Municipal Candidates on the Issues That Matter to Students

While vacancy rates in Waterloo have increased to historic highs, rental rates for students remain at levels that are difficult, if not unmanageable. As Mayor I will work to identify locations for increased affordable housing, and work with our post-secondary partners and with property developers, to plan and build affordable, and flexible, student housing options. Moreover, for the existing stock of student-affordable housing, we must ensure that this market is property monitored to ensure licensing and maintenance standards are upheld per City of Waterloo bylaws. We must ensure that our student population is enabled to live a high-quality life in the City as today’s student population is tomorrow’s workforce and long-term community.

Affordability is the single most common issue I’m hearing at the door from across all demographic groups. The City must continue its efforts to identify sites for affordable housing and work more effectively with developers and other orders of government to move from planning projects to shovels in the ground that lead to more options for our residents. Moreover, if we want to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive community, we need to ensure both safety in all parts of the city, in particular in the Uptown entertainment core, as well as increased access to community infrastructure including community centres, libraries and a year-long calendar of inclusive community events.

Unlocking the full potential of our City, means we need our residents and the people who study and work across this region to be able to move effectively from one end to another. That includes students who might wish to live or work in other parts of the Region. We need a connected region to enable them, and can accomplish this by completing Phase 2 of the Region’s LRT. But we shouldn’t just assume the status quo. Since Phase 1 was completed we have a new federal government that wants to build major infrastructure projects quickly and a new precedent has been set by the Province regarding how it funds transportation in major cities. Waterloo and its surrounding region qualifies as such and as Mayor I will advocate for increased funding for public transportation to ensure affordability for all of us, including our vibrant student population.

When it comes to getting around the city safely on foot or bicycle, the single biggest impact the City can have on safety is the installation of night-time lighting on all trails. As it stands, trails that are lit in
Kitchener go dark in Waterloo. This is unsafe and uncomfortable and can be fixed immediately. Ensuring our trails are well lit, and our Uptown streets consistently patrolled, will help us make Waterloo the safest city in Canada. Moreover, during our increasingly unpredictable winters we need to improve our snow clearing efforts on roads and bike lanes to ensure safe and consistent travel routes for all.

Current engagement efforts by the City with students are largely reactionary and performative. Despite the actual and potential impact that over 50,000 post-secondary students could have on the longer-term economy and cultural fabric of the City, they are largely treated like short-term residents. I have attended the City’s Town and Gown committee and seen this firsthand. If elected, I’ll change this by supporting formal student representation on the city’s economic development committee, and wherever else possible, add formal student representation. The ideas, energy and entrepreneurial spirit that students bring to our City needs to be actively engaged with and integrated into our processes to ensure we build a City that keeps them here long-term.

Waterloo is so fortunate to have to have three post-secondary institutions locally. However this value is far more than what these students input into our economy during their studies. Cities around the world are competing to attract the best and brightest. We already have them. So we need to keep them here. We need to show them a path to employment and the best quality of life, including housing options that are affordable and activities and events that make Waterloo the place they want to be. As Mayor I’ll work with the Province to identify and develop affordable housing options, work with developers to create entrepreneurial and incubation spaces, reduce the barriers to starting and growing businesses, and continue to build our events calendar and community infrastructure to make this the best place in Canada to work, live and play.

Jamie Hari

I don’t expect to win this election; even if I do, I won’t have any real power and so I can’t expect to have nearly as big an impact as Waterloo desperately needs.

Doug Ford (e.g., Ontario Bill 100), Mark Carney (e.g., Bill C-22), Danielle Smith (Alberta Bill 11), and other fascists are busy deconstructing our democracy and social safety nets at an alarming rate, just like Trump is doing in America.

Municipal elections should be about fixing potholes and naming parks, not pleas for help to a cash-strapped city from citizens who can’t afford food and rent and community groups that are watching their social programs defunded in favour of new AI surveillance cameras for the police. Yet here we are.

If you want a livable future, YOU have to fight for it. No one is coming to save you.

AI didn’t write any of this. Free Palestine!

Contact:
jamie@jamiehari.com
www.mayorofwaterloo.ca

Student housing is inextricably linked to the broader housing market, so to ensure students can afford housing we need to address the whole issue altogether.

The aspects of my housing plan that are most relevant to student housing are: a new public rent registry, significantly expanded rent controls, and further investments in city-owned non-market housing.

The idea that housing should cost less than 30% of gross income had been the standard for the post-war era, but this hasn’t been feasible for many years now. Even considering the income that co-op students can earn, this number is still far below the average rent in the city and in the broader region. I would introduce a bylaw requiring 25% of all newly built units to be ‘affordable for singles’ (i.e., less than $1,500 / month) and 50% to be ‘affordable for families’ (i.e., less than $2,500 / month).

Municipal fees are one of the few remaining areas over which mayors and councils still have some level of direct control. I propose making all fees, fines, and taxes proportional, aka progressive or means-tested. We would set fines (e.g., parking tickets) and fees (e.g., permits, activities and programs, and parking) as a percent of household income, rather than a flat price.

