Home Initiatives and Campaigns Municipal 2022 London, Ont. municipal election: Meet the mayoral candidates

2022 London, Ont. municipal election: Meet the mayoral candidates

October 18, 2022

London, Ont., voters will head to the polls on Oct. 24 to choose who the town’s next mayor, and who their next city councillor, must be.

Ten candidates are vying for the mayor’s office, while 61 others are running in 14 ward races across the town.

Six council seats are guaranteed to see latest occupants in the subsequent term, with London Mayor Ed Holder and five councillors opting not to hunt re-election.

Among the many departures are Ward 3 Coun. Mo Salih, Ward 4 Coun. Jesse Helmer, Ward 5 Coun. Maureen Cassidy, Ward 7 Coun. Josh Morgan and Ward 11 Coun. Stephen Turner. (Within the case of Ward 7, Morgan is as an alternative running for mayor.)

A full list of mayoral and ward candidates may be found on the town’s website, together with other election-related information.

To assist voters ahead of election day, Global News reached out to those running and asked that they complete a brief, five-question survey.

Global News has published the responses received over the past several days, with candidates listed in alphabetical order. Yow will discover all the published ward candidate responses on the Global News website.

Below are the responses received by candidates who want to succeed Mayor Ed Holder in the town’s top job.

Global News didn’t receive responses from candidates Brandon Ellis or Carlos Murray.

Daniel Jeffery

Q.1: Over the summer, the group The Forgotten 519 put out a call to motion to provide you with urgent solutions to handle London’s homelessness crisis. If elected, how would you tackle homelessness, addiction and mental health issues in London?

The town must collaborate with and support community organizations which have more experience in coping with these specific issues. These organizations have more experience and boots already on the bottom helping. Most of those organizations just require access to resources in order that they can expand their programs.

Q.2: London business owners have recently highlighted a number of the economic challenges they’re facing particularly within the downtown core. What strategies do you plan to revitalize London’s downtown core to assist businesses thrive?

In an effort to revitalize the downtown core we’d like to work with developers and construct high density buildings throughout the core with ground floor business units. Which can provide the companies with newer buildings and supply the people living within the core all the amenities they require inside walking distance of where they live.

Q.3: Affordability within the housing and rental markets is probably the most pressing issue for a lot of Londoners. If elected, what changes would you push for to ease the burden on Londoners on the subject of the associated fee of living?

Constructing high density infil projects will increase the housing inventory on the London market making units more competitive and permit for the town to leverage cheaper housing units on these projects.

Q.4: London is within the strategy of constructing three legs of bus rapid transit, but challenges remain for the north and west end of the town. What’s your vision for the subsequent phase of public transit in the town?

London transit needs to finish the rapid transit project, Constructing a Higher density London will include increased ridership of the general public transit system requiring more frequent and reliable transit.

Q.5: What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?

My vision for London in the subsequent 10 years is to construct infrastructure to facilitate the technique of industry leading to investments into the town from large corporations and developers. That is achieved by cutting the red tape at city hall and dealing with the local firms which might be attempting to drive London forwards while city hall is on the breaks.

Dan Lenart

The hunger strike by the Forgotten 519 on the front steps of City Hall set out with an inventory of demands, which were ALL met in line with Dan Oudshorn, certainly one of the essential participants, in spite of everything was said and done, after I asked him about it. “Homelessness” appears to be the problem, although a roof, or houselessness is healthier wording, since the word “HOME” has many socio/psychological connotations, and even some who’ve a roof, or house still don’t feel at “HOME”.

To say that addiction and mental health is the start and end of the issue is an oversimplification; “Psycho Junkies”?

Folks who’ve worked in the sphere, as I actually have, will inform you a unique story. They need a roof, and a few, not all, will even need social employees, and nurses to return by to make certain they stay housed, due to life skills, or lack thereof. So we’re back at (3) availability, and affordability of housing, and rentals. That is the actual starting and end of the issue, which City Hall has refused to do anything meaningful about.

A Recent City Council is required.

