As we were unable to interview all of the candidates for ward councillors we reached out for comment on a number of key issues. Here are the responses we received.

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‍The Questions

1. Recently, the YES Shelter reported that four students (from Fleming and Trent) were looking for accommodation at the shelter. This demonstrates the difficulty that students, especially international students, experience when looking for safe and secure housing. What would you do in council to ensure that students arriving in Peterborough have a safe home?

2. For students graduating in Peterborough-Nogojiwanong it can be exceptionally difficult to find gainful employment within the city. Do you have plans to better support new graduates in finding meaningful work and help them stay in the city post-graduation?

3. On Saturday 24 September local artist and Drag Queen, Betty Baker, presented a story time event at the library with record numbers in turnout. However, there was a protest against her presence leading to a counter protest in support attended by some council members. In council how will you advocate for LGBT+ rights, especially for those identifying as Trans, Non-Binary, or otherwise gender non-conforming?

4. With the beginning of the development on Morrow Park there are concerns for the future of green-spaces in Peterborough-Nogojiwanong. Where do you stand on preserving green-spaces and building developments?

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The Answers

Kevin Duguay, Otonabee Ward

1. Student Housing is not necessarily a responsibility of City Council. Rather our two post-secondary institutions together with the City and our community can and should work together to ensure that safe and adequate housing/accommodations is available to the student population.
2. Similar to the above response, this is a shared responsibility and challenge for the City, its employers, our post-secondary institutions and employment agencies. I have hired local graduates from both Trent University and Fleming College..and this was based upon the relevancy of their schooling and work experience!
3. I have and will continue to advocate for an inclusive community!
4. Community growth and development must be balanced, sustainable, climate -change responsive and always striving to create a complete community. Morrow Park is being developed for community based recreation use, in a responsible and appropriate manner. The City's November 2011 Official Plan speaks to the importance of balanced growth and planning, which includes parks and recreation spaces and places.

Matt Crowley, Monaghan Ward

1. I was heartbroken when I read about this. To find yourself in a foreign country with no home after being promised housing is appalling. Unfortunately, this specific instance isn’t a municipal issue - it just boils down to a disingenuous and sneaky landlord. While it does highlight the larger issue of a lack of quality student housing, I would first need to find out what Trent or Fleming is specifically doing to address the issue on their own, see if any studies are currently being worked on or have been completed, and what those results are. If they determine that there is a lack of available and affordable student housing in Peterborough and require assistance from the municipality, then we can certainly look for ways to work with them to help fill that gap.
2. –
3. As I always have, by continuing to show unwavering love and support for all my LGTBQ+ friends and family!
4. Peterborough and the Kawarthas have some of the most beautiful greenspace and parks in Ontario, dare I say the world. People visiting from other countries come here and are amazed at the brilliance of it all, and it’s just one of the many reasons I love my city and will live here for the rest of my life – so I want to keep it that way. With Peterborough’s massive housing shortage, we need more residential and commercial development while finding smarter and greener ways to do so. We also have large amounts of undeveloped urban and industrial areas in the city that are available for use first without ever needing to touch greenspace.

Tom Wigglesworth, Monaghan Ward

1. Both Fleming College and Trent University should undertake building campaigns to expand on their student residences. Rental accommodation in Peterborough should also be encouraged through temporary tax incentives to builders for small and medium apartment buildings and for homeowners to create legal flats or rooms for rent.
2. Peterborough seems to have stalled in its attempts to encourage industries to locate here and that is not helpful in making Peterborough prosperous. We should continue to reach out to our surrounding townships for opportunities for development and growth, setting aside our differences, understanding that when they prosper so do we. 
3. It needs to be said that there are different expectations in regard to entertainment taking place in publicly funded facilities than in private ones. If it is a concern of the public that the entertainer may be acting in a lewd or overtly sexual manner then that needs to be addressed. If it is made known that this is not happening then that should dissuade people from protesting against the event. If overtly sexual behavior is happening, then there is no place for that in a publicly funded facility. I was not there but assume that the protesters were there with that concern. It was just a person in a costume reading a book after all. With the exception of those with mental or physical challenges no person for any reason should be given special treatment or accommodation by the municipal government. All Canadians have the same rights guaranteed by the laws of the land, with the municipal government giving a preferential option to the poor when it comes to financial considerations.  
4. It is necessary that we act as good stewards for our environment so that future generations can enjoy our green spaces. That being said, all development at some point took place on a green space and a balance must be maintained between the economic good of the community and the diminishment of the natural environment. Cautious development weighing the opposing goods must be implemented for society to grow. 

