Q&A’s

3. What do you believe are the critical issues presently facing your community?

1) Homelessness/Mental Health &Addictions/Safety/Downtown

2) Housing/Affordability/Food Insecurity

3) Pressures on Businesses/Labour Shortages/Inflation & Interest Rates

4. What positive changes would you work toward in order to make local government more inclusive, open, and responsive?

“Inclusive, open and responsive” has to be the baseline for local government.

I will look to:

Expand options for virtual participation in city council and committee meetings, and to provide multi-language closed captioning; archive all meetings with searcahable, timestamped text;

Launch a comprehensive online dashboard, tracking city budgets, active construction projects, transit data, and council voting records so residents can easily see how decisions are made;

Mandate that major city proposals, bylaws, and financial reports include a one-page ‘community summary’ free of dense legal or beaurocratic jargon.

I will explore:

Creation of advisory panels in underrepresented or rapidly growing areas of the city to ensure diverse geographic and socioeconomic voices directly influence city hall;

Establishment of formal Youth Council and expand Senior Advisory roles to advise on specific issues like recreation, housing, and public transit;

Translating critical city updates, safety notices, and voting information into top non-English languages spoken in the city’s evolving demographic landscape.

I will look to:

Host regular informal ‘meet your councillor’ nights in local community centres, parks, or libraries rather than force residents to travel to City Hall;

Set aside a specific portion of the ward or city budget, allowing residents to vote directly on which local projects (like park upgrades or traffic calming) get funded.

Advocate for an upgraded, user-friendly mobile app or SMS system where residents can report local issues (like potholes or broken streetlights) and track the real-time status of the fix.

5. Do you believe in a living wage and how will you work towards achieving a decent level of wages that will support the members of your community?

I firmly believe in a living wage, and as a Union leader I have strongly contributed to achieving it initially in Canada.

I will champion municipal living wage policies, work towards updating city procurement rules, and advocate for higher-paying local jobs.

I will:

Promote the city applying to become a certified living wage employer through the Ontario Living Wage Network;

Work to ensure that all direct and indirect municipal staff receive a wage that matches the local living cost for the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk-Niagara region, which sits above $21 per hour;

Explore introducing a motion requiring city contractors, service providers, and vendors to pay their workers a regional living wage to win city bids;

Look to promote using the city’s purchasing power to reward ethical employers who support fair compensation for local workers;

Work with the city’s economic development team to attract sustainable industries and advanced manufacturing that provide stable, well-paying careers;

Promote the creation of incentives or recognition programs for small businesses that adopt progressive wage practices and local labour standards;

Vote to pass formal council statements urging the provincial government to strengthen labour laws and raise minimum standards;

Collaborate with community groups like the Brantford District Labour Council to highlight local cost-of-living pressures during budget debates.

6. What are your plans and ideas for local economic development?

I will:

Champion the Economic Development Community Improvement Plan and the Economic Development Strategy; promote industrial expansion (with focus on companies that will employ larger numbers of local residents); promote sector diversification overall.

Look to support grants that offset the tax rise after an industrial or commercial upgrade;

Look for ways to cut building permit costs to speed up commercial growth;

Look to broaden improvement plans past industrial areas to include healthcare, retail, and tourism;

Evaluate/promote funding of projects for the new Downtown Sports and Entertainment Centre to bring in shoppers and diners;

Promote improving local parks, lighting, and safety cameras to make downtown core more welcoming;

Promote campaigns like the “Buy Canadian, Support Local” passport, to drive traffic to small shops;

Direct local entrepreneurs to the Business Resource Centre for free expert advice;

Work with local post-secondary institutions to train workers for local jobs;

Work to streamline the city approval process so new companies can open faster.

industrial expansion (with focus on companies that will employ larger numbers of local residents), sector diversification overall. Utilize and continually improve the City’s Economic Development Strategy.

7. Some of the questions below will help us get a clearer picture of where you stand on issues important to the Brantford & District Labour Council:

Issues:

A) Housing: Do you believe the present need for affordable housing is being met in this region? What if anything needs to be done? What will you do to support the housing needs in your community?

Some good work has been and is being done around affordable housing, yet demand continues to outpace available inventory, and emergency shelters remain at or above capacity.

I will:

Support the city in continuing to actively implement the 2025-2035 Brantford-Brant Housing Stability Plan and the Brantford-Brant Municipal Housing Master Plan 2020-2030. This includes:

Meeting the targeted numbers of new city-developed affordable units and units by non-profit partners;

Advancing plans for underutilized municipal lots;

Modular apartment builds on Colborne St.;

Projects like Indwell’s permanent supportive housing project, and Brantford Native Housing’s culturally supportive units.

