Questions and Answers

1. Does the City/Region need more regulations for new and future businesses to protect groundwater?

Jane Mitchell: Here is what the Region is doing: a. ROPP amendments, to limit certain types of businesses from locating in Well head Protection Areas, have been approved and are in place. Dependent on the sensitivity of the well head protection area specific businesses are excluded from developing in that area. This applies only to new development. b. The Region has a Business Water Quality Program. This program is similar to the Region's Rural Water Quality Program and provides financial incentives to small and medium businesses to first identify appropriate pollution prevention options and then implement them. c. Through the Region's Lab the Region enforces the Sewer Use Bylaw. This bylaw (plus inspection and testing by Lab staff) also helps to prevent inappropriate discharges to the sewer systems which can impact surface and ground water resources. d. The Region is in the process of implementing a Development Permit system that would require existing businesses to implement appropriate pollution prevention measures when they are expanding or redeveloping lands.

Mike Connolly: Yes

Stephen Markan: Yes. Clean water is a basic necessity of life. A reliable water supply is needed to sustain our current and future needs. If we continue to build on the recharge zones, and impact on wetlands we will have to pay environmental and economic consequences.

2. Do you support a bylaw restricting the non-essential, cosmetic use of pesticides (for lawn and garden care)?

Jane Mitchell: Yes.

Mike Connolly: Yes

Stephen Markan: Yes. The difficult part is enforcement and compliance. Part of enacting a by-law is ensuring we have the resources to enforce that by-law. This is one reason the current Working Group is leaning towards an education program over a by-law. While education is needed, the money used on an education program could also pay for more enforcement of any pesticide by-law that is implemented. Beyond a local by-law, we also need to lobby the Ontario provincial government to take responsibility for pesticide controls across the province. The Quebec provincial government is currently (over the next three years) in the process of setting pesticide controls in place. While health care remains the number one electoral concern, the Ontario government is ignoring the fact that good environmental policy means a healthier population. Clean air, clean water, and clean land are the prime requirements of a healthy lifestyle. Eliminating unneeded toxins is part of that solution.

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.)

Jane Mitchell: I am for widening the existing highway. I would also like to see a commuter train between Guelph and K.W. and lent my support to a Transport 2000 media event highlighting the problems with the CN tracks and with VIA.

Mike Connolly: Build a new highway away from sensitive lands

Stephen Markan: As a member of the City of Waterloo's Citizen's Environmental Advisory Committee we presented a position paper that opposed the relocated highway. The negative impacts in farmland and provincially significant wetlands was simply too great. Highway 7 requires a multi-prong solution. The current roadway is not suited to be a primary transportation route, and should be reconstructed at its current location. To reduce the traffic on Highway 7 we need an improved commuter public transit corridor - including increased commuter trains between K/W and Guelph. Because Highway 7 is a multi-jurisdictional problem we need to continue lobbying the province to have gasoline tax revenues go back to public transit and transportation infrastructures.

4. What are your recommendations for alternate transportation (ie bike/hike trails, buses, LRT, GO train)

Jane Mitchell: Before I came on council, there was little support for improving bike paths. I got an increase of $500,000 a year and the Region now includes bike paths in most Regional roads upgrades. I not only supported the Region's increased transit, I ride the bus two to three times a week. Regional council is actively advocating for a GO train to Cambridge. A GO bus will be implemented. I support a Light Rapid Transit train that will eventually run from Elmira to Cambridge. The cost is comparable to building the other half of the Conestoga expressway. However, the number one need in transit is continued expansion of the routes into the suburbs and more buses more often.

Mike Connolly: Improve our transit system ( more buses), bike/hike trails etc

Stephen Markan: I am currently on the Region of Waterloo's Cycling Advisory Committee. That committee has been part of the process to revise the Cycling Master Plan. We need to implement cycling and pedestrian facilities to allow for non-motorized commuting over short and medium distance commutes. The cycling and pedestrian facilities should link to services that provide longer distance commuting (primarily buses). The buses would connect the outlying areas to higher capacity systems such as an LRT, and GO trains for inter-city travel.

5. What are your solutions for gridlock?

Jane Mitchell: Improved transit and working on getting people out of their cars and using alternate forms of travel. See the answer above. I have also supported needed road improvements as they will be needed for buses and cars aren't going to go away tomorrow.

