Questions and Answers
1. Does the City/Region need more regulations for new and future businesses to protect groundwater?
Judi Moffat: I am not fully cognisant of the existing regulations pertaining to ground water protection from existing and new businesses. Often there are existing by-laws and regulations which if followed and enforced are more than adequate to deal with issues. It is the enforcement of these regulations that is imperative. This region has, like other regions, had numerous incidents which pertain to ground water from the sludging of fields to the draining of ponds. Our ground water is not only our bequest to future generations in this region but also in the surrounding regions since it is all interconnected. We need to look at our existing regulations, the enforcement of them, and then decide if further regulations are required. While exercising this practice we must remain conscious of the fact that we want to stimulate the growth of business and work together with such businesses in assessing their water protection guidelines for the betterment of the whole of the community. I do not feel, however, that businesses should be held more accountable than private individuals and therefore the regulations regarding individual practices should be reassessed and enforced also.
2. Do you support a bylaw restricting the non-essential, cosmetic use of pesticides (for lawn and garden care)?
Judi Moffat: I support a bylaw restricting the nonessential, cosmetic use of pesticides (for lawn and garden care.) It is through this practice that many chemicals have worked their way into our ground water, etc. We are only now recovering from the use of products that endangered much of our bird population and many of our pests are part of a natural chain which should not be weakened. As a community we also want to be able to encourage our children to participate in outdoors activities for their own health and wellbeing. This can be difficult if not impossible if the child cannot participate in any event in which they may actually have other than their feet on the ground for fear that chemicals may be absorbed through their skin, or they may rub their eyes with hands that have inadvertently made contact with a chemical fertiliser, or they may have trouble breathing because of such pesticides.
3. The issue of a new Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph is still simmering. What is your preferred solution? (ie leave existing road as is? widen existing highway? put in commuter train between K/W and Guelph? build new highway, etc.)
Judi Moffat: The issue of Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph offers a few alternatives and I do not have the required figures supporting the costs of each proposal. If the existing road is left as is then definitely an alternate route must be found to deal with the volume of traffic or we will continue to have severe accidents and even more of a backup of traffic during peak periods. In proposing to widen the existing highway one must then consider the existing developments which border it. Many of these places have spent substantial amounts of money and many years of hard work in order to have their locations where they are and in fact were in existence before the highway became as heavily traveled as it now is. The cost of widening the highway would also include compensating these parties fairly for their investments and in some cases may actually force them out of business. What would the full cost of widening be if all this were taken into consideration. To put in a commuter train between K-W and Guelph presents problems which may not have been considered. - where in each city would the route end? - is there available land and services in that area to support terminals? - would this entail purchasing a corridor of land to run the commuter train on and at what cost? - once people arrived within kW how would they then proceed to their destination within the city. - would the links with other public transportation be simple and convenient for commuters? - how many commuters would use this rather than drive (ie. 401 to Toronto is prime example) - would this be private or public owned service? - how susceptible to strikes would service be (there was a time in recent history when if an individual relied on the bus service the employer would not consider him reliable because of frequent strikes)? - full enquiry and cost analysis would be required for these and other points. To build a new highway would appear to possibly be the better solution since it could be further to the north therefore negating the necessity of the northern part of Guelph and also Waterloo having to travel to the south end of the cities in order to access Highway 7. If proper available land were to be obtained it should be looked at for providing a long term solution and not just a quick fix for the current problem. In doing this perhaps it may be considered to run a light rail or bus lanes beside the highway thus encouraging public transit at the same time as providing for the transporting of goods and those who still wish to drive themselves. I do not think that we should improve the existing highway 7 to be used as an alternate route when the 401 is backed up from the No. 8 exit to the Guelph line.
4. What are your recommendations for alternate transportation (ie bike/hike trails, buses, LRT, GO train)
Judi Moffat: Alternate transportation when being considered should be subject to scrutiny from not only an environmental aspect but also convenience and safety. Buses which are currently an available source of alternate transportation should be scrutinised for fuel efficiency and stringent emission testing. If we continue to rely on buses as an alternate source of transportation the Grand River Transit would have to look at further expanding their routes making the availability of such transportation to and from work, etc. more accessible for the public to rely upon them rather than drive themselves. The trolley system in the area was eliminated and I do not have available any statistics for power usage or emissions for that system. It does seem that perhaps a system of that type would be better for the main routes so that the bulk of public transportation would be on a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation and there would be less harmful emissions in the built up downtown cores. These centres have very little in the way of vegetation to combat the emissions that are exhausted into it every day. The trails within the community are an excellent idea but many of them have not taken into consideration the general safety of those using them. Such trails should not be sheltered profusely by bushes, etc. Although many enjoy walking through nature this is providing a perfect place for attackers to hide and also for the use of unacceptable behaviour. While it is understandable that some type of barrier must be put up to stop the use of such trails by vehicles they should be more readily accessible to emergency vehicles. In many circumstances if someone is injured along one of our trails it would create quite a problem extracting them once the necessary authorities were notified and the time involved could be crucial. There are long stretches of trail that are completely abandoned and with little or no accessibility to emergency phones. Our walking trails should be more closely monitored and this could possibly be done by volunteer community groups with cell phones. This would entail having people actually riding or walking the trail at all hours of the day or night and being ready to report anything that may be happening. This could encourage more seniors and young mothers with children to use these routes as they would feel much safer. There should also be implemented a course within the schools to teach the youth the proper rules pertaining to the use of cycles and include the section on courtesy for pedestrians. Proper use of such trails can lead to a more healthy community. Go train has been an issue for a length of time and still needs serious consideration. If available at convenient times and reasonable cost it can do a lot to eliminate vehicles from the road. Serious consideration has to e given to linking forms of transportation from the gotrain stations to end destinations.