Support the city in continuing to audit its real estate portfolio to find shovel-ready properties suitable for mixed-income or affordable residential projects;

Continue lobbying federal and provincial governments for capital grants to offset rising construction costs and infrastructure funding gaps;

Continue utilizing proceeds from selling municipal properties (like 282 Stanley St) as capital financing for builds like the project on Shellard Lane;

Promote maintaining Coordinated Access systems, and the City of Brantford Encampment Network to transition individuals from temporary shelters to stable housing;

Support continuing the operation of the Brantford-Brant Homeownership Program, and utilizing the Ontario Renovates program to keep existing affordable houses safe and accessible.

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Support finding suitable areas for land-use changes that allow higher density and a wider mix of housing types across the city;

Support suitable investments of municipal funds from the Affordable Housing Reserve to purchase or build affordable units, and appropriate waiving of specific city fees or providing of incentives for developers who build affordable housing;

Champion collaboration with local groups like JC Homes and Indwell top create supportive housing options, and consider backing initiatives like local recovery and health hubs that combine stable housing with wraparound medical care;

Direct city staff to pursue federal and provincial housing streams, such as the Building Faster Fund.

B) Homelessness: What are your plans to address the homelessness crisis?

Homelessness is a complex problem, and requires actions involving emergency response, supportive services and long-term housing. All aspects need to be addressed in order to achieve real success. This will require municipal and community collaboration (and willingness). It also requires strong collaboration and support from all levels of government.

I will:

Support strategies like the 2025-2035 Housing Stability Plan in directing resources toward affordable housing and homelessness reduction;

Support coordinated local initiatives, like the City of Brantford Encampment Network, to balance safety with compassionate outreach;

Pressure provincial and federal governments for dedicated funding for mental health, addiction services, and supportive housing;

Look to support zoning changes, development incentives, and municipal projects like the holistic housing hub at 389 West St.

C) Poverty: How will you work to reduce poverty in your community?

I will:

Look at supporting a mix of increasing income supports to help those that are already in poverty, improving availability of affordable housing, and improving community services; Promote maintaining a liveable wage based on real cost of living factors, and in light of inflationary changes;

Look to avoiding displacement of low-income residents; Look to utilize frameworks like the Food Security Community Action Plan to address root causes like income gaps and housing costs; bring attention to crises like food insecurity and homelessness; consider municipal investments in affordable housing, and use of city land strategically for development; look for opportunities like the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund, to help prevent homelessness; look to improve collaboration between the city, non-profits, and Indigenous organizations; reach out to provincial and federal leaders to expand funding for mental health, addictions, and social assistance rates like Ontario Works.

D) Childcare: How will you continue to advocate for the expansion and implementation of the Federal/Provincial CWELCC?

In general I will leverage the city’s role as the designated Consolidated Municipal Service Manager for local services by work with elected officials in all levels of government to ensure long term funding, working with advocacy groups for ideas and shared support, prioritizing non-profit space creation, and promoting a viable workforce e.g. ECE’s

I will:

Promote council to urge federal and provincial partners to secure long-term funding agreements, end fee caps, and establish wage grids for early childhood educators; and to support and expand implementation targets withing frameworks like the Building Our Community from the Kids Up

10-year child care plan;

Look to bring forward discussion items through the Social Services Committee, to review local funding allocations and identify under-serviced growth areas;

Look to directing formal municipal correspondence to provincial and federal ministers responsible for education and families, seeking dedicated capital for high-growth local neighbourhoods;

Collaborate with local school boards and licensed child care operators to streamline the creation of new spaces under the Ministry of Education’s guidelines;

Look to support advocacy groups calling for fair compensation and retention strategies for local Registered Early Childhood Educators.

E) Youth: How will you work to address youth issues and opportunities in the community?

I will work to:

Champion and Create policy, fund programs and directly engage with young residents; focus efforts on the four core priority areas – Leadership and engagement, Access to supports, Safety and belonging, ad Training and employment;

Attend events and listen to policy recommendations of the Brantford Youth Council, help recruit youth representatives form each Ward and high school, and promote youth-led initiatives like Brantford Youth Week;

Advocate for more seasonal student employment within the city’s departments, support local entrepreneurship programs like Student Biz and Summer Company, work to connect our local high schools and post-secondary campuses with municipal job and mentorship pipelines;

Champion/support safe, inclusive community spaces and neighbourhood associations, support prevention-based approaches to community safety in cooperation with local police and fore services, use interactive feedback platforms like Let’s Talk Brantford to get direct input from young people on local issues.

F) Employment: What will you do to help to bring sustainable and good jobs to your community?

I will:

Work to shape local economic policies, invest in workforce training, and offer strategic incentives to businesses;

Support local programs like the City of Brantford Economic Development grants, and target incentives towards businesses that practice environmental responsibility and show leadership in the green economy;

Work to partner with local post-secondary institutions to align training programs with high-demand, green, and trade sectors; promote leadership in apprenticeship programs that lead to stable careers in manufacturing, construction, and sustainable trades;

Advance local climate action plans that push Brantford toward a net-zero future by 205, consider funding green infrastructure projects that create immediate local construction and engineering jobs while lowering long-term carbon emissions.

