Before the Ward 6 candidates announced their platforms on issues affecting students in the area just north of WLU, they discussed their opinions on the referendum questions.
On being asked their stance on fluoridation of the cityโs water, Jeff Henry, supporting the additive, said, โThere is a significantly better rate of cavity prevention in areas with fluoride.โ
Candidate Anne Crowe shared a similar belief, in that โI know how important dental health is to general health.โ
The other candidates however, opposed the use of fluoride in the cityโs water. Ed Korschewitz, stating that he will be voting no to fluoridation, noted the importance of the public having their wishes met on the issue.
โLet the people decide; letโs not have Quebec-style referendums over and over and over again,โ he said.
On the issue of amalgamation, the candidates all agreed that it was an unnecessary endeavour. โThere are so many other issues we should be focusing our time on and our money on,โ said Henry, providing student housing as an example.
Addressing a question from the audience on the candidatesโ view of light rail transit, Korschewitz answered, โThis is going to be ten times the RIM park debt.โ
Mike Connolly, sharing Korschewitzโs reluctance towards the project, said, โLetโs improve what weโve got now.โ
He went on to suggest re-evaluating the bus system to expand the service.
Planning for future growth was a factor Henry brought attention to. โI hear enough traffic congestion comments in the Region of Waterloo already, and itโs only going to get worse,โ he said.
Crowe, concerned about the environmental implications of transit in the city, explained, โWhichever rapid transit line you choose, if you donโt intensify along that transit system youโre not going to be able to [to ensure its success].โ
A question posed by a student brought the debate back to the issue of students within the community. With the growing number of students, Korschewitz stated regarding housing issues in the area, โThe answer is to plan and develop a Northdale with appropriate student housing โฆ [and] also for the high tech firms near by.โ
To better integrate students, Henry expressed that the city and community should show greater recognition for student leadership, such as the Canada Day festivities by University of Waterloo students, and promote more of those types of projects.
With students first moving in to the city, Crowe suggested, โ[We should] get the city more involved in the orientation programs at the universities.โ
In his concluding statements, Henry returned to the idea of the diversity of the area, stating, โI think one of the things Ward 6 needs is a better understanding of the full range of community members we have in our city, and that includes students.โ