Mike Connolly: Sound advance planning

Stephen Markan: First we need to encourage alternative modes of travel as discussed in question 4. Second we have to stop subsidizing transit - private transit specifically. The current municipal model of transit infrastructure builds roads of the property tax base. This means that unless you own property you pay nothing for local roads. All automobile owners have full and free usage of all municipal roads. One solution is to follow the City of London (in England) model of charging a toll for inner city access to roads. Another, low tech solution, is to allow municipalities to collect the gasoline tax to use for public transit and transportation infrastructure. Homeowners could be given a property tax break, and all users of the road would pay for the local roads based on actual usage of the roadways. Now imagine that paying the gasoline tax makes the car owner drive less often. Perhaps even taking advantage of the improved public transit. The end result is a direct say in how much one pays towards maintaining the roads, a reduction in traffic, an improvement in air quality, and less wear and tear on the roads!

6. Do you support defining an urban border that puts an end to urban sprawl to protect farmland and natural areas?

Jane Mitchell: Yes. I supported the Regional Growth Management Strategy.

Mike Connolly: Yes

Stephen Markan: Yes. One of the joys of living in Waterloo Region is the easy access to the country-side We are proud of our local farmers markets - but without farmland those markets don't work very well. Yet we forget that we are the 5th largest urban area in Ontario. The 11th largest in Canada. We may feel small town but we are big time into urbanization. A defined urban edge doesn't mean stalling growth - it means smarter growth. The Cores need to grow vertically (without dehumanizing the urban environment), areas need to be infilled to optimize residential and commercial zones. Old industrial lands need to be revitalized for new industries, and new developments. The way we handle transportation issues will determine if we can actually make a denser core a workable solution.

7. Do you believe that our size should be limited to our carrying capacity (ie groundwater resources, geographical barriers, impact on natural environment)

Jane Mitchell: Yes. Though implementation will not be easy.

Mike Connolly: Yes

Stephen Markan: This is an economic necessity. We may be able to exceed our carrying capacity for the short-term, but long-term economic reality is we cannot sustain that situation. The end result either requires scaling back (recession) or costly infrastructures that "solve" the problem. For example if we exceed our groundwater resources, this would cause water shortages. When demand exceeds supply simple economics dictate the price of the resource will increase. In turn businesses and people will move out. This becomes a local economic recession, which can be solved by resource reallocation or building an (expensive) pipeline from lake Huron. The better solution is to encourage efficiencies in the system (conservation, re-use, alternative process methods) so that carrying capacity is not exceeded in the first place.

8. What measurable initiatives can you take to improve air quality locally?

Jane Mitchell: I supported idling education, but I think we may have to move to a by-law. As noted above, I have championed transit, bike paths, and growth management. I got the Region to reinstate $30,000 a year for tree planting and I plant trees twice a year with the 10,000 trees project. We must change our cities to make it easy to walk to stores and facilities. We also need more intensification. This will mean apartments in some areas, but the intensification can also mean infill and use of brownfields and greyfields.

Mike Connolly: Improve local transit system - Follow sound rules re emissions both factories and cars. Ban the use of gas machines by cities and region on smog days.

Stephen Markan: Some of those initiatives are already underway - such things as reducing idling, increasing access to public transit, better tools to encourage carpooling (carpooltool.com). The transportation initiatives I discussed above (see Q4 an Q5) are also part of the solution. The approval of the revised Cycling Master Plan is a necessary first step to ensuring a good cycling network is developed. Beyond the Master Plan we also need to ensure that any new roads will include bicycling facilities. We need to increase our urban forests to help improve the air quality.

9. How do you envision reaching zero waste?

Jane Mitchell: The Region presently composts and chips yard waste, some of which is given away free to the public. Yard waste makes up 50% of Toronto's Michigan garbage. This term, the Region has expanded the types of plastic, bottles, paper, and metal collected for recycling. Paint, oil, various chemicals can be taken to the landfill for recycling. The Region sells cheap backyard composters to the public. There is an extensive education campaign. For the future, I am watching the City of Guelph's new collection of compostable waste with an eye to a similar program for the Region. I would love the provincial government to regulate the amount of packaging

Mike Connolly: It is a target - but not in the next ten years

Stephen Markan: The City of Guelph has begun a model that could be adapted for our use. While they are not yet at zero waste they are far ahead of us. First, eliminate all organics from the waste stream. From the remaining wastes we already have systems to recycle paper, plastics and metals. We also have systems to deal with 'hazardous' liquid wastes such as paints and solvents. Next, require payment for each bag of garbage disposed (user pay bags, bag-tags, or some other system). Businesses need to be brought on board by offering incentives to recycle and reduce wastes. Encourage events such as "goods exchange" days, offer pickup for large items to be donated to charities, educate consumers on how to shop for "low-waste" products.

