Cam Galindo, Candidate for Ward 9 in Hamilton Municipal Election 2014 - Raise the Hammer Elections

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Candidate Details
Responses to Questions

Candidate Details (top)

Name	Galindo, Cam
Election	Hamilton Municipal Election 2014
Area	Ward 09
Party	N/A
Votes	0
Email	info@camgalindo.ca
Website	http://www.camgalindo.ca
Home	905-869-0932
Business
Fax
Bio	Cam's story is nothing less than inspiring. Cam was born in Medelin, Colombia and escaped local violence with his family at an early age. His family's initial plan was to seek refugee status in the United States, instead, Cam's family made Hamilton their home. Cam's family faced challenging circumstances and struggled to adapt to a new language and culture. Cam has the energy and motivation to represent constituents and to create positive change not only in Ward 9 but also for the City of Hamilton. Having graduated from Bishop Ryan High School, he is continuing his education in Economics and Political Science at McMaster University while introducing fresh ideas and young blood into a political system that has been dominated by the same old strategies. Cam's perspectives have been shaped by challenges, but he has never let them get in his way. As an active member of his community he has had the opportunity to serve on various councils and advisory committees including the Hamilton Youth Advisory Committee and several with the Ontario Ministry of Education. As a member of the Premier's Council on Youth Opportunities, Cam helped design a $5 million youth opportunities fund and advised on a $295 million youth job strategy fund. Cam's deep roots to his community include volunteering for various community organizations including St. Joseph's Healthcare Centre on King Street East, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hamilton & Burlington, the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, McMaster Students Union, Museums of Burlington, Hamilton Warplane Heritage Museum, and a local health-advocacy group called the Unfiltered Facts Project through Hamilton Public Health Services. This is why Cam is ready to be your Ward 9 Councillor.

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Responses to Questions (top)

Question	Brief Response	Full Response
Do you support an expanded role for Hamilton to provide more affordable housing? If so, what should Hamilton do?	Yes	Yes. It's time for Hamilton to start addressing the issue of poverty by expanding it's role to provide more affordable housing.
Do you support converting more of Hamilton's one-way thoroughfares into complete, two-way streets that support walking, cycling and transit?	Yes	Yes. Over the years, Hamilton has learned that one way streets simply are not affective. We can learn a lot from other municipalities that focus on two-way streets that support pedestrian and cycling traffic.
Do you support the use of participatory budgeting to allow ward residents to propose and vote on local capital projects?	Yes	Yes. Participatory budgeting allows ward residents to have a stronger voice when it comes to the decision making process. At the end of the day, its all about including residents in making decisions that affect them.
Do you support implementing a Vision Zero for Hamilton, with a goal of eliminating all pedestrian and cyclist deaths on our streets? If so, what specific actions would you take to implement this policy, and if not, why?	Yes	Yes. With a goal of eliminating all pedestrian and cyclist deaths, the city should have moved forward with this initiative a long time ago. By following the example set by Sweden, we can ensure that our transport systems take the burden of ensuring safety. The first step would be to update our infrastructure by making mobility safe from the start. Step two is adapting vehicle technology. Step three involves services and educating the public. Lastly, step four ensures control and surveillance.
The City's Cycling Master Plan is up for review. Do you support improving the plan to speed the installation of cycling facilities and provide more high-quality protected infrastructure like the new Cannon Street cycle track?	Yes	Yes. We need to acknowledge that cars are not the only vehicles on the road. We need to upgrade our city's infrastructure to support and encourage cyclists. I support improving the City's Cycling Master Plan to speed the installation of cycling facilities and provide more high-quality protected infrastructure.
Do you believe Hamilton should do more to protect and enhance its built heritage?	Yes	Yes. Hamilton has a history, and we need to preserve it.
Do you believe City Hall should be more accessible to Hamilton residents? If so, what steps would you take to achieve this?	Yes	Yes. Often times there is a disconnect between what happens at city hall and what actually happens on our streets. Most of that is the result of lack in communication. As Councillor, I will commit myself to being the most accessible Councillor at City Hall.
The Province plans to allow municipalities to use ranked ballots in future elections. If so, will you vote to adopt ranked ballots in Hamilton?	Yes	Yes. The current system we use to elect our politicians in Hamilton is called "First Past the Post," where the person who gets the most votes wins. Unfortunately, "First Past the Post" does not always reflect what the people want. Ranked ballots in Hamilton would allow voters to vote/rank their candidates based on who they want to elect. Adopting this system would allow constituents to elect representatives that best represent their views.
The Province has shelved a proposal to build a mid-peninsula highway from Niagara Falls or Fort Erie around Hamilton to connect with Hwy 401 or 407 north of Burlington. Do you agree with the Province's decision to put its development on hold?	No	No. It's time to start thinking about the future. Our current highway systems are at their maximums, and with an increasing population, we need to work with the province to ensure that we build the necessary infrastructure that will be needed in the near future.
Do you support the city's plan to build an east-west light rail transit (LRT) line with full capital funding from the Province?	No	No. On this topic, I'm cautiously optimistic. The reality is and many people agree, our city simply can't afford LRT. Bluntly speaking, LRT would only save commuters an extra 5 minutes. Arguably, 5 minutes is not worth the billions of dollars it would cost to build and maintain the line. Not to mention the traffic congestion. It's time to focus on what we need in Ward 9 regarding public transit. Our population has grown substantially over the last several years, and yet we have done nothing to our transit system to accommodate commuters. We need to develop a transit plan that works for you.