G) Public Safety: How do you plan to ensure Brantford’s emergency services keep pace with population growth. This could include staffing, response times, infrastructure, equipment, community safety, and ensuring frontline services have the resources required to meet increasing demands.

I will:

Consider voting to approve targeted budgeted investments for staff (firefighters, paramedics and police officers), stations, and equipment; look to support capital projects for new emergency stations in rapidly expanding neighbourhoods; support funding for modern dispatch systems and up-to-date training programs for first responders;

Consider funding the recommendations outlined in strategic documents like the Fire Master Plan; promote the monitoring of response times across different wards and advocate for resources where coverage lags;

Promote the review and revision of the Community Safety and Well—being Plan to address regional pressures like complex police calls and growth demands, and support lobbying provincial and federal partners for supplemental funding to support our municipal infrastructure.

H) Healthcare: What will you do to help reduce long wait lines in emergency rooms, staffing shortages, and under funding of necessary programs and services such as Mental health?

I will:

Advocate for increased provincial healthcare funding (for operations and staffing), support local advocacy groups such as the Brantford Hospital Working Group to secure approvals and capitol for hospital expansion initiatives like the New Hospital Now campaign;

Consider allocating funds to expand affordable and supportive housing paired with mental health and addiction supports, which reduces emergency room dependence; work to strengthen ties with local groups like the Canadian Mental Health Association and St. Leonard’s Community Services to keep non-crisis patients out of the emergency department;

Look to support integrated mobile crisis teams and community paramedicine initiatives that treat patients on-site rather than sending them to the ER, and to champion programs like the city’s voluntary address alert system to help first responders safely manage calls involving mental health or cognitive impairments.

I) Transit: How will you enhance driver safety, protect and expand access to affordable public transit?

I will:

Look at supporting: vertical and horizontal measures through the City Traffic Request Form to reduce speeding in residential areas, planning frameworks that prioritize zero traffic fatalities through better intersection design, clear signage, and enhanced LED street lighting; backing public awareness campaigns that educate drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians on safely sharing the city’s roads and multi-use trails;

Look at: Championing the ongoing expansion of Brantford Transit which scales up annual service hrs and builds out multiple transit hubs to improve coverage within 500m of most residents; advocating for flexible on-demand transit solutions in lower-density or growing areas like West Brant, Eagle Place, and Echo Place; promoting user-friendly upgrades like fare capping, real-time vehicle tracking, and fleet electrification to keep transit desirable, affordable, and sustainable.

8. What is your position on:

a) Contracting out Public Services?

I prefer public services to be in-house, unless there is definitive evidence against it for a specific service.

b) Anti-scab legislation?

Can be a valuable piece of the puzzle to ensure clarity and accountability.

c) The municipality purchasing Canadian/union-made products and services?

I think now more than ever we all can see the value in doing this.

d) Public Private Partnerships?

I am positive on the idea, and there are many very successful examples.

e) Local neighbourhood schools as community hubs?

I think it can be a valuable part of communities, and seems like it would be efficient. I need to research it better nonetheless.

9. What have you done to support organized labour?

What ways do you propose to enhance communications with the Labour Council, including notification of emerging issues?

I was a union representative for many years, and promoted benefits for not only my union’s members, but for Canadians in general, such as the minimum living wage.

10. What is your position on government supported pensions?

A sound municipal pension is an important part of attracting and keeping good people to do the work that is so important for all residents.

11. How will you work to protect green spaces in your community?

I will:

In appropriate situations: Consider voting to place sensitive lands in core natural zones to block residential building, and utilizing holding symbols to stop rezoning until adequate environmental studies are completed;

Listen to community groups such as those who have been involved in the D’Aubigny Creek area;

Maintain and consider expanding the City Tree Protection By-law to cover public and private canopies; review and consider funding the city’s Environmental Initiatives to safeguard local wetlands and woodlots.

Consider serving on groups like the Recreation Master Plan task Force, and steering funds toward acquiring natural heritage land and expanding public trails.

12. Is there anything else you think we should know about?

I am driven by the desire to help others, and I always consider the ‘underdog’. I am open to all ideas and opinions, and am accomplished at thoughtfully analysing the full spectrum of information, and determining the best solutions and outcomes.

1. Public Safety

Do you believe fire protection and emergency response should remain a core municipal priority? How will you ensure these services keep pace with Brantford’s continued growth?

Yes, fire protection and emergency response should remain a core municipal priority.

I will: ensure that fire prevention and emergency response are effectively built into strategic planning, including referring to the Master Fire Plan; ensure that council regularly reviews progress through the Community Safety and Well-being Plan, advocate for funding, and ensure that council receives the required regular progress reports allowing us to hold staff accountable; ensure that council routinely reviews the Community Risk Assessment with an eye to fire protection and emergency response, looking to deploy resources based on concrete data rather than arbitrary budget cuts.