Mental health is healthcare; this puts the onus squarely on the Doug Ford and the province. By failing to provide this and other essential healthcare services, he is violating our rights under law. While I’d propose slashing the WRPS budget to reallocate money to social programs, this would almost certainly be vetoed by Doug Ford’s newly appointed Regional Chair.

To help address food insecurity, I would launch a city-owned-and-operated nonprofit grocer and apply punitive new fees and taxes to conglomerates (e.g., Walmart, Metro, Zehrs).

In the short-term, I propose fully subsidizing transit for seniors and students with a longer-term view to making transit entirely free for every Waterluvian. Transit is a critical public service and a human right in modern society; anything less than freely accessible local transit is unacceptable.

Realistically, Doug Ford’s newly appointed Regional Chair will veto this -and the corresponding cuts to the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) budget I am proposing to pay for it- right from the outset. It’s important to recognize and acknowledge the complete lack of power mayors and councils have in this new post-Bill 100 reality.

The safest street for pedestrians and cyclists is the one where there are no cars whatsoever. Waterloo is full of stroads (a portmanteau of streets and roads), which prioritize cars and are the worst of both worlds. I’m a big fan of urban planning advocate Jason Slaughter, who re-popularized the term and promotes better alternatives to urban design via his channel Not Just Bikes. (Cities are for people, not cars!)

We should study areas near the universities to close to regular car traffic. Rather than council arbitrarily choosing these locations, students, faculty, and local residents should decide where pilot projects begin.

The same logic is true for the ION train. While it’s too late to choose a different path for the rails now, we can nearly eliminate these constant car-train collisions just by prohibiting car traffic along busy ION routes.

Well lit, well-maintained, and well-travelled public spaces are safest!

I strongly believe democracy is better with more voices. It can start locally with small, simple changes like allotting more time for public review and comments as we work up to more systemic changes like lowering the voting age to 16.

Municipal councils can formally add youth delegates to every committee, ensuring perspectives are heard and decisions made by council are transparently communicated back to younger constituents.

With all that said, voter participation is at record lows, especially in municipal elections and by younger voters. People stopped voting because they stopped believing their vote matters. To this great, untapped voter pool I would say: vote like the planet depends on it, because it literally does. It’s true that the First Past the Post electoral system is rigged against us by the billionaire class, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be beaten electorally if we organize.

I moved to Waterloo for school and stayed to raise a family, so I can relate. It seems that people stay where they study primarily for two reasons: opportunity and belonging.

It goes without saying that Waterloo has myriad tech sector opportunities. Though salaries and VC firms don’t compare with those in San Francisco, entrepreneurs in Waterloo are lucky to have one of the best startup communities in the world. The opportunity problem is with the cost of living; it shouldn’t be necessary for aspiring business owners to starve while they try to get their venture off the ground.

Waterloo has been a welcoming home to diverse communities for decades, but we’ve seen this progress recently reversed by increased hate. How can international newcomers to the Region feel a sense of belonging when local MP Kelly DeRidder tried to cancel the family-friendly Palestinian Festival for being a ‘terrorist event’?

Jerry Jiang

No response was received by the questionnaire deadline.

Contact
team@jerryjiang.com
www.jerryjiang.com

Dorothy McCabe

Waterloo would not be Waterloo without its post-secondary institutions, students, faculty and staff.

Students’ ideas, research, work and community involvement make Waterloo stronger today.

My commitment is to represent students as full members of our community.

I will be clear about what the City can deliver directly and where partnership is needed with the Region, post-secondary institutions and other governments.

I will continue to listen, communicate openly and advocate for a Waterloo where students can:

Find a safe and attainable home.
Travel affordably and safely.
Access community supports.
See a future for themselves after graduation.

Contact:
dorothymccabe.ca
info@dorothymccabe.ca

Students are essential to Waterloo’s community and future.
I will keep housing supply a core priority, particularly purpose-built rental, student housing near campus and complete communities served by frequent transit.
The City can help through clear planning rules, appropriate density near transit, efficient approvals and a mix of unit sizes and price points.
We must also enforce strong property standards and work with the Region, universities, student associations, developers and senior governments on below-market and supportive housing.
Municipalities cannot solve affordability alone, but we can plan for enough homes—and the right kinds of homes—for students and lower-income renters.
Universities also have an important responsibility to house students. I welcome the University of Waterloo’s new residence, which will particularly benefit first-year students and strengthen campus life.

Affordability includes groceries, transportation, utilities, recreation, mental-health supports and everyday fees—not only rent.
I support affordable access to recreation, libraries, neighbourhood facilities and community programs.
City fees should be transparent, fair and proportionate, with reduced-fee or barrier-free options where appropriate.
Municipalities are not primary health-care funders, but we can support wellbeing through housing stability, public spaces, recreation, community connection and partnerships.
I will continue advocating for provincial investments in mental health, addictions, supportive housing and post-secondary operating funding.
Waterloo has invested significantly in parks and outdoor spaces, including Waterloo Park upgrades, with more work planned.
Residents and students can share feedback through EngageWR.ca.
Through Healthy Waterloo, we are working with the University, Region and City partners to make Waterloo a healthier community.