The virus has emptied out the Downtown, and this “Great Resignation” has stopped some from returning to the core, after being exposed to working from “Home”, and the conveniences related to that. Empty storefronts make for a handy sleeping bay for these urban campers and not using a place to go, who also haven’t any roof, nor secure, and secure housing to go to.

London has not recovered like other Cities.

25% have fallen off the rolls, so far as doing something with their time. In a City approaching 400 000, that works out to almost 100 000 who may not actually have a resume if a possibility presents itself.

That just isn’t good.

A diversion program, and a spot to go, with activities will help these folks with a number of time on their hands.

But a lot of these social programs, and community mental health programs have been cut over the previous couple of many years. And the outcomes are plain to see for everybody who looks out onto the streets.

Availability and affordability of housing and rentals directly influences the Downtown, as a possible “Destination Location” for tourists, and the remainder of the City. But because it is, latest condos sit empty, just like the latest 32 story tower on Richmond, which is 25% empty. This by itself could do away with the Park Campers in a single stroke, aside from the “Affordability”. City Council has been given the Authority to plan around this, with zoning, and setting a portion aside for the entry, income related folk, however it has neglected to achieve this. As a substitute 300 Dufferin has decided to attack programs for probably the most vulnerable just like the one run at First Baptist by the “Ark Aid Street Mission”, demanding compliance to “Zoning” abruptly. Former Mayor Tom Gosnell’s r.i.p. campaign director went up and down Richmond Row gathering signatures to scrub out the park, making for a hostile environment, which was countered by a bunch of churches.

This doesn’t help, and sets up an “Us” against “Them” battlefield, as an alternative of working together for the common good.

A Recent City Council Is clearly needed.

A proposal to rent 50 Police gives the look that these folk are criminals and belong in jail, suggesting legal solutions to social, and medical problems are the way in which forward to this housing crisis.

Anyone who has worked in these fields, as I actually have, knows that cops are the last ones who can assist.

Already, police, fire, and ambulance make up almost 40% of the $1.1 Billion City Budget, which works out to almost $400 Million Dollars. A small percent, say 5-10%, put aside for the entry, income related folk to get housed will go a good distance towards “cleansing up the streets”.

City Council decided to construct a latest bus barn within the South West end, as an alternative of working on the North, and West legs of the BRT Mass Transit Plan.

That is one more reason why we’d like a latest City Council.

The BRT was the essential election issue last time in 2018, and it had the worst voter turnout In London’s History (39%). TVO is saying only 25% will vote this time around. Issues from that debate, last election, are still needed, like more bridges across the river, more under and over passes for the railways. A Mass transit Plan for the entire City won’t work without these, and can only add to more bottlenecks, and gridlock, especially at rush hour, with dedicated lanes for special express buses. The opposite big problem to this master plan, after all, is that most of the more wealthy, won’t ride the bus, with the less wealthy, not in London Ontario, a city with a large gap between the haves, and have nots.

That is one other contributor to the “homeless” scene.

More parking garages downtown for individuals who love their cars is the way in which for them, and for individuals who won’t ride a bus.

Q.5: What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?

There was little or no talk of returning London to the “Forest City”.

City Hall has not been re-planting trees as developers have been cutting them down. Planting shade trees drops the over all temperature of the entire City, especially during heat waves.

A latest “Green Bin” curbside pick-up, and diversion program is required, because our W12 landfill site will soon be filled, and the Province won’t allow us to get a latest one and not using a greater % of diversion.

Necessary Heritage Properties just like the old courthouse at the moment are under threat from developers, because City Hall didn’t buy the property at 50 King, when it was put up on the market. This might have been the placement of a latest City Hall, which shall be needed, because the old 300 Dufferin Constructing is stuffed with asbestos, and has run out of room.

But City Hall was out bid.

We want a latest City Council, with latest leadership, and a latest vision for the long run.

Norman Robert Miles

1st of all we’d like to position homeless some were secure I used to be pondering if we could I would love to maneuver them into the military Baracks on Oxford then herald some councillors to assist with the addiction and mental health issues then when now we have that in place then we will see were we will move them to weather it’s a hospital or addiction centre or rehab.