Carlotta James, Northcrest Ward

1. I will accelerate planning and approvals for more housing and promote vibrant neighbourhoods to improve liveability and affordability in Northcrest Ward. I will support the implementation of a task force to help develop a local comprehensive housing plan that incentivizes the creation of affordable housing units. 
2. I will enable a strong and diverse local economy that supports small businesses and entrepreneurs to help them start, grow, finance and manage their business. As a local entrepreneur and business owner, I have the lived experience and proven track record to know what it takes for businesses to thrive in Peterborough.
3. I will support community initiatives so we can all live in vibrant and inclusive neighbourhoods. I will facilitate neighbour-to-neighbour networks of support to build collective wellbeing and safer communities. At the heart of every vibrant neighbourhood are hubs where people can gather, share stories and build community. And, I am and will continue to be an ally and advocate for LGBT+ rights, and I believe strongly that community leaders like city councillors have a responsibility to show up and speak up in support of LGBT+ rights.
4. I am and will continue to be a champion for greenspace protection and stewardship. I am a leader in advocating for the protection of pollinators through the community group Peterborough Pollinators, a citizen-led group that I co-founded in 2015. I have also helped lead the forthcoming designation of Peterborough as a Bee City, a movement to support pollinator protection and sustainable cities. One of my greatest accomplishments was organizing a team of ultra-runners to follow the migration of the monarch butterfly from Peterborough to Macheros, Mexico in 2019. The Monarch Ultra relay run was the first-of-its-kind long distance marathon that crossed three countries and partnered with dozens of conservation organizations and municipalities to raise awareness for environmental action. As a councillor, I will advocate for the implementation of a Biodiversity Protection Plan to support the vision of our city being home to diverse pollinator and plant communities that contribute to resilient ecosystems and enhance urban biodiversity. I will also advocate for the preservation of green spaces and of our waterways, and for the protection of wildlife. And, I will bring forward local solutions to climate change so we can all benefit from a healthy and resilient environment for generations to come. I will champion the implementation of Peterborough's Climate Change Action Plan and support community-led climate initiatives including community gardens, tree planting, and tool libraries.

Lyle Saunders, Monaghan Ward

1. There’s no doubt of our national housing challenges in regards to availability and affordability for both renting and home-ownership needs. Council members must be open to respectful conversations being problem solvers for our community needs and challenges, such as finding new opportunities and approving plans for student housing needs. City staff and council should be working in partnership with our post-secondary institutions to prevent these repeat challenges, especially with the economic benefits our post-secondary students bring to our city. We need to ensure the proper problem solvers are elected and hired within our city’s public services. Each public service member/staff should also to be committed to ensuring proper follow-up on the changes made to ensure the desired results/solutions needed. I would also like to see safety checks for housing rentals like Kingston has, as I am concerned that these rentals may be used beyond safe capacity and also wonder if proper fire-safety standards such as proper egress windows and working smoke detectors are in place. I am a graduate from Fleming’s Fire, Safety and Security Management program and also a Post-Graduate from their Emergency Management program, and understand the importance and value of fire and safety inspections and preventative safety requirements.
2. Full-time and meaningful employment opportunities are a concern for me here in Peterborough. I’m a father of three amazing kids aged 10-16 and worry about their employment options, as I see that over the years full-time positions with benefits are being replaced more and more with limited contract positions. I know this is a huge challenge facing our post-secondary graduates. Council needs to continue in investing and in-turn implement more recommendations from our economic community partners such as PKED (Peterborough and the Kawartha’s Economic Development), Innovation Cluster and Community Futures organizations. These organizations provide our community with valuable research and recommendations on the required changes needed by our city, to maximize our economic potential. We need to elect as many problem solvers on city council that do not shy away from our city’s ever-changing economic needs and opportunities.
3. As a father with a child with Autism I understand the importance and value of inclusion.  I’ve been on the Board for the non-profit organization Heads Up for Inclusion and truly believe everyone should be welcomed within our city and can be a valued member of our community, regardless of age, race, gender-identity and sexual relationship. I believe we need more progressive candidates elected in all levels of government, who also have the willingness towards open and respectful conversations needed on the continued challenges regarding advocating LGBT+ rights.
4. We need to ensure a proper balance regarding our economy needs and environmental impacts. Peterborough was known for being a historic industrial city. Unfortunately a large environmental challenge for our city is needing to mitigate around these toxic properties. I believe if we approve rezoning of green-spaces into other use, we as city council need to ensure property else-where is rezoned to ensure a proper balance for ensuring our city's green space. Council needs to invest into more opportunities like the new zero-carbon initiative Fire Station being built. Council also needs to ensure our building plan approvals have as many hybrid/multi-use opportunities. (I.E. new residential development to existing buildings downtown, should require/include retail spaces on their ground floor, to prevent the removal of downtown’s “window shopping” spirit/needs).