5. What are your solutions for gridlock?
Judi Moffat: Gridlock is an important issue in this region. While vehicles are sitting idling they are sending emissions into the air. It has been legislated that vehicles are not to sit running for a length of time while parked but ironically they spend much more time sitting in grid lock situations with their engines running. The existing road pattern has to be looked at and the normal pattern of traffic flow established. In many cases there may be necessity for construction of alternate routes providing a free-flow of traffic rather than a lot of smaller roads crossing the main corridor. Right turn lanes should be considered on some of the larger roads and in areas of major industry and mall development roads for carrying goods could be built along the back of the mall buildings therefore eliminating the jumble of large trucks and smaller cars jockeying for position. Proper consideration should be given by municipalities when planning any further development to the traffic flow. It would make more sense to have industrial areas built closer to the 401 rather than having subdivisions taking precedence on these lands so that the transport of goods has to be through the subdivision areas before reaching their industrial destinations. Designated truck routes may be appropriate in some areas of the region in order to facilitate the flow of goods to the major arteries. The development of bridges across the river may be a necessity in order to alleviate bottlenecks of vehicles waiting to cross.
6. Do you support defining an urban border that puts an end to urban sprawl to protect farmland and natural areas?
Judi Moffat: To define an urban border that puts an end to urban sprawl to protect farmland and natural areas is not the best solution to our existing problems. This theory does not take into consideration the property owners who have invested in an anticipated future development of lands. This can appear to be very much like a homeowner who has purchased a small parcel of land for their residence and then insists that the person who owns the vast area of land around them can do no developing since their view and illusion of country living may be disturbed. We must allow all who have invested in our community to exercise the privilege of potential development of their lands. We can,, however, take an alternate course to the same objective by rearranging our current urban area to be utilised in a more preferential way making it more appealing to stay within boundaries and therefore not sprawling out. The opportunity to enjoy open parks within our own living areas, the capability of walking in the evening to a theatre or a number of stores and the easy availability and affordability of transportation to places of employment are an encouragement to people to stay more in the city core area. Rather than trying to escape the city a melded community will attract them to it.
7. Do you believe that our size should be limited to our carrying capacity (ie groundwater resources, geographical barriers, impact on natural environment)
Judi Moffat: I believe that our size should be limited to our carrying capacity but cannot be legislated to cut it off at a certain number. Instead, when approached for a development, either industrial or residential) all the necessities for this development have to be presented and then it should be properly ascertained whether the resources are there to support it. The existing infrastructure in many cases is already very old and becoming in need of repair. If we do minor repairs in order to support the addition of a further strain on these supplies it is the equivalent of mending a old garment with new cloth (the old will not hold). In overloading our existing infrastructure we risk loosing it. Thus, by proper administration of our natural resources we automatically limit the unsustainable growth that many fear.
8. What measurable initiatives can you take to improve air quality locally?
Judi Moffat: To improve air quality locally the grid lock we experience in many areas of the region can be improved upon so many emissions are not being produced by vehicles sitting idling. The public transit that we now use can be researched for further emission reducing benefits. The planting of trees and vegetation in all areas of the city should be encouraged. Incorporated in the planning of all subdivisions should be the necessity of trees, either existing or new ones planted. Trees of themselves not only help the quality of air with the production of oxygen but also assist in the heating of buildings in winter by providing shelter and the cooling of them in the summer by providing shade. This helps in reducing the need for energy to either heat or cool buildings. Unless it can be proven that expanding our airport is of great financial importance to our area and there are no other options for the transporting of goods and passengers that are acceptable, the airport should stay the size it is. The constant arrival and departing of planes spews gallons of fuel directly into the atmosphere as can be noticed around any of the large airports which already exist. This is above the level at which the trees and vegetation can quickly absorb it. We cannot pre-measure the resulting damage from this since all concentration appears to be on vehicle emissions but we should be attempting to take some steps in the right direction regarding air traffic.