I’m concerned about downtown area with the way in which things are going with lack of business and concern they are going to close up shop and move some were else I do know they’re having a difficult time with homeless sleeping in door ways and a number of individuals are afraid to go put and shop. I’m hoping once we get homeless off streets thing should get back to almost normal down there.

Reasonably priced housing is certainly one of my concerns too. We want to step up and either herald portable houses like some cities are doing and we’d like to have a look at a few of these landlords raising rent so high that it’s only the wealthy can live there and perhaps some sort of subsidizing to alleviate the burden on low income families and single parents.

The subsequent phase for transit in London is to make certain everyone can use it for work .school and my opinion is we’d like to reconstruct the transit so accessible for everybody. For me the BRT was a waste of cash and might have been done different.

Q.5: What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?

My vision for London for next 10 years is to grow have a secure place to live and work with little crime but we will’t get there without the assistance from everyone that lives here that is there city I’m only here to assist get it there.

Josh Morgan

This can be a complex issue that requires various solutions for it to be thoroughly addressed. First, we’d like to construct cheaper housing and housing with wrap around service supports. There are various builds in progress, but we’d like more spaces to cope with the variety of homeless individuals. Second, working collaboratively with the County of Middlesex, Land Ambulance, Hospitals and Healthcare Providers, and agencies serving probably the most vulnerable, we’d like to advocate for significant mental health supports and beds within the City of London. I’m calling for an emergency meeting with the Province of Ontario on the state of our downtowns, homelessness, and the mental health and addictions crisis London, and other cities, are facing. That is probably the most critical challenge the subsequent Council will encounter, and one which have to be prioritized.

There are various things that must occur at the identical time:

Attract latest businesses to the downtown core by continuing to support the LEDC, Small Business Centre, and BIA of their efforts. This includes attracting office jobs that may fill vacant office space in our core, but additionally the conversion of vacant office space to residential where possible.
Support our most vulnerable by providing housing spaces and wrap around service supports.
Support the London Police Service’s plan to open a downtown foot-patrol office and work to make our core area streets safer.
Leverage the Core Area Entertainment District and UNESCO City of Music designations, and work with various cultural groups, event organizers, and associations to create a vibrancy within the downtown core. Tourism London must also play a critical role.
Get 10,000 more people living within the core though incentivizing high-density residential development. The cranes have to stay within the sky for one more decade.

We’ll develop latest incentive programs that can bring more housing to London, particularly in our area targeted for high-density residential development. This will even include latest tools to attain inexpensive housing options for Londoners. We must use our strong fiscal position to soak up some inflationary pressures as an alternative of passing it on to Londoners, and proceed to work through our service review process to seek out efficiencies and savings for Londoners. We must also advocate to other levels of presidency to help low-income Londoners with the supports they should cope with rising food and fuel costs.

The brand new 25 yr vision for mobility across the town shall be based on the input of Londoners and set by Council though the Master Mobility Plan process. This can also be where transit improvements for north and west London shall be decided. Getting ahead of this process by developing a standalone ad-hoc plan is disingenuous to the general public consultation which has now began. Londoners can participate at: https://getinvolved.london.ca/mobility-master-plan

Q.5: What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?

Through strong collaborative Leadership, London will grow responsibly, seize the opportunities of tremendous economic growth and job creation that now we have before us, tackle the numerous and sophisticated challenges of homelessness, mental health and addictions, add hundreds of recent units to our downtown core area and revitalize the core. We’ll establish ourselves because the capital of southwestern Ontario, bringing municipal partners together and creating sustainable economic growth for the region.

Johanne Nichols

There are empty buildings throughout London that may very well be repurposed into residences. Separate residences for single individuals, families and others with mental health problems.Each residence would have a big kitchen (to be used by charities to produce meals, onsite social services, onsite Health units staffed by Nurse practitioner and or staff from Middlesex Health unit and security. These residences can be transitional or everlasting as needed.Individuals with mental health problems may very well be supervised for private care and drugs monitoring.Financing from all levels of presidency and personal donations. It’s so cruel when custodial mental institutions were closed and vulnerable people unable to manage were forced on to the road and subject to abuse by others.I do know there are some units of geared to income presently under construction. Co-op housing could also be considered.

