EVERY WEDNESDAY 1pm - 3pm!!! Bread & Bretzel

☕ COFFEE'S ON ME!

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Have something on your mind? A neighbourhood concern? An idea for making Ward 3 even better? Or maybe you just want to stop by and say hello?

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Come have a coffee with me — my treat! ☕

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Every Wednesday afternoon, I'll be at Bread & Bretzel in Tollgate Plaza for a couple of hours, meeting with neighbours and talking about the things that matter to you.

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No appointment. No speeches. No formalities.

Just pull up a chair and let's talk.

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📍 Bread & Bretzel — Tollgate Plaza
📅 Every Wednesday
⏰ 1:00–3:00 PM
☕ Your coffee or tea is on me!

What's on your mind?

🏡 Our neighbourhood
💰 Property taxes & affordability
🚗 Traffic & speeding
🚌 Transit
🌳 Parks & trails
🏗️ Development
💡 Your ideas for Ward 3
😊 Or just come say hello!

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I believe being your City Councillor means being available, approachable and connected to the community I represent.

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Sometimes the best conversations don't happen at City Hall.

They happen over a cup of coffee. ☕❤️

See you Wednesday!

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October 2, 2026

For the Record: My Responses to ACORN Waterloo Region’s 2026 Candidate Survey

 

At a recent Ward 3 meet-the-candidates meeting, Elliot Wand of Waterloo Region ACORN publicly questioned my support for ACORN's housing and tenant priorities.

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I welcome tough questions. Candidates should be challenged on their records and their positions.

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But those positions should also be represented accurately.

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Before that meeting, I had completed ACORN Waterloo Region's 2026 municipal candidate questionnaire, providing detailed answers on landlord licensing, inclusionary zoning, affordable housing, tenant legal support, rental replacement, renovictions, rent registries, tenant education, property standards enforcement and maximum indoor temperatures.

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When I challenged the suggestion that I was unsupportive of these issues, Elliot explained that ACORN had not yet released the questionnaire results.

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So rather than asking residents to rely on anyone else's characterization of my positions, I am publishing my complete responses here.

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Read them. Compare them. Make your own judgment.

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I respect the work organizations like ACORN do to bring attention to housing affordability, tenant protection and housing conditions. I will not necessarily agree with every organization on every policy detail, nor should any elected official be expected to.

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What I do believe is that renters deserve safe housing, fair treatment, effective enforcement and meaningful protection from bad-faith practices.

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My submitted answers reflect that.

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Housing affordability is one of the most serious challenges facing Waterloo. We need to protect tenants, preserve the affordable housing we already have, build substantially more housing, work with non-profit and co-operative housing providers, and prevent people from falling into homelessness.

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Below are the 12 questions ACORN asked me and the complete answers I submitted — without edits or summaries.

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Question 1:

Landlord Licensing / Registration

Landlord licensing and rental registration programs require landlords to register rental properties and comply with basic property standards. These programs can improve accountability, support bylaw enforcement, and help municipalities identify problem properties before issues become severe. Landlord licensing in Canada is not a federal or provincial requirement; instead, it is a responsibility of the municipal government. Brampton, Mississauga, London, Waterloo, Oshawa, Toronto, and Hamilton all already landlord licensing programs. 

 

Do you support implementing/strengthening a landlord licensing and/or rental registration program in your municipality?

Please share more information about your position (OPTIONAL)

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I strongly support effective landlord licensing and rental registration. Waterloo already has a rental licensing system, and I support strengthening it where needed to ensure rental properties meet appropriate health, safety and property standards and that tenants have a clear way to raise concerns. Waterloo also strengthened its rental housing rules in 2026, including new licensing requirements and protections related to renovictions. Good landlords should have little to fear from reasonable standards. The focus should be on accountability, proactive enforcement and protecting tenants from unsafe or poorly maintained housing, while making the system straightforward for responsible property owners.

 

Question 2: Inclusionary Zoning

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Inclusionary zoning policies require a portion of new residential developments to be permanently affordable for low- and moderate-income households. This tool helps create affordable housing in growing communities and promotes mixed-income neighbourhoods. In Canada, three major cities—Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver—as well as Richmond and Langford, B.C. and Edmonton, Alta. have formally enacted inclusionary housing policies.

Do you support expanding and strengthening inclusionary zoning policies to require affordable housing units in new developments? Please share more information about your position (OPTIONAL)

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I support strengthening inclusionary zoning as an important tool to create more affordable housing and mixed-income communities. Waterloo has already approved inclusionary zoning for major transit station areas, with implementation scheduled for July 1, 2027. I would support building on that framework where municipal and provincial rules allow, while monitoring market conditions so that we increase the supply of genuinely affordable homes without unintentionally slowing new housing construction. Affordable housing needs to be part of growth, not an afterthought.

 

Question 3: Non-Profit Acquisition Strategy

 

Non-profit housing providers often struggle to compete with private investors when affordable rental buildings are put up for sale. Municipal acquisition strategies can help preserve existing affordable housing by supporting non-profit organizations in purchasing rental properties.

Do you support municipal policies and funding mechanisms that help non-profit housing providers acquire and preserve affordable rental housing. Please share more information about your position (OPTIONAL)

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I support municipal policies and funding tools that help non-profit housing providers acquire and preserve existing affordable rental housing. Protecting affordable units that already exist is often more cost-effective than trying to replace them after they are lost to the private market. Municipalities should work with non-profit and co-operative housing providers, senior levels of government and community partners to preserve affordability, while ensuring public investments are transparent, financially responsible and deliver long-term value for residents.

 

Question 4: Tenant Defense Fund

 

Many tenants face eviction proceedings or housing-related legal challenges without access to legal representation. A municipal tenant defense fund could help connect tenants with legal support and advocacy services. Tenant Defense Funds exist in other cities, such as Hamilton and Toronto, to provide free legal assistance for tenant groups when going before the Landlord Tenant Board (LTB). This includes support for challenging renovictions/demovictions, tenant applications to stop chronic disrepair or harassment, tenant education/outreach and disputing Above the Guideline Increases in rent (AGIs).

 

Do you support establishing or funding programs that provide legal and advocacy support to tenants facing eviction or other housing-related disputes? Please share more information about your position (OPTIONAL)

 

I support providing tenants with access to legal information, advocacy and representation when they are facing eviction, renoviction, serious disrepair, harassment or significant rent increases. The Landlord and Tenant Board process can be difficult to navigate, especially for tenants who cannot afford legal help. A well-designed tenant support program can help ensure that residents understand their rights and that disputes are resolved fairly. I would support partnerships with existing legal clinics and community organizations to deliver this assistance efficiently and avoid unnecessary duplication.

 

Question 5: Definition of Affordable Housing

 

Many affordable housing programs define affordability based on market rents, which may not reflect what low-income households can actually afford. ACORN supports affordability definitions that are tied to household incomes for those in core housing need (ie. are spending more than 30% of their income on housing).

Do you support using income-based affordability measures aimed at households in core housing need when developing municipal affordable housing policies and programs? Please share more information about your position (OPTIONAL)

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I support defining affordability based on what people can actually afford to pay, not simply on average market rents. For households in core housing need, housing costs should generally not exceed 30% of household income. Municipal affordable housing programs should prioritize people with the greatest housing need and use clear income-based targets so that units described as “affordable” are genuinely affordable to the residents they are intended to serve.

 

Question 6: Rental Replacement Bylaw

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Rental replacement bylaws require developers to replace lost rental units when demolishing existing rental housing for a new building. These policies help prevent the loss of affordable rental homes during redevelopment. These bylaws already exist in Toronto, Mississauga, Kitchener, Oakville, and Guelph.

A strong Rental Replacement Bylaw includes allowing the tenant to return to a unit that is the same size, and at the same rent as before the demolition. The unit should be in the same location to allow tenants to stay connected to their community and workplaces. The Bylaw should also include provisions outlining compensation for the costs of moving, as well as support to help cover increased costs during the development period, or finding other accommodations for the tenant for the period at no extra expense to the tenant. Please share more information about your position (OPTIONAL)

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I support a strong rental replacement bylaw that protects tenants when existing rental housing is redeveloped. Growth and redevelopment should not result in long-term tenants being displaced from their communities or losing affordable housing. Where rental units are demolished, tenants should have meaningful right-to-return protections, comparable replacement units, appropriate moving assistance and support during the redevelopment period. These protections should be designed carefully so we can continue adding much-needed housing while ensuring existing tenants are treated fairly and are not left worse off because of redevelopment.

 

Question 7: Renoviction Bylaw

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Some tenants are displaced through "renovictions," where landlords use renovations as a reason to evict tenants and raise rents unnecessarily. Municipal renoviction bylaws can establish permitting requirements and protections to ensure renovations are legitimate and tenants' rights are respected. Strong bylaws must include:

• Proof from an engineer that the renovations are so extensive that the unit must be vacant

• Requirements for the landlord to provide temporary accommodations or a rent gap payment during renovations until the tenant can return to their unit at the same

• Moving costs to be covered by the landlord

 

Do you support implementing a renoviction bylaw that provides oversight and protections for tenants displaced by major renovations. Please share more information about your position (OPTIONAL)

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I strongly support renoviction protections. In fact, Waterloo has already moved in this direction with its new Rental Housing Renovation Licence Bylaw, which came into effect July 1, 2026. It requires landlords using an N13 for renovations to obtain a licence, provide building permits and professional confirmation that vacant possession is actually necessary. I support strong protections that ensure renovations are legitimate, tenants understand their rights, and displaced tenants receive appropriate accommodation or financial support. Renovations should improve housing — they should not be used as a loophole to remove tenants simply so rents can be dramatically increased.

