On Oct. 24, voters across Ontario’s Waterloo Region will head to the polls to elect city and regional councillors, mayors and a regional chair.
Residents of Waterloo, the region’s smallest city, will select two people to send to regional council in addition to their mayor.
There will probably be at the very least one latest face in place, filling the seat of Sean Strickland who announced in August that he wouldn’t be in search of re-election. He spent 19 of the last 22 years on regional council.
His counterpart, Jim Erb, stays on the ballot in what has shaped as much as be a big crowd of candidates with 10 people vying to fill two seats on council.
To assist voters ahead of this election, Global News has reached out to all of those running for regional or city council, mayor or regional chair in Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo with available online contact info. Those running for office were emailed an inventory of seven questions and in the approaching days, the responses for each candidate who replies will probably be shared.
What follows are the responses received from those running for regional councillor in Waterloo, with the candidates being listed in alphabetical order. (This page will probably be updated if more candidates select to reply.):
Jim Erb
Q.1 Please give a temporary background of yourself including what you do for a living and the way long you’ve got lived in the realm? (In case you are an incumbent, please state how long you’ve got held the position.)
I used to be born in Kitchener and have lived my entire life in Waterloo Region. I used to be raised in Wellesley and moved to Waterloo in my early 20s to pursue my profession as a funeral director. I actually have been a funeral director for over 50 years and owned and operated Erb and Good Family Funeral Home in Waterloo for over 30 years, where I still work park time.
I used to be a member of Waterloo City Council from 1980 to 1988 after which took a while away from municipal politics to have more time to spend with my young family and the business. I used to be elected to Waterloo Region Council in 2018 and am in search of re-election for one more term.
Q.2 Why do you think you might be the appropriate person for the job?
I consider myself a team player which I demonstrated in my work as a community volunteer, small business owner and a member of each City of Waterloo Council and Regional Council. As a team player, I actually have been capable of develop a collegial relationship with residents and staff that demonstrates a willingness to listen, seek the advice of after which hopefully reach a call that is useful to the people we serve.
Q.3 What do you’re thinking that is crucial issue facing your ward and the town/region as an entire?
For me reasonably priced housing is crucial issue facing our region. Inexpensive housing has a broad meaning in our community. It includes a number of the most vulnerable who’re homeless and people in our Region who’ve meaningful employment but struggle to pay their monthly rent or change into first time home buyers. Along with the availability of more housing, we’d like to create a region where everyone feels they belong and are included, eliminate the stigma of those that live with addictions and mental health challenges, and proceed to support initiatives to deal with the challenge of climate change.
Q.4 Looking down the road, what are your long-term goals for the town/region?
Long run goals are to create cheaper housing, develop a transportation system that features lively transportation and support the growing of our local economy that recognizes Waterloo Region as a single destination.
Q.5 What’s your platform?
Below in point form is what I actually have included in my printed material and website – www.jimerbwaterloo.ca:
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- Advocate for cheaper housing
- Create a Region where everyone feels included
- Grow our local economy
- Support climate change initiatives
- Encourage the scaling of resources amongst our eight municipalities
- Eliminate the stigma related to mental health and addictions
Q.6 What do you wish to do in your spare time?
I like sports. I play hockey, soccer and golf.
Q.7 What’s your favourite thing about living in Waterloo Region?
I just like the strong community spirit in Waterloo Region. It ends in so many activities organized by the community.
The goal is to get more people included and benefiting from all that the Region has to supply.
Mark Fisher
Q.1 Please give a temporary background of yourself including what you do for a living and the way long you’ve got lived in the realm? (In case you are an incumbent, please state how long you’ve got held the position.)
I actually have recently retired as CFO (Director of Finance) for a big local manufacturer after working there for the past 23 years. Previous to that, I lived and worked in Kingston for 18 years, 14 of those years with KPMG doing audits of local municipalities. I actually have lived in Waterloo for the past 23 years. My parents were born in KW and I actually have at all times had roots here. I used to be born and raised in a small town near Barrie, Ont., and moved to Waterloo to attend the University of Waterloo. I actually have a BMath and I’m a Chartered Accountant (now CPA).
Q.2 Why do you think you might be the appropriate person for the job?
With my business experience and background I’ll give you the chance to quickly understand the problems facing council, ask the suitable questions and provide you with ideas or solutions to issues facing the Region.
Q.3 What do you’re thinking that is crucial issue facing your ward and the town/region as an entire?
Crucial issue facing the Region is reasonably priced housing and coping with the problems surrounding the tent cities. We’d like the resources available to help those coping with mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction. If we help resolve those issues we may help resolve a part of the homeless problem.
We also must re-examine the way in which development charges are levied on latest home construction. Quite a lot of $84,000 per latest house is unsustainable.
Q.4 Looking down the road, what are your long-term goals for the town/region?
We’d like to make sure long run that we’ve got housing available for all people who live within the City/Region.
