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MEET WARD 5 CANDIDATE ... Lana Haines

In their own words, candidates tell us a little bit about themselves and where they stand on the issues
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Lana Haines is running for city councillor in Ward 5.

In their own words, candidates tell us a little bit about themselves and where they stand on the issues. A different ward will be featured each evening this week.

Name: Lana Haines

Occupation:  I work in a corporate sales role for a global packaging company.

How long have you lived in Guelph? Since 1985. Prior to that, we lived just outside the city in Guelph/Eramosa. I spent a year in Toronto early in my career, however big city living is not for me!

Do you reside in the ward you are running in? Yes. My husband and I live in Ward 5 with our two daughters.

Why are you running in this election? I will bring a new perspective to city council. There are many people who have indicated a need for change, and I believe residents in my ward deserve to have a voice. I will advocate for a fiscally responsible and accountable local government.

What qualifies you to represent your ward? First and foremost, my family and I are residents here. I feel it is important to reside in the ward that you represent. Coming from a professional background, I embody collaboration, open communication, budget management and the ability to work in a detailed, and process-oriented environment.  Our ward and our City deserve a council who can be objective and will work together for the greater good of Guelph.

Why should people vote for you? Being a resident of Ward 5, and having a young family, we are affected by the same issues that many of our residents here share. Bringing more of a business lens to council, I want to ensure that we are driving responsible spending and accountability to the budget, maintaining our infrastructure, but not continually adding to the financial burden of the citizens of Guelph.

What do you see as the main issues facing residents of the ward? With rising inflation, cost of living is affecting everyone. Safety is another major concern (both traffic and crime). 

The south end has taken much of the city’s growth in recent years, and we need to ensure that decisions around major infrastructure – both traditional and social – in all areas, are responsible and forward looking as much as possible. 

What do you see as the main issues facing residents of Guelph on a broader scale? Based on the current state of our economy and how people are already struggling under inflationary pressures, the biggest issue I see (and hearing from Ward 5 residents) will be the large current (already approved) and future budget / tax increases. 

What is the most important thing you want to see changed in Guelph? I feel that the spending on infrastructure needs to be reviewed and reprioritized based on the current state of our economy, and our resident’s needs. We cannot continue to spend money that results in multi decade tax levies in order to fund.

What services need to be improved in Guelph? Snow removal in residential areas (non-arterial roads) is a repeated concern I hear from residents. 

Is Guelph growing too fast, just the right amount, or not fast enough? The province has set some pretty aggressive growth targets for Guelph. We have a responsibility to ensure that development is both responsible and sustainable. I also think it is important to make sure that development fits within the individual character of Ward 5.

What can be done at the local level about the rising cost of housing? One of the key priorities coming out of the KPMG service rationalization report was reviewing the development approval process. While this has been started, our future council needs to make sure this is a focus and see it through. Making it easier to get affordable homes built needs to be a priority.

What can be done locally about the homelessness issue? While there has been some progress with supportive housing during this past term, I would strongly advocate for more resources from the province and ensure we are working closely with social services (Wellington County) to ensure we are doing everything we can to continue this progress.

How do we make Guelph an even better city to live in? Guelph was always viewed as a unique and desirable community to live in. Each councillor has a responsibility to be visible and accessible, and make sure that their residents have a voice.

Guelph has an abundance of parks, trails and beautiful green spaces. As we grow, maintaining balance in all objectives should be key. 

Any link to an election website or social media account:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @lana_ward5guelph

Facebook: Coming soon!

Website – coming soon!


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