In budget deliberations I will promote the funding of modern equipment, technology, training, and facility upgrades such as station renovations or relocations. I will push for development charges to be properly allocated to fund the expansion of fire services, which will also minimize the burden on existing property taxpayers. I will support the recruitment and retention of full-time suppression staff, dispatchers, prevention officers, and training staff to meet the NFPA standards adopted by the province.

I will advocate for collaborative funding models to help ensure that resources like the Brant-Brantford Paramedic Services remain properly scaled to serve the growing regional population. .

I will: promote gathering of citizen feedback through mechanisms like Let’s Talk Brantford to hear directly about rescue response, code compliance, and safety concerns; promote highlighting safety to the public, such as backing outreach for Emergency Preparedness Week.

2. Master Fire Plan

Do you support the implementation of Brantford’s approved Master Fire Plan, including the staffing, infrastructure, apparatus, and resources identified within it?

The plan has been adopted, and I am supportive of it. I will also be supportive of providing budgetary support for implementation of the plan.

3. Firefighter Staffing

Do you support increasing frontline firefighter staffing where growth, emergency response demands, and operational needs demonstrate the need?

Yes

4. Firefighter Health & Safety

Firefighters face increased occupational risks including cancer, traumatic exposures, and physical and psychological injuries. What role should the City play in reducing these risks and protecting its firefighters?

I will: promote the emergency alert address program; look to fund dedicated fire safety prevention and education personnel, to help reduce the frequency and severity of emergency calls; support funding to ensure that stations are fully staffed and equipped with necessary equipment; use the Master Fire Plan to identify operational risks and look to direct resources where firefighter safety needs are greatest.

5. Labour Relations

Do you support collective bargaining and a collaborative relationship between the City, its employees, and their bargaining representatives?

Yes

6. Municipal Services

What is your position on contracting out or privatizing municipal services currently performed by City employees, including fire and emergency communications services?

Over the years I have seen that contracting out is often more costly than maintaining functions in-house. For this and many other reasons my general approach is to base decisions on empirical data.

7. Your Record

What actions, votes, advocacy, or community involvement demonstrate your past support for firefighters, public safety, or municipal employees?

This is my first candidacy for municipal council, so I don’t have a history of tangibly supporting firefighters in that context. I do have significant respect and appreciation for firefighters, and the work that they do. My goal is to support the city’s firefighters as discussed in my answers to the other questions here, and to treat them respectfully and fairly in all aspects relevant to a municipal councillor.

8. Your Commitment

If elected, will you commit to meeting with representatives of the Brantford Professional Fire Fighters Association and working collaboratively on public safety and issues affecting our members?

Absolutely.

Q003 • Brantford should do more to combat climate change.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: There is always room to improve human impacts on climate change, at any level. Council can look for no-cost (perhaps some low-cost) ways to do this. Not our biggest priority overall.

Q006 • Municipal workers are paid too much.

Your Position: Somewhat disagree

Supporting Statement: The City's workers provide significant value to citizens, and Brantford paying a viable wage allows us to attract good people. As a modest-sized example of the 52 incorporated cities in Ontario, Brantford needs to be aware of our unique circumstances, and not go overboard.

Q007 • Private contractors are more efficient than municipal workers at delivering most municipal services.

Your Position: Somewhat disagree

Supporting Statement: I have found that in-house operations are often more effective (especially costs) than utilizing private contractors. That said, there are situations, such as very special expertise or one-of needs for example, where it is not practical to employ municipal staff.

Q008 • The mayor should never overturn council decisions.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: Never say never; nonetheless, it is only in very rare, unusual circumstances that this should happen. It is the job of council AS A WHOLE, to make decisions on behalf of the citizens.

Q010 • Municipal buildings in Brantford should fly the Pride flag during Pride month.

Your Position: Somewhat disagree

Supporting Statement: It is a much bigger question than that of celebrating Pride; there are many groups of good people in society, and unless Brantford, as a community, chooses to fly the flags of many groups, then it is not appropriate to fly just one.

Q012 • Every municipal council meeting should begin with an acknowledgement of Indigenous peoples’ ties to the land.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, across our country, is important and necessary. For now anyway, acknowledging the Indigenous peoples' ties to the land is a valid way for our community to to show our understanding.

Q013 • Brantford should keep historic street names and statues, even if they commemorate people who some would consider racist by today's standards.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: We can't hide from history. I am not sure that changing street names and removing statues are the best actions we can take to advance reconciliation. I believe that as a community we can find better approaches.

Q019 • Brantford should ban residents from setting off fireworks.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: Fireworks have been a part of celebration in Brantford since the mid 1800's anyway. I think residents should be banned from setting off their own fireworks displays in local neighbourhoods. Our community has become more diverse, and we have larger populations of diverse cultures. If fireworks are a part of celebrating for various cultures, then I feel that the city needs to support this by coordinating the planning for ONE community display, at an appropriate community location, on specific dates and times during the year. I trust that folks can grasp what I am getting at.