Reliable, affordable transit is vital for students, workers, seniors and families.
As a Regional Councillor, I have strongly advocated for investment in Grand River Transit and the ION LRT system.
Working with Regional Councillor James, I helped advocate for the return of the Night Bus.
I also raised concerns about late-night connections between GO Transit and GRT; staff reviewed better schedule alignment.
My priorities include:
- Frequent, reliable service linking campuses, student neighbourhoods, jobs and essential services.
- Restoring Route 9 service and planning around real student travel needs, including evening classes and co-op work.
- Supporting the U-Pass as an affordability and mobility tool.
- Safe, accessible stops and clear service-disruption communication.
- Continued provincial and federal advocacy for operating and capital funding.
The U-Pass remains a strong partnership that should be protected.

No student should feel unsafe walking, cycling or waiting for transit.
I support streets designed around people—not only vehicles.
Around campuses and student neighbourhoods, priorities include:
- Safer crossings and lower vehicle speeds where people walk and cycle.
- Protected, connected cycling routes.
- Accessible sidewalks, transit stops and stations.
- Lighting that improves visibility while respecting nearby residents.
Improvements should be guided by collision data, user experience and feedback from students, residents and people with disabilities.
Winter maintenance is also essential: sidewalks, cycling routes, crossings and transit access must be cleared reliably.
The City continues to improve winter operations and communicate service standards and hazard-reporting options.
I will work with Regional Council and universities on practical upgrades along key student travel routes.

I want students to see Waterloo as a place to build a long-term future.
Students are not temporary observers: they are residents, workers, volunteers, innovators, renters and voters.
Their perspectives should help shape decisions on:
- Housing and transportation.
- Public safety and recreation.
- Climate action and economic development.
I support regular, structured engagement with student governments and student-led organizations—not only one-time consultations.
This means early engagement on major planning and transportation initiatives, accessible meeting formats, evening participation opportunities and clear reporting on what we heard.
Student representation on the Town and Gown Committee is valuable and helps City Council better understand campus and student-community issues.

Waterloo benefits when graduates can build careers and lives here.
Retaining talent requires attainable housing, dependable transit, local opportunities and a strong sense of community.
My priorities include:
- Increasing rental housing suitable for young professionals.
- Building complete, transit-connected neighbourhoods.
- Supporting Waterloo’s innovation ecosystem.
- Connecting graduates with local employers through post-secondary institutions, Communitech and economic-development partners.
Safe public spaces, recreation, culture, inclusive neighbourhoods, active transportation and support for small businesses all help make Waterloo a place people choose to stay.
Graduates entering contract or uncertain work especially need attainable rentals and reliable transit.
I have engaged local businesses on trade and tariff uncertainty, supported the Support Local campaign and helped advance the Waterloo Region AI Coalition to strengthen small businesses and create co-op opportunities.

Shannon Weber

I want students to know you’re not just visitors— you’re part of this community. That means showing up in the university district between elections, not just during them, and building real consultation into how decisions get made, not treating it as a box to check after the fact. As mayor, I want Waterloo to be a place students choose to stay in — and that starts with listening to you now, while you’re still here.

Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts and goals as it relates to students in our community.

Warm regards,
Shannon

Team Shannon Weber for Mayor 2026

Contact:
www.shannonweber.ca
i nfo@shannonweber.ca

Affordable housing for all residents of Waterloo is important, and students are part of that picture. I’d speed up approvals for purpose-built rental near campus, review zoning in the university district to allow more missing-middle housing — triplexes, fourplexes, secondary suites. Faster, predictable approvals bring costs down without sacrificing building quality or neighbourhood character.

Affordability isn’t just about rent — it’s fees, food, and mental health access too. I’ll keep municipal fees predictable and transparent, so students aren’t hit with surprise increases, and protect city support for the community organizations – like House of Friendship, where I’ve volunteered – that many students rely on for food security. Mental health services are largely a Regional and provincial responsibility, but as mayor I’d use the City’s seat at that table to advocate hard for better youth and student access.

GRT, ION, and the U-Pass fall under the Region of Waterloo. As Mayor I will also have seat on Regional Council, and I’ll use that voice to push for reliable, frequent service on routes students depend on and to keep the U-Pass affordable. My approach to transit generally is consultative: build the connections people actually use and be honest about what the City controls versus what needs Regional or provincial partners.

This is a City responsibility, and it matters for students walking and cycling at all hours. I’d prioritize crossing improvements and lighting around the university district, consistent winter maintenance on sidewalks and bike lanes near campus (not just roads), and a safety review done with student input, not just staff assumptions, since students are the ones using these routes at 11pm in February.

I’ve served on Waterloo’s Town & Gown Committee, so I’ve seen firsthand how much stronger decisions are when students are in the room. I’d keep that committee active and effective, push for a formal student seat or advisory role on relevant committees, and hold regular open forums in the university district — not just at election time.

