Housing: Encampments: I support sanctioned encampment sites that are safe and supported through community-led groups, organizations, and all levels of government. I believe we need to identify sites throughout the Region that have access to services for basic needs and that are not overcrowded or that create safety concerns. Lower-tier municipalities have a role to play in enabling zoning to permit such sites. My understanding is that even when there is access to housing, there will always be people people living rough, and so we need to ensure those folks are afforded basic rights and access to amenities while they are living rough, and that there is a diversity of housing options should they wish to move indoors.

Indigenous Sovereignty: Charles Street Terminal: I support the creation of an Indigenous Hub. To be transparent, I have not yet familiarized myself with this project fully, so wanted to qualify that in relation to my response, so the answer I'd really like to give is "support for an Indigenous Community Hub" and "not sure" to the location. I'd be very happy to talk and learn more about this, so I can more completely form what would be a more accurate answer. Paid positions and Reconciliation Contribution Fund: These are really interesting ideas and I'd be interested in exploring them further. As ideas like this have come to me in the past, my approach has been to use them as a starting point to engage in discussions with community groups and city staff to see how to move forward. I have found that sometimes where we start is different from where we've landed in the end. I also have a number of questions that would help me better understand where these ideas came from and what goals you hope to accomplish. This is why I would like to add to my responses above that I support these ideas as a starting point for discussion, a discussion I would very much like to have."

Social Services: Evidence-based: As a researcher outside of my council work, I strongly believe in evidence-based approaches to community health and safety. The city has followed regional and provincial guidelines in its operations and we have advocated where we can for enhanced measures, while balancing the need to reduce the impacts of social isolation that have impacted us all so deeply over the last couple of years. Social isolation being another factor contributing to challenges with health and mental health.

Transportation: Winter maintenance: I've been advocating for expanding winter maintenance for pedestrians for some time as an accessibility issue. I've brought up the idea of targeted routes for where carers go in the morning (i.e., where teachers, healthcare workers, caring adults of children). I'm also keenly aware of the challenges people present about sidewalk snow clearing: if it's not done well it can be less accessible; environmental considerations with salt and plows; the timeliness of clearing. I'm interested in continuing this advocacy and attending to the noted challenges to make incremental changes that will lead to a robust and well done winter maintenance in the future.

Housing: Increase Co-Operative housing, explore tax incentives for landlords offering below-market rate units (still properly maintained and regulated - no 'slum' housing), additional taxes on investment properties, establish rent-cap to prevent 'renovictions', introduce mixed-use zoning and up to 3 dwellings on the property (tiny home, carriage house, granny flat, etc.), advocate for further spending on transitional housing projects, continue to advocate for the unhoused and additional wrap-around supports needed to live safely and securely.

Public Safety: Reallocating the police budget is something I am particularly passionate about as I have had a significant personal interaction with their sexual assault unit and was traumatized as a result. All I could think was - if this is what happened to a cis-white woman; I can only imagine how impossible it is to interact with the police as a member of the BIPOC community or as a marginalized or underage person. I am also working in my spare time to have legislation passed - Canada wide - to ensure that a trauma-informed individual (counselor/therapist/psychotherapist) is present during all sexual assault investigations with a detective. The police are only trained for 2weeks to undertake this incredibly delicate work and they often fail to grasp the neurological fallout from these situations.

As someone who has struggled with my own mental health issues and continues to suffer from PTSD; I am eternally grateful that I have had the funds to support the years of therapy I've undertaken. I would not be here today if I was dependent on the public system for mental health support.

Addiction is a disease and should be treated as such. As councillor, I will advocate for the marginalized in society and particularly on reallocating a majority of the police budget to be spent in the community by those more qualified and better equipped to have a lasting, POSITIVE impact.

Sex work IS work and the oldest profession around. It's not going anywhere and the workers deserve a safe and compassionate environment in which to operate. It's an inherently dangerous profession, but there are steps that can be taken to limit the danger and a shift in perception is critical to this work. I would advocate for further supports for sex workers and explore dismantling and rebuilding a positive relationship with select police officers. The police are critical when a crime is committed and the nature of sex work exposes the workers to serious crime risks. They should have someone or a group of people within law enforcement that are empathetic, non-judgemental, and actually want to build these relationships to help keep people safe while respecting their choice of work.

I believe that homelessness is largely the result of circumstance, addiction, mental health issues, or lack of funds (ODSP). Whatever the reason, no one should be criminalized for not having a place to live. They should be supported by the community until they no longer require our support. Most of the people at the Victoria encampment that I've had the pleasure of speaking to don't want to be homeless. They are stuck and there aren't enough supports to get them unstuck.