Q021 • Brantford should try to keep property taxes low, even if it means fewer services for residents.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: As individuals, we all prefer to be taxed less. City Council must use that baseline, and develop policies that balance the taxation level with the needs of the community. At the municipal level, taxes pay for: police, fire protection, ambulance, paramedic, road maintenance, snow removal, garbage collection, water/sanitation utilities, parks, recreation facilities, libraries, social assistance/housing, childcare, community health, emergency health measures, local/regional transit, etc. The balancing act is a difficult one. I am, committed to looking for ways to create greater efficiencies.

Q022 • Brantford should rely more on fees for specific services rather than raising taxes to pay for them.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: This question seems to speak to the concept that individual users should pay for the specific services that they use. If that approach was fully implemented, then no-one would have home insurance, auto insurance, health insurance, etc., etc., etc. That being said, it is the job of City Council to assess services, and on behalf of the citizens, make choices as to where, when, and how fees vs taxes can be implemented as a more effective approach. Again, a very difficult balance to manage.

Q026 • Brantford should apply an additional tax to vacant homes.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: In the community context, the pros of utilizing a 'vacant home tax' outweigh the cons. In Brantford, I feel that this tax would be a net benefit to the community; notwithstanding that, the devil is in the details, and it would have to be very carefully structured.

Q028 • Brantford should encourage more multi-unit housing in neighbourhoods that are currently made up mostly of single-family homes.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: At this point in time, I feel that doing some of this will benefit our city. That can and likely will change, some time in the future. Again, the devil is in the details: a general proviso is to not go overboard.

Q029 • Brantford should protect existing green space, even if doing so limits new housing development.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: Yes, our green spaces are important, and should be protected wherever possible. There are many approaches to housing development that facilitate maintaining green spaces. Again, it is not an 'all or none' proposition. Effective planning is the key.

Q047 • Brantford should cover the cost of programs for low-income residents, even if this means other residents pay more.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: "Cover the costs" is a wide open term, and not defined here; the wording of the question is flawed. Like any other level of government, the municipal government in Brantford should, APPROPRIATELY, be supportive of low-income (needy) residents. It is the job of City Council to do the difficult work of researching, assessing, then creating policies/programs that support the people at an 'appropriate' level. It is not pitting some residents against others, in the way that this question is worded.

Q055 • Brantford should install more bike lanes.

Your Position: Somewhat disagree

Supporting Statement: I, as many others, have been watching and evaluating the use of the bike lanes. I understand the concepts behind creating bike lanes, and I believe that there may be a time where this will need to happen. At this point in time I would like to see the funds used on more critical issues, where more immediate/current benefit will be gained. I do cycle by the way.

Q060 • Brantford should increase the presence of police officers downtown.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: The "presence" alone of police officers is not a solution. Unless we change: which situations the officers address, and how they address them, there is no point in putting them there. It can help, but only if done properly.

Q061 • How much should Brantford spend on policing?

Your Position: Somewhat more

Supporting Statement: What I hear from residents is that the policing is not fully effective. There are issues that still need to be addressed, and people do not feel safe in general, neither at home nor downtown for example. Lives are being negatively impacted in tangible ways. If one believes that funding is at least part of the reason for this situation, then more funding is necessary. I do not believe that funding alone will 'fix' it, but it is one tool that needs to be utilized along with other policy changes.

Q062 • Police should have the authority to require people using illegal drugs in public spaces to leave, even if they are not committing other crimes.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: Eventually this will HAVE to happen, so it may as well start now, BUT, other pieces of the puzzle need to be placed along with this one. It is a complex problem requiring complex solutions. The size of Brantford makes it suited to implementing these kinds of changes.

Q064 • Brantford should respond to public drug use with support services rather than police enforcement.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: Come on, this is not an either/or issue. Both aspects are critical in addressing public drug use.

Q065 • Brantford should spend more money to provide shelter spaces for people experiencing homelessness.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: Spending SOME money on shelter spaces is necessary. To answer whether or not "more" money "should" be spent depends on what is intended to be achieved. Given the prevalent significant concern of residents about the current situation of homelessness, I will say that more needs to be spent. Again, more money alone is not a full solution, so don't spend more money on shelter space if the other facets of the issue are not being concurrently addressed.

Q067 • People experiencing homelessness should be prevented from setting up encampments in public spaces.

Your Position: Strongly agree

Supporting Statement: Encampments in public spaces in not acceptable. Having said that, unless the city will house the people, then we can need to provide and enforce DESIGNATED PLACES for those who don't have housing, to 'camp'. That will require other changes as well.

Q068 • Brantford should do more to prevent landlords from evicting tenants in order to raise rents.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: If this is happening, then the city needs to do its best to curtail it.

