Municipal Election 2022 Candidate Questionnaire: Grant Waddell, Ward 4 councillor
NewmarketToday sent this questionnaire to all candidates (including those acclaimed), requesting a completed response prior to the Oct. 24 election, which would be published in order when received. Maximum word limits have been strictly enforced, to be fair to all candidates. The responses have not been edited in any way, including for grammar, spelling and clarity.
1. What are the top four qualities required to be an effective municipal representative? (4-word limit)
- Integrity
- Accessibility
- Empathy
- forward-thinking
2. Explain why you are the best qualified candidate. (100-word limit):
“Municipalities spend billions of dollars in procurement each year and can play a key role in improving the efficiency and quality of public services.”-Toronto Star, October 12, 2022. As the Toronto Transit Commission’s Purchasing Manager, I annually negotiated 400 million dollars in contracts and purchases and stewarded the first GREEN TRANSIT PROCUREMENT PROGRAM in North America. I have the required skill set to move Newmarket forward, and believe encouraging local innovation, holding the line on taxes, and developing affordable housing leads to thriving communities. I’ll work full-time to reach these goals because being a councillor shouldn’t be a part-time job.
3. What are the two most important issues for your ward/constituents? (200-word limit):
For Newmarket Heights constituents, affordable housing and quality of life are priority one. While out canvassing, I met a tenant moving “down the road,” downsizing from “two floors to one.” Another pointed out three empty houses for sale where tenants had been evicted. Where will these people go? For those barely getting by, inflation and higher rent mean choosing between heating or eating. Municipalities aren’t immune to inflation either, but residents can’t afford increases. We need to control property taxes without cutting back services. At the Central Newmarket Community Action Table event on September 20th, I was impressed by the wealth of programming available, but there is ongoing need, and I will work with council to address those needs.
Constituents in the Ward’s north end are frustrated by what’s happening street-side. The overriding concern is traffic and pedestrian safety. Cars speed through local streets and ignore stop signs. Shopping carts are everywhere and create traffic hazards. Broken sidewalks force those on mobility scooters onto the roads putting them in harm’s way. Boulevard trees go untrimmed, and graffiti lingers for months. I’m told people have repeatedly made these complaints known but have seen little or no action taken on their behalf.
4. What will you do to ensure you are accountable to your constituents? (50-word limit):
Accountability requires accessibility. My ONLY full-time job is representing ward 4. We can talk one on one, or constituents can log on to my monthly “Councillor’s Council” Zoom meeting to share concerns and collectively brainstorm solutions I’ll take back to council. I’ll listen. I’ll respond. I’ll advocate—and I’ll act.
5. What is the most important issue for council/school board to address in the next term? (100-word limit):
I don’t believe there’s a single defining issue that is common to the diverse needs of all seven Newmarket wards. If there were, Newmarket Today wouldn’t list eleven issues-driven questions in section 2 of this questionnaire. Questions like “Should Newmarket permit a legal cannabis store?” or “Do you support tax increases for large budget items?” are too complex for yes/no answers. I encourage readers to visit waddell4newmarket.ca for my in-depth responses to these questions.
Perhaps the “most important issue” is that residents pay Newmarket councillors a full-time wage. Shouldn’t dealing with Newmarket’s complex issues be a councillor’s full-time job?
6. Describe your dream project that would result in a better quality of life in Newmarket. (100-word limit):
I’d like to push for the continued “greening” of Newmarket. As I think people know, I spent 32 years with the TTC-- most of those years in senior management. I was running a green procurement program 10 years before any other major transit system in North America. I want to use that lens to focus on how we can efficiently coordinate Ontario, Regional, and Town transit systems to reduce carbon emissions, and to maximize both the environmental and economic return as we transition to “green public transportation,” and design and maintain local roadways that move traffic efficiently.
Answer Yes or No (1-word limit):
Should salaries be reduced for the mayor and councillors? Yes
Are taxes too high for the services provided to residents? Yes
Do you support tax increases to pay for large budget items or purchases, such as Mulock Estates? No
Should opening a second branch of Newmarket Public Library be a top priority for the next term? Yes
Should the town continue to give incentives and loans to Main Street businesses as part of its revitalization strategy? Yes
Should the town provide more incentives to developers to encourage more affordable rental units? Yes
Should election candidates accept campaign donations from developers? No
Should councillors be required to provide more fully itemized and detailed expense reports, accessible online at no cost to the public? Yes
Should the mayor and councillors block followers on their town social media accounts? No
Should there be fixed terms for councillors? No
Should Newmarket permit a legal cannabis store(s) in town? Yes