This not only involves those currently within the tent cities, but the primary home buyers and people who need geared to income housing. Housing was a problem before the pandemic but has been highlighted now consequently.
Q.5 What’s your platform?
Overall to make sure our tax dollars are spent correctly and never wasted. Search for efficiencies to regulate spending. We are going to must spend more on housing issues and the problems which are related to a few of this. We are going to need to search out the cash from other areas of the budget to take care of these issues to limit tax increases.
Q.6 What do you wish to do in your spare time?
I’m a member of the KW Granite Club, and hence an lively curler. I also golf and ride my bike regularly.
Q.7 What’s your favourite thing about living in Waterloo Region?
The Waterloo Region area has at all times been a clean and secure community to lift a family. The realm during which I live is close to varsities and recreational activities.
Gord Greavette
Q.2 Why do you think you might be the appropriate person for the job?
During my lifelong commitment of engaging in public service to Canadians, initially as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and later inside the tutorial realm, I actually have been fortunate to have had leadership opportunities across Canada, and in addition as a Canadian representing Canada internationally. I actually have learned a lot from these many experiences and am desperate to give back to the residents of this region; the oldsters who’ve accepted me and my family over these past 24 years.
Q.3 What do you’re thinking that is crucial issue facing your ward and the town/region as an entire?
While probably the most pressing issue in the intervening time can be tackling the homelessness and reasonably priced housing issue, I think that crucial issue is ensuring the health and safety of the residents of Waterloo and your entire region; especially from a policing and a comprehensive medical (physical, emotional and mental health) perspective.
Q.4 Looking down the road, what are your long-term goals for the town/region?
Like most residents of Waterloo, I need to proceed to benefit from the growth and vibrancy of this city and your entire region. Subsequently, I’d strive to see that the ION routing to Cambridge is accomplished and that the bus feeder routes are expanded, in addition to higher public intercity transit capabilities to and from the region.
Q.5 What’s your platform?
Leadership – Integrity – Experience. Learn more at: gordgreavette.ca
Q.6 What do you wish to do in your spare time?
During my spare time, I wish to keep up-to-date with local, national and international affairs and I also attempt to spend at the very least a half hour every day practicing music on my guitar. My wife and I also enjoy taking long walks each day through the various excellent parks and trails systems that we’re fortunate to have inside our region.
Q.7 What’s your favourite thing about living in Waterloo Region?
It is a very progressive and forward-looking community that enjoys quite a few academic, economic, recreational, artistic and sporting opportunities. This can be a caring community where the residents of Waterloo show concern and respect for his or her fellow residents and for the individuals who reside on this region. Maintaining and enhancing the capabilities of our many parks and ensuring the urban-rural divide continues to be a priority that I’d endorse.
Chantal Huinink
Q.1 Please give a temporary background of yourself including what you do for a living and the way long you’ve got lived in the realm? (In case you are an incumbent, please state how long you’ve got held the position.)
I’m a motivational speaker writer, and social justice advocate who lives with a physical disability. I actually have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Human Development and a double Masters of Divinity and Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University.
I actually have had a few years of experience advocating for individuals who are marginalized, those that live with a disability, and people who are vulnerable. I served on the Board of the Legal Clinic of Guelph and Wellington County for 10 years and I actually have experience advocating for human rights on the provincial level.
I moved to the City of Waterloo in 2011 to attend university and have been employed in the town since 2012.
I’m a driven woman who has overcome many obstacles in my life.
Q.2 Why do you think you might be the appropriate person for the job?
My education and experience as a lady who uses a wheelchair has made me keenly aware of the necessity for holistic care including consideration of physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs.
As well, growing up in a single-parent family with limited means has given me real-life knowledge of the necessity for social supports and reasonably priced housing in our region.
My motivational speaking experience has given me the power to solid vision of the longer term. My must work with various support providers in my each day life has also made me adept at recognizing the abilities of others and collaborating with them to realize optimal results.
Q.3 What do you’re thinking that is crucial issue facing your ward and the town/region as an entire?
Crucial issues currently facing Waterloo Region is poverty and homelessness. If elected, I’ll work with fellow councillors and senior staff to expand short-term solutions reminiscent of a greater tent city. I’ll advocate for the implementation of upstream resources to stop circumstances that will cause homelessness. I will even engage representatives on the provincial and federal levels to search out the very best long-term solutions for people facing homelessness in Waterloo.
Q.4 Looking down the road, what are your long-term goals for the town/region?
Addressing climate change is an urgent matter. I fully support the TransformWR strategy to transition Waterloo Region to an equitable, prosperous, low-carbon community.
The region must proceed to cut back local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, lowering our carbon footprint. As your regional councillor, I’ll work to be certain that Waterloo Region continues on its path to cut back GHG emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050.
Q.5 What’s your platform?
My desire is to reinforce Waterloo Region and be certain that it’s a welcoming place through:
- Equitable access to community resources and supports,
- Sustainable, accessible and expanded public transit that meets the needs for our community, and
- Inexpensive housing solutions for everybody.