Shauna Kingston, Northcrest Ward

1. One way that the council can help make sure that students, especially international students, can find safe and secure housing is to increase the number of available units in the city. The rental crisis means that there are not enough affordable units to accommodate the arrival of new students every fall. I think that the city should concentrate its efforts on increasing housing density not only in the downtown core but also in the residential areas surrounding Trent and Fleming. To make that happen, the council needs to make it easier to establish secondary units in existing homes and offer incentives for doing so. Another option includes partnering with the university and college to establish programs that pair incoming students with Peterborough families that are willing to host them for the school year or longer. These types of programs ensure that international students have safe accommodations upon arrival and help address some of the challenges of moving to a new country.
2. Unfortunately, Peterborough continues to have relatively high levels of unemployment making it difficult to find meaningful work, especially for recent Trent and Fleming graduates. While creating jobs should be high on the council’s list, we need to be careful about what types of industry and development we welcome into our city.  While we need to create jobs, these jobs need to be compatible with a socially and environmentally-just future – jobs in green technology, health care, and information technology for instance – jobs that pay well, offer stability and contribute to a sustainable and just long-term future. 
3. I am committed to a socially-just future and that includes LGBTQ+ rights and representation. It is important that we move away from restrictive notions of gender and sexuality and create more inclusive communities in which everyone can safely participate. It was for that reason that I was in strong support of the gender-neutral bathrooms at the Peterborough Wellness Centre and found it unacceptable that the council did not move forward with them. I strive to be an ally of the LGTBQ+ community, and should I be elected, my role as city councillor would be no exception. I have no hesitation in offering public support. 
4. Losing urban green space has far-reaching consequences that cannot be undone. It means losing biodiversity and it means losing the benefits such spaces offer our citizens - neither of which we can afford and neither of which can be offset by economic gain. I am opposed to prioritizing development over green space and that is why I have long opposed the parkway and want to see it stay off the city’s official plan. I oppose the Morrow Park development and support the committed group of citizens who continue to try to stop it. Green space protection is high on my list of priorities should I be elected. 

Joy Lachica, Town Ward

1. Get more housing units of all types and sizes built and retro-fitted in the Central Area so that more people can buy and rent, live in walkable and connected neighbourhoods, and reinvigorate our hollowed-out downtown. Support prioritizing public investment in affordable housing and seeing through the benefits of this public investment for those that are under-housed, ensuring safe, liveable, and attractive neighbourhoods. Actively engage with the province, the private sector and community partners to mobilize the tools and resources to make this happen quickly with positive community impact, including a requirement for affordable units and public place-making spaces.
2. Yes. One of my priorities is to enable a just transition to a clean economy by promoting and leveraging Peterborough’s unique leadership in clean technology and innovation to attract the green jobs and businesses of tomorrow. This means attracting investment for apprenticeships, skills retraining and businesses that bring jobs to make our city better and greener: jobs in retrofitting our homes to be more energy-efficient, jobs contributing to Ontario’s low-carbon-manufacturing supply-chain, and leading science and research into new energy ventures.
3. Advocating for and representing 2SLGBTQ+ rights, including for those identifying as Non-Binary, or otherwise gender non-conforming isn’t just a policy priority for me - it’s part of my own identity as a queer woman. As a councillor, I will bring the professional and personal dedication I have always brought to advocating for 2SLGBTQ+ rights by being a role model for all young people and by seeking to elevate the voices and perspectives of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in our community and in our local decision-making.
4. My campaign priorities are to deliver a Green Renewal and a Litter Action Plan and to deliver on climate action commitments. As councillor, I will act to: Renew and restore the valued but degraded natural and public spaces in downtown and Town Ward to enhance the natural beauty at the heart of Peterborough/Nogojiwanong. This means cleaning and sprucing up the parks, parkettes, and pedestrian trails, walkways and alleyways that weave in and around downtown to promote a bustling, healthy and connected city; harness our community’s wealth of creative and ecological talents to come together to design and plan outdoor spaces and making connections that are greener, cleaner, and safer for residents and for our plants and animals; protect and enhance our beloved Jackson Creek and restore this precious blue ribbon into the sparkling jewel of our downtown and enhance stewardship of our creeks, wetlands, greenspaces and public spaces, including protecting from the ever-encroaching trash, litter, and hazardous refuse with a new Litter Action Plan on the prevention and collection of trash and litter, especially at spring snow melt; create and utilize green infrastructure to enhance resilience to climate risks like extreme rainfall and hotter temperatures.