Like last winter temporary box automotive type housing may very well be made available.

Until homeless problem is handled I’m afraid that the resurrection of Dundas Place downtown core is compromised. Rental and tax subsidies as an enticement to individuals willing to open businesses in core area.

Partner with landlords for a decreased taxes if they are going to conform to lower rents.

Curb side pull out stops for buses in order that they don’t delay one lane of traffic at every stop.West to east on all stops on Oxford street.North to south all stops on wonderland,West to east all stops Commissioners Rd, west to east all stops Fanshawe Rd.

North to south all stops Wharncliffe Rd. All stops Richmond St North from Oxford to Fanshawe Rd.

Seeing as city has allowed constructing almost to curb on parts of Wonderland Rd it might be almost unattainable to widen road.You can turn Wonderland into One Way and Wharncliffe into a method.

Q.5: What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?

My vision for London is a prosperous, progressive city. Make it appealing (financial incentives) for businesses to establish business here thereby providing employment opportunities. With a high employment scenario residents are more economically comfortable.

Sean O’Connell

The three issues are interlinked which implies we must cope with every little thing slightly directly. There’s a pilot programme with the town that currently has some success with everlasting housing for the homeless. I would love to expand on that programme and construct a latest homeless shelter. London cannot proceed to have people living rough on the streets, especially in winter. Health care is a provincial responsibility, and I’ll petition the province to re-establish a latest mental health hospital in London. One which can offer services for coping with addictions.

Revitalizing the downtown core has been an ongoing problem for the past three many years. Simply put, residents don’t feel secure going downtown. Clearing up our streets must be the priority to making sure businesses can operate without interference. Having more officers to patrol the streets will help create more security and reduce crime. Ultimately, I’ll champion similar projects just like the Dundas flex street and Fanshawe’s campus downtown as they’re great initiatives to improving the core. Once the downtown transit hubs are established the increased foot traffic will aid businesses in achieving more customers.

Firstly, London needs to extend its supply of accessible homes and apartments. This implies striving for at the least 40,000 latest units in the subsequent decade. Nonetheless, we try to catch as much as existing and latest demand. I would love to hurry up the method for constructing by identifying all inventory property in London for shovel ready projects. Perform systematic environmental assessments of accessible properties in London. Finally, discover all vacant business properties suitable for conversion or refurbishment for redevelopment. In this manner, the town can have multiple properties able to be built.

Secondly, London needs to alter the definition of affordability. Typically, in Canada, 40% of 1’s income after taxes would go to a mortgage or rent. As a substitute, London has inexpensive defined as 80% of market value. To extend affordability, London must request more buildings to have inexpensive units as a proportion of recent units.

The subsequent phase of public transit for London is integrating our cycling network with the BRT system. Implementation of super bicycle highways to reinforce safety for cyclists. Placing bicycle paths along sidewalks at any time when possible and limit the interaction on the road.

Similarly, London could have to convert our existing fleet of buses right into a carbon neutral fleet. Nonetheless, we must complete the BRT system first to have the infrastructure in place for charging stations, etc.

Q.5: What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?

My vision for London is a city that lives as much as its namesake. I would like Londoners to be secure and mobile. Over the subsequent 10 years, I would like transit problems to be a thing of the past. Where London has an integrated transit system that’s seamless whether by cycling, walking, or in a vehicle. Our transit hubs shall be bustling with economic activity. I would like a London that has architecturally significant buildings that encourage people to live there. I would like a city council that’s accountable with rules in place to stop abuse. I would like a London, where the environment and animals are protected.

Nonetheless, all these issues can’t be resolved without laying the groundwork for future generations to follow. That starts with a latest council and Mayor to guide London in the fitting direction and ending the ideological battles that cripple it.

Khalil Ramal

As soon as I take office, I’ll immediately begin to work on creating Transitional housing within the downtown area and the east of London.

