Mayoral candidate Susan Stevenson says London needs to make it easier for entrepreneurs to open and operate businesses. Stevenson made the comments Monday morning during a campaign event outside a business on Dundas Street, where she outlined several proposals aimed at supporting London’s business community. “Opening a business takes courage,” Stevenson said. She is proposing a Business Concierge function to help business owners navigate city services, including permits, licenses and inspections. Incumbent mayor and fellow candidate Josh Morgan responded to this proposal. “A business concierge is a good idea. So good, in fact, that council already approved it as part of the Downtown Master Plan in June. I’m glad my council colleague likes it, despite voting no when it came time to put that exact plan to work.” “Londoners deserve leaders who are working on the fixes together,” said Morgan. Stevenson says the city should also publish service standards, so business owners have clearer expectations about wait times, with an escalation process when delays threaten a business opening, expansion or jobs. She is also calling for a review of downtown parking, including pricing, short-term parking options, availability, signage, and access. Stevenson says the review would involve merchants, property owners, residents and parking operators, and would consider adding 300 reservable and affordable downtown parking spaces identified as a need nearly a decade ago. She also wants a review of roadwork practices around businesses, including earlier notice of construction, improved signage and access plans and a named city contact for businesses affected by major projects. Stevenson says the city should also examine its existing business-support programs to determine what is working, where there are gaps and whether programs are duplicating services. She says downtown safety and the addiction crisis are also affecting businesses and need to be addressed. “There’s two big issues. One is the addiction crisis and the public safety concerns that are real downtown,” Stevenson said. “They’re not a perception issue and we need to address them quickly and move on.” Stevenson says she has heard from entrepreneurs who are willing to invest in London but are frustrated by what she describes as obstacles, delays and financial pressures. “I hear story after story after story of brave entrepreneurs who are willing to invest in our city and hire people and serve Londoners with their gifts and talents who are met with obstacles, delays, financial hardship and a lot of stress rather than the concierge kind of support,” she said. Stevenson is running for mayor in the 2026 London municipal election.
