feeling disconnected from their local government, feel forgotten and not relevant in decisions that are being made. I want to change that. Each community in Woolwich is unique and serves different purposes for the people living there. A cookie-cutter approach to planning is a disservice to a community's needs. There has been an incredible amount of growth already and much more planned for Woolwich. As we welcome more people and industry, we also welcome more traffic and more needs for services. I want to start the conversation and develop a plan to re-connect our relationships across the township. No matter where you live, who you love, the colour of your skin, how old you are, your religion, your physical or mental ability — A Woolwich for Everyone approach to local government will move our municipality to where we want to be.

Q: What is the number three reason you are running for office?

Answer: I fully support a two-tier government, but our relationships between the tiers need to improve significantly. As mayor, a position as a regional councillor is also part of the job and I look forward to working with colleagues to make improvements across the Region. None of the municipalities have a good working relationship with the Region and that needs to change. Regional council and staff have to recognize that we are all working for the same customers within the municipalities. We are more often at odds over traffic and road re-construction projects because we have different sets of requirements that we are trying to use to solve issues. Mistakes, cost-increases and less service results from non-collaboration. The cookie-cutter approach and region-wide lens taken when working within the townships may work in the cities, but often is at odds with life in the townships. I look forward to starting the discussion with Regional colleagues on how we can improve our relationship with municipalities so that there is a true partnership that will benefit residents region-wide.

Q: What do you want voters to know about you?

Answer: I have loved being the Ward 1 Councillor serving Elmira for the past eight years. I have learned a lot and developed my leadership skills in that time. I am ready to step into the mayor's role and lead our community within Woolwich, the Region and Province. I have been an active and engaged politician that contributes ideas, works with staff and listens to residents. Woolwich Township has amazing communities and people here that will only get better in time. I will always serve in the public interest with honour and integrity.

Q: What else would you like to share with CBC-KW about your candidacy?

Answer: Woolwich Township Council recently made headlines for a councillor's misinformed and hurtful words towards 2SLGBTIA+ community members. The damage those words had on community members here and well beyond our borders is immeasurable. Woolwich needs a leader that is fully committed to inclusion and diversity and will be an ally so that everyone has a say and feels welcome in our communities. Condemning hate shouldn't be difficult to do and is not a political consideration in my books.

Survey questions from CBC-KW

Q: We invite you to explore the background and decision to remove the Middlebrook Bridge that borders Woolwich Township and Centre-Wellington.

Answer: Thanks for the opportunity to respond to the Save the Middlebrook Bridge group. The location of the Middlebrook bridge on a boundary between Woolwich Township and Centre-Wellington has put the onus of deciding the fate of this legacy bridge on both our Councils. Full disclosure, I did support the staff and EA recommendation to remove and create a monument for this structure.

The Environmental Assessment (EA) can be re-opened and re-assessed within ten years of making a decision. The largest factor for our Council was the cost to rehabilitate, the low usage, and the limited direct impact on our community members. As a Council we also had to factor and prioritize the other heritage bridges, regular bridges, culverts and infrastructure that we are currently not able to fund. The EA process generally takes two years and takes into consideration a number of different factors and suggests a number of various outcomes. Staff weighted the various options and suggested removal with a monument and Council agreed. At the time, there was no public opposition. Even today, since residents in Centre-Wellington approached both Councils to reconsider, there has been very little Woolwich opposition.

The Peel Street Bridge in Winterbourne was also recommended to be removed and replaced with a monument. Council eventually decided to rehabilitate the bridge to pedestrian use only. There is no funding for this project, and the Council further decided to borrow the $1.5 million to keep this heritage bridge operational. I was active in my support to see this bridge remain a key feature in Winterbourne.

The Glasgow Street Bridge in Conestogo just underwent a rehab costing around $1.5 million. That project only went ahead because the Federal and Provincial governments pitched in with significant resources to make that happen. Unfortunately, within the first week that the bridge re-opened, an oversized truck drove over it, destroying the integrity of the structure and closing it once again. Very disappointing.

The West Montrose Covered bridge is undergoing a $6 million restoration project. Much of the structure will be rebuilt, and some heritage features will be sacrificed to preserve the bridge in the long term. Again, large vehicle traffic over the years has contributed to its weakening structure. The Heritage Committee has been active in ensuring that the Region keeps the integrity of this national landmark. Even with the trade-offs, this bridge will continue to be a valuable resource for our municipality.