I’ll commit to work with the forgotten 519, the Unity Project, Sanctuary London, Project Hope and London Cares, to streamline the method to finish homelessness once and for all!

London’s small businesses are the economic Heartbeat of our city.

Throughout the pandemic small businesses, especially within the core, weren’t supported by leadership in council this last term.

I’ll put into place a latest Small Business Development Office to support small businesses in our city and connect them with local and global markets
We must incentivize firms to open within the Core
Solving the homeliness issues and increasing the police foot petrol to create a secure environment

I’ll work with already existing and committed partners to construct a whole bunch of recent truly inexpensive homes for the people of London.

We want to finish the western and Northern legs of the Transit plan, as Mayor I’ll work with council to create a quick, efficient, and responsive transit system.

Q.5: What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?

Reasonably priced, Safer, Cleaner and prosperous Strong leadership can bring people together.

Sandie Thomas

Through a network of coordinated services, London provides community health, income support, social services, recreation, housing, and policing. These are all impacted by current crises in mental health and addiction – and present a number of the most serious challenges in our communities and our collective safety, well-being, and health. I think that we must invest into our mental health services to handle rising demand. We must do every little thing we will to make sure this vital system continues to thrive while improving access to all Londoners.

Strategies

Improve coordination of services in mental health, addiction, and homelessness
Spend money on telephone and web-based crisis support to expand care to Londoners
Work with provincial government to expand availability of supportive housing
Provide program and infrastructure funding for neighbourhoods severely impacted

Thomas didn’t provide a solution to this query.

It’s crucially essential to lift the living standards for all Londoners by introducing latest inexpensive housing strategies in partnership with local organizations and institutions. The main target must be on providing a continuance of direct and impactful support to community members – from individuals who haven’t any place of residence to individuals or families who’re looking for their first home. Reasonably priced housing affects us all and we’d like change now.

Strategies:

Work with Developers, the provincial and Federal Governments, and personal sector to be certain that the provision of housing solutions in London sustain with the current and future demands.
Lead a City where residents’ belief in one of the fundamental dreams – home ownership – can actually come true.
Utilise the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (“CMHC”) program to deliver modern, accessible, and inexpensive housing to Londoners of all housing needs
Offer community-based programs in financial literacy (12-24-36 months)
Introduce latest programs to alleviate social service and education costs for families
Address systemic barriers for young families in housing and rental markets
Collaborate with other cities to discover best practices to handle housing crisis

I think that it’s vitally essential to enhance on the traffic infrastructure in London. It’s time to ensure Londoner’s can move throughout our city with limited interruptions. It’s time for us to expand our bike paths to make sure bike lanes are utilized in probably the most effective and secure way by connecting existing paths to permit for extra coverage without additional cost. It’s time for road fixtures to be generated based on need slightly than location. It’s time for real motion to get London moving!

Strategies:

Expand bike paths and adjust existing bike paths to attach throughout the town
Update traffic light timing to make sure smoother traffic flow on major roads
Work with LTC to offer additional “Express” service to underserved areas
Re-align construction periods outside of “busy” periods
Stagger construction to make sure multiple projects aren’t decreasing traffic flow
Provide clear and in real time updates on infrastructure project timeline and delays
Provide clear alternative routes online and at each site to ease of travel frustrations

Q.5: What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?

Londoners deserve to guide lives that they’ve worked hard to afford. The rising cost of housing, food, gas, and the essentials have made it difficult for them to try this. As Mayor, I’ll work with all levels of presidency to be certain that Londoners keep extra money of their pockets and supply decent lives for his or her families.

Strategies:

Be sure that taxes are kept as little as possible (in the long run look to freezing taxes).
Be sure that public transit costs remain as little as possible (transit remain inexpensive)
Work with the Provincial Government to manage utilities costs for homes and businesses

— Questions by Global News’ Jaclyn Carbone and Maya Reid

2022 London, Ont. municipal election: Meet the mayoral candidates

Daniel Jeffery

Dan Lenart

Norman Robert Miles

Josh Morgan

Johanne Nichols

Sean O’Connell

Khalil Ramal

Sandie Thomas

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