I’ve spent my career building partnerships between local business, post-secondary institutions, and government, and that’s exactly what retention requires. I’d keep strengthening ties between the City, our universities, and local employers so co-op leads to real jobs here and make sure there are affordable starter-home and rental options so graduates can actually put down roots instead of being priced out.

Waterloo City Council – Ward 6

Damian Mikhail

Election after election, political candidates put their names forward, running on small tweaks to the same broken system. And every election, turnout among young people remains low. It’s easy for political analysts to look back on those elections, blaming young people for their low turnout, describing them as apathetic.

But when I speak with students, I don’t see apathy, but rather a disengagement with a political system that has offered them no options. We cannot continue this politics of passivity that offers no true avenue for change.

The solution to apathy isn’t shame, but an ambitious policy platform that will make material impact on our lives. This is the driving force of my approach to politics. It is time to build a municipal government that doesn’t hide itself behind vague corporate nonsense. It is time to build a city that you can rely on to improve your life directly.

Contact:
damian@damianforward6.ca
damianforward6.ca

Canada is in one of the worst housing crises in the world. Yet within our government, a culture of passivity has taken hold. We cannot rely on small tweaks to the same broken system to dig us out of this crisis. We cannot as a city of this size rely on non-profits alone to save us. It is time we tackled this crisis directly.

We will establish a Public Builder. Waterloo will build the housing we need directly, taking on rent costs and subverting the corporate profit motive that drives so much of our housing today. This is how we will build housing at a scale that truly makes a difference.

This will be done alongside a surge in overall housing stock, both through making it easier to build and through using our Public Builder to pressure developers to stop sitting on underutilized land, get their shovels in the ground, and get building.

Through the unemployment crisis, groceries, housing, and tuition, student budgets are under attack. That’s why as last year’s WUSA president, I advocated for the expansion of WUSA’s Pay-What-You-Can program and also led our record-breaking protests against Doug Ford’s OSAP Cuts.

This work will continue. We will fight for a public Southwestern Food Terminal to tackle grocery prices and join alongside students in their calls to reverse the OSAP cuts and move towards free tuition. We will also work to tackle the mental health crisis through funding third spaces, parks and pedestrianization.

As a young person myself, I understand the core problems affecting student lives. I will fight nonstop alongside students directly and ensure they know they have a city government that works for them.

Transit is a core piece of my political history. In 2023, I led the drive that brought Night Transit, known as “Route 91” to Waterloo. Before this, the region proposed major cuts to the Ion’s off-peak service, taking service from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes. I led the campaign that successfully prevented those cuts.

I will continue to fight for transit. I will use my platform to organize alongside students and other residents to not just reverse last year’s cuts to GRT bus routes such as the 9, 13, 19, and 30, but truly create a frequent and reliable transit system with a strong late-night network.

Walking, cycling, and transit, are all deeply important and deserve full answers on their own, but I will keep it brief.

We will build a true separated network of bike paths, not simply underutilized death traps along major roadways. We will do the small work at a large scale, like finding places for pedestrian crossings, space for lighting and seating, and a city-wide project to beautify our major pedestrian pathways.

Most importantly it is time to bring in Universal Snow Clearing to Waterloo. That means it is time for the city to clear the sidewalks of snow every winter. The status quo of building impassible mountains of snow, making movement impossible and our ability to spend time with our friends and community increasingly difficult, will not continue.

Any politician can promise to listen. These committees are important but should be viewed as the bare minimum. I will do the work, going out of my way to meet with student clubs and organizations to seek out problems before they boil over. My work will not simply be another vote on council, but a continuation of my work as an organizer alongside students directly.

But students are not looking for another voice at the table. They are not simply looking to be heard.

They are looking for actions that make an impact. That is why my platform centres policy that will materially improve the lives of students. That is why I am fighting for a Public Builder to tackle our rent costs, a Renters Protection Office to crack down on absentee landlords and slumlords, and Universal Snow Clearing so we can get around our city year-round.

We must build a city that attracts workers and businesses with affordable and worthwhile living. We need a Waterloo where the streets are vibrant, there’s community for everyone, with events that are exciting. I will work with the universities, the Uptown Waterloo BIA, and the local businesses that keep this city moving, and our graduates themselves, to build that Waterloo.

Mary Lou Roe

Waterloo comes alive each September when students return to campus. The energy, ideas, and vibrancy students bring make our city a better place. As a UW graduate, I know what a special community this can be, and I want students to enjoy their time here, feel connected and supported, and see Waterloo as a place where they may choose to build a future.

Whether students need help navigating a local issue, want to get involved in the community, or have ideas for making Waterloo better, I want them to know their voice matters at City Hall. I want to be a councillor students know they can turn to, and I would be honoured to earn your vote for Ward 6 Councillor.

Contact:
226-581-8085
marylouforwaterloo@gmail.com
marylouforwaterloo.ca

As Ward 6 City Councillor, I will continue supporting rental housing growth across Waterloo. Students are part of the broader rental market, and increasing rental supply creates more choice and can help improve affordability over time.
Northdale is a good example. The neighbourhood has evolved for about 15 years, with continued housing development close to our universities and transit. I support appropriate housing in areas like Northdale while ensuring existing rental housing is safe and well maintained through rental licensing and property-standards enforcement.
I also support increasing affordable and attainable housing. The 2025 University Avenue East project will add more than 1,000 homes, including affordable rental and ownership housing. More affordable options can help students while also giving graduates opportunities to stay in Waterloo.
Through Town and Gown and conversations with student associations and students, I hear directly about housing challenges and will continue bringing those perspectives to Council.

For students, affordability and wellbeing go beyond housing. The City should reduce barriers to food, recreation, community connection, and participation—particularly for students balancing high living costs, work, and school.
I support using the Town and Gown food security findings to strengthen connections between students and local food supports, campus programs, and community partners. The City can also help by ensuring students know where to find services and by supporting accessible spaces where people can connect, participate, and access low-cost recreation and programs.
Affordable, inclusive recreation and community programs should remain a City priority for people of all incomes and abilities. Municipal budgets and fees should be considered through an affordability lens while maintaining reliable, sustainable services.
Mental-health care is primarily a Regional and Provincial responsibility, but the City can support wellbeing through safe public spaces, community connection, recreation, housing advocacy, and coordinated advocacy to other levels of government for the resources Waterloo needs.

Reliable, frequent and affordable transit is essential for students travelling to campus, work, housing, co-op placements and appointments. Through my conversations with students and student associations, I have heard how important dependable transit is to their daily lives. While GRT and ION are Regional responsibilities, I will continue to advocate to my Regional counterparts for service levels that reflect student travel patterns, including evenings, weekends and peak academic periods.
The Late Night Loop is particularly important in Ward 6. It provides students and other residents with a safer, accessible way to travel after regular service hours. I also support maintaining a strong, affordable U-Pass program.
The City has an important role in making transit work well. I have strongly supported more housing, services, and employment near major bus routes and ION stations, along with safe walking and cycling connections to transit stops.

Students should be able to walk, cycle, and take transit safely between campus, work, home, and community activities at all hours. I have supported Waterloo’s Vision Zero approach and the City’s road-safety and traffic-calming program, which uses collision and traffic data to identify locations for improvement.
Several projects in the university area are especially important. At Columbia and Phillip Streets, road-safety work includes pedestrian-signal changes, with further lighting improvements planned. Phillip Street between University and Columbia was reduced to 40 km/h in 2025. I also supported the 2025/26 pilot to improve snow clearing on Columbia Street, helping make winter walking safer for students travelling to campus.
I will continue supporting practical improvements to crossings, cycling infrastructure, lighting, sidewalks, and winter maintenance—particularly on routes heavily used by students. Safe, reliable travel should be available year-round, whether students are walking, cycling, or connecting to transit.

Students are an important part of Waterloo’s community and should be recognized as residents, neighbours, workers, and contributors to the city’s future. As a councillor, I will stay connected to student perspectives through the Town and Gown Committee, conversations with student representatives and community organizations, and campus and community events.
That connection matters because student concerns do not always arrive through formal City processes. It helps identify issues early, bring them forward at City Hall, and connect students with appropriate City, Regional, University, or community resources.
My engagement includes UW events, Dinner on King, conversations about food security, international students, belonging, and neighbourhood concerns, and responding to rental housing concerns by connecting students with City By-law staff.
I support a strong Town and Gown Committee and meaningful student involvement on City committees and advisory bodies, giving students clear avenues to raise concerns, share local knowledge, and help inform the City.

Keeping graduates in Waterloo means making it possible to build a life here. We want students to stay, bringing their knowledge, skills, expertise and energy into our local economy and community.
That means housing people can afford, reliable transportation, vibrant neighbourhoods, recreation and cultural opportunities, and a sense of belonging. As Ward 6 City Councillor, I would continue supporting more housing options near transit and employment areas, active transportation connections, and complete communities where daily needs are accessible.
I would also support local economic-development efforts that connect students, employers, entrepreneurs and community organizations. Waterloo benefits enormously from the talent developed at our post-secondary institutions. By supporting housing, connected neighbourhoods, transportation, local employment and opportunities to participate in community life, we can make staying in Waterloo a realistic option for new graduates—and ensure Waterloo continues to benefit from the knowledge, skills and contributions of the people who studied here.

Waterloo City Council – Ward 7

Abdullah

No response was received by the questionnaire deadline.

Contact:
abdullahforwaterloo@gmail.com

Julie Wright

No response was received by the questionnaire deadline.

Contact:
wrightward7@gmail.com
www.wrightward7.com

Regional Council – Waterloo

Jim Erb

No response was received by the questionnaire deadline.

