| Global warming is an existential challenge facing humanity. Do you think Hamilton should play a role in addressing climate change? If so, what should the city be doing? If not, why not? |
Yes |
Hamilton is protected from ocean levels rising and severe drought living in the interior and beside the Great Lakes,. However, we can expect the costs of storms, snow removal and stormwater flooding to increase and negatively impact city operations. Our City government decisions can have a faster impact locally than federal initiatives |
| Bonus question: If LRT goes ahead, what will you do to ensure Hamilton receives the maximum benefit? |
Yes |
Along with the economic uplift - I would focus on ensuring development along the LRT route includes affordable housing. It is important to respect existing neighbourhoods' residents who have called Hamilton home for decades by not pushing them out- many are on a fixed income and cannot adjust to greater property tax values. |
| Do you support improved public transit in Hamilton? If so, what changes do you propose? If not, why not? |
Yes |
YES! Transit is a vital public utility. Transit is not government aid for poor people without cars - Hamilton's economy relies on our transportation network. HSR must strive to increase frequency, better convenience of connections and reliability of the network - encouraging more ridership per capita and less subsidizing with our tax dollars. |
| Should Hamilton be trying to attract more young people to live, work and start businesses here, including the 60,000 students studying at Mohawk College, McMaster University and Redeemer University? If so, what should we be doing? If not, why not? |
Yes |
Yes, young people can be faster to adapt when unexpected events happen in business. Among these educated student assets are young entrepreneurs. And even one successful start-up company will build wealth and create jobs. We can attract young people with more dense urban amenities to have fun and a growing labour market so they can find their next job. |
| Do you support the "Vision Zero" goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Hamilton? If so, what specific actions would you take to implement this policy? If not, why not? |
Yes |
Yes, the number of serious injuries and deaths on our streets in Hamilton has me supporting "Vision Zero" goals - we need to start with shorter crossing distances to pedestrian islands, better markings, cyclist routes chosen where there can be greater space from cars, and more space between where cars stop and pedestrian crosswalks. |
| Do you support phasing out area rating for transit? Why or why not? |
Yes |
Yes, eliminate area rating to provide the funding for fair accessibility for everyone including expansion of service to rural and suburban residents. |
| Hamilton has been experiencing a slow-motion crisis in housing affordability. Do you support an expanded role for the City to provide more affordable housing? If so, what should Hamilton do? If not, why not? |
Yes |
Yes the City can use inclusionary zoning to require developers to make a larger percentage of new units affordable, creating mixed income communities. Tax installments leave the City holding lots of cash for periods that may be used to cover the borrowing cost, zero-interest loans for affordable co-operatives. |
| Hamilton has a legacy of multi-lane, one-way arterial streets dating back to the 1950s. Do you support accelerating the conversion of these streets to two-way? Why or why not? |
Yes |
Yes, its proven better for small businesses and increased investment - more jobs and more shops benefits the community. |
| Council has voted dozens of times since 2008 to advance Hamilton's light rail transit (LRT) project, including voting to submit the plan with a full funding request to the Province in 2013, and voting to accept full funding and implementation from the Province in 2015. Do you support completing the LRT plan? Why or why not? |
Yes |
I support the LRT plan because infrastructure and transit in Hamilton has been starved for years - if the province is funding the infrastructure replacement underground along the downtown corridor then that frees up City money for other necessary infrastructure projects on the mountain. |
| The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act mandates that cities must be completely accessible by 2025. What changes would you make to ensure Hamilton complies with this mandate? |
Yes |
I want to see practical transition plans with timelines to implement the changes necessary to meet the requirements for all facilities, transit, programs, policies, and practices. |
| Since the 1950s, most new residential and commercial development in Hamilton has been single-use suburban sprawl. Do you believe Hamilton needs to concentrate new development within the already-built area? Why or why not? |
Yes |
Yes, we should treat land responsibly and regenerate run down brownfield sites and decaying buildings into compact, sustainable mixed use communities. Everyone should be able to walk to their local centre or take public transit that is maximized for efficiency.
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