Indigenous Sovereignty: "The atrocities inflicted on our Indigenous peoples are beyond words. I 100% support all involvement from the Indigenous community, and think it's a particularly good idea to have two paid positions on Regional, Municipal, and school boards for Indigenous voices.

A step further would be to mandate that our school boards include a unit on the local Indigenous tribes, conflicts, and colonialism in conjunction with local Indigenous leaders.

Big fan of Willow River Park instead of Victoria Park. It's such a small gesture that goes a long way to beginning to heal the wounds of our horrific past. It doesn't change the park, but it sure would make a lot of our friends and neighbours a lot more comfortable and demonstrate that they not only belong, but that we are actively trying to do better. "

Social Services: "I am passionate about helping those in addiction and believe that decriminalization of drugs is the answer. Consumption sites cut down on deaths and the already overwhelming strain on our healthcare system. It just makes sense to establish places where addicts can use in safety; it's a problem that isn't going away, so we need to try something different.

Access to washrooms and water should be a basic human right, especially in a 'first world' country like Canada.

I believe in science. No one enjoys wearing a mask (expect maybe for anonymity) but it's the easiest way to stop the spread of viruses. 'Nuff said.

Childcare is vital to a functioning economy and therefore needs to be made a priority. I am unsure of the current limitations within the community, but look forward to finding out how I can help assist in making childcare affordable and available. It's wonderful to offer $10/day childcare, but if there aren't enough facilities or workers; we're in a bit of a pickle."

Transportation: Love free public transit. There is no reason why we can't make this a reality.

I have walked many streets in Waterloo during winter and found myself climbing over ice covered snow piles at the majority of intersections. As someone who has no physical restrictions, I am lucky to be able to do this. Anyone with a mobility/physical issue is unable to fully utilize our public sidewalks in the winter and I think this is shameful, disrespectful, and severely limiting for segments of the population that deserve to use their sidewalks year-round.

While the science behind Vision Zero is sound, the community survey results for Waterloo clearly stated that constituents (59.47%) wanted Option A (40km/h speed on most streets, 30km/h in school zones) and not Option B (blanket 30km/h speed reduction). The council chose to push through their agenda for Vision Zero and disregarded the community survey entirely by passing Option B. I believe this was the wrong decision and against the tenets of democracy and therefore I cannot support it. I *do* however, support the Vision Zero goal of zero deaths on our local roads. Unfortunately, the roads with the highest collision rates within my ward are Regional, not city roads (like University Ave.). I have heard from so many disappointed constituents that their voices were not heard during the community survey and that they have lost faith in our democratic system as a result. This is deeply troubling to me and, again, while I support the philosophy behind Vision Zero; I cannot support the previous councils decision to ignore their community and choose for them.

Protected bike infrastructure is something I'm passionate about as I am terrified to bike on our roads. I do not believe that a strip of paint is enough to protect bikers, and would like to see all road bike paths separated by a curb, raised path, etc.

I think the slow zones would automatically be included in the Vision Zero work with speed limits reduced to 40km/h on most local roads, and 30km/h near schools/parks/senior zones, and therefore think it redundant to add additional slow zones (outside of those I would add like near parks and senior crossing(s))

Other: I am excited to be a new voice for the community. I am deeply passionate about democracy and answering directly to my constituents with full transparency, heaps of empathy, and phenomenal conflict resolution skills. I think I would be a vocal force to be reckoned with on city council and look forward to building collaborative relationships with councillors, city workers, stakeholders, and of course my constituents. I can't wait to get stuck in!

Indigenous Sovereignty: I have previously written letters to Parks Canada and to K. Redman, chairperson, suggesting Pioneer Tower site could be used more creatively, as mentioned in above survey.. Pards Canada has no deed to this land.

Social Services: I know there are some very strong beliefs against safe drugs (and sex work). Mandatory masks is also tough, but it is well known that germs love to travel in crowds; mandatory masks in crowds would be more in keeping with constitutional rights than mandatory vaccines. Anyone who conscientiously declines covid vaccines based on scientific evidence or personal religious convictions should no longer be punished with no job.

Transportation: Originally I opposed the LRT knowing it wasn't going to pay for years. As population increases much faster than expected, it can become a break even situation. I recommend cost of public transportation be income based, free to low or no income people and keep it very affordable for car owners so they will be enticed to do without personal vehicles. Sources of energy for electrical consumption and disposal of batteries etc may become unexpected issues in the not too distant future.

Since the percentage of bicyclers is apparently around 1%, I recommend bicyclers have free usage of public transportation during winter months when their bike paths are snow covered etc.