9. How do you envision reaching zero waste?
Judi Moffat: I envision reaching zero waste by looking at alternate means to waste disposal. The use of personal compost boxes should be encouraged in a number of ways (by provision and education) as we must remember that improper composting can result in infestations and diseases. Promoting the mulching of fall leaves and the use of them for fertilisers for lawns and gardens, or composting them should be revitalise. The use of paper cups for take-out drinks (ie. coffee) should be discouraged. Perhaps a plan could be implemented whereby people take in their own travel mug to have filled and those who don't pay a premium which is collected to offset the cost of disposal. Our generation has become a disposable society and education is desperately needed to turn it around. This will also involve working with the corporations who provide excess packaging and so many disposable goods (ie. my personal favourite - diapers). Until such time as this education takes effect we can only look at recycling programs and new alternative disposal programs that are being developed.
10. How do you see the City/Region 20 years from now?
Judi Moffat: Twenty years from now the city/region can be seen in one of two ways Asphalt and concrete cover the entire expanse of the area with vehicles spending innumerable amount of time sitting, waiting to move, all the while spewing emissions into the air. A sudden downpour of rain causes minor flash floods since there is nowhere for the moisture to be absorbed and the runoff erodes what little soil that is left taking it down the drains. The air hangs in a heavy grey mass over the city making breathing difficult and even the small back yard gardens do not get enough sunlight to flourish. Blobs with a pair of arms and legs wearing filter masks are pushed into cars in the garage and driven back and forth to school. It is not safe for them to be outside for any length of time because of the atmosphere and the exertion of attempting to walk the few blocks is doubled by the lack of oxygen in the air. Vehicles crawl down the streets while their workers attempt to load the massive piles of Noxious garbage which must then be driven miles to be disposed of. Oxygen bars have become the popular place to frequent and upon returning home from the outside one must shower immediately to remove the dark oily film from skin and hair, despite having been clean when you left. I do not jest in this respect since this is exactly the way the atmosphere is in some other countries already. Unfortunately this presents a problem because this is the day that your water is restricted and you aren't allowed any on this numbered day for showering. We will have become a futuristic industrialised world (in many ways reverting to the London of the industrial era). One has only to read any piece of fiction based on a cataclysmic event and transpose it accordingly. However, with proper acknowledgement and managing of our resources we could have a more ideal society where people are utilising public transit to the fullest, children are walking back and forth to school and playing in their local parks if not in their own back yards and our city/region is a functioning community. Proper disposal of waste utilising new and developing methods have eliminated any fear of potential land-fill sites being inadvertently built upon and presenting health hazards. Traffic flows smoothly throughout the region and the natural beautification provided as a by-product of tree and vegetation growth adds to a pleasant and breathable atmosphere Rainfall has an adequate area to be absorbed and processed into our groundwater and since chemicals are not poured down the drains or spread on the ground we need not fear contamination. The exact opposite picture of the first, but one that is obtainable and can be aimed for.
11. Should Cambridge fit into the Region's future? If yes, how?
Judi Moffat: No matter what anyone may think Cambridge will always fit into the Region's future whether it is through amalgamation or if it stays separate. The Region cannot build a wall around it and keep the rest of the world out. All bordering communities have effects on one another through ground water, waste disposal, spewing pollutants into the air, etc. Every area needs to work with the surrounding areas in a combined effort to provide the best for the citizens. If one thinks that by ignoring another area there will be no side effects then they should look at the pollution that is blown over Ontario from the incineration processes in the U.S.A. Whether amalgamated or separated the Region and Cambridge should find a neutral working ground and not destroy our environment just for the sake of pride or ownership.
12. How do you propose to obtain the maximum level of forest coverage for this area?
Judi Moffat: The goal of obtaining the maximum level of forest coverage for this area is questionable. Some citizens would like all the forest area in places that they can then designate as public parks or others would wish to have designated as sanctuaries. Rather the objective should be to encourage the growth of trees throughout the area thus providing an umbrella of cleansing rather than exclusive forested spots that are supposed to reach out and filter distant areas. In encouraging forestation we must also bear in mind the wildlife that accompanies such growth. Citizens do not wish hunting within city limits but they also do not want their children being attacked by coyotes which have ventured out, raccoons tearing apart their garbage and taking up residence in their attics, or skunks strolling down the front walk. All this wildlife (which can carry rabies and other diseases) comes with heavy forestation and must be dealt with. Treed streets and yards do not encourage such an influx of wildlife and would be the more appropriate route to take.
13. How can you best work with community groups and concerned citizens to achieve environmental sustainability?
Judi Moffat: Community groups and concerned citizens must feel free to express their opinions and suggestions and also feel assured that their concerns are being listened to and heard. They must be invited to sit together in forums or committees and try to work together as a whole for the good of the community. It must be recognised everyone there probably has their own agenda but there must be encouragement to meet issues at lease part way. Many of the groups could be encouraged to also contribute time and effort into the required projects rather than just demanding that their requests be met and the money be raised from somewhere. Try and apportion a bit of ownership in a project and a job well done.
14. How would you support and develop lifelong environmental education in the City/Region?
Judi Moffat: