CTV News Kitchener reached out people vying for a position on Cambridge City Council or Region of Waterloo Council ahead of the municipal election on Oct. 26, 2026. All candidates were given the same questions based on the position they are running for. They were asked to limit their answers to 400 words or less. In fairness to all participants, CTV News Kitchener will only share responses up to the requested limit. Any answers exceeding that threshold have been cut off at exactly 400 words. If you are a candidate that did not receive a survey, or your responses were submitted by the deadline but are not included below, please reach out to ctvkitchenerwebteam@bellmedia.ca Mayor Ryan Bolender Candidate did not respond to survey request within CTV News Kitchener’s two-week deadline. Tony Chaves Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? TC: I decided to run because I believe there is a disconnect between City Hall and the residents of Cambridge. People want better communication, more transparency and accountability, and to know where their tax dollars are going. At the same time, property taxes continue to rise, and residents are asking what they are getting in return. I’m running because I believe we need a different kind of leadership — one that listens to residents, spends responsibly, and puts Cambridge and its people first. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? TC: There are several issues that are affecting residents right now. Transportation and traffic are a major concern, especially as Cambridge continues to grow. We are also dealing with homelessness, while some major projects are being approved or planned without the infrastructure keeping pace. We need to make sure our roads, sidewalks, transit and emergency access can support the growth we are approving. Growth is important, but it has to be planned properly and responsibly. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? TC: Cambridge needs to grow, but growth should not mean losing what makes our community special. We need to respect our historic neighbourhoods, heritage areas, natural spaces and environmentally sensitive lands while planning new development. My position has always been that infrastructure needs to keep pace with growth. We should build a Cambridge that moves forward while still respecting the character and history that people value. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? TC: Homelessness is a very sensitive and complex issue, and it cannot be solved by the City alone. The Region, provincial and federal governments, health services, community organizations and other partners all have a role to play, and everyone needs to contribute their fair share. We also need to recognize that homelessness is not one single issue. For some people it may involve housing affordability, while others may be dealing with mental-health challenges, addictions or other circumstances. We need compassion, but we also need accountability and a coordinated plan that addresses the different causes and keeps our public spaces safe for everyone. Scott Hamilton Candidate did not respond to survey request within CTV News Kitchener’s two-week deadline. Ihtsham Haq Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? IH: I am running because Cambridge needs practical and accountable leadership that listens to residents. As a local small-business owner and father of two, I understand the pressures facing families and businesses. I want to bring a results-focused approach to City Hall and ensure every resident has a voice. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? IH: Affordability is the most pressing issue. Housing costs, property taxes and everyday expenses are putting tremendous pressure on families, seniors and small businesses. We need responsible spending, more attainable housing and better value for taxpayers. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? IH: Growth must be carefully planned. I support directing density toward major roads, transit corridors and underused properties while protecting established neighbourhoods, heritage buildings and culturally important areas. New development should respect the character of its surroundings. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? IH: Homelessness cannot be solved by simply moving people elsewhere. I would work with the Region, provincial government and community organizations to expand supportive housing, mental-health and addiction services, and homelessness-prevention programs. We must protect public spaces while treating people with dignity and helping them find stable housing. Jan Liggett Candidate did not respond to survey request within CTV News Kitchener’s two-week deadline. Ken Roche Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? KR: I believe in a government for the people, but recently concerned our government isn’t working for our people. After years of watching and listening to community issues, I think there’s a better way and I’m willing to lead the change I believe is necessary. Growth is inevitable, necessary and beneficial, but I’d prefer seeing the intense growth along the Highway 24 corridor allowing us to modestly grow historic core areas, protect sensitive farm, watersheds and greenspaces. Given the chance, I intend to create positive attitude and policies at City Hall towards all residents of Cambridge, starting with general taxpayers who deserve to see results delivered in a high value, cost responsible and timely fashion, special interest groups such as seniors, persons with a disability, LGBTQ, Indigenous as well as our homeless, mentally and financially challenged and/or active drug users. Over the last four years the city has displaced homeless camps in late September and November, issued evictions in March, supported the Region spending $1.7 million to remove the camp on Victoria Street in Kitchener that estimates suggest cost $800,000 annually to operate, but rather than supporting the people affected they’ve decided to appeal the courts and continue trying to evict. Recently, they’ve asked for a provincial state of emergency to build a larger public service that is unlikely to work and will just support a larger social problem. Regional council supported the taking over of 770 acres of privately owned farmland, supported taking more water than agreed, reducing oversight and generally ignoring symptoms until they created an expensive water shortage crisis that could have been handled better, and cheaper waste management sites estimated to reach capacity 18-22 years, “at current fill rate,” but we’re expected to grow and we’re not even talking about a solution at this time, just discussing reduction and diversion, which means eventual less or more expensive garbage removal for our citizens yet no one has pushed back on the province regarding our mandated growth. Cambridge found over $200,000,000 for recreational facilities that would be nice to have if we had the money, but they’ve more than doubled our eventual debt load, making it harder to borrow for future infrastructure development, emergency recovery or social rehabilitation. To me, none of the above represents a government working for its’ people. I support good ideas around developing community first and think Cambridge would significantly benefit from my therapist point … [Editor’s note: Candidate’s answer exceeded 400 words] [Editor’s note: The Region of Waterloo has spent more than $1.7 million in legal fees to defend a bylaw intended to clear the encampment at 100 Victoria Street North. CTV News Kitchener has no record of an $800,000 cost estimate to operate the encampment. The encampment is not operated by the City of Kitchener or the Region of Waterloo. Although neither the city nor the region has made a request to declare a State of Emergency, a campaign by Ontario’s Big City Mayors has called on the province to declare a State of Emergency regarding homelessness.] [Editor’s note: Ontario is investing $19.5 million to build a new recreation complex in Cambridge, which is part of $200 million being allocated provincewide as part of the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund. The initial cost estimate for the Beneva Recreation Complex, formerly known as the Cambridge Recreation Complex, was listed as $107.93 million.] Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? KR: Affordability is obviously one of our largest challenges and driving most of our negative issues. Many factors go into total cost of living including high cost of housing, groceries and property taxes. I’m concerned with the mega development of bachelor and 1-bedroom units and think considering the cost to purchase or rent, we need more extended family 3, 4 and 5 bedroom units for shared accommodation with shared financial responsibilities. It’s harder to get and keep good paying employment these days and everyone feels the challenges. There are many reasons someone may be unhoused, but we are all experiencing homelessness like never before, which is affecting our public safety. We have a pandemic of petty crime that collectively is a major crime challenge that needs to be consistently and persistently addressed, but policing isn’t going to be the solution. I believe the problem will just get worse if we continue alienating people who can’t afford to participate in regular society activities of daily living and need to address the underlying unaffordability and create supportive positive opportunities for people to want to participate in community with less criminal behaviour. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? KR: I would argue Cambridge’s need for growth as we are living in the expanded economy previous governments were working towards building, and more of a positive sustainable growth should be desired. We have some 54,000 households earning $108,000, that’s a minimum annual economy of approximately $5.8 billion around the city. Therefore, I’d suggest focusing on managing our collective resources. Promoting goods and services our residents need and want in a more effective way is more important than simply growing for the sake of growing. Saying that, I think there’s a lot of potential to positively grow in several key areas: I support the rapid development of the high density commercial, residential Highway 24 corridor as a priority. In addition to simply commercial-residential, I believe Cambridge should build this area to be a large-scale attraction area for all of southwestern Ontario, considering our ideal location centralized between three major cities and being the gateway to the Waterloo Region. I support aspects of implementing the city’s secondary plan around our historic cores in conjunction with maintaining the features and feel that Cambridge’s downtown and riverside community’s architecture has been recognised for. In addition to adding and filling residential units, we should focus on encouraging the rebuilding of commercial buildings in our downtown areas to make more modern, user-friendly and appealing shopping experiences with better parking and connected covered/weather protected walking and social areas. There are several riverfront areas that could be better developed for commercial, residential and public recreational uses that would increase non-invasive density and provide a higher quality of life to local residents and further Cambridge’s opportunity as a tourist destination. If we focus mass growth where it fits; repurpose commercial lands for residential purposes, incorporate quality green area parks, access trails and dog friendly areas as possible, I believe we should protect more sensitive farm, watershed and naturalized green spaces. We should remember growth is likely to continue requiring more creative solutions in the future, so build with long term success in mind, incorporating aspects citizens will enjoy for generations rather than letting outside forces leave us with profit focused growth that no one wants. I believe this is community first development and would encourage the whole city work as one cohesive unit to better itself while minimizing negative aspects of the necessary construction phases because people live here! Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? KR: Respecting that housing is largely a regional responsibility, I think it could be shared as the city should be able to help its own financially challenged residence. I do not believe in building a larger social system to deal with a larger social problem considering, to date, this model hasn’t worked. First, I’d like to establish positive attitudes, relationships and policies from within city hall towards our homeless, recognising their many challenges, which are not all drug or mental health oriented, and each one is unique and require specific support to overcome. I believe working person to person will be the best and fastest way to begin reducing homelessness in our community. We should investigate any and all successful programs in other areas of the province and country to see what would be best suited for our community. I’d support a multifaceted approach including legalizing transitional survival camping where basic dignity facilities like washroom, shower heated/cooled comfort and social rooms, soup kitchen and clothing donations could be provided. Individuals gain an address, opportunity for identification, OHIP, Canadian dental and social financial support making the creation of a micro economy possible. Residents could contribute affordable rent and pay nominal fees for services that may include onsite laundry and bus passes etc. Another level of transitional camping may include more permanent structures or contained in repurposed buildings where people actively seeking rehabilitation can get effective wrap-around support services specific to their needs. Another integrated level of tiny town home structures could be quickly and affordably adopted in areas around the city for persons not experiencing drugs/alcohol abuse or criminal mental health issues, like women, seniors, persons with a disability, single parents etc. could integrate into society while working towards more permanent housing options. Set up city and privately supported co-operative housing corporations designed to allow long term independent living. Encourage region to utilize private developer fees to expand vision and scope of public projects to be in line with private sized developments. Collaborate with not-for-profit and modest profit community developers in conjunction with city to create larger scale housing initiatives, potentially on city owned property to make a progressive meaningful impact in our current situation. Taking the notion of not in my backyard and respecting these are our neighbours, friends and family integrating them back into our community by putting them as responsibly into everyone’s backyard. Ward 1 Jeff Donkersgoed Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? JD: I am running because Cambridge is my home, and I believe it can be even better if the people at City Hall actually listen to the communities they represent. I have spent years volunteering in my community in various capacities, such as the City’s Committee of Adjustment, the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, Waterloo Region Labour Council, Waterloo Region Community Legal Services, and Food4Kids. That work has shown me how much of a difference strong, responsive local leadership can make. Too often, I hear from residents that they don’t feel heard at City Hall, that Ward 1 doesn’t get the same amenities as other parts of the city, and that decisions are made without real consultation. I’m running to change that. I aspire to be a councillor who leads with hope and positivity to make Cambridge a more welcoming and vibrant place to live, work, or start a business. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? JD: Affordability challenges are real. Rising costs for groceries, housing, insurance, gas, hydro, childcare, repairs, rent, mortgages, and interest rates are putting pressure on household budgets. Residents are right to question rising property taxes and expect their money to be spent carefully and responsibly. While strong communities cost money, people are frustrated by continually paying more without clear explanations, whether for operational costs, capital expenditures, or payments toward our infrastructure deficit. I will advocate for a review of the capital budget to identify expensive projects with more affordable alternatives. The City’s more than 1,200 fees also need to be reviewed, especially when many are rising faster than inflation, including a 35 per cent increase in minor sports and community group rental rates. I will stand up for smarter budgeting that prioritizes needs, reduces non-essential spending, and strengthens fiscal stewardship. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? JD: Growth itself isn’t the problem, but it is contingent on whether our infrastructure and processes keep up with it. At the moment, that is not necessarily happening in Cambridge. While our city is growing at a reasonable pace, new developments do not always have the roads and other services our city needs. This can lead to traffic congestion, services that can’t meet the demands of a growing population, and taxpayers being left to pay for the infrastructure needed to support new development. Provincial rules can make this harder. New developments must be financially sustainable, phased responsibly, and demonstrate that water, wastewater, and environmental impacts have been properly addressed before construction begins. I also support building more housing through infill, brownfield and greyfield redevelopment, adaptive reuse of vacant commercial spaces, and gentle density in existing neighbourhoods rather than sprawl. Cambridge’s greatest strength is the diversity of its communities, each with its own unique history, character, traditions, and sense of pride. Heritage buildings are an important part of Cambridge’s history and identity. However, property owners also deserve fairness and respect. Heritage designations should be based on clear evidence, meaningful consultation, and due process. When the City asks owners to preserve a property for the benefit of the community, it should do so based on the criteria set out in the Ontario Heritage Act. Residents should have meaningful input regarding new developments. New developments should respect neighbourhood character, and every project should help create inclusive communities where people of all incomes can find a place to live Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? JD: No one wants encampments. However, they will persist as long as poverty and a shortage of deeply affordable housing remain. Simply clearing encampments does not solve homelessness when people have nowhere else to live or obtain the help they need. Homelessness is the responsibility of the Province and the Region of Waterloo. Both jurisdictions need to do a better job of making housing affordable again and providing upstream services, such as mental health and addiction support. If elected, I will support the churches, charities, and social workers who, day in and day out, help our most vulnerable residents in Cambridge. I am inspired by the helpers in our community who feel a deep responsibility to lend a hand when all levels of government and corporations have failed to find solutions. I will also advocate for the Region of Waterloo to implement a safe tenting framework, where those experiencing homelessness can set up tents and/or trailers on specifically designated lands while receiving support from community partners. This would be an interim measure until more deeply affordable housing with wraparound services is built. The desensitization to homelessness is a moral failing. But I am inspired by concrete, fully costed plans from other municipalities, such as St. Thomas, which have sought to eliminate long-term encampments through innovative shelter-to-housing models that are accountable and track the costs and success rates of their plans. This is what we need to do here. Saleem Shaikh Candidate did not respond to survey request within CTV News Kitchener’s two-week deadline. Helen Shwery Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? HS: I’m running for re-election because I want to continue the work I started for Ward 1 and keep delivering practical results for residents. My priorities are straightforward: keep taxes affordable, get better value for taxpayers’ money, maintain the infrastructure we already have, improve basic services and make sure residents’ voices are heard at City Hall. Since becoming a councillor, I have listened to residents and acted on what I heard. I brought forward a motion that helped reduce the 2026 property tax increase by 1.9 per cent, a motion that gave residents a three-day grace period to pay property tax and utility bills, and a motion to use surplus funds to pay down high-interest debt, saving taxpayers approximately $800,000 in interest costs. I have also supported practical improvements such as enhanced snow clearing and continue to advocate for safer roads and neighbourhoods. Most people understand that taxes are necessary. What residents expect is responsible spending, accountability and value for their money. Before asking taxpayers for more, government should make sure it is managing what it already collects responsibly and delivering the services residents are already paying for. That is the approach I will continue to bring to Council. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? HS: There isn’t just one. Four issues consistently come up when I speak with residents: Affordability. Families are under pressure from the rising cost of living, and every tax increase matters. Municipal government needs to recognize that property taxes are a real part of a family’s household budget. Traffic and road safety. Cambridge is growing, and our roads are under increasing pressure. Residents want to be able to get around safely, whether they are driving, walking or cycling, and they want their neighbourhoods to remain safe and livable. Maintaining what we already have. Residents expect the basics to be done well. They want potholes fixed, snow cleared, grass cut, public spaces maintained and our roads, parks and other infrastructure looked after properly. We need to take care of what we already have before continually adding more. Water and infrastructure. Growth must be matched by the infrastructure and resources needed to support it. We should not approve growth simply because a plan says we can. We need to know that roads, water, wastewater and other essential infrastructure can actually support it. Growth is important, but growth and development are not the same thing. Growth can be planned for; development must be supported. Growth without adequate infrastructure is not responsible growth. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? HS: Cambridge will grow. The question is how we manage that growth. Right now, I believe Cambridge is growing faster than our infrastructure and services can comfortably support. Growth has to be responsible and must be matched by the roads, water, infrastructure and essential services needed to support it. We also need to recognize how people actually live, work and travel. Public transit is part of the solution, but not everyone is going to give up their car. Our planning decisions need to reflect the reality of how Cambridge residents live today. My view is simple: Cambridge should grow, but growth has to pay its way. At the same time, we need to protect what makes Cambridge special. I believe we have the prettiest city in the Region. I love our rivers, our architecture, our farmland and the distinct character of our different communities and villages. There is a real sense of place here that we should be proud of and protect. A great city also has to take care of what it already has. That means clean public spaces, well-maintained roads and infrastructure, reliable services and a strong local economy. We also need good local jobs. Supporting businesses that want to invest, grow and hire locally is good for families, good for our community and good for the tax base that pays for the services residents depend on. I want Cambridge to grow without losing the character, quality of life and sense of place that make people proud to call it home. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? HS: Homelessness is a complex issue, and no single level of government can solve it alone. Supportive housing, addiction treatment and mental-health services involve responsibilities shared among the Region and the provincial and federal governments. Cambridge nevertheless has an important role to play, and we should focus on the things we can actually influence. One of those areas is housing approvals. We need to make it easier and faster to build homes by reducing unnecessary red tape and getting shovels in the ground sooner. That is why I brought forward a motion to improve the development approval process. The City cannot control the cost of land, construction materials or labour, but it can reduce unnecessary delays, streamline requirements where appropriate and give applicants clearer expectations earlier in the process. Delays have a cost. When developable land sits in the approval process, developers continue paying interest, taxes and other carrying costs. Those costs can ultimately contribute to the price of new housing. Increasing housing supply is part of the solution, but it is not the whole solution. We also have a responsibility to make sure the programs designed to address homelessness are producing results. If taxpayers are spending approximately $65.5 million a year on homelessness-related services, they deserve clear information about where that money is going, who is receiving it, what services are being delivered and what measurable outcomes are being achieved. I would support a detailed financial and performance audit so taxpayers can see how the money is being spent and whether the programs are achieving the results we expect. This is not about blaming people experiencing homelessness or the people working to help them. It is about accountability, effectiveness and finding solutions that work. If a program is helping people move into stable housing, access treatment or rebuild their lives, we should know that and support what works. If something isn’t working, we need to know that too—and have the courage to change it. We should not measure success by how much government spends. We should measure it by results: fewer people living on the streets, more people receiving the treatment and support they need, more people moving into stable housing and safer communities for everyone. Compassion and accountability should go together. Ward 2 David Craig Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? DC: I decided to run because I believe Ward 2 deserves a councillor who is accessible, accountable, and willing to stand up for residents. When people bring an issue forward, they should have someone who will listen, ask questions, take it to City staff and Council, and work to get answers. I want to be a councillor who follows through, holds people accountable, and makes sure residents know they have someone in their corner. I also understand the pressures people are facing, from the rising cost of living to property taxes and the increasing cost of everyday services. In my career in information technology, I’ve learned that problem solving starts with listening, understanding the issue, and finding practical ways forward. I want to bring that same approach to City Hall, focusing on responsible decisions, practical solutions, and making sure the people of Ward 2 have a strong voice at Council. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? DC: I believe Cambridge is facing two important issues. The first is affordability. Property taxes cannot continue to increase at the current pace, as this is becoming unsustainable for many households. The next Council needs to keep property tax increases at or below inflation while also considering the total cost of living, including City fees and service costs. The second issue is transparency and access to City Hall. I believe City Hall should be opened back up to the public, allowing residents to move freely through the building and interact with the appropriate departments when they need answers. Your councillor should also be the bridge between residents and City staff, making sure questions are answered and issues are followed up on. Basic information should also be easy to find online, including by-laws, councillor voting records, and a clear, easy-to-understand budget. Residents deserve an open and accessible City Hall, both in person and online. [Editor’s note: Cambridge City Council held modified council meetings and restricted public access to City Hall in Sept. 2025 while the Waterloo Regional Police Service conducted an investigation into a threatening voicemail. Full public access resumed in Oct. 2025.] Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? DC: We need to protect Cambridge’s heritage as we grow, but I don’t think growth and historic preservation have to be in conflict. The key is making sure new development fits within the character of the community rather than simply replacing it. I would love to see more projects like the Gaslight District and the Old Post Office, where historic buildings and spaces are thoughtfully preserved, repurposed, and blended with modern uses. These projects show that we can add housing, businesses, and new amenities while still maintaining a connection to Cambridge’s past. In Hespeler, I want to see our historic areas remain recognizable for generations to come. That means encouraging the preservation and revitalization of heritage buildings, while also respecting private property rights. We should make it easier for property owners to find practical uses for older buildings rather than creating so many restrictions that buildings become difficult to maintain or are ultimately left vacant. Growth also needs to come with the infrastructure to support it. New development should be properly planned around roads, transit, parks, water and wastewater capacity, and other municipal services. We need to make sure growth contributes to the community rather than putting additional pressure on existing residents. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? DC: I think the first step toward addressing homelessness is recognizing that there isn’t one cause. Substance use, mental health challenges, financial hardship, and escaping an abusive environment can all lead someone to homelessness, and each requires a different response. At the same time, more responsibility for homelessness has been downloaded from the federal and provincial governments onto regional and local municipalities. Since 2022, the Region has significantly increased its spending while the number of people needing assistance has also grown. I think it’s time to step back, look at what we’re doing, and ask whether we’re getting the results residents expect. We should be willing to look beyond our current approach and explore models that have been used in other parts of the world, including Housing First approaches in Norway, while recognizing that Canada has its own challenges. Most importantly, we need to find a balance. People experiencing homelessness deserve dignity and access to the support they need, but that cannot come at the expense of residents and business owners. People have a right to feel safe in their neighbourhoods and to enjoy parks, trails, streets, and other public spaces, while businesses have a right to operate without being negatively impacted. We need to find practical solutions that help people move toward stable housing while respecting the rights of everyone who lives and works in Cambridge. Mike Devine Candidate did not respond to survey request within CTV News Kitchener’s two-week deadline. Mark Linton Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? ML: I’ve called Hespeler home for nearly 40 years and recently retired after 22 years working in municipal operations, including 13 years in a supervisory role. I’ve spent a large part of my career working with roads, snow removal and the infrastructure residents rely on every day. I’m running because I believe that experience can be useful at the council table. I’m retired now, so I have the time to make Ward 2 my full-time focus. I want to be accessible, listen to residents and bring a practical, hands-on perspective to City Hall. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? ML: I don’t think there is one issue that exists on its own. Affordability, housing, infrastructure and community safety are all putting pressure on residents. At the municipal level, we need to focus on the things we can actually control. That means maintaining our roads and infrastructure, making responsible decisions with tax dollars, planning growth carefully and making sure the basic services people pay for are being delivered well. Those are areas where I believe my municipal experience can help. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? ML: Growth is coming, but I don’t believe growth should mean losing the identity of the communities that make Cambridge unique. In Hespeler especially, new development should respect the scale, history and character of the community. I support adding housing, including housing that young families and seniors can afford, but development needs to be thoughtful. I would look at proposals individually and consider how they affect existing neighbourhoods, infrastructure, traffic and the character of the surrounding area. Cambridge’s Official Plan is the City’s primary policy document guiding long-term land use and development. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? ML: Homelessness is a complex issue and I think it’s important to be clear about which level of government is responsible for what. The Region of Waterloo leads housing and homelessness services, including shelters and housing supports, while the City has responsibilities involving municipal property, bylaw issues and local services. As a city councillor, I would work with the Region and community organizations on long-term housing solutions while also making sure residents, businesses and public spaces aren’t forgotten. We need compassion for people experiencing homelessness while still maintaining safe and usable public spaces. I also believe affordable housing has to be part of the conversation. When new development comes forward, I want to see more opportunities for housing that people can realistically afford. The City can influence housing through planning and zoning even though community housing itself is administered by the Region. Matt Rogers Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? MR: I’m running because I love our community, and because I believe I can make a meaningful contribution to its future. I first ran for city council in 2022, while I was still a university student. I am forever grateful to have received the votes of 721 friends, family members, neighbours and business owners - and I said at that time that I would see everyone again in 2026. I’m here to keep that promise. Since then, I’ve graduated with honours from the University of Waterloo with a degree in urban planning and built professional experience working in both the public and private sectors in urban development, transportation, infrastructure, municipal and regional government, and land use planning and forecasting. I’ve also accumulated more than a decade of experience working in customer service, which has taught me something equally important in a councillor: how to listen, communicate clearly, understand what people actually need, and how to help solve problems. Over the years, I’ve seen Hespeler and Cambridge from a lot of different perspectives. As a lifelong resident, student, volunteer, customer service worker, and as a candidate. Those experiences have reinforced my belief that good city government requires both attention to the everyday concerns residents bring forward and the willingness and ability to think decades ahead. I’m running because I want to bring those perspectives to council, so we can make Cambridge work better today while making decisions that leave our city stronger and more resilient for those who are following in our footsteps. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? MR: Affordability - whether that’s housing, property taxes, or cost of living in general - is easily the most pressing and talked-about issue. Homelessness is a close second, but that has its own dedicated question, so see below for my plans on that front. I’d like to tackle affordability on several fronts. Firstly, the obvious one: be responsible with spending. When the City decides to invest in infrastructure, we should make sure that we’re getting the most function and value from that investment as possible. For example, reconstructing a street with more mobility options (such as new or wider sidewalks) and an improved road surface when we need to dig up the street to replace aging underground infrastructure. This is happening in several locations in Hespeler right now (to the frustration of many), and I believe some opportunities for those additional improvements were overlooked. Further to that, improved choice and alternatives to other expensive parts of life are another way the City can address affordability concerns. Making it safe, comfortable and convenient for people to walk, bike, and take transit to various places improves affordability by allowing some residents to use the car (and its pricey gas) less, while others may find a way to get rid of one or all vehicles in their household, amounting to thousands in gas, maintenance, and insurance savings in a single year. This would also reduce the number of vehicles on the road, reducing congestion and lengthening the lifespan of our roads, leading to additional savings. While not everyone will be able to make that change, it creates more value to those who have to drive, as roads become less congested, which leads to increased fuel efficiency (less frequent trips to the gas station) and quicker trips, allowing for more time at home and with family. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? MR: To address the need for new homes and spaces for businesses, I would seek to allow more flexible permissions in several commercially zoned areas to allow for a more efficient and effective use of that valuable land, including provisions that allow for residential uses above the first floor of a commercial building - exactly like the historic buildings that line our downtown streets with retail or restaurants along the sidewalks, with apartments (and oftentimes very cool lofts) on floors 2 through 4. This additional flexibility creates a zero-cost (to the taxpayer) incentive to build in these areas and create new variants of the commercial cores where people enjoy spending time. In tandem with these expanded permissions, I would establish a Design Review Panel (DRP). The DRP - a committee made up of two Councillors, one or two City staff members, and several (likely 4-6) members of the public - would create a public forum during the approvals process where the Panel and other residents can critique the design of proposed buildings and make suggestions on how to improve the design. Urban Design Guidelines previously gave the City the ability to suggest certain design choices, but Provincial legislation passed over the past few years has made them functionally useless and unenforceable. Establishing a DRP gives the City the teeth to enforce better building and landscape design, and allows the public to be directly involved in the decision-making process surrounding how a project looks and how it adds value and visual interest to our community. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? MR: Homelessness will not be solved by the City or Council alone. This requires cooperation between all 4 levels of government that have jurisdiction in our region. As a Councillor, I would advocate to the Region of Waterloo for additional supports in Cambridge right away, while we begin jointly developing a framework to eliminate homelessness from our community. While ambitious, it is happening just down the road in St. Thomas. I have no interest in reinventing the wheel and would like to follow the same steps St. Thomas and Elgin County took. To put it in a very simplified way, we need funding from the Province, policies and plans built together with the Region, which will focus on the creation of supportive housing options with non-profit groups and community partners, while coordinating efforts by community groups jointly with social services at the Region rather than independently, and creating a program to stabilize at-risk tenancies to prevent anyone else from falling into homelessness. With this framework in place, St. Thomas achieved functional zero homelessness (meaning system capacity is greater than or equal to the number of would-be homeless individuals) among veterans in 2023, and is on track to achieve the same for the broader population in 2027. Ward 3 Kiran Abid Candidate did not respond to survey request within CTV News Kitchener’s two-week deadline. Corey Kimpson Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? CK: My decision to run for municipal council comes from a lifelong commitment to this community. I have lived in Preston all my life. This is where I grew up, am raising my family, operated businesses and volunteered. From the time I was in public school, volunteering and contributing to my community has been an important part of my life. In 2022, I decided to put my name forward to represent Preston and the greater Cambridge community because serving on Council felt like a natural progression of the work I had already been doing for decades. It provided an opportunity to take my community involvement and advocacy and use that experience to help residents and contribute directly to decisions about the future of our city. I also bring a combination of public and private-sector experience to the role. As a business owner for many years across multiple sectors, including retail, recreation and events, I understand the realities facing local businesses. I also have first-hand experience navigating municipal planning and development processes, not only in Cambridge but across Waterloo Region and beyond. That experience has taught me to look at issues from multiple perspectives and to consider both the intended and unintended impacts of the decisions we make. Over the past four years, I have gained another perspective; that of an elected representative. I have learned a great deal, built relationships with residents, community organizations, staff and other levels of government, and worked hard to provide responsive and accessible service to the people I represent. I have genuinely enjoyed serving this community, and there is more work I want to accomplish. I am running again because I want to build on the work we have started and use the knowledge and experience I have gained during my first term to continue providing consistent, informed and responsive representation. For me, public service has never been about one election or one term. It is a continuation of a lifetime of involvement in the community I am proud to call home. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? CK: There are many important issues facing Cambridge today, but if I had to identify one, I would say the need for stronger community engagement. That may seem like an unconventional answer, but I believe an informed, connected and engaged community is better equipped to address many of the other challenges we face. Residents should know what is happening in their city, have meaningful opportunities to provide input, and feel that they have a role in shaping the community they call home. Over the past four years, I have made open and consistent communication with residents a priority. I have worked to keep people informed about what is happening at City Hall, particularly when decisions may directly affect their neighbourhoods, services or quality of life. Just as importantly, I believe engagement needs to happen early. We need to involve people during the information-gathering and planning stages, when their experiences and ideas can help shape a decision, not simply ask for feedback once most of the work has already been done. Municipal decisions are also increasingly influenced by policies and legislation from other levels of government. Part of meaningful engagement is helping residents understand how those decisions are made, what authority the City has, and where our options may be limited. People may not always agree with the final decision, but they deserve to understand how and why it was reached. Strong community engagement benefits everyone, including those of us making decisions at City Hall. We make better decisions when we hear different perspectives, understand lived experiences and know what matters to the people we represent. Cambridge’s greatest strength is its people. When residents are informed, connected and involved, we are better positioned to tackle all the challenges facing our community together. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? CK: Cambridge has a unique identity, shaped by our historic buildings, distinct neighbourhoods and the individual character of communities like Preston, Galt and Hespeler. As we grow, we need to protect what makes Cambridge special while recognizing that our city must continue to evolve. This past term, I have had the opportunity to serve as Council’s representative on the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee. That experience reinforced for me that successful heritage conservation works best when property owners, the City and the community are willing partners. We need to do a better job of educating property owners and residents about what heritage designation means, what it protects and what opportunities it can provide. We should also provide meaningful incentives for owners who invest in preserving our heritage, including exploring enhanced grants and other financial incentives. I want people to be willing partners in preserving our history, rather than feeling that heritage conservation is being imposed upon them. At the same time, provincial and regional planning policies are directing municipalities like Cambridge to accommodate more growth through infill, intensification and increased density, particularly in existing built-up areas and around transit. We cannot ignore those requirements, but we do have a responsibility to manage that growth thoughtfully. That means considering how new development fits within existing neighbourhoods, ensuring infrastructure and services keep pace, and looking for opportunities to preserve the buildings and features that contribute to Cambridge’s character. Growth and heritage do not always have to compete. Sometimes the answer is adaptive reuse. Indwell’s Heritage Flats project at the former Grand River Hotel at Dolph and King in Preston is a great example. It is transforming a century-old building into 45 supportive housing units while incorporating accessible modern housing and community space. That is the balance I want Cambridge to pursue. Preserving our history does not mean freezing Cambridge in time. It means managing growth responsibly and finding creative ways to carry the best parts of our past forward as we build for the future. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? CK: Addressing homelessness requires a multifaceted approach. There is no single solution, and no single level of government or organization can solve it alone. First, we need more housing across the housing continuum, including affordable and supportive housing. At the municipal level, we can help by streamlining planning and development processes where appropriate and working collaboratively with organizations that are ready to build. I have been very supportive of Indwell’s Heritage Flats project in Preston and have met with Indwell representatives on multiple occasions. When it opens, it will provide 45 supportive affordable homes in our community. That is an important step, but it is only a start. Housing alone will not address every situation. We also need to connect people experiencing homelessness with appropriate health and social supports. I believe there is an important role for social medicine, bringing health care and community supports to people where they are, building relationships and trust, and helping connect them with the services they need. This requires collaboration between community organizations, our Ontario Health Team, health-care providers and Cambridge Memorial Hospital. Finally, we need stronger collaboration between all levels of government and the organizations already doing this work. The Region of Waterloo administers and funds many of the housing and homelessness services in our community, including supportive housing and outreach programs. While the City of Cambridge is not funded to deliver many of these services directly, that does not mean we should stand on the sidelines. The City of Cambridge can proactively advocate to the provincial and federal governments for resources, remove unnecessary municipal barriers, identify opportunities to support new housing, and work alongside the community organizations that understand the needs on the ground. Homelessness is ultimately about people. Our approach needs to combine housing with health care, supports and strong partnerships if we want to create meaningful and lasting change. Shaun Spalding Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? SS: This is the first time that I have put my name forward for municipal council; however, it is not the first time that I have been encouraged to do so by my friends, family, and neighbours. I have been a resident of Cambridge (Ward 3) for the past 12 years and it is my experiences - and those of my fellow residents - that past decisions, directives, policies, and deliveries (on far too many topics) have fallen short of meaningful impact to ratepayers. It is my view that there is a very large disconnect between the needs of the citizens and how City Council delivers services; and I want to proactively close that gap as Councillor. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? SS: As we reside at the western edge of the GTHA, Waterloo Region (and Cambridge specifically) is essentially a bedroom community. As such, transportation and infrastructure are the most pressing issues in my view. Specifically, responsible growth management balanced with effective planning, procurement, maintenance, and upgrading of surface and subsurface assets by means of competent strategic planning in today’s ever-changing climate is vital. If we cannot get around (via all modes of transportation including working towards becoming a ‘walkable city’) and if we cannot keep pace with the provision (and responsible fiscal management) of these critical components, all of the other very important issues facing the City will fall short of satisfactory delivery. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? SS: The needs of the City are many, including housing (of all types) and preservation. As Cambridge grows and needs to provide new housing stock over the coming decade, residential dwellings need to be provided across the spectrum (low income, row housing, high rise condominiums and apartments). New single detached homes (aka urban sprawl) should be given the lowest priority so as to maximize the value of the Region’s current and future public transit and public spaces. Historic charm comes in many forms: century residential homes,100+ year old buildings (converted for business usage), and municipal assets. It is my view that heritage designation for residential homes should only be provided to those current homeowners that request it (e.g., not summarily imposed upon them by the City/province) but, the City should take a very active role in heritage designation, where appropriate, for businesses and publicly owned buildings. Blending ‘old’ with ‘new’ across the City, with effective policies to support development and preservation will build character and draw appeal to last generations. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? SS: This is a balancing act between the City, the Region, and to an extent the Province. This is a broad topic requiring a multifaceted approach that includes, but is not limited to, mental health, addition, and housing. I am not an expert in this field or subject matter; however, what I believe is crucial is for council and staff to have a clear understanding of the root causes, a well developed plan that addresses the needs (both current and over a planning period), an adequate number of trained professionals, and realistic metrics to measure and monitor progress and successes. This topic, like all of the important topics that City Council has to address, in my view, needs to be based on compassion and responsible action that is guided by the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle. Ward 4 Ross Earnshaw Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? RE: I’m seeking re-election because I believe that the experience I have gained over the last term of council has positioned me to effectively advance the interests of the citizens of Ward 4 and across the City of Cambridge. Over the past term I have established a track record of steady, practical leadership. Across budget discussions, infrastructure planning, downtown revitalization, recreation projects, active transportation, and community events, my approach has remained consistent - listen, stay involved, and work toward steady improvement. Ward 4 deserves an experienced voice at council that will continue to listen, advocate, work hard, and focus on practical results. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? RE: I expect that most respondents to this questionnaire will say “affordability.” I agree, but “affordability” is a broad, vague term that engages all levels of government, not just the City. I prefer to focus on specifics within the ability of the lower tier level of municipal government to make an effective difference - such as housing, infrastructure, and downtown vitality. I see these as top issues that offer the possibility of measurable, practical, and achievable steps toward increased affordability for residents of the City. They are capable of being addressed irrespective of trade wars, geopolitical uncertainty, inflation and similar issues that bear on affordability but are outside the control of the municipality. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? RE: We need look no further than the Gaslight District to see that modern buildings and facilities can co-exist successfully with heritage preservation. What Cambridge needs is smart growth that supports our downtown businesses, makes efficient use of existing infrastructure, and increases density without jeopardizing our heritage landscapes or adversely impacting our established neighbourhoods. I don’t believe that blanketing large swaths of our downtowns with a heritage conservation district designation is necessary or advisable. In my view, that is a “blunt instrument” that would deter development and hinder the growth and vitality of our city core areas. Identification and designation of individual heritage structures will afford our historic charm with all the required protection and yet leave the field open for population intensification and all of the benefits that it brings to a vital and vibrant city. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? RE: I start with the observation that housing, policing, and public health are all within the jurisdiction of the Region, not the city. The city, therefore, has limited tools at its disposal to address the problem. We can support and encourage the efforts of organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Indwell, and the House of Friendship. We can deploy the city’s Affordable Housing Reserve Fund to acquire lands to be made available for construction by third parties of supportive and affordable housing. But, with that said, the primary role of the city must be to advocate to higher levels of government for adequate funding to meet the housing needs of our citizens. Ahmad Jawad Malik Candidate did not respond to survey request within CTV News Kitchener’s two-week deadline. David O’Hara Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? DO: I’ve been a homeowner in Cambridge since 2008, and I care about what happens in my community. My interest in municipal government started about six years ago when I attended several council meetings and began paying closer attention to the decisions being made at City Hall and how they affected neighbourhoods. I spent 30 years in electrical wholesaling, including operations and sales management, and I currently serve as a trustee with the French public school board. Those experiences have given me a background in budgets, management, governance and working with people. I believe I can put that experience to good use in municipal government. I decided to run for Ward 4 because I care about the community and believe I can make a positive contribution to Cambridge. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? DO: I think one of Cambridge’s biggest challenges is managing growth while making sure our infrastructure and services keep up. We need more housing and continued economic growth, but that growth affects traffic, roads, water and sewer capacity, recreation facilities and existing neighbourhoods. Traffic is already a concern in many parts of the city, and I think we need to make sure our planning reflects current conditions rather than simply adding development and dealing with the consequences afterward. At the same time, we have to maintain the infrastructure we already own. Sometimes that means making significant investments now rather than delaying necessary work and paying more later. For me, the issue is not whether Cambridge should grow. It is making sure that growth is planned responsibly and that residents can see improvements in the services and infrastructure they rely on. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? DO: Cambridge needs housing and economic development, but one of the things that makes this city different is the individual character and history of Galt, Preston and Hespeler. I don’t think growth and heritage have to be opposing ideas. When a significant older building is involved, I would want its heritage value, structural condition and potential future use properly assessed. Where possible, I would like to see owners, developers and the City look for practical ways to reuse important buildings. Depending on the property, that could mean housing, shops, offices or mixed-use development. New development also needs to consider the character of the surrounding neighbourhood, along with traffic and infrastructure. The goal should be to accommodate the growth Cambridge needs without unnecessarily losing the buildings and neighbourhood features that give the city its identity. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? DO: I believe we need to put greater emphasis on mental-health services, addiction treatment and prevention, along with supportive and affordable housing. Cambridge needs to work closely with the Region and also pursue whatever provincial and federal funding is available for treatment, outreach and housing supports. For many people experiencing homelessness, housing alone may not be enough. Some people also need ongoing mental-health, addiction or other support to remain stable once they are housed. At the same time, public safety has to remain a priority, including the safety of people living in encampments and the residents and businesses around them. I support a lawful and compassionate approach to reducing encampments by providing appropriate alternatives and connecting people with treatment and support. In my view, addressing mental illness and drug addiction has to be an important part of any long-term solution. Ward 5 Sheri Roberts Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? SR: Almost everything we experience in our day-to-day lives is impacted by decisions made at the municipal level, and that’s what drew me to local government. I decided to run for City Council after more than a decade of community service, including chairing an advisory committee where I worked closely with City staff and Council. That experience gave me a strong understanding of how our municipality works and the importance of listening to residents and working collaboratively to get things done. I was honoured to be elected to represent the residents of West Galt in 2022, and I’m running again because I believe I still have more to contribute. I’m ready to continue proudly representing the residents of Ward 5 and working for the city as a whole over the next four years. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? SR: The issue I hear about most from residents is affordability. Whether it’s the cost of housing, everyday expenses, or the taxes people pay, I think we need to be very careful about how we spend every taxpayer dollar. That’s why, in the next term, I’d like to see Council put more focus on making better use of the spaces and properties we already own before we continue acquiring or building more. Cambridge has a number of City-owned spaces that are unused or not being used to their full potential. I think there are opportunities to turn some of those assets into places that provide greater value to the community, while also reducing the cost of simply maintaining spaces that aren’t being fully utilized. I also think we need to be very clear about our priorities when it comes to infrastructure. We have to make sure we’re taking care of the things that are essential like our roads, bridges, water and wastewater systems, sidewalks and other core infrastructure and services, before we focus on the things that are nice to have. Those investments may not always be the most exciting, but they are the foundation of a healthy and functioning city. For me, it’s about being creative with what we already have, prioritizing the must-haves, and making sure taxpayers are getting the greatest possible value from the assets they already own. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? SR: I don’t think growth and preserving Cambridge’s character have to be opposing goals. I think we can do both, but we need to be thoughtful about where and how we grow. That means using tools like Secondary Plans, zoning, and Heritage Conservation Districts strategically to make sure growth happens in the places that are best equipped to support it. Where we have the infrastructure, roads, transit, businesses and services to support greater density, we should be looking at opportunities for more growth. At the same time, we need to be thoughtful about areas with significant heritage character and make sure new development respects what makes those neighbourhoods special. Cambridge’s character is one of the things people love about this city. I want us to welcome responsible growth while making sure that, as we build for the future, we don’t lose the things that make Cambridge feel like Cambridge. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? SR: People experiencing homelessness need support at every level of government, and while many of the direct homelessness and social-service programs fall under the Region, the City still has an important role to play. At the municipal level, we can work with the Region, community agencies and housing providers to support more affordable and supportive housing and make sure those projects move through the planning process as efficiently as possible. We also need to make sure that people who are experiencing homelessness can connect with the supports that are already available to them. That means working closely with our community partners and agencies and making sure we’re not creating unnecessary barriers to getting people the help they need. Ultimately, I think our goal should be to make sure people have a safe place to live and access to the supports they need to move forward. That takes cooperation between the City, the Region, other levels of government, and our community organizations. Nazim Shah Candidate did not respond to survey request within CTV News Kitchener’s two-week deadline. Ward 6 Randy Carter Candidate did not respond to survey request within CTV News Kitchener’s two-week deadline. Adam Cooper Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? AC: I am running because standing up for my community is what I do, and I don’t plan to stop. For years, I have listened to residents, given their concerns a voice and worked to turn those concerns into action and, ultimately, positive results. Before becoming a Councillor, I spent four years advocating for residents at multiple levels of government. Over the past four years, I have had the privilege of doing the same as their City Councillor. That experience has reinforced something I have always believed: local government should be about common sense, practical solutions and getting things done, not ideology, identity politics or political theatre. I believe residents want their elected representatives to listen to them, understand the realities they face and stand up for them when it matters. Whether it is neighbourhood safety, responsible development, traffic, parking, protecting taxpayers, supporting our seniors and veterans, or making sure Cambridge reaches its full potential, I believe Council needs to focus on what actually works for the people who live and work here. I have kept every promise I made during my last campaign and I am proud of the work I have been able to accomplish during my first term, but I also know there is more to do. Cambridge is growing and changing, and we need experienced voices willing to ask difficult questions, challenge poor decisions and make sure growth and change do not come at the expense of our existing communities. I am running because I believe in giving residents a strong voice, bringing their concerns forward and fighting to turn those concerns into results. It is what I have been doing for eight years. It is what I was elected to do. And it is what I intend to keep doing. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? AC: I think there are two issues that are weighing heavily on Cambridge residents right now: public safety and the cost of living. On public safety, residents need to feel safe in their neighbourhoods, on our streets and in our public spaces. That means addressing crime, dangerous driving, open drug use and the problems associated with dangerous encampments. We also need to make sure people struggling with addiction have access to real treatment and recovery, while making it clear that the safety of residents and businesses cannot be compromised. The cost of living is equally important. I recognize that many of the factors driving inflation and housing costs are outside the control of municipal government. But that doesn’t mean Council has no responsibility. What we do have control over is how we spend the money we collect from taxpayers. Every dollar of municipal spending ultimately comes from residents and businesses, and Council has a responsibility to respect that money, control unnecessary spending and keep property-tax increases as low as possible while still providing the services people rely on. That means common-sense decisions, responsible spending, sensible growth and making sure our infrastructure and services keep pace with our changing community. Residents shouldn’t have to choose between feeling safe and being able to afford to live here. We need to work toward both. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? AC: Cambridge needs growth, but we need growth with a vision, not growth for growth’s sake. Our historic buildings, river corridors, established neighbourhoods and unique downtowns are what distinguish Cambridge from other communities. We should protect those assets while finding ways to build on them. One of my passions has been seeing our downtown core become a genuine destination. I have brought forward initiatives to create more activity in our downtown, including my motion to make the closure of Main Street permanent and helping bring Latin Night to Main Street. I believe Cambridge has the potential to become a tourism destination like Elora or Stratford, and our heritage is a major part of that opportunity. At the same time, we need housing and economic growth. But the answer cannot simply be to maximize the number of units we can put on a piece of land. We need to ask whether development fits the surrounding community, whether our roads and infrastructure can handle it, whether parking is realistic and whether it contributes to the kind of city we actually want to build. Growth should enhance Cambridge, not erase what enticed so many of us here in the first place. I believe we can have both: a growing city with new housing, investment and opportunity, while protecting our historic character and building vibrant communities and a thriving downtown. That requires a clear vision, good planning and, above all, common sense. We shouldn’t be asking simply, “How much can Cambridge grow?” We should be asking, “What do we want Cambridge to become?” Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? AC: Homelessness and addiction are serious issues, but we need to be honest about the problems we are trying to solve. We also need to distinguish between someone who is experiencing homelessness and needs support, and the very different challenges that we face with encampments that contain open drug use, crime, violence and other safety concerns. We have seen the impact these situations can have in Cambridge, and we need to make sure they are addressed in a way that supports those who are struggling while also protecting the broader community. I believe people struggling with addiction deserve more than another needle or simply a place to sleep. They deserve hope. They need access to detox, rehabilitation, treatment and a genuine pathway to recovery. Their families need hope too. I recently travelled to Ottawa and met with Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones to discuss this very issue. I appealed for genuinely compassionate solutions that can help bring our family members home alive, healthy and in recovery. That is important because this is not simply an issue I am passionate about. It is an issue I have taken action on for many years. At the same time, compassion cannot come at the expense of public safety. Residents should be able to use their parks and public spaces without fear. Businesses should be able to operate without dealing with theft, vandalism or violence. Families should not have to worry about dangerous drug activity in their neighbourhoods. The Region of Waterloo has responsibility for many of the services involved, but Cambridge needs a strong voice demanding meaningful results. I will continue advocating for treatment and recovery rather than simply managing addiction indefinitely. My position is simple: People struggling with addiction need hope. Their families need hope. Residents need safety. Businesses need protection. We can be compassionate without enabling addiction, and we can help people without accepting dangerous encampments as a permanent solution. I believe we owe people more than survival. We owe them the opportunity to recover and come home. Barbara A. Harrington Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? BH: I am running for Ward 6 councillor because Cambridge needs practical leadership, respectful dialogue, and a stronger voice for everyday residents. This community is my home. I was born and raised here, and my family’s roots in Cambridge go back nearly a century. I remember a Cambridge where neighbours looked out for one another, families built lasting friendships, and people worked together to make our city stronger. My interest in municipal leadership began during Doug Craig’s final term as mayor, when I became concerned about decisions that I did not believe reflected responsible spending or strong public accountability. I considered running then, but chose to wait, listen, and continue watching the direction of our city. As the years went on, I became more convinced that Cambridge needed a renewed focus on professionalism, respect, and common sense at City Hall. I decided to run not simply to hold a seat, but to help bring a more positive and constructive approach to council. In 2022, when Ward 4 Councillor Jan Liggett chose to run for mayor, I saw an opportunity to step forward in a ward with no incumbent. Ward 4 had personal meaning for me because my family lived there after moving from Hespeler. That campaign gave me valuable experience, stronger community connections, and a deeper understanding of how local government can better serve residents. That experience helped give me the confidence to run here in Ward 6. I believe our community deserves leadership that listens first, treats people with respect, and focuses on solutions that matter to families, workers, seniors, small businesses, and taxpayers. Council should reflect the people it serves. Lawyers, business owners, landlords, and professionals all bring important perspectives, but so do the neighbours who punch the clock, raise families, pay taxes, volunteer, and care deeply about Cambridge’s future. Those voices deserve to be heard clearly at City Hall. My niece once said, “Everybody needs an Aunt Barb in their life.” To me, that means someone who listens, helps, guides, and stands up when people need support. That is who I am, and that is the kind of councillor I will work to be for Ward 6: approachable, practical, respectful, and committed to putting residents first Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? BH: When speaking with residents, traffic safety and congestion are among the concerns I hear most often. Many residents are worried about speeding on residential streets and want to see stronger, more effective traffic-calming measures implemented. Residents are also deeply concerned about rising taxes. At the same time, many residents feel they are paying more while seeing too little investment in the infrastructure and services they rely on every day. Over the last four years, property taxes increased by approximately 15 per cent, one of the largest increases in a single council term. Families, seniors, workers, and small businesses need to know that every tax dollar is being managed carefully and used where it will have the greatest public benefit. Council must take a more balanced approach to development incentives and tax relief. Large developments can contribute to local economic activity, but the benefits must be measured against the cost to taxpayers and the needs of the wider community. When significant tax breaks or exemptions are granted, residents deserve transparency, accountability, and a clear explanation of how those decisions serve Cambridge as a whole. For example, the Hamilton Theatre Cambridge is entirely exempt from property taxes. While the main theater space was protected from property taxes under Ontario’s Assessment Act, a $70,000 property tax bill had originally accumulated on the facility’s performer dormitory. Cambridge City Council voted to completely erase that $70,000 bill, extending a full exemption to the entire facility by treating it as a municipal class facility. As a result, the theatre owes $0 in annual property taxes to the City of Cambridge for the building. The developer of The Gaslight District in Cambridge received an estimated $3M in waived or forgiven municipal development charges. Total estimated revenue missed by the municipality exceeded $25 million across multiple major developments. Tax dollars should be directed toward the priorities that matter most to residents: safer streets, well-maintained infrastructure, improved accessibility, mental health supports, supportive housing, and responsible services that help strengthen our neighbourhoods. We need to reduce unnecessary financial pressure on residents and work to keep future tax increases below the rate of inflation wherever possible. (Editor’s note: Development charges for The Gaslight District condos, constructed by builder HIP Developments, were waived through Cambridge’s core exemption policy.) Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? BH: Cambridge is growing, and that growth must be managed with common sense, accountability, and respect for the character of our communities. New housing and businesses are important, but development should begin by making better use of vacant and underused lands, encouraging responsible redevelopment, and protecting the heritage buildings that help tell Cambridge’s story. Residents deserve real progress on stalled developments, not empty lots left untouched for years. As our city grows, we must also ensure that roads, water systems, parks, and community spaces can support that growth. I believe Cambridge can welcome new opportunities while preserving what makes each neighbourhood unique. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? BH: Homelessness, encampments, mental health, and addiction require more than 400 words for the topic. This requires a coordinated plan that balances compassion, accountability, and public safety. I plan to work closely with the Region, community organizations, frontline service providers, and local businesses. We need to expand supportive housing, strengthen outreach services, and connect people with mental health, addiction, employment, and stabilization supports. At the same time, public spaces must remain safe, clean, and accessible for residents, families, workers, and visitors. Encampment response should follow clear, consistent protocols that prioritize safety, protect public spaces, and focus on connecting individuals to appropriate services rather than simply moving the problem from one location to another. No one should be left to live in a tent, and no neighbourhood should be left without support. Cambridge needs practical, humane, and accountable solutions that address the crisis directly while respecting the needs of the entire community. Chris McCormick Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? CM: To improve communication with the electorate. To create value by fostering pure growth from a more engaged electorate. To accomplish stretch goals set by an informed and engaged electorate. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? CM: These are literal words I have asked at almost every single door I’ve knocked on over the past many weeks - I’m referring to a healthy sample survey here. My “at-door phrase” has been, “is there anything pressing you want to see on the agenda in the next 4 years,” and “or anything that’s close to your heart.” Sort of an ice-breaker, really. The single most pressing issue is this: A lack of community engagement, (not apathy by the way … not at all). A lack of community engagement is being fuelled by inadequate, incomplete, and incomprehensible communication coming from Council over the past 4 years. This deficiency drives all other problems, and that one issue supersedes all others. Without question. In an information-at-your-fingertips world, nobody is satisfied with poor communication from people holding or having access to power or money. When people choose to say the easy thing that will keep them in power instead of the true thing or real thing, or difficult thing, then, frankly they add zero value to the larger process and zero value to the community. Poor communication. Hands down. Number one. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? CM: Cambridge residents are this balance. Growth and charm; both can coincide. They’re not mutually exclusive, they’re mutually reinforcing. Cambridge residents won’t allow it any other way. They know we have screaming potential, and they know it’s time to develop it the proper way for future generations to enjoy. Is it a fine balance? Sure. Everybody is aware of this. It’s not a stopping point, and we’re well past the starting point. Better communication equals better planning, equals better services short and long term. Cambridge residents are fully aware of these facts. Knock on a few thousand doors and you’ll hear it over and over. Repeatedly. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? CM: My plan to address homelessness? Give homelessness an address: Something like www.whyamihomeless.ca Let every homeless person that wants to explain why they’re homeless. Whether it’s grief, burnout, PTSD, job loss, addiction(s,) trauma(s,) disability, chronic pain, diagnosed or undiagnosed mental or physical health issues, poverty, lack of education or training, whatever it may be, any combination of these or a hundred other reasons; let people tell their story. Then let each of these human stories be heard by people willing to help. Once each homeless person willing and wanting to be heard knew they had been fully heard I’d ask them how they want to contribute the talents they have today into meaningful life work. I’d start there. Ward 7 Tasneem Chhadiya Candidate did not respond to survey request within CTV News Kitchener’s two-week deadline. Manuel da Silva Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? MdS: I believe that Cambridge has much to offer, and I recognize the importance of this role. I realize that there are and will be issues that will need to be addressed and decisions to be made that will not only impact on the residents of Ward 7 but all of Cambridge and Waterloo Region. I look forward to filling the position to the best of my ability. I have always believed that we as citizens have a responsibility to contribute and be involved for the betterment of our communities. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? MdS: I believe that a growing concern in our community is the alarming number of people we find on our streets that remain homeless. We need to do a better job to look at proper facilities and find solutions to assist/look after our most vulnerable residents. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? MdS: I’ve lived in Cambridge for the past 33 years and have witnessed substantial growth. With growth, Cambridge has much to offer our residents. Decisions on growth and changes for our community should not jeopardize what has been and is currently important, including our historic charm. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? MdS: I do believe that homelessness is a growing concern/problem in our community, but this is a concern not just for our community but for many communities. We have a responsibility to communicate with other municipalities and consider solutions that are working for them. I also believe that this conversation should not only be had Municipally but Provincially and Federally as well. We need to do a better job at pulling resources from all political avenues. David Guerin Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? DG: Cambridge has been home to my family for nearly 30 years. My wife and I raised our children here, built a business here, volunteered here, and have become deeply connected to the community. I’m running because I think Cambridge is on the threshold of a really exciting time. We’re growing quickly, and that brings both opportunity and important choices. I want to contribute to the decisions that will shape our city in the coming years. I believe I bring a unique mixture of experience to the role. I’ve been a small business owner and entrepreneur, served in various volunteer leadership roles, and for the past four years I’ve served as an elected school board trustee representing Cambridge and North Dumfries. I currently work as Operations Manager at a downtown church that is deeply involved in community outreach, including serving as the site of the Region of Waterloo’s overnight warming centre. Together, those experiences have given me exposure to public budgets, infrastructure, governance, community partnerships and making difficult decisions in a public forum. Just as importantly, they’ve taught me that good leadership starts with listening. As I’ve been knocking on doors across Cambridge’s Ward 7, I’ve heard a lot about the everyday issues that matter most to people: speeding on their street, traffic, property taxes, road conditions, neighbourhood safety and whether services are keeping up with growth. Those are the kinds of issues I want to focus on. My priorities are straightforward: get the basics right, grow the right way, and deliver value for tax dollars. I’m truly optimistic about Cambridge’s future. We have strong neighbourhoods, a growing economy, incredible heritage and tremendous potential. I’m running because I want to bring practical, experienced leadership to Council and help make sure Cambridge remains a great place to live, work, raise a family and build a future. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? DG: I think our biggest challenge is managing growth well. That becomes more complicated in a two-tier system, where decisions made at the Regional level can have a significant impact on local residents, particularly when it comes to major roads, transit, housing and infrastructure. Residents also have to live with the consequences when planning and priorities at the City and the Region are not well aligned. That is especially relevant in Ward 7. Cambridge’s southeast corner is one of the fastest-growing suburban areas of the city, and residents see very directly what happens when growth moves faster than infrastructure or when different levels of municipal government are not moving in step. They see more traffic, congestion, speeding and pressure on roads and services. They ask when major road connections like McQueen Shaver Blvd. will be completed, whether transit will improve, and whether parks, recreation and other amenities will keep pace. Growth itself is not the problem. In fact, I think growth can be part of the solution. We need more housing, more jobs and more investment. We also need a broader tax base so the burden does not continue to fall so heavily on existing homeowners. That means creating an environment that attracts more commercial and industrial investment, supporting housing in appropriate locations, and making sure infrastructure is planned alongside development rather than years after it. I also hear regularly from residents who are concerned about property taxes and whether they are getting good value for what they pay. That is why responsible spending has to be part of the conversation too. My goal is absolutely not to slow Cambridge down. It is to make sure growth is thoughtful, coordinated and financially sustainable. Growth should make Cambridge stronger, not just bigger. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? DG: One of the things that makes Cambridge special is that it has a real sense of place. Our historic downtowns, neighbourhoods, river, bridges and architecture give the city a character that is hard to replicate. There is a reason so many film and television productions use Cambridge as a location. Our historic areas are genuinely beautiful and distinctive. That is worth protecting. But preserving our character does not mean freezing Cambridge in time. We need more housing. We need more jobs and investment. We need to make better use of land and support growth in areas that can accommodate it. The key is getting the balance right. I support greater density in our downtowns, along major corridors and in areas where infrastructure and transit can support it, while being thoughtful about how new development transitions into established neighbourhoods. I also think we should be more creative about adaptive reuse. Sometimes the best way to preserve a historic building is to give it a new purpose, such as converting it into housing, offices, shops or community space, so it remains useful and financially viable. The Gaslight District is a good local example of how historic character can be incorporated into a significant new development. Growth and heritage do not have to be opposites. Twenty years from now, I want Cambridge to still feel like Cambridge. I want people to recognize the places and features that make this city unique, while also seeing more housing choices, thriving businesses, better transportation and new opportunities. We can preserve what makes Cambridge special while still moving the city forward. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? DG: Homelessness and encampments are not currently as visible an issue in Ward 7 as they are in some other parts of Cambridge. But they are unquestionably a city-wide issue and one Council must take seriously. My experience helping support the launch of the Region of Waterloo’s overnight warming centre in Cambridge has given me a much more personal understanding of homelessness. When you know some of the people involved, it stops being an abstract policy discussion. You see very quickly that there is no single cause of homelessness and no single solution. For one person, the issue may be mental illness. For another, addiction. For someone else, job loss, family breakdown or simply a rent they can no longer afford. That means our response must include more supportive and transitional housing, better access to mental health and addiction services, emergency shelter when people are in crisis, and more genuinely affordable housing. The issue of encampments is more complicated, and I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I have real compassion for the people living in them, but I also believe all residents have a right to safe parks, trails, sidewalks and public spaces. I do not support simply clearing an encampment if there is nowhere appropriate for people to go. Moving someone from one park to another is not a solution. At the same time, allowing encampments to become a permanent feature of public spaces is not a sustainable or compassionate solution either. Compassion and accountability are not opposites. The Region has primary responsibility for housing and homelessness, but the City still has an important role through planning, land use, partnerships and advocacy. Success should mean fewer people living outside, more people moving toward stability, and public spaces that remain safe and welcoming for everyone. Dani Ieso Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? DI: I decided to run for Ward 7 because I believe residents deserve a councillor who is accessible, present and focused on practical action. Through my construction and project-management work, community involvement and the Clean Cambridge Project, I have seen concerns involving affordability, housing, homelessness, transportation and neglected public spaces. As a father of two young children, I want to help build a cleaner, safer and stronger Cambridge for the next generation. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? DI: Affordability is one of the most pressing issues because it affects housing, transportation, food security and quality of life. Many working families, seniors and young people are struggling with rising costs. The city must make responsible financial decisions, support a wider range of housing options and ensure essential services remain accessible and dependable. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? DI: Growth must be carefully planned rather than simply approved. I support directing appropriate development toward areas with existing infrastructure and transit while protecting historic buildings, established neighbourhoods, green spaces and the unique character of communities such as Galt, Preston and Hespeler. New development should complement its surroundings through thoughtful design and should contribute the infrastructure and public services needed to support population growth. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? DI: Homelessness cannot be solved through enforcement alone. We must first ask where people are expected to go. I support cooperation between the City, Waterloo Region, community organizations and senior governments to expand affordable and supportive housing, mental-health and addiction services, emergency shelter capacity and safe temporary accommodations. I would also support exploring small apartments and properly managed tiny-home communities as part of a broader housing strategy. Our approach must combine compassion, accountability and practical pathways into stable housing. John Teat Candidate did not respond to survey request within CTV News Kitchener’s two-week deadline. Ward 8 Chris Alward Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? CA: As a resident of Ward 8 who volunteers in the community, I am running in this election because I believe the people of Cambridge deserve the change this city needs. Living here, I see and hear every day what residents are asking for, and I want to work to deliver that for them. I believe the skills and experience I have acquired over the years in the development sector, combined with a problem-solving mindset and a cost-effective, decisive approach, will allow me to help deliver that change. It has been too long for Cambridge to go without seeing improvement, too long for inaction, and too long for residents to be paying more in taxes while receiving less in return. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? CA: Currently, I believe the most pressing issue facing Cambridge is safety — an issue that impacts every resident in every part of the city. This includes general road safety, where concerns about speeding, traffic volumes, and pedestrian infrastructure continue to be raised; floodplain management and the protection of homes and businesses from extreme weather events; and the visible increase in open drug use in public spaces. As a parent, I have seen the effects of the opioid crisis firsthand in the downtown core, with my own children witnessing its impacts. It is distressing to repeatedly see individuals experiencing addiction, illness, and homelessness without adequate support. Their safety matters, and supporting pathways back to safe and stable living should remain a core priority for the city in collaboration with regional health and social service partners. Throughout this campaign, residents across wards have consistently told us that they do not feel safe in their own neighbourhoods. They are describing events that feel reckless and dangerous — incidents on roads, in parks, and on city streets that they fear could result in serious injury or worse. Many have said they have reported these concerns to city services but feel their voices are not being heard and their needs are not being met. I want to change that dynamic. I believe the role of Council is to listen, to bring those concerns into the decision-making process, and to ensure a clear and transparent response. My approach would focus on a balanced strategy: supporting community safety initiatives that increase presence and visibility in affected areas, advocating for improved infrastructure such as lighting, sidewalks, and traffic calming measures, and continuing to invest in programs that address the root causes of the crisis, including housing, mental health and addiction supports, and employment and reintegration services. A safer Cambridge requires both immediate action and long-term planning, with accountability to residents on progress and outcomes. Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? CA: The question of how to balance the need for growth while preserving Cambridge’s historic charm is one I find particularly important. As someone who has taken pride in building structures across southern Ontario, I believe growth does not have to come at the expense of character. Cambridge has a unique identity rooted in its historic downtowns, heritage buildings, and distinct neighbourhoods, and that identity should be protected as the city evolves. My approach would focus on making better use of the infrastructure and land the city already has. This includes prioritizing vacant buildings, underutilized properties, and rundown areas that could be responsibly rezoned and revitalized. Rather than expanding outward at the cost of heritage and greenspace, we can look inward and breathe new life into what already exists. I would support collaboration with local trades, contractors, and small businesses to develop new homes, commercial spaces, and event venues that are designed to complement the existing streetscape and integrate into an improving downtown core. The Gaslight District is a strong example of this model — it preserved the industrial heritage of the area while adding new housing, retail, and community gathering spaces that have become a well-timed and valued addition to the city. This method of development offers multiple benefits. It generates new housing and economic opportunities, it helps retain the historic charm that makes Cambridge unique, and it supports local employment. Projects built by local workers create jobs during construction. Managed thoughtfully, growth can strengthen Cambridge’s character rather than replace it. My goal would be to ensure new development respects the past while meeting the current and future needs of residents. Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? CA: I would support consistent, ongoing investment in low-income housing projects as part of a strategy to reduce homelessness in our city. Access to stable, affordable housing is a foundational need, and maintaining that investment is important. However, I would place a greater emphasis on funding projects and programs that give individuals the tools and supports needed to transition out of homelessness on a long-term basis. Housing alone is often not enough to create lasting stability. My priority would be to support a more comprehensive approach that addresses the barriers people face in rebuilding their lives. This includes access to programs that assist with employment readiness and job placement, skills training, and connections to local employers. It also includes practical supports such as reliable transportation for day-to-day life, including access to work, appointments, and essential services. Equally important is support for reintegration into safe and stable living practices. This means working collaboratively with regional partners, health and social service agencies, and community organizations to provide access to mental health and addiction supports, life skills programming, and case management that is tailored to individual needs. I believe this balanced approach offers a greater chance of long-term success. It recognizes that each person’s path out of homelessness is different and requires different tools. From a municipal perspective, I would advocate for funding that is accountable, measured by outcomes, and directed toward programs that demonstrate progress in helping residents achieve stability, independence, and community connection. The goal should be not just to manage homelessness, but to reduce it by helping individuals build a sustainable path forward. Cody Botelho Candidate did not respond to survey request within CTV News Kitchener’s two-week deadline. Nicholas Ermeta Contact information not provided George Fiddick Contact information not provided Arpan Pandit Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? AP: Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Cambridge’s community is currently facing? AP: Q: How will you balance the need for growth with Cambridge’s historic charm? AP: Q: What is your plan to address homelessness in Cambridge? AP: Regional Council Pam Wolf Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? PW: I am running for re-election because the work I began in 2022 is not finished. I want to return to Council to make sure the pilot project I initiated for a free day for older adults on GRT one day a week is made permanent. I want to continue our work to end chronic homelessness and build more affordable and supportive housing. I helped secure funding for both the women’s shelter and men’s and women’s warming centres. I want to help these programs expand to meet the need we have in Cambridge. I love this job and love this city where I have raised my family. I have served Cambridge my entire career, first teaching in our schools, serving four terms as City Councillor and one term as Regional Councillor. Cambridge needs a strong, experienced voice at the Regional table to make sure we receive our fair share of funding. I am that voice! Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Waterloo Region is currently facing? PW: Affordability, in its many forms, is the most pressing issue that the people in the Region of Waterloo are facing. From the rising cost of groceries, to rent, to housing, to gasoline and taxes, people are feeling the pinch. With a trade war, many of our residents are feeling insecure and facing job loss. I brought forward a motion for our regional council to support a guaranteed basic income, which would give everyone income security. Stability is good for the economy. We also asked the provincial government to repair our social safety net by raising social assistance rates to a living wage. I initiated a pilot project for a free day on the bus for seniors to help with transportation affordability. Q: How will you balance the needs of the region as a whole, while ensuring the needs of your specific community are met? PW: At the regional council, I promote geographic equity. People have a right to receive needed services where they can easily access them. Too often staff feel that because they have provided a service centrally. Everyone is able to access it. It may be easy to travel between Kitchener and Waterloo because of the LRT, but until the second stage is built, trying to get to services in Kitchener is a very long and difficult journey. Being a strong voice for Cambridge at the regional table helps to make sure the needs of our residents are met. I have moved motions, addressing geographical equity in social service, transportation, and arts and culture at the regional table. This not only helps Cambridge but the Region as a whole. Q: What is your plan to address the water capacity crisis? PW: The water capacity crisis was created by failing infrastructure and not recognizing that water from Cambridge at the Middleton plant could not flow to the Manheim plant when it was needed. Today we are on track for solving the capacity problem with the use of a slipstream at the Manheim plant so repairs can be made, repairing wells that were off line and getting greater capacity out of existing wells. We’ve increased our staff to expedite increasing water capacity and will have achieved our goals by January 2027. Q: What are your views on the Wilmot Land Assembly project? PW: I was never comfortable with this project. I am happy that the land that has been acquired was not expropriated, but bought through negotiation. The fact that there is not a buyer for the property is a problem. Once we have a prospective buyer we must have public meetings and know exactly what this development will need and if it is an asset to the community or a drain on the community resources. Q: How should council address homelessness within the region? PW: Prevention before someone is on the street is the best method of dealing with homelessness. Building affordable and supportive housing needs to be a priority. We have built 2,500 affordable units with another 101 planned this year for Cambridge, but much more is needed. Using tools like the rent bank, and subsidizing rent helps keep people housed. Advocating to the Province for increases in social assistance rates and mental health and addiction recovery beds is essential. Bulldozing encampments creates trauma for residents and outreach staff and just moves the problem. A safe tenting policy that restricts where people can set up tents or a designated area where they can be set up with sanitation and security has worked in other municipalities and should be investigated. Doug Craig Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? DC: I am seeking re-election because I believe my experience can still make a difference for Cambridge. This has been a difficult term. Taxes and affordability have become major concerns. We have serious traffic and infrastructure problems and homelessness continues to challenge our communities. During this term, on a number of occasions, I have disagreed with the majority of Regional Council when I thought we were heading in the wrong direction. I have pushed for greater attention to affordability and questioned spending when I didn’t believe Cambridge taxpayers were getting good value for their money. I have also continued to speak up when I believe Cambridge isn’t getting its fair share. That includes transportation, hospital fairness and regional infrastructure. I am running for one more term because there is still work I want to finish. I know the Region, I know Cambridge, and I am prepared to keep speaking up for the people who elected me by putting Cambridge first. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Waterloo Region is currently facing? DC: For me, the main issue is affordability. People are paying more for almost everything. This includes everything from housing, groceries, utilities and transportation. Regional Council can’t control most of those costs, but we can control how much we spend and how much we ask taxpayers to pay for regional services. I have raised this issue repeatedly during the term and I did not vote for the last two budgets because they were too high. Before Council approves new spending, I believe we need to ask some basic questions. Is it necessary and does it involve hiring new staff? How many people will benefit and can we do it more efficiently? I support good public services. I also believe there has to be a limit to what we expect taxpayers to absorb year after year. In the next term, I want Regional Council to put affordability closer to the top of every budget discussion with a ceiling no greater than inflation. Before we ask taxpayers for more money, we should be able to demonstrate that we have done everything reasonable to control our own costs. Q: How will you balance the needs of the region as a whole, while ensuring the needs of your specific community are met? DC: I was elected to Regional Council to represent Cambridge, but I also have a responsibility to make decisions that are good for Waterloo Region as a whole. I don’t see those two responsibilities as being in conflict. I will support a regional initiative when I believe it makes sense. But I won’t support something simply because the majority of Council supports it. Cambridge residents pay regional taxes just like everyone else, and they have every right to expect a fair return. I have spoken up about that during this term, particularly when it comes to transportation and congestion, hospital fairness and major regional investments. I believe in working cooperatively with the other municipalities. But cooperation doesn’t mean remaining quiet when Cambridge has a legitimate concern. My job is to bring a Cambridge perspective to the regional table, ask difficult questions when they need to be asked, and make my decisions based on what I believe is fair, affordable and in the public interest to both the region as a whole and Cambridge specifically. Q: What is your plan to address the water capacity crisis? DC: The water capacity problem through accelerated investment and staff diligence has mostly been resolved. This situation concerned me and Cambridge residents greatly because water is one of the most basic responsibilities of the Region. Without adequate water capacity, we cannot build the housing we need or accommodate future economic growth. During this term, I called for an independent external review of how we got into this capacity crisis situation. I believe Council and the public deserve to know when the problems first became apparent, what warning signs existed and whether opportunities to act earlier were missed. This isn’t about looking for someone to blame. It is about learning from what happened and making sure we don’t repeat it. I have also supported bringing the development and construction industries and other affected groups directly into the discussion. They are dealing with the consequences of these capacity restrictions and should always have a seat at the table. Most importantly, I want the public to see a clear plan of what water related projects are needed, what they will cost, when they will be completed and whether we are staying on schedule. We cannot continue planning for major population growth without making certain the infrastructure is there to support it. Q: What are your views on the Wilmot Land Assembly project? DC: I believe the Wilmot land assembly damaged public confidence in the Region, particularly because people felt they were not being told enough about what was happening. I understand why the Region wants employment lands. We need jobs, investment and a strong local economy. But when government is considering the acquisition of a very large amount of land, the people affected deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. They also deserve as much information as government can reasonably provide. I believe Council needs to learn from what happened in Wilmot. On projects of this size, there should be much better communication with the public, a clear explanation of why the land is needed, consideration of alternatives and a full understanding of the financial implications for taxpayers. Economic development is important, but so is public trust. We need to be able to accomplish one without sacrificing the other. Q: How should council address homelessness within the region? DC: Homelessness is one of the most difficult issues facing the Region, and I don’t believe there is one simple answer. We need more supportive and transitional housing, better access to mental-health and addiction treatment, and a much stronger partnership with the provincial and federal governments. Municipal property taxpayers cannot be expected to carry the financial burden of homelessness, mental health and addiction on their own. At the same time, I believe we have a responsibility to the entire community. People experiencing homelessness need to be treated with dignity and given a genuine opportunity to move into safer and more stable housing. But residents also have a right to use their parks, trails and public spaces and to feel safe in their neighbourhoods. I don’t believe allowing people to remain indefinitely in unsafe encampments is a satisfactory solution for anyone. We need to help people move from encampments into appropriate housing and services while maintaining reasonable rules for public spaces. We can be compassionate toward people who need help without forgetting our responsibility to the rest of the community Salman Arefin Candidate did not respond to survey request within CTV News Kitchener’s two-week deadline. Prakash Venkataraman Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? PV: Cambridge has been my community for more than 26 years. My children were born here, my family grew here, and I have spent thousands of hours volunteering and working alongside people and organizations across our community. I am not a career politician. I come from business, engineering, international leadership and community service. After working across more than 100 countries, I believe I can bring that experience, along with what I have learned locally, to Regional Council. Through my Listening Tour, I keep hearing the same concerns: affordability, taxes, infrastructure, water capacity, public safety, homelessness, transportation and whether Cambridge is getting its fair share. I am running because I believe public service should be about serving people - not political parties, ideology or planning your next election. I will ask difficult questions, follow the money and work respectfully with anyone who can help move Cambridge and Waterloo Region forward. I want to be a strong, independent voice for Cambridge. Cambridge First. People Always. A Cambridge for Everyone. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Waterloo Region is currently facing? PV: For me, the biggest challenge is managing growth without making life less affordable or reducing the quality of life for the people already here. Everything connects to that. We need housing, but housing requires water, wastewater, roads, transit and other infrastructure. We need economic development and good jobs. At the same time, residents are facing property-tax pressures, homelessness, mental-health and addiction challenges and concerns about public safety. We cannot keep dealing with these issues in separate silos. Regional Council needs to prioritize better, plan further ahead and become much more focused on measurable results. Before spending taxpayers’ money, I want us asking: What problem are we solving? What will it cost? What result do we expect? And afterward - did it actually work? Growth is coming. Our responsibility is to manage it intelligently, sustainably and affordably. I want Waterloo Region to continue growing and succeeding, but taxpayers should never be treated as an unlimited source of money. Follow the money. Measure the results. Fund what works. Q: How will you balance the needs of the region as a whole, while ensuring the needs of your specific community are met? PV: I don’t see those responsibilities as conflicting. Cambridge elected representatives should be strong advocates for Cambridge. At the same time, Waterloo Region succeeds when Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and the townships work together. I will collaborate with everyone. Good ideas don’t belong to a political party, municipality or individual. But collaboration doesn’t mean Cambridge should become an afterthought. When decisions are being made about infrastructure, transit, policing, housing, homelessness, economic development or Regional investment, I want to make sure there is always a “C” in the conversation - Cambridge. I also want Cambridge’s Regional representatives working together more effectively. We don’t have to agree on everything. Debate and disagreement are healthy. But when Cambridge needs us, we should be able to pick up the phone, put differences aside and work together. I will always ask whether a decision is good for the people we represent and whether taxpayers are receiving value for their money. Cambridge First doesn’t mean Cambridge alone. I can strongly represent Cambridge while being a constructive partner in building a stronger Waterloo Region. Q: What is your plan to address the water capacity crisis? PV: Water capacity is not just a water issue. It affects housing, jobs, economic development and affordability. The Region has already begun restoring and allocating additional capacity, which is encouraging. But this situation also shows why infrastructure planning must stay ahead of growth. My approach has three parts. First, transparency. Residents, municipalities and businesses need to understand our actual capacity, constraints, timelines, costs and risks. Second, urgency. Fast-track critical infrastructure, optimize what we already have, reduce system losses and work aggressively with provincial and federal governments on long-term infrastructure investment. Third, accountability. If projects are delayed or costs increase, Council and the public deserve to know why. The Region currently plans to add up to 600 litres per second of capacity by 2032, with nearly half expected in 2027. We need to closely monitor whether those milestones are actually being delivered. My professional background includes engineering, infrastructure and utilities. I understand the importance of capacity planning and risk management. Water is fundamental infrastructure. We cannot wait for the next crisis before asking the difficult questions. Q: What are your views on the Wilmot Land Assembly project? PV: I support economic development. Waterloo Region needs good jobs, investment and opportunities for future generations. The Region’s stated objective for the Wilmot Land Assembly is to create a large-scale, shovel-ready site capable of attracting major investment and thousands of jobs. That objective deserves consideration. But economic development cannot come at the expense of public trust. With a project this significant, residents deserve clear answers. Why this land? What alternatives were considered? What will the total cost be? What infrastructure will be required? What are the agricultural and environmental impacts? What will taxpayers be responsible for? And what measurable return will the community receive? Farmers and affected property owners deserve meaningful consultation and respectful treatment. Farmland is a finite resource, and decisions affecting it should never be taken lightly. I would approach this independently - not through a political lens. I want to see the complete business case and understand the costs, risks, benefits and alternatives. My position is straightforward: Follow the money. Follow the process. Protect the public interest. We can support economic development while demanding transparency, accountability and respect for the people affected by government decisions. Q: How should council address homelessness within the region? PV: We need compassion with accountability. There is no single cause of homelessness, so there cannot be one single solution. Housing matters, but so do mental health, addiction treatment, recovery, employment and supportive services. The Region is already investing significant public money in homelessness initiatives, including its Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and additional housing and support programs. As a Regional Councillor, I would keep asking: What outcomes are we getting? How many people moved from encampments or shelters into stable housing? How many entered treatment or recovery? How many remained housed six months or a year later? If something works, fund it and expand it. If it doesn’t, have the courage to change direction. Through my community service and Listening Tour, I have met frontline organizations and people working directly with vulnerable residents. Government needs to listen to that experience. At the same time, compassion cannot mean abandoning expectations for safe neighbourhoods, businesses, parks and public spaces. I believe we can hold three principles together: Every person deserves dignity. Every neighbourhood deserves safety. Every taxpayer deserves accountability. That’s the balance I would bring to Regional Council. Bryan Causarano-Bolton Q: Why have you decided to run in the municipal election? BCB: I decided to run because I care deeply about this community and believe local government works best when the people making decisions remain connected to the people living with those decisions every day. As a small business owner and community organizer, I have seen both the incredible strengths of our region and the gaps that leave too many people behind. I have worked with artists, entrepreneurs, community organizations, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and people trying to build a life here. I have also seen how decisions about housing, transportation, public health, infrastructure, policing, and social services affect people in very real ways. I am running because I believe we need leadership that listens, asks difficult questions, and makes decisions based on both evidence and lived experience. Progress doesn’t mean ignoring our history or abandoning the communities that made this region what it is. Responsible growth means recognizing and preserving our history while finding innovative solutions to meet the needs of our growing community. We can preserve what we love about Cambridge while making it more affordable for our residents and more connected to the rest of the region. Building on our strengths also means recognizing that the status quo is not working for everyone. I want Cambridge to have a strong voice at the regional table. We can often feel like an afterthought in conversations dominated by Kitchener and Waterloo. We are not simply a bedroom community or the edge of the region. Cambridge has its own identity, economy, challenges, and opportunities, and those deserve to be understood and represented. My goal is not simply to represent one group of people. It is to bring together the perspectives of residents, businesses, community organizations, and people whose voices are too often missing from political conversations. I am running to bring people together around practical solutions. I want a region where people can afford a home, access the services they need, get where they need to go, and feel that their government is working for them. Most importantly, I want to help build a region where no community is overlooked and no one is treated as disposable. Q: In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue Waterloo Region is currently facing? BCB: In my view, the most pressing issue is affordability, particularly the crisis of housing, homelessness, and the rising cost of living. Homelessness today does not always look the way it did five years ago. We are seeing families living out of their cars, parents who are working, children who are going to school, and households whose incomes, historically, would have been enough to live comfortably. These families are often being priced out of housing in a market that has changed dramatically. Additionally, we are seeing vehicles that people are using for shelter being removed from parking lots with nowhere else to go. It’s hard to imagine how a child can maintain good grades, mental health, and happiness when they don’t know where or if they are going to have a safe place to sleep at night. Parents are trying to find work, afraid to ask for help for fear of losing custody of their kids for not being able to put a roof over their heads. This is a reality for way more people than we are aware of and should be our number one priority. When people cannot afford housing, the pressure shifts to shelters, hospitals, public health services, community organizations, and emergency services. When workers cannot afford to live near where they work, businesses struggle to hire and communities become less sustainable. When families are spending too much of their income on rent, they have less money for food, transportation, child care, and other essentials. Homelessness is the most visible consequence of this crisis, but we cannot focus only on what happens after someone loses their home. We need to focus much more on prevention by helping people before they reach the point of homelessness, supporting people in crisis, expanding supportive and deeply affordable housing, and increasing the overall supply of housing that people with a range of incomes can actually afford. This will require multidisciplinary cooperation. The Region must work with municipalities, Provincial and Federal support, non-profit housing providers, developers, businesses, and people with lived experience. My priority is to ensure our growth benefits current and future residents. We need to ask what kind of homes are being built, who can afford them, where they are located, and whether they are connected to transit, jobs, services, and community. Responsible growth means building a region where people can afford move here, raise their families, and thrive. Q: How will you balance the needs of the region as a whole, while ensuring the needs of your specific community are met? BCB: As a Regional Councillor, I am responsible for representing my own community and making decisions that are in the best interests of Waterloo Region as a whole. Those responsibilities don’t compete with one another. My first responsibility is to listen to Cambridge residents and bring their experiences, concerns, and priorities to the regional table. We have our own challenges, including growth, infrastructure needs, transportation concerns, housing pressures, and the need to ensure that regional investments are distributed fairly. Regional government exists because many of our biggest challenges like housing, homelessness, water, transportation, public health, and infrastructure, do not stop at municipal boundaries. For this reason, it is important that decisions are based on evidence, community input, and fairness. Who benefits? Who bears the cost? Which communities are being overlooked? And does this decision solve a problem for the long term? I also believe Cambridge needs strong advocates who are willing to collaborate rather than simply compete with Kitchener, Waterloo, and the townships. When the Region succeeds, Cambridge benefits. But regional success cannot mean that one community consistently receives more attention or investment than others. My approach would be to bring Cambridge’s perspective to every decision while remaining accountable to all residents of the Region. Q: What is your plan to address the water capacity crisis? BCB: We need to treat water capacity as both an immediate infrastructure challenge and a long-term planning issue. My first priority would be transparency. Residents deserve to understand where capacity constraints exist, what growth is being planned, what infrastructure is required to support that growth, and who is paying for it. But transparency needs to go hand in hand with education. Residents should be given clear, accessible information about future plans that affect our water supply, so they can understand not only what decisions are being made, but why they are being made and what they mean for the community. Education and transparency are essential to holding our government accountable. Decisions about development cannot be separated from decisions about water and wastewater capacity. We need to ensure that infrastructure planning keeps pace with population growth rather than repeatedly reacting after capacity has already become a crisis. That means making long-term investments in water and wastewater infrastructure, coordinating growth with available servicing, and ensuring that new development contributes appropriately to the infrastructure required to support it. I also think it is important to reduce unnecessary demand on water infrastructure, protect our water sources, and invest in efficient technologies so that we are prepared for population growth and extreme conditions. Just as importantly, I believe public ownership and public accountability must remain central to our water system. Water is an essential public service, not simply another commodity. Decisions about our drinking water and wastewater systems must prioritize safety, reliability, affordability, environmental protection, and long-term public benefit.My approach would be to plan ahead, invest responsibly, protect public ownership, and make sure growth pays its fair share of the infrastructure it requires. Most importantly, residents should never be left trying to understand major decisions about our water system after the fact. They deserve to be informed, educated, and part of the conversation before those decisions are made. Q: What are your views on the Wilmot Land Assembly project? BCB: The Wilmot Land Assembly is a significant regional project. Because of its scale, cost, and potential impact on the community, it requires an equally significant commitment to transparency and public accountability. I understand the argument that Waterloo Region needs employment lands and infrastructure to support long-term economic growth. Protecting space for future employment is an important part of ensuring that residents have access to good jobs and that the region has a diverse and resilient economy, especially as we are growing. It also helps foster a diverse business community by attracting major employers to the community. That said, the public has a right to understand exactly what this land is intended to support. What commitments have been made? What infrastructure will be required? What will the financial and environmental impacts will be? My concern is not whether the Region should pursue economic development, as I think it should. My question is whether the process is transparent, whether the public interest is protected, and whether residents have confidence that decisions are being made based on clear evidence rather than assumptions or private negotiations that they cannot evaluate. Before supporting major commitments of public resources, I would want clear answers about the intended use of the land, projected job creation, and impact to infrastructure and environment, but also the criteria of the businesses that we are attempting to attract. I would also want to ensure that any public investment produces a meaningful public benefit. If public money and public land are being used to support private economic activity, residents deserve accountability, clear conditions, and measurable outcomes. The Wilmot Land Assembly should not become a blank cheque. It should be evaluated based on evidence, transparency, environmental responsibility, and whether it delivers lasting benefits for the people of the Region. Q: How should council address homelessness within the region? BCB: Homelessness should be addressed as a housing and public health emergency. It is important to recognize that people experiencing homelessness are individuals with different needs and circumstances. There is no single solution. Council must invest in many facets of prevention, emergency response, housing, and support. First, we need to put protections in place to prevent people from becoming homeless. That includes supporting eviction prevention, rent banks and emergency financial assistance, tenant supports, and programs that help people remain housed in crisis periods. The affordability crisis means more people than ever are in need of these services, which often cost less than shelter and supportive housing. Second, we need enough safe, accessible emergency shelter spaces and alternatives for people who cannot safely use traditional shelters. This means increasing support available to youth, women, gender-diverse people, and seniors. No one should be forced to choose between sleeping outdoors and accessing services that don’t meet their needs or puts them at risk. That said, shelters are not housing. The long-term solution must be deeply affordable, supportive housing. People cannot simply be moved from one temporary location to another and told the problem is fixed. We need permanent housing options with the mental health, addictions, health, and social supports necessary to help people remain housed. I would also prioritize meaningful engagement with people who have lived experience of homelessness. We need to understand the why and the how: how someone became homeless, and what barriers prevented them from finding stable housing. The people closest to the problem have valuable insight into what is and is not working, and their experiences should help shape the policies and solutions. The Region must continue working with municipalities, non-profits, Indigenous organizations, health-care providers, and other governments to address the issue holistically. We also need clear goals and public accountability so residents can see a reduction in homelessness. Most importantly, I reject the idea that homelessness is an inevitable part of a growing community. We cannot arrest, relocate, hide, or litigate our way out of this crisis. We are not simply trying to fix a problem; we are supporting real people who are struggling. Behind every statistic is a person, a family, or a life that has been disrupted. Our response must be grounded in compassion, evidence-based policy, adequate housing, and the will to ensure that every person has safety, dignity, and a place to call home.