I am the chair of the Heritage Committee and would like to see us be able to preserve these amazing structures from the past. While I appreciate the heritage value of structures within our municipalities, there are little to no resources for maintenance and rehab of these structures. Heritage features are infrastructure that everyone can enjoy for years to come, but small municipalities, like Woolwich, get to pay for them. We have a large infrastructure deficit that makes it difficult when you have to pick and choose what should go and what should stay.

I will 100% reconsider if the Federal and Provincial government provide grant money to rehab Middlebrook Bridge. Groups such as this one could help advocate or fundraise towards saving the bridge. The history of large over-sized vehicles destroying our heritage bridges leads me to only consider a pedestrian/cycle rehab to ensure a maximum amount of extended life.

I am happy to work with Centre-Wellington Councillors and reconsider the previous decision. Thanks for the opportunity to respond to your group.

Question from Save Middlebrook Bridge group in Centre-Wellington.

Q: What are you prepared to do to help our region, local businesses, and workers recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?

Answer: I have supported local efforts through our Economic Development dept to first assess and then assist local businesses in recovery efforts. Helping small business and those that work for small business to recover is essential to the economy. I am also a small business owner and have experienced the negative effects that Covid-19 has inflicted on my business -- I can relate to what is happening with local business.

Q: What will you do to ensure that local governments celebrate diversity and promote inclusion for groups that have been traditionally underrepresented or excluded from participating fully in our community? Please consider those identifying as First Nation, Métis, and Inuit persons, racialized, LGBTQ2S+, persons living with physical or mental disabilities, Women, Youth, and Newcomers and refugees.

Answer: My campaign's theme is "A Woolwich For Everyone" and talks about connecting residents to their towns and communities. It is also about inviting more voices of all demographics to local decision-making. Making sure the municipality is connecting with and considering all voices is one of my number one priorities.

Q: What will you do to ensure positive labour relations, including collective bargaining rights for municipal/regional employees and outside firms working under contract?

Answer: Labour relations, collective bargaining and firms working under contract are generally administered under staff with Council direction. With any type of negotiation, respect for everyone's interest must be listened to and considered -- which applies to both parties. What's best for the community can also be what's best for the employees, it need not be one or the other. Enthusiastic, healthy, happy employees are also more productive and engaged with the work. I will always support a productive give-and-take negotiation that all parties can agree to.

Q: How will you show your support for ensuring a living wage for employees of the municipality / region / school board, including those of contracted firms?

Answer: Municipal employees in Woolwich and Waterloo Region are compensated beyond a living wage at this time. Inflationary considerations will have to be kept in check to ensure employees are not being put further behind year-after-year.

Q: What do you believe are the most important traditional infrastructure projects (eg. public transit, roads, bridges, clean water, wastewater facilities, etc.) and social infrastructure projects (eg. child care centres, affordable housing, parks, libraries, rehabilitation and detox centres, emergency shelters, etc.) that council must address over the next term and into the future? What actions will you take to ensure these projects are supported? How do you envision these projects will address Climate Change?

Answer: Infrastructure maintenance and replacement is a fundamental responsibility of local governments. Woolwich Township is a growth municipality that is severely underfunded to support the infrastructure replacement of our roads and bridges. I have supported for eight years an additional annual levy to raise additional funds through taxes that support traditional infrastructure projects. I was disappointed that the Region of Waterloo shuttered quality child care centres and removed more than sixty ECE positions. I will be supporting and advocating to retrofit municipal facilities to help achieve zero GHG emissions. We will need to think differently about all of the projects we tackle with a climate-change lens in how we minimize our impact on the environment. I have been championing green initiatives and motions on Council already.

Q: Please provide any additional information about your candidacy based on the considerations above.

Answer: I am an engaged politician that has taken the role seriously to represent residents to solve problems and create better communities. I have taken a keen interest in learning how the municipality works and developed key relationships with staff to help understand and support the needs of departments. I take care with the decisions I make to insure there is balance, consistency and consideration of all parties. It has been a successful approach working with our municipal staff. I have developed my leadership skills and municipal understanding this past eight years and continue this on-going learning/developing process.

I'm also a local business owner for the past 26 years. I have worked with and mentored many employees over that time providing many opportunities for first-time employment and a start on a career path.

Survey questions from Waterloo Regional Labour Council.