Q071 • Property developers should pay a greater share of the cost of road, water, and energy infrastructure needed to support new housing construction.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: I know that there is room for developers to pay more towards infrastructure. "Growth should pay for growth". A modest-sized incorporated city like Brantford should apply that baseline 'concept' as much as possible.

Q072 • Brantford should add more traffic-calming measures to slow down drivers on residential streets.

Your Position: Somewhat disagree

Supporting Statement: From what I have seen, and heard from residents, the traffic-calming measures have gone far enough, maybe too far. There is probably too much in many places, and possibly not enough still in some places.

Q073 • Brantford should have strong protections for trees on private property, even if this limits what homeowners can do on their land.

Your Position: Somewhat disagree

Supporting Statement: One of the most beautiful aspects of Brantford is its vegetation (e.g. trees). It is important to maintain that situation, however I am big on legislating trees on private property. Do a real good job on public land, and make it 'attractive' to do a good job on private land. See how that works.

Q075 • Brantford should spend more on public libraries.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: Building the new branch is a good is a, based on high utilization of the other branches. Again, "spend more" is a loose term, but suffice it to say, the city needs to ensure that the library system stays healthy, and grows with the city.

Q101 • Brantford should spend more on social housing, even if it means tax increases or cuts to other services.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: I don't often subscribe to the either-or concept; life rarely works that way. What I hear from residents: homelessness is a big issue/concern. So, more resources need to be assigned, including financial resources. Social housing is a part of the solution. Whether or not spending more on social housing, IF it directly results in higher taxes or cuts to other services, is a question for the residents. I will base my final decisions on this according to the broad desire of the city residents, and given that we are on a ward system, more specifically the will of the residents in my ward.

Q102 • Brantford should spend more to improve its public transit service, even if doing so leads to higher fares.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: Again with the either-or. Anyway, I don't see how a tangibly-growing city cannot spend "more" to improve its public transit. It is also unlikely that improving the city's public transit can occur entirely without any fare increases. I am open to ideas, and ultimately bound to the will of the residents, specifically those in my ward.

Q103 • Brantford should allocate more of its budget to improving roads, even if it means less funding for other core services.

Your Position: Somewhat agree

Supporting Statement: The state of Brantford's roads could be improved. I don't know that there are other core services that should be sacrificed at this time to make the roads better, so in order to improve roads, we have to find ways to better utilize the resources we have, and focus efforts where they are most needed. If despite those efforts, things deteriorate, and/or if residents feel that there must be improvements to our roads, then either taxes need to be raised or other services cut.

Q106 • The new sports and entertainment centre in downtown Brantford should go ahead.

Your Position: Strongly agree

Supporting Statement: The new sports and entertainment centre in Brantford is a fait accompli, and it is now in full execution phase, with construction underway. It is now time for everyone to get behind the project, support it, and do our best to make it something that will benefit our city for decades to come.

Please indicate your response by checking Yes or No.

Optional Candidate Statement (why should I vote for you?)

I have always been driven by wanting to help others, and to stick up for the underdog. I have significant experience working collaboratively with a wide variety of stakeholders to find solutions to complex issues and questions. I am a better listener than a talker, subscribing to the philosophy that it is for good reason that we have two ears and only one mouth. I treat all people respectfully, and know that everybody has value, and an opinion worth considering. I have always been a hard worker, and as a retired professional, understand that due diligence is essential. I love the city of Brantford, and want to do everything in my power to help to make it a better place for every resident, and every visitor alike.

1. Can you provide examples of how you personally collaborated with initiatives in arts, culture, and heritage and how you will continue to champion this sector?

As a thespian and first generation Canadian, I appreciate all things art, culture and history. I support arts, culture and heritage by attending events and museums such as art shows, community theatre, the 6 Nations Powow, the Woodland Cultural Centre and the Bell Homestead. I also donate to similar initiatives. As a councillor I will ensure that the importance of arts, culture and heritage are fully respected and considered in all council decisions and policies, including those related to funding.

2. What in your platform directly supports the arts, culture, and heritage sector?

As a councillor I will use legislative, budgetary and community-advocacy levers to advance the arts, culture and heritage in Brantford.

I will: look to support municipal grant programs like the CCIP in budget deliberations; promote updates and implementation strategies tied to the city's Municipal Cultural Plan; work alongside the Municipal Heritage Committee, and the Ontario Heritage Act, to promote local historical properties and landmarks receiving proper recognition and protection.

I will: help highlight events like Culture Days and local artists listed in the Artist Database; engage constituents through 'Let's Talk Brantford' to prioritize community feedback; direct local artists and non-profits toward available municipal resources, facilities, and partnership opportunities.

3. Recognizing the long-standing and well-identified need for accessible and dedicated facilities for arts, culture, and heritage, how will you work toward supporting existing facilities and encouraging the creation of new spaces, while ensuring these areas receive meaningful support and funding alongside the ongoing investment in recreational and sports facilities?