Alex Bierk, Town Ward

1. Housing and homelessness are the issues we hear the most about from community members when out canvassing. We need to grasp the immediacy of this crisis and treat it with the urgency it requires while also working on long-term solutions that will be sustainable over time. Any meaningful fix has to come through the collaboration of all levels of government. The City of Peterborough estimates it needs 484 new units of rent-geared-to-income supportive housing by 2029 in order to meet the needs of everyone in our community. I’m committed to helping Peterborough achieve this goal. We can’t forget we are also in a homelessness crisis too. I am deeply involved in working toward solutions here as well. I have been on an advisory panel for the Peterborough Drug Strategy made up of people with lived and living experience. Our goal is to try and help form a viable strategy as we head into winter. That’s coming fast, so this week we’ve been organizing an emergency community meeting. The people I work alongside and speak to about this, we understand the seriousness of this crisis and are doing everything within our power to take care of our unhoused community members.
2. As Town Ward councillor, I would push for increased investment in the downtown. The goal is specifically to create a rich social and economic fabric where it is viable for a young person to finish school and actually find meaningful work in Peterborough. My idea of a thriving downtown is one where opportunity exists for everyone – not just developers or big-box stores. Invest in arts and culture; make it easy for small businesses and students; make it hard for absentee landlords – these are my goals, and I’m running in part to help cultivate that sense of opportunity downtown. I want to think outside of the box to start to fill in some of the big gaps left in our community by the loss of PCVS, the YMCA, Trent’s relative lack of connection with the downtown, etc.
3. Honestly, one of the most incredible things I’ve witnessed in my lifetime is the culture shift in the area of LGBTQ+ rights. Those rights have been hard-won by LGBTQ+ people and their friends, families, and allies. Of course, progress has been uneven and can’t be taken for granted. The September “protest” of Drag Queen Story Time at the library is a reminder of that fact. But I was heartened by the overwhelming show of support for LGBTQ+ families. We’re a community that will fight for people’s right to be who they are. I’m grateful for the queer and trans and non-binary people in my family and in my wider community. Downtown Peterborough has a proud history as a beacon of queer culture and a meeting place for LGBTQ+ people. LGBTQ+ people have made downtown what it is – it’s important we recognize that fact. As a councillor I would do my part in supporting the ongoing fight for a safe and open community. I would advocate for inclusive policies at the municipal level, and fight to make sure LGBTQ+ culture events are financially supported by the City. I would also use my role as a civic leader to educate those of my fellow citizens who may perhaps be threatened by people and experiences they don’t understand.
4. Preserving our green spaces is vital – I’d especially continue to protect Jackson Park against the idea of any further Parkway development. I believe the City should be encouraging managed development that actually benefits the people who live here. I’d fight for development that actually addresses the needs of the community while also insisting that these questions be viewed through a climate lens. Thankfully there’s already a lot of support for this in the community, as well as a local knowledge base made up of experts in the areas of green building, clean energy, innovation, urban planning, affordable housing, etc. That will be important as we try and increase densification while also protecting our open green spaces.

Who Are The Candidates [Inc. meaning incumbent]

Otonabee Ward 1

Kevin Duguay

Lesley Parnell (Inc)

Nathan Russell-Meharry

Eleanor Underwood

Chante White

Monaghan Ward 2

Matt Crowley

Charmaine Magumbe

Lyle Saunders

Don Vassiliadis (Inc)

Jeff Westlake

Tom Wigglesworth

Town Ward 3

Alex Bierk

Brian Christoph

Vickie Karikas

Joy Lachica

Dean Pappas (Inc)

Ashburnham Ward 4

Gary Baldwin (Inc)

Andrew MacGregor

Keith Riel (Inc)

Northcrest Ward 5

Aldo Andreoli

Andrew Beamer (Inc)

Karen Grant

Dave Haacke

Carlotta James

Shauna Kingston