Contact:
www.jimerb.ca
jim@jimerb.ca

Chantal Huinink

Contact:
reelectchantalhuininkwr2026.ca
reelectchantalhuininkwr2026@gmail.com

In my first term on Regional Council, I partnered with provincial and federal government representatives, developers, and community organizations to protect and expand affordable housing supports and services because everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, including students.

Everyone should have access to quality, safe, and affordable housing that does not exceed 30% of their monthly income. I will support every opportunity presented to Regional Council which enables Waterloo Region to partner with post-secondary institutions and non-profit housing providers to increase our affordable and deeply affordable housing stock.

I will listen to the concerns of students and do everything I can to ensure they have what they need to live their best lives and put down roots in Waterloo for long-term success if they wish!

Residents of all ages, but especially those who are still establishing themselves as adults in Waterloo Region, need access to affordable, reliable public transit, nutritious food, and local health and safety initiatives.

My main priorities for the coming term include expanding public transit and enhancing local health and safety initiatives, including but not limited to the vaccine bus, Neighbourhood Nursing, the Community Paramedicine Program, and the community safety and well-being plan.

I think it is incumbent upon Regional Council to continue to look for longer term strategies and solutions that improve affordability overall and ensure regional services and programs are efficiently provided.

In my first term, I championed active transportation, micromobility, and affordable public transit. The more people who have access to public transit, the better. Knowing how important the UPass is to post-secondary students and how valuable it is to the regional transit system as a whole, I aim to expand eligibility so more and more residents can access transit affordably, and rely on it.

In my second term, I will continue to prioritize making our region’s transit affordable, accessible, and able to get you where you need to go. I aim to expand and enhance GRT services and fair payment options because transit supports environmental sustainability, economic development, social mobility, and provides the link to all social determinants of health.

I personally commute via multi-use trails using my power wheelchair and know first hand the importance of maintaining safety in these spaces. One of my priorities for the next term on Regional Council is to enhance health and safety initiatives.
This includes advocating for complete streets; safe spaces to walk, run, cycle, roll, and use transit or drive. I will work with active transportation advocates, the regional transportation team, and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to ensure that cycling lanes and multi-use trails are as safe as possible.

24-hour services is a valuable part of the GRT Business Plan that I will push forward in my next term on council.

In the coming term of Council, I plan to have a community consultation in a different ward of Waterloo each month. It is my goal to make sure that residents of all ages and phases of life are aware of this and are encouraged to contribute. Knowing that students are busy and schedules are always changing, I will also keep my social media presence active and encourage students to connect with me whenever it is convenient for them, bringing the feedback I receive to Regional Council.

I will most certainly advocate for students’ input on all regional committees, programs, services, and policies. I will ensure that all students who contact me with respect to a specific issue are informed about Regional decisions that matter to them and encourage them to delegate to Regional Council at the appropriate time on these subjects.

All regional decisions impact everyone living in the Region, including students!

As Regional Councillor, I feel it is my responsibility to ensure that everyone has access to a safe and affordable place to live, and a job where they feel valued and can contribute their skills and talents. I will continue to work with Waterloo Region’s economic development team, business, and tech sectors to promote the growth of our economy and opportunities for new graduates. I will also fight to expand our affordable housing stock and enhance our transit system so that the asset of a personal vehicle is not required when one is starting their career.

Soo Bok Lee

As a 23-year resident of Waterloo Region—a mother, congregation member, small business owner, and Personal Support Worker (PSW)—I have lived through our region’s core challenges firsthand: rising taxes, increasing rent prices, long wait times for care services, and small businesses struggling to stay afloat. I am running as your neighbor to bring practical solutions, direct representation, and dedicated advocacy for our entire community.

Contact:
519-500-5797
sobokdh24@gmail.com

There is a growing opportunity to connect older adult residents willing to share their homes with post-secondary and university students. This intergenerational housing model creates a vibrant, supportive environment while significantly improving living affordability and fostering strong intergenerational connections.

Shared rental arrangements provide substantial financial and personal benefits for students. By sharing housing, students can lower essential living costs—including grocery shopping, shared meal preparation, and utilities like hydro. Beyond economic relief, co-living creates a welcoming, home-like atmosphere that enhances the overall student experience.

To better serve the student body, local public transit systems—including Grand River Transit (GRT) and the ION light rail—require enhanced service frequencies on weekends. Additionally, transit planning should explicitly accommodate student placement and internship locations, while introducing weekend getaway transit options to support student life and regional exploration.

Safety can be enhanced through active civic involvement. Initiating student police academy programs alongside local neighborhood community police academies will foster meaningful engagement, build trust, and promote safer communities for students and long-term residents alike.

Students represent a vital demographic within the community. Formal student representation should be expanded across municipal committees and key advisory bodies to ensure student voices actively shape policy decisions.

To encourage graduates to remain in the Waterloo Region, we must build inclusive work environments, cultivate welcoming neighborhoods, and strengthen local partnerships that integrate students into the broader community fabric.

Lindsay Manary

I will treat student input as essential, not optional, and make sure you have clear, accessible ways to share your experiences and priorities. I would encourage on-going dialogue not only with the Region but also with vital community partners who play an important role in student and community development.