One of my goals as councillor will be to support arts, culture and heritage in Brantford. I will do this by promoting a proactive, strategic approach to budgeting, planning, and community advocacy.

I will: advocate for steady allocations through programs like the City of Brantford Cultural and Built Heritage Funding Program; promote the use of Municipal Accommodation tax funds; collaborate with and support specialized advisory committees and task forces to inform and update actions under the Municipal Culture Plan.

I will: advocate for multi-use civic infrastructure, including holding the Sports and Entertainment Centre project accountable to be a true multi-use venue; promote pursuing intergovernmental and Indigenous partnerships, such as supporting projects like the Woodland Cultural Centre; integration of culture into urban development, such as policies to have developers include public art and flexible community space in their proposals.

I will: look to ensure that the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the Municipal Cultural Plan are harmonized, and advocate for data-driven equity; ensure that the City Grants Program criteria continue to explicitly treat arts, culture and heritage with equal weight alongside health, human services, and recreation; look to enhance resources for local neighbourhood associations, such as possibly lowering city-owned venue rental rates for arts workshops.

1. Farmland is a finite resource.  Ontario loses 319 acres of farmland per day due to roads, aggregate and urban sprawl. Only 5% of Ontario’s land mass is prime farmland. Bill 109, Protecting Ontario’s Food Independence Act recently received 1st reading and is a major shift that will restrict speculative foreign and domestic corporate entities from buying agricultural land for development.  On June 11th Prime Minister Carney announced the National Food Security Strategy to build a stronger, more affordable food system and boost domestic food production.  Canadians face the highest grocery costs in the G7 nations and a nation that can not feed itself becomes both dependent on and vulnerable to other nations. Do you support protecting all farmland in Brant County?

If yes, what specific action(s) will you take to protect Brant County’s farmland from urban sprawl? If no, please explain.

1. In general I feel that it is important to protect farmland. To do that for Brant county farmland I will work to:

ensure that any proposed municipal boundary adjustments go through proper, robust processes and assessments, including public input and AIA's, and base decisions on empirical data/information; promote infill and higher density on existing city lands, to reduce the need/desire for the city to annex farm land.

2. The City of Brantford and County of Brant signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding a proposed municipal boundary adjustment involving the Brantford Municipal Airport and Oakhill community. The municipalities announced on August 6 that the MOU process was paused due to insufficient time to finalize the agreement and allow residents adequate opportunity to review the associated material before the election. If elected, would you support resuming and finalizing the MOU as currently negotiated, revising it, or abandoning the proposal altogether?

Please explain your reasoning.

2. I believe that good hard work was carried out on this by the previous city and county councils, and the province. It makes sense to me to carry on the process after the elections are completed. The revised MOU area would be the starting point, and what precisely happens from there, will be jointly determined by the parties involved. My support, come the time, will be based on full assessment and understanding of the specifics, both past and present.

3.  Are you willing to consider viable alternatives to the proposed West Brant Access Road /Oak Park Extension through farmland and the Grand River corridor?

Please explain.

3. In general I am open to consider anything that is reasonable. Given that the city is still undergoing an Environmental Assessment process, and the route is not finalized, I am open to consider other viable alternatives.

4.   Do you support investing in local and regional active transportation and public transit?

Please explain.

4. I feel that Brantford, as with any growing city, will benefit from improved local and regional active transportation and public transit.

5.   In 2017, Brantford annexed 6,718 acres from Brant County - one of the largest annexations of land in southern Ontario in recent history. Most of this is undeveloped. Going forward, how will you respond to pressure from Brantford to annex more land from Brant County?

5. In the general sense, I think cities need to be intentional about how they utilize the land they have. In Brantford, given that there has been a recent significant annexation, it is time to focus on managing existing city land. The question of further annexation will come up again some day.

6.   Where should growth be directed in Brantford/Brant?

6. A balance of the Downtown Community Improvement Plan, and strategic land needs through the Brantford 2050 Vision. Both infill and vertical growth are needed so as to slow horizontal expansion. Align growth with essential upgrades to roads, public safety, and healthcare such as the Brant Community Healthcare System and regional hospital expansion.

7.    What would be your position if a new data centre development was proposed in Brant County or the City of Brantford?

Please explain.

7. I would fully investigate and assess prior to making a decision:

local power grid suitability; the developer would have to pay the full cost of electricity and infrastructure upgrades; local water and wastewater systems capacity; zoning compatibility; impact of noise pollution; environmental impact; local job creation; community benefit agreements or other financial contributions from the proponent; appropriate tax assessment; alignment with Ontario's data centre framework, and coordination with the province.

8.     What would your position be if a battery storage site were proposed in either the County or the City?

Please explain.

