Northdale candidates discuss referendum

/

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 cityโ€™s water, Jeff Henry, supporting the additive, said, โ€œThere is a significantly better rate of cavity prevention in areas with fluoride.โ€

Candidate Anne Crowe shared a similar belief, in that โ€œI know how important dental health is to general health.โ€

The other candidates however, opposed the use of fluoride in the cityโ€™s 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.

โ€œLet the people decide; letโ€™s 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. โ€œThere 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, โ€œThis is going to be ten times the RIM park debt.โ€

Mike Connolly, sharing Korschewitzโ€™s reluctance towards the project, said, โ€œLetโ€™s improve what weโ€™ve 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. โ€œI hear enough traffic congestion comments in the Region of Waterloo already, and itโ€™s only going to get worse,โ€ he said.

Crowe, concerned about the environmental implications of transit in the city, explained, โ€œWhichever rapid transit line you choose, if you donโ€™t intensify along that transit system youโ€™re 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, โ€œThe answer is to plan and develop a Northdale with appropriate student housing โ€ฆ [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€œ[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, โ€œI 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€


Serving the Waterloo campus, The Cord seeks to provide students with relevant, up to date stories. Weโ€™re always interested in having more volunteer writers, photographers and graphic designers.