Q.6 What do you wish to do in your spare time?
I enjoy creative writing, traveling and fiddling with my dog Mocha.
Q.7 What’s your favourite thing about living in Waterloo Region?
I appreciate the power to form relationships from all different cultures and walks of life while having fun with great food and live music within the green spaces in the town.
John Vieth
Q.1 Please give a temporary background of yourself including what you do for a living and the way long you’ve got lived in the realm? (In case you are an incumbent, please state how long you’ve got held the position.)
I actually have lived within the City of Waterloo for over 40 years. I moved to Waterloo to review Engineering on the University of Waterloo. In the end, I married Angela and together we raised our family in Waterloo due to the wonderful quality of life and profession opportunities available.
The town continues to be an appealing place to live and work, to the extent that two of our youngsters have chosen to lift their families here. Over the a long time I actually have experienced life as a student, parent, scouter, sports coach, community volunteer and dealing skilled inside the community of Waterloo.
Q.2 Why do you think you might be the appropriate person for the job?
I feel that my background provides me the abilities and insights to be an efficient member of council and that I should step up and offer to serve. A graduate of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Waterloo, I actually have worked my entire profession within the high-tech sector of Waterloo region that continues to drive such a significant slice of our local economy. I proceed to be involved within the business and will provide a latest and really helpful perspective for Council.
My training and occupation as knowledgeable engineer gives me the potential to develop modern solutions to difficult problems. I feel this could possibly be helpful for the work of council.
Having volunteered for a decade on the governing Council of Skilled Engineers Ontario, and on the boards of community service organizations in our region, I gained experience in governance and collaborative decision making. I feel this can enable me to contribute early and effectively to the workings of our regional government.
Q.3 What do you’re thinking that is crucial issue facing your ward and the town/region as an entire?
Municipal government has a big impact on the lives of residents and visitors. Our regional government affects our health, transportation, water and waste services, to call a number of. It can be crucial that our elected representatives make the very best decisions to keep up and improve these services.
Q.5 What’s your platform?
I approach my nomination with no preconceived agenda or any “axe to grind” and offers my talents to serve the very best interests of all residents of Waterloo. My priorities are:
1) Maintaining or improving the standard of life for all residents, including provisions for adequate and reasonably priced housing, access to healthcare and sustainable infrastructure.
2) Achieving the very best overall value for residents from funds the municipality spends.
3) Sustaining our local economy to proceed providing a wealthy and diverse range of employment opportunities
Q.6 What do you wish to do in your spare time?
Volunteer with the Kiwanis Club of KW and the Waterloo Central Railway. Visit grandchildren. Travel. Proceed lifelong learning.
Q.7 What’s your favourite thing about living in Waterloo Region?
The superb quality of life, cultural diversity and profession opportunities in Waterloo Region.
Cindy Watkin
Q.1 Please give a temporary background of yourself including what you do for a living and the way long you’ve got lived in the realm? (In case you are an incumbent, please state how long you’ve got held the position.)
I’m a married mother of three who has lived within the Eastbridge neighbourhood since moving here in 1998. I’m a graduate of Conestoga College, Business Administration – Marketing program and have worked with my husband at his local Insurance Agency since 1999 as an office associate.
Q.2 Why do you think you might be the appropriate person for the job?
The 20-plus years of community service I actually have given as a volunteer with the extensive experience and knowledge amassed along the way in which would make me an asset to Regional Council. I’m a powerful, dedicated leader, award winner, advocate and I think in the facility of what is feasible when people work together.
Q.3 What do you’re thinking that is crucial issue facing your ward and the town/region as an entire?
It’s difficult to narrow it all the way down to one but when I needed to accomplish that I’d say reasonably priced housing.
Q.4 Looking down the road, what are your long-term goals for the town/region?
To proceed moving forward utilizing the Strategic Plan and Regional Operating Plan as a basis to accomplish that.
Q.5 What’s your platform?
While I don’t have a conventional platform, I simply wish to help Waterloo Region and its resident’s progress. This is very necessary within the post-pandemic world as we’d like to learn much from the past few years and put plans in place for the longer term.
Q.6 What do you wish to do in your spare time?
I spend time with family and friends; I’m obsessed with strength training at a neighborhood facility pushing myself -and often encouraging my fellow teammates- to do their best. Volunteering is an enormous a part of my free time; I think we’re fortunate to live in Waterloo region and I do my best to present back each time I can. Music is vital to me, especially the words, songs, and live performances of Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band.
Q.7 What’s your favourite thing about living in Waterloo Region?
Experiencing a lot as a volunteer has allowed me to witness many, again and again over what people can accomplish once they work together to make things occur. Now we have such a vibrant community due to individuals who make it so!
Global News has also reached out to Jim Bolger and Peter Neufeld but has not received a response as of publication. Global News unable to locate email addresses to contact James Ball and Ryan Keating. This copy will probably be updated as further answers arrive.