 

Question 8: Rent Registry

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A public rent registry collects information on rental housing and rents being charged. This improves transparency, helps identify trends in rental affordability, enforces existing rules around renovictions and AGIs, and supports evidence-based housing policy.

 

Do you support creating a municipal or regional rent registry to improve transparency and monitoring of rental housing costs? Please share more information about your position (OPTIONAL)

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I support a rent registry as a tool to improve transparency and help municipalities better understand what is happening in the rental market. Reliable information on rents can help identify affordability trends, support enforcement of tenant protections, and lead to better evidence-based housing policy. Any registry should be designed to be simple, transparent and respectful of privacy, while giving tenants, policymakers and enforcement staff useful information to help protect affordable rental housing.

 

Question 9: Tenant Education Program

 

Many tenants are unaware of their rights under housing laws and are often misled by corporate landlords. Pro-active tenant education programs can help residents access information, avoid housing instability, and navigate disputes.

Do you support municipal funding for proactive tenant education and outreach programs? Please share more information about your position (OPTIONAL)

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I support proactive tenant education and outreach. Tenants should have clear, accessible information about their rights, responsibilities and where to turn for help before a problem becomes a crisis. Municipal funding should focus on practical education, multilingual resources where needed, and partnerships with legal clinics and community organizations so residents can get accurate advice quickly and navigate disputes with confidence.

 

Question 10: Public Registry of Rental Housing Enforcement

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Public registries can provide information about rental properties that have outstanding property standards violations, enforcement actions, or other compliance issues. Increased transparency helps tenants make informed housing decisions and encourages accountability. The City of Toronto's RentSafeTO program was recently expanded to include colour coded signs in apartment buildings to showcase the building's evaluation score (also available on the city's website). While landlords often request credit checks, references, paystubs etc to screen prospective tenants, tenants have no way of evaluating how well a landlord maintains their building. A registry and colour coded signs would help level the playing field.

Do you support creating a publicly accessible registry of rental housing enforcement actions and property standards violations? Please share more information about your position (OPTIONAL)

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I support greater transparency around serious or repeated property standards violations and enforcement actions. Tenants should be able to make informed decisions about where they live, just as landlords are able to screen prospective tenants. A public registry should focus on verified, meaningful compliance issues, be kept current, and include a fair process for correcting outdated or inaccurate information. Done properly, it can improve accountability, reward responsible landlords and help protect tenants from chronically poorly maintained housing.

 

Question 11: Maximum Temperature Bylaw

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Extreme heat poses serious health risks, particularly for seniors, children, and individuals with disabilities. As climate change impacts increase globally, extreme heat events, as well as day to day increases in average temperature are expected in our region. Maximum temperature bylaws protect tenants and vulnerable populations by  establishing indoor temperature standards and can require landlords to take reasonable measures to prevent unsafe heat conditions.

Do you support establishing a maximum indoor temperature bylaw for rental housing that enshrines the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that at least one room in every rental unit is kept below 26 degrees Celsius? Please share more information about your position (OPTIONAL)

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I support establishing reasonable maximum indoor temperature standards for rental housing. Extreme heat is increasingly a health and safety issue, particularly for seniors, children and other vulnerable residents. A 26°C standard for at least one room provides a clear and understandable expectation while still allowing flexibility in how landlords achieve it. Any bylaw should include practical implementation timelines, clear enforcement standards and appropriate consideration for building design and technical limitations, but tenants should not be expected to live in dangerously hot conditions.

 

Question 12: Additional Comments

 

Is there anything else you would like to share regarding housing affordability, tenant protections, rental housing quality, homelessness prevention, or other housing-related priorities?

 

Housing affordability is one of the most important challenges facing our community. I believe we need to protect tenants, preserve existing affordable housing, build substantially more housing of all types, and prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. Strong tenant protections and a healthy rental housing market should go hand in hand. That means enforcing property standards, preventing bad-faith renovictions, supporting tenants who need help navigating the system, working with non-profit and co-operative housing providers, and ensuring that new growth includes genuinely affordable housing. At the same time, municipalities cannot solve the housing crisis alone. We need sustained partnerships and funding from the provincial and federal governments. My goal is a Waterloo where renters are treated fairly, responsible landlords are supported, and people at every income level have a safe and affordable place to call home.

 

Consent

ACORN Waterloo Region intends to review, summarize, grade, and share candidate responses to this survey with our members. This information will help voters understand candidates' positions on tenant protections and housing issues.

By completing this survey you have consented that ACORN Waterloo Region will share your responses and assign a grade or assessment based on your responses to this survey. 

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✓

Agree

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