|
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
|---|
| Daljeet, Suresh Venodh |
Yes |
Yes, we absolutely need to attract a younger population. We have to keep our University and College grads here. The future depends on people coming to the area to build the future of the city. We need programs to encourage small business development and a qualified workforce to attract new businesses to Hamilton. Companies will come here if we have the talent they are looking for. We have to build to attract a younger population. Recreation, shopping, culture, food and improving and keeping our nature areas like trails, waterfalls and waterfront is key to attracting a younger population. Schools are also important, young families want a good school system if they will raise a family here. |
| Farr, Jason |
Yes |
Indeed. In ward 2, the philosophy is, "students welcome." As students, they have more spending power than ever before and that's great for the local economy. As grads, we must continue to make efforts to retain as many bright young minds as possible. We should continue to offer easy and efficiant support to start ups and grants and loans where applicable. Be inclusive with our approach to housing; offering a wide range of affordable options with new builds. Continue to maintain an environment that attracts the businesses that cater to this demographic. I have succeeded in working with city staff on objectives like providing for wider ranges of uses under commercial zoning, creating zoning for models like micro-brews and even Arcades and Escape Rooms. I have supported temporary zoning for start-ups and often supported reduced parking variances for new restaurants. Of course, I have always and will always continue to advocate for and produce results in safe and complete streets initiatives. Among the many good reasons for this is that it is clearly desired by young professionals.
In short, students and grads do wonders for the growing vitality of the core. We must support keeping Hamilton at the top of mind when it comes time for grads to make their roots. |
| Kroetsch, Cameron |
Yes |
Yes, Hamilton should be trying to attract and retain more young people. We should be engaging with young people, including during municipal elections, to make sure their priorities are incorporated in the decisions we make. We need representation from younger people on City Council and we need to find ways to break down the barriers that prevent them from happening (i.e. introducing term limits). We need to act, yesterday, on youth strategies across the City, empower young leaders, and focus on an inclusive approach to budgeting and decision-making. Simply put, we can’t continue to focus on how we have “always done things” and need to focus on what makes cities vibrant and attractive to all residents, including young people. If Hamilton is going to be the best place to raise a child then we have to let young families take root here. We also have to provide some incentives to those who want to stay here to work, which means improving transit so that they can get around the City and helping small- and medium-sized businesses to grow so that young people have places to work. Finally, the City needs to build a better public relationship with McMaster, Mohawk, and Redeemer - it’s not just the job of the Ward 1 City Councillor to foster these relationships. In my opinion, “town and gown” programs haven’t been effective at engaging with young people in this City and we need to rethink the way we do this engagement by asking young people, themselves, what works best for them. |
| Smith, Nicole |
Yes |
Young people are not our future but our present hope. We need to encourage them in every way, by providing affordable quality housing, a wide variety of job opportunities, and actively promoting the shift from co-working startups to opening new businesses in their own spaces, as opposed to entangling them in endless red tape. |
| Tennant, Mark |
Yes |
Keeping in mind where young urban professionals want to live and work, we need to engage their input. We can revitalize the downtown by providing a mixed-use development of culture, entertainment, with affordable public housing. New entrepreneur tax and rental incentives.. The motto; a healthy community equals a strong local economy includes a collective participation of local businesses, not for profits, community partners and residents. This would include the participation of local businesses in offering apprenticeships and paid student placements through the ministry of education. We can do so much more. I cannot be all things to all people so its is necessary to include the the participation of experts in the planning. |
