CFUW St. Catharines Candidate Survey
CFUW is a local, provincial, national and international organization of women.
1. What specifically would you do to improve the value residents receive for their property taxes? Please identify what you would spend more on, what you would spend less on or do differently.
Improving value does not simply mean spending less; it means making every tax dollar work harder.
I would prioritize investment in the infrastructure and core services residents rely on every day—roads, drainage and stormwater systems, parks and recreation facilities, libraries, and maintaining the City assets we already own. Deferring necessary maintenance may save money today, but often leaves taxpayers with a much larger bill tomorrow.
I would spend less where programs, services or discretionary spending are no longer delivering sufficient value. Before adding new spending, I would review what we already do, measure results and be prepared to change, scale back or redirect resources to higher priorities.
I would also pursue savings through better procurement, reducing duplication, shared services and partnerships, improved processes and technology where they can genuinely improve productivity or service. Provincial and federal funding should also be pursued wherever it can leverage local tax dollars.
My approach is straightforward: protect essential services, maintain what we own, challenge costs, examine alternatives and measure results.
2. What can St. Catharines realistically do to improve housing affordability? How will you use the full range of St. Catharines’ tools and resources to increase access to affordable housing and eliminate homelessness?
St. Catharines should make full use of the tools within its control while working effectively with Niagara Region and other levels of government on the responsibilities they hold.
The City can enable more housing through appropriate zoning, faster and more predictable approvals, pre-zoning and standardized requirements where appropriate, modern digital permitting and removing unnecessary barriers. At the same time, growth needs to be coordinated with infrastructure capacity, transportation and existing neighbourhoods.
For affordable housing, I support strategically using municipal land, targeted incentives and partnerships with non-profit, co-operative and private-sector housing providers. Where taxpayers contribute land or incentives, there should be clear affordability requirements and measurable results.
Increasing overall housing supply is important, but supply alone will not provide deeply affordable or supportive housing for everyone. Niagara Region has significant responsibility for social housing, homelessness and support services, while provincial and federal governments also have important funding and policy roles.
St. Catharines cannot eliminate homelessness on its own, but it can remove unnecessary barriers to housing, use its land and planning tools effectively, support strong partnerships and advocate for the resources our community needs.
The City should focus on what it can do well: make housing easier to build, use municipal land and incentives strategically, support effective partnerships and advocate for the resources needed to address homelessness.
3. How should St. Catharines change its land use regulations to help reduce the impact of heat waves, flooding and extreme weather events?
Climate resilience should be built into land-use decisions before development occurs rather than trying to correct problems afterward.
I would support integrating flood risk, stormwater capacity, tree canopy, green infrastructure and permeable surfaces more directly into planning and development decisions. New development should consider the capacity of existing infrastructure and avoid unnecessarily increasing runoff or placing additional pressure on vulnerable systems.
We should also protect natural systems and tree canopy that help manage stormwater and reduce extreme heat, while incorporating practical green infrastructure into development and City capital projects.
Requirements should be clear, predictable and based on evidence and risk. Green infrastructure should complement—not replace—the conventional drainage and stormwater infrastructure needed to protect neighbourhoods.
Smart growth means accommodating the housing and economic development our city needs while ensuring that growth is supported by the infrastructure and resilience needed for the long term.
4. St. Catharines has many people living with food insecurity, relying on food banks and soup kitchens. What ideas do you have for the city to reduce these numbers and the increased need for public donations?
Food insecurity is closely connected to broader affordability pressures, including housing costs, income, transportation and access to employment. Reducing reliance on food banks therefore requires addressing those underlying pressures while supporting people who need help today.
The City can contribute by enabling more housing and affordable housing partnerships, supporting economic development and job creation, improving transportation connections and keeping community services accessible.
We should also work with the Niagara Region and the community organizations already doing this work rather than duplicating services. The City can support effective community-led initiatives, including community gardens and local food programs, through appropriate partnerships and use of municipal land or facilities where they can make a practical difference.
Longer term, growing and diversifying our economy and expanding access to opportunity are important parts of addressing affordability.
The objective should be fewer residents needing emergency food assistance in the first place, while ensuring effective community organizations can continue supporting those who need help.
5. What specific actions would you take to ensure that St. Catharines accurately represents its long held nickname of The Garden City?
The Garden City should be more than a nickname. It should be visible in our streets, neighbourhoods, parks and public spaces.
I would treat our urban tree canopy and green spaces as essential municipal infrastructure. That means protecting the trees we have, planting and replacing trees strategically, maintaining them proactively, and using data and lifecycle planning to ensure our urban forest is healthy, diverse and growing.
I would integrate trees and green infrastructure into road reconstruction, stormwater projects, parks, City facilities and new development wherever practical. This can strengthen our Garden City identity while also providing shade, reducing heat and helping manage stormwater.
I would also expand opportunities for residents to participate in greening their neighbourhoods, including renters and residents of apartments and condominiums who may not have traditional yards, through options such as raised planters and greening common and public spaces.
Finally, we need to measure our progress. If we call ourselves the Garden City, that should be reflected in a healthy and growing tree canopy, attractive and well-maintained parks and public spaces, greener neighbourhoods and a city that is more resilient to extreme weather.
The goal is to restore and strengthen the Garden City identity so that it is something residents can see and experience throughout St. Catharines.