8. I am aware that there was a battery storage container fire on the property of Aspire Bakeries, that there is interest in storage facilities on Bishopsgate Rd., and on Railway St. in Paris. I will not support a Municipal Support Resolution unless and until I feel fully comfortable with the projects, the locations, and the safety of constituents. I am not fully comfortable, at this point in time anyway.

9.    The Grand River Corridor, Natural Heritage System and environmentally protected areas purify our water, clean our air, regulate temperature, support fish and wildlife habitat and provide quiet forested greenspaces for the physical and mental wellbeing of local residents. If elected to council, will you protect these areas from future housing developments and the West Brant Access Road / OPRE?

Please explain.

9. I will start with a brief summary of potential 'pros and cons':

PROS: Connect West Brant's Shellard Lane Area (about 25,000 residents) to the northwest industrial employment lands; Relieve severe bottlenecks on Brant Ave. and Paris Road; additional river crossing provides an alternative route during emergencies.

CONS: Could harm local wildlife habitats, agriculture lands like Stright farm, and the natural landscape; potential increase in noise, and traffic disruption near Oakhill cemetery; urban sprawl that can drive up long-term municipal costs; need to fully conclude and respect environmental assessments and consultations before pushing the project forward.

I have extensive experience, as a Registered Professional Forester with the BC Minosty of Forests and Lands, carrying out land use assessment, decision-making, and implementation, all with a prime mandate to protect the natural environment. I am confident that some development can be carried out while protecting the areas in question. The 'devil is in the details', and I will ensure that habitat protection and greenspace are fully built into plans and decisions from the beginning to the end.

10.    Given that the Province and Federal government have offered incentive to slash development charges, what tools do you support to fund municipal servicing?

10. I would look to: use the joint Development Charge Reduction Program to get subsidies; continuing housing targets to secure more performance-based grants from the Building Faster Fund; and to make use of the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program.

I would consider: Area-Specific Development Charges instead of city-wide levies, such as in Northern Boundary Expansion Lands or Tutela Heights; utilizing Community Benefits Charges; utilizing Cash-in-Lieu of Parkland to finance community-based recreational infrastructure.

I would evaluate: shifting infrastructure funding from front-ended developer fees over to user-rate utility models; issuing low-interest municipal bonds to front-end critical service expansions and repay them incrementally; utilizing agreements allowing developers to pay for and install servicing infrastructure upfront in exchange for future tax or fee cuts.

11.    Much of our municipal funding comes from the province or the federal government. How would you navigate this relationship as it relates to the municipal budget, transit, roads, utilities, and servicing?

11. I will ensure that Council is aware of the relationship between the various levels of government, and the situations in which funding from the other levels is applicable to the municipal level. I will look to lobby other levels of government, at every opportunity, for maximum funding to support the goals of Council for the city.

12.     Ontario’s Strong Mayor legislation gives the Mayor significant additional authority over municipal priorities, including the ability to propose certain matters for Council’s consideration and, in specified circumstances, exercise powers that would otherwise rest with Council. Do you believe a City of Brantford or Brant County Mayor should be able to use strong Mayor powers to advance a municipal initiative, even if a majority of elected Councillors and/or residents do not support that initiative?

Please explain.

12. All Council officials are bound by existing legislation. Legislation pertaining to strong Mayor powers is quite clear on when/how the powers can be utilized as a veto, and when/how council can override that veto. What is important is that all members of council understand the legislation, and that the actions of Council are taken in accordance with that legislation.

13.    How will you support and encourage dialogue with our Indigenous neighbours and community members regarding land use decisions?

13. I have worked very closely with Indigenous peoples/communities for over 25 years, making land use decisions and carrying out development activities. My hope is to use that experience in building trust and good relationships, to help Council and the city as a whole.

14.    Before any proposed boundary adjustment or major infrastructure decision is approved, will you support making the relevant financial, land-use, infrastructure, transportation and development information publicly available with sufficient time for meaningful public review?

Yes/No. Please explain.

14. It certainly needs to be a goal of Council to make appropriate information available to the public so as to facilitate meaningful public review.

15.     What would you consider an appropriate level of public consultation before Council makes a final decision?

Please explain.

15. The way in which public consultation is applied will be different depending on the particular decision being made. As elected officials it is always a task to balance the amount of resources (Council time, staff time, budgetary costs, cost of delay, potential benefit - or detriment of more consultation, etc.) to prepare for a decision, against the need to eventually move forward. Generally, the bigger impact the decision has, the more consultation is needed. These are the main factors that I feel need to guide how consultation will be carried out.

16.    In favour of greater public transparency, would you support reduced in-camera meetings?

Please explain.

16. I feel that transparency is important to build and maintain trust with constituents.

In-camera meetings or portions of meetings have a definite place in the operations of boards, including City Councils. Having said that, it has been my experience that the need for going in-camera is relatively rare. As a Brantford City Councillor, I will ensure that the use of in-camera is limited to those occasions when it is truly needed, and that when Council comes out of camera, the appropriate information is minuted.