Families shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent and buying food. While cities don’t control global prices, we can act locally:    
 •    Support community food programs, urban agriculture, and local markets to increase access to fresh and affordable food  
•    Reduce fees and barriers for small, local vendors so we’re not relying only on large chains like Loblaw Companies Limited and Sobeys, etc.    
 •    Innovative agricultural initiatives created within and for the city of Welland providing access to nutritious food at affordable pricing while generating revenue to fund other local and social supports.

Housing is the foundation of stability—and right now, too many are without it:   

 •    Fast-track affordable and supportive housing developments    

 •    Use a Housing First approach to help people move directly into stable housing  

 •    Partner with non-profits and builders to increase supply without delay     

•    Focus on prevention—keeping people housed before they fall into crisis

People are waiting too long for care, especially mental health and addiction services. As mayor, I will:    

 •    Push for more local investment from the province to meet our growing needs and keep the Welland hospital open

 •    Support mobile clinics and community health hubs in underserved areas     

•    Work to attract healthcare workers by making our city more affordable and livable

The imbalance between the need for supports and the resources available are obvious throughout the city. Creating additional supports and access through various municipal initiatives can ease the pressure on the health care system and make our streets that much safer.

Human Trafficking in the Niagara Region is at an all time high. Addressing this is essential to the welfare of the citizens of Welland. ​

• Hold regularly scheduled strategy meetings 

• Survivor centered housing and emergency services

• Youth Prevention and Education with a focus on creating safe spaces and activities within our city.

• Anti-Trafficking Training for the tourism industry

• Support for vulnerable communities

People who have mobility issues should have the same access to services, stores, restaurants and buildings that those who are physically abled do. 

• Discuss and raise awareness with individual business owners about their accessibility

• Check that essential services are accessible to those who are differently abled​

In regard to HOMELESSNESS & THE EXISTING SHELTER ON ONTARIO ROAD

When it comes to the existing shelter at 851 Ontario Road I agree with the neighboring residents about safety concerns. Continued support in its current form poses safety concerns not just for the public but also the people accessing the shelter services. My approach is NOT straightforward. Consideration of future operations can ONLY happen with community consultation. This includes but is not limited to: residents, police, shelter staff and people that are using the shelter services. Is everyone feeling this location is effective? If not, another location needs to be identified. This location is a wet shelter and that poses a need to discuss it with the Region as well. We can look to The Dunn House model in Toronto through the UHN, St Thomas-Elgin, London, Wellington-Guelph to adapt and implement appropriate strategies here.

As Mayor, I intend to have deeply affordable units being built again, as the wait list for regional housing can be more than 10 years. I've been looking at models across Canada that are having success building deeply affordable housing and reducing the number of unhoused people (particularly Burnaby BC). Focusing on a "housing first" model that works alongside wrap-around supports (mental health, addiction, etc) has proven success worldwide.

We will set up a taskforce of ALL stakeholders, including community members and volunteer groups for unhoused people and begin working toward solutions. I want to add that shelters are NOT THE SOLUTION to this much bigger problem.

My focus is "roofs over heads, food in bellies, people ALWAYS first!"

HEALTHCARE ADVOCACY & WELLAND HOSPITAL

A housing first approach with wrap-around services reduces strain on our already overwhelmed health care system. We need to ENGAGE with Niagara Health and the Ministry of Health to DEMAND that hospital services REMAIN AND ARE EXPANDED at Welland Hospital.

Future monetary requests from Niagara Health will ONLY be considered if there is a contract between the City of Welland AND Niagara Health GUARANTEEING continued operation of the EMERGENCY ROOM with future RESUMPTION of EMERGENCY SURGERIES.

We can attract family physicians and other health care providers by creating health hubs in Welland using the Canadian Doctors for Medicare model.

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY & GROWTH MANAGEMENT

We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, there are existing successful models across Canada that are getting people deeply affordable housing faster than we are. Burnaby BC is using an INCLUSIONARY RENTAL BYLAW and a COMMUNITY BONUS BENEFIT. These are not drag and drop models, they would require formatting for our community for greatest success.

We can measure success with the reduction in the number of people unhoused and reduced waitlist times for Niagara Regional Housing.

Welland is home to many amazing public greenspaces that we will continue to nurture and grow. We will protect our farmland and greenspaces from development that does not fit into Welland's plan.

Council and staff will review unused land and buildings for shovel ready plans and sites. Any plans for land remediation need to be transparent, clear, and involve our community such as the Mitech location and brownfields.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY & PROPERTY TAXES

Within my first 100 days as Mayor, council and staff will conduct a line-by-line review of the city budget. Every tax dollar will be treated with respect and tied to measurable outcomes through key performance indicators that will be reviewed by staff and council on a quarterly basis. Again, growth should pay for growth. This SHOULD NOT LAND on Welland’s TAXPAYERS.

INFRASTRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT CHARGES

Infrastructure is the foundation, a solid foundation leads to solid economic development. We will review CURRENT road and underground maintenance that is required. We need to look into existing plans and design phases to meet both present and future demands along with what has been delayed and reassess these priorities.

It is ESSENTIAL to pursue senior government funding through federal and provincial programs to find infrastructure associated with housing growth. It is important to publicly track housing approvals, construction and infrastructure capacity. We will NOT approve infrastructure costs without identifying our funding sources FIRST.

We will identify the infrastructure required BEFORE major growth is approved. We WILL NOT reduce development charges without FIRST identifying REPLACEMENT FUNDING.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION

I plan to meet with business owners, community members, and the chamber of commerce to truly listen to their needs and concerns.

A review and potential adjustment to the CIP’s for downtown and improving incentives is imperative to downtown revitalization.

I would like to have an increase in police patrols for community safety.

Deeply affordable housing contributes to economic growth by providing jobs and by housing people who are unhoused in a CONSTRUCTIVE WAY leads to a safer, more appealing community which in turn entices more businesses and industry to join our community…creating a perpetual cycle. Roofs over heads, food in bellies, people ALWAYS first.

Too many people are spending all of their income on rent/mortgages/taxes with nearly nothing left to put toward food or anything else. With deeply affordable housing, many more of Welland’s residents will be able to contribute to our economy.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

Surveys for residents to garner their opinions.

Plain language council agendas and public updates.

Quarterly town hall events at legions, clubs and community centres to facilitate open lines of communication with residents about upcoming projects, budgeting, upcoming votes on any kind of issues and most importantly to listen to residents when it comes to their wants, needs and concerns.