Contact:
519-588-7521
elect@lindsaymanary.ca
www.lindsaymanary.ca

I would work with municipalities/private developers and the universities to increase purpose-built “rental housing” within walking distance. This will reduce pressure on low-income areas. I would also support the use of inclusionary zoning, density incentives to ensure that new developments have units available for low-income renters. Advocate for increased transit connectivity and frequency to areas further away from the schools. I would also push for eviction-prevention supports and rent stabilization.

I would focus on collaboration between the Region, Universities/Colleges and community health partners to expand availability and access to mental health supports, including extended hours for walk-in support and look at further collaboration with medical facilities close to major transit connections for easier access.

I support and will advocate for further funding to the food bank to support student specific food insecurity and to expand food pick up locations close to student centered areas.

I will champion for increased frequency and connectivity for students on transit. Particularly in out lying areas so students are able to leave and decompress without worrying about late service not being available.

I would strongly advocate for increased service and frequency, especially during evenings and weekends. I will look at strengthening and protecting the U-Pass program and advocate for stronger connectivity between main corridor areas. I support the extension of phase 2 of the ION to provide further connectivity to Cambridge.

I would look to upgrading high-pedestrian areas with controlled signals, better signage and lighting, and traffic-calming measures. I will advocate for further speed enforcement in student populated areas and ensure new development areas are well designed with real usage patterns in mind.

I will advocate for more bike storage at ION and major transit locations so that students are encouraged to cycle to their major connections and can leave their bikes while taking conventional transit without fear of theft or damage.

I will put forward a motion to allocate further funding (working with municipalities) for winter maintenance on main trails around the university.

I would absolutely support, encourage and advocate for student representation on committees. Decisions that affect them need to include them and their thoughts, concerns and suggestions. I would encourage regular dialogue with students and feel a committee could be formed with representation from Council and the Region, Students, WRPS, City of Waterloo, GRT and other community partners. Meeting quarterly would give all parties a consistent opportunity to discuss what matters to the student community and explore concerns, solutions, and preventative measures.

I would look to create a funding incentive for local companies to hire students post- graduation. I would also advocate to create a “business connections” group that could meet periodically like the business and development communities already do so that local businesses and students can meet in an informal setting and network.

Chris Moser

I believe financial stability starts with fiscal responsibility.

My goal will be to make our community an affordable place where you decide to stay after you graduate.

Thank you for the questions and I appreciate the opportunity to connect with you all.
Chris Moser

Contact:
226-898-4256
www.chrismoser.ca
info@chrismoser.ca

I see this as a three part problem.

Time from permits to construction is much longer than it needs to be. Which takes away from availability.
Red tape adds to the cost of projects reducing affordability.
Design requirements can becomes unnecessarily complex and expensive where most students just want a clean, safe and affordable place to live.

Unnecessary burdens on all businesses get passed right along to the consumer. I have seen this frustrating dynamic through my 43 years of business practice in the Region. I aim to bring a focus on efficient use of tax payer dollars.

The loss of 25,000 international students that used to contribute towards the U-Pass is putting a larger strain on the funding the GRT receives. I don’t currently see how we can increase local ridership so my immediate position without having access to financial records would be to maintain as is. I’m hoping to find out more on this issue and to provide a plan of action.

This isn’t something that has come up in my canvassing or meet and greets so I’m not familiar with any particulars. I will collaborate with stakeholders and law enforcement to assess any deficiencies surrounding the university areas and to come up with adequate solutions where required.

The energy that students can bring to local politics would be great for our community and is something I’m very much open to.

Having an attractive city where students see Waterloo as a place that is great to start a family, a business, an adult life should be a priority to us all. Making Waterloo more attractive includes everything that has been asked for in this questionnaire: clean, safe and affordable housing, efficient transit, lower burdens on businesses and all of the above is how we achieve this.

Rami Said

I’m Waterloo-born. I’ve built businesses and hired people here. I’m running because residents deserve straight answers and a councillor who shows up between elections.

Water before corporate expansion. No more NDAs that hide how we got into a water crisis. Show up in the neighbourhood. Work with groups like WUSA who already know what’s happening on the ground.

If you email vote@ramisaid.ca, I read it myself. Hope to see you October 20 at WUSA’s candidate event, and thanks for voting.

Contact:
519-577-1091
vote@ramisaid.ca
www.ramisaid.ca

Students need places they can actually afford near campus and transit. At the Region, I would push for more purpose-built rental and supportive housing, and for growth that doesn’t outrun water, transit, and services.

I also care about landlord accountability. Too many rentals are left to rot while students still pay high rent. That hurts students and the neighbourhoods around campus.

I’m not anti-growth. I want housing built the right way: safe, affordable, and backed by the infrastructure to support it.

Affordability isn’t just rent. It’s transit, food, and getting help when you’re struggling.

At the Region I would fight to protect funding for mental health and food security programs that students and young residents rely on, including partnerships with campus and community agencies.

I also want tax dollars spent on things people actually use, not locked up behind NDAs and decisions nobody can explain. Young people deserve a councillor who shows up between elections, not just when it’s time to ask for a vote.

I’m pro-transit and pro-ION. Students are some of the heaviest GRT and ION riders, so reliable service and fair student fares like the U-Pass matter.

I support expanding transit, including better buses and better connections to underserved neighbourhoods. But we also need to be honest about costs and make sure the basics work for people who already live here.

At Regional Council I would push for transit decisions that put riders first: frequency, winter reliability, and getting students to class, work, and home without treating them as an afterthought.

Students walk, bike, and take transit at all hours. Safe crossings, lighting, bike routes, and real winter maintenance aren’t extras.

A lot of street work sits with the City, but Regional roads and transit stops still shape how safe that trip feels. I would push to treat student-heavy corridors as a priority, and I would bring student and neighbourhood voices into those conversations.

Nobody should have to risk their safety getting between campus, work, and home because the basics weren’t kept up.

Yes. Students are residents, not guests for eight months of the year.

I would consult students the same way I plan to consult everyone else: open office hours near campus, neighbourhood walks, and ongoing work with WUSA and other student groups. Not just a questionnaire at election time.

I support more formal student representation on advisory bodies when Regional decisions affect housing, transit, safety, and services. If policy hits campus life, students should be in the room.

To keep grads here, we need housing they can afford, transit that works, and good local jobs, without burning through our water and infrastructure.

I’m pro-responsible growth. Attract investment and jobs, but put drinking water and existing residents first. That includes saying no to water-hungry data centres until our supply is protected.

I also want major economic projects explained in plain English so people can see the business case. If staying after graduation is going to be realistic, the basics have to work.

Sarvesh Pratap Singh

I have spent more than a decade working with student-focused organizations, and through my work in a student federation, I have supported students, advocated for their needs and helped create opportunities for their voices to be heard.
Empowering the student voice is also one of the priorities of my campaign. I believe students should have a meaningful seat at the table when decisions are being made about issues that affect their lives. Through my involvement with Town and Gown and other community initiatives, I have listened to students’ concerns and participated in conversations about the issues that matter to them and the broader Waterloo community.

My approach is simple: listen, engage and work together. I want students to know that I will be approachable and available to hear their concerns—not just during an election, but throughout the term.

Contact:
647-527-7040
talktosarvesh@gmail.com
www.sarveshsingh.ca

Through my work in a student federation, I have seen firsthand how housing affordability and availability can affect students’ education, financial stability and overall experience in our community.
As a Regional Councillor, I would work with universities, colleges, student organizations, municipalities and community groups to identify practical housing solutions. This could include exploring underused spaces and properties that may have potential for safe, affordable student accommodation, while meeting appropriate planning, safety and housing standards.
I would also explore a student-friendly landlord program that connects responsible landlords with students through trusted community and post-secondary partners. This could provide students with information about safe rentals and tenant responsibilities, while giving landlords access to a better-informed pool of potential tenants.

My volunteer experience as a Town & Gown Community Representative has also helped me understand the relationship between students and the broader community.
For young residents, affordability is about more than housing. I would support stronger connections between students and existing Regional and community services, particularly around mental health, food security and employment support. I would also encourage partnerships with universities, colleges, student organizations and community groups to identify gaps and develop practical programs.
My priority is to listen to young residents, connect them with resources and strengthen partnerships that make our community more affordable, supportive and welcoming.

My priority would be to ensure student experiences are part of conversations about transit service, fares and the U-Pass. I would focus on listening to students, working with universities, colleges and student organizations, and bringing their feedback into Regional discussions. I would also be interested in understanding how current fare structures and the U-Pass are working for students, particularly as affordability continues to be a concern.

As a Regional Councillor, my role would be to ask questions, understand the available data and advocate for informed discussions around service levels, routes, affordability and student needs.

My priority would be creating safer connections between campuses, neighbourhoods and transit stops. This includes reviewing pedestrian crossings, advocating for appropriate lighting in areas with higher foot traffic, and supporting safe, connected cycling infrastructure.
I would work with universities, colleges, student organizations and the Region to identify locations where students experience safety concerns and use their feedback to help guide improvements. Cycling infrastructure should be practical and connected, with clear separation where appropriate and safer intersections.
Winter maintenance is especially important. Snow and ice can make normally accessible routes difficult or dangerous, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists. I would advocate for timely winter maintenance of Regional transportation infrastructure and work with the appropriate municipality on local pedestrian connections.

I would also support regular community and student conversations to identify problem areas and follow up on concerns. Students should feel safe getting to campus, work and home, whether they are walking, cycling or taking transit at any time of day.

I would support regular conversations with student associations, universities, colleges and student organizations to hear directly about issues affecting students, including housing, transit, safety and affordability. I would also look at creating a regular student-community forum where students can raise concerns and provide feedback on Regional priorities.
Students are residents and an important part of Waterloo Region. Their voices should be part of the conversation from the beginning, not added at the end.