Tom Drake

I’m a life-long Stratford resident who feels that our current council hasn’t made as much progress as we expect. In my daily work, I talk with people from all neighbourhoods, hearing their concerns and their suggestions.

I want to see better decision-making on issues that would improve the long-term quality of life in Stratford.

We need to focus on development of the Grand Trunk site, followed by other underused properties around town, by collecting all the best ideas from experts and from our own citizens.

We can find opportunities to save both time and money in our public works department by expanding the type of work we do in-house with our own equipment and staff, rather than tendering out so many projects.

I’d like to see City Hall become more user-friendly for private citizens and small business owners. Let’s make it easier to ask questions and get advice on interpreting the rules and regulations affecting our small projects or licensing requirements.

Let’s look for unique light manufacturing, digital technology, or agricultural-related enterprises to bolster our local economy, with stable year-round jobs paying decent wages.

We need to have a strategy for getting around town more conveniently, on public transit, on bikes, and on roads that follow sensible routes.

And each one of us needs to do something to combat climate change, so I see opportunities to switch to electric vehicles, generate green energy with solar panels, and incorporate greener heating and building techniques.

My background in science, economics and healthcare has been good training for researching alternatives and finding practical solutions. I’ve been around long enough to know what has worked in the past, and which ideas weren’t successful. I’ll use this experience as new leadership makes plans that will influence Stratford’s future.

1. What will be your unique contribution to council?

• I’m prepared to make good decisions now for the long term, to be proactive instead of short-term reactionary

• I’ll look for cost savings opportunities, for example by doing more road and building maintenance in house.

2. How will you tackle urban sprawl and protect prime agricultural land?

• Build up, not out, and fill in spaces, increase density

• Repurpose and refurbish underused buildings, for residential, commercial and industrial purposes

• Allow accessory dwellings on large estate lots, and granny flats in larger homes

• Look for proposals to develop tiny homes and pioneer other new home building techniques

3. How will you encourage businesses and individuals to respond to climate change?

• Lead by example - everyone needs to contribute at least one change and our small things add up

• Convert at every opportunity the city owned fleets of buses, cruisers, pickups, cars to electric vehicles

• Update parking bylaw for more charging stations on private and public lots

• Encourage citizens and city-owned properties to install solar panels on roofs, driveways, walls

• Windmills in the storm pond lots, solar panels surrounding them

• Rethink the transit system to make it more useful

• Create conditions that promote bicycling instead of driving

• Support living closer to work to reduce commuting – both within our city and between...[]

4. What is your idea(s) to attract new industry to Stratford?

• New business can come from existing business so continue to support enterprises that are already here to improve and expand.

• Avoid heavy industrial greenfield builds to conserve land. Look for lighter industrial operations such as

  • • Manufacturing of fine detailed medical supplies

    • 3D printing of supplies & parts

    • Technology, design

    • Items that require craftsmanship

• Look for companies that will supply and install the new green building technology and products.

• Business that can support farming would be ideal

• Ensure new industry fits our available water, sewage, power resources

• Stratford benefits from business nearby too, so continue to cooperate...[]

5. How will you address wealth inequality, homelessness and poverty in Stratford?

• I would prefer to prevent these problems by seeing good jobs for local residents

  • • Focus on a stable, diverse economic base where people can earn decent wages and not worry about seasonal shutdowns or layoffs

    • local schools to partner with industry associations and business groups to help equip our young people with useful skills and a resilient attitude.

• Some people who find themselves homeless now have been good tenants in the past, and could become good tenants again as available housing stock increases

  • • Social services staff continues to negotiate with willing landlords to help remove financial barriers...[]

6. How will you engage and inform the public about current issues and legislation?

• Less formality at committee and subcommittee meetings.

  • • This is where we need better conversations

    • More free—flowing exchange of information and asking questions

• Council and committee meetings travel to neighbourhood locations and welcome the public

• Continue all press releases and social media posts,

  • • o Include a newsletter or meeting schedule with property tax bills or Festival Hydro mailings

• Councillors and mayor establish a time and place for citizens to call up or drop in for a consultation, individually or in small groups.

7. Would you support term limits? Why/why not?

• An idea worth exploring, but every election is a chance to sweep clean.

• Stratford is home to many people who could be highly effective, if given a chance

• Would regularly bring in new ideas and eliminate favouritism and simply repeating the familiar.

• There is value in retaining institutional knowledge, as new citizens arrive, but if we do a good job explaining our decisions now, then future councils will understand the context.

8. What is your plan to better engage youth in Stratford?

• Include a youth representative on the Community Services Sub Committee

• Encourage more student groups to use our recreation facilities before or after school by supporting appropriate fee reductions

  • • Staff and/or volunteers provide basic instruction and supervision so more kids can learn outside of minor sports or formal arts programs

• Create a City Hall Intern program, for student volunteers interested items on council’s agenda

  • • Students help with research, summarise literature, technical manuals, legislation in other jurisdictions etc. and provide their councillors with briefing notes, to help elevate the quality of debate