10. How do you see the City/Region 20 years from now?

Jane Mitchell: We would have the LRT as the backbone of the transit system. It would also have three perpendicular spurs in each city. GRT buses would serve the townships. The urban areas will be intensified but also full of vibrant creative businesses, neighbourhoods, local shops and services. Commuter trains will take people to Guelph, London and Toronto. Our agriculture and groundwater will be preserved. Tree cover and natural parks will have increased dramatically along with the air quality.

Mike Connolly: Having a total population of 550,000

Stephen Markan: The urban edges have been stabilized. The Core is more vertical but still built on a human scale. Transportation infrastructure has improved public transit. Much of the Region will appear the same as it is now, but the air will be cleaner, and most lawns will have become gardens that require little water and no pesticides to maintain.

11. Should Cambridge fit into the Region's future? If yes, how?

Jane Mitchell: Yes. Same as now.

Mike Connolly: Yes, it is part of our area - stay as it is

Stephen Markan: Cambridge is part of the Region no matter how the municipal government may evolve. Boundaries are artificial constructs that ignore the way the actual ecology and social environments interact. Cambridge is an equal partner in the current arrangement, but on occasion feels its unique interests and qualities have been dismissed. Action needs to be taken to ensure that, not only Cambridge's needs, but also the needs of the smaller municipal partners are addressed.

12. How do you propose to obtain the maximum level of forest coverage for this area?

Jane Mitchell: The Region is working on a by-law that should pass this next term that will protect and improve the Regional forests. The Region of Waterloo is already ahead of other Ontario urban areas in the protection of environmentally sensitive areas, having had Regional ESPAs for many years. I managed to get 30,000 dollars back for tree planting but that is a fragile amount that could easily disappear with a cost cutting council. The 10,000 trees project is based in Waterloo but expanding to Kitchener. We want to significantly increase the tree cover in Waterloo Region. I personally would like to see the Sunfish Lake, northwest corner of Waterloo and the Schneider Bush preserved as is, including the forest remnants that go from that area to Erb St.

Mike Connolly: Protect what we have and plant more trees

Stephen Markan: Incentives need to be put in place that encourages landowners to replant trees in both urban and rural areas. Large parking lots in urban areas need to have design guidelines that maximize the inclusion of trees and water retention features. Penalties for removing forest cover should be increase, and better monitoring of woodlots must be undertaken.

13. How can you best work with community groups and concerned citizens to achieve environmental sustainability?

Jane Mitchell: I have worked with citizens and supported a variety of environmental topics. I have helped people approach the Region in a way that can move their requests to success. (Yes, I know the pesticide by-law is moving at a glacial pace, but I'm hanging in there on the Pesticide Working Group.) I have an advocacy handbook on my site, www.janemitchell.ca. I am a member of Community in Blooms and 10,000 trees. I spoke at the Provincial Smart Growth "travelling road show"

Mike Connolly: Listen, listen - listen and then act.

Stephen Markan: By listening and communicating. No one person has all the answers, or even a grasp of all the problems. By remaining open to inputs from a variety of groups and individuals a better understanding of the situation will lead to an integrated approach. The end result is a better solution for the social and physical environments of Waterloo Region.

14. How would you support and develop lifelong environmental education in the City/Region?

Jane Mitchell: I supported Environmental Education and other environmental initiatives while on the Public School Board. I was chair of the Environmental Advisory Group. Sadly, the late Tory government removed the emphasis. I support idling education. I also believe that we must have education to reduce the non-commercial use of pesticides. This is not only in the form of pamphlets but also through peer gardening, teaching forums and other social marketing initiatives. Waterloo Community in Blooms has a contest for the best Eco-friendly garden in Waterloo. As a judge of the regular garden contest, we were pleased to find that the regular winners also had less lawn and reduced use of pesticides. I hope that the Dandelion festival will continue to flourish and grow!

Mike Connolly: Start in schools - co-ordinate Region and Cities

Stephen Markan: The Region should support the Environmental Education Centres run by the School Boards and the GRCA. The Region should also provide some funding and access to resources to environmental groups interested in putting on public information sessions. The Region also needs to take direct action by creating information sheets on environmental issues, and citizen actions that can help improve the quality of life in the Waterloo Region.