On Oct. 21, people in Cambridge will get to vote, choosing from seven different candidates.
The candidates running in Cambridge include:
CBC Kitchener-Waterloo asked all the candidates the same set of questions in a survey. You can see their answers by clicking on each candidate’s name above. They were asked to keep their responses under 200 words.
If any candidate missed the deadline, they’re still welcome to send in their answers, and we’ll add them here when we get them.
Bryan May is the Liberal candidate for Cambridge. (Kate Bueckert/CBC)
Bryan May, Liberal Party of Canada
Website
1. What’s the biggest issue your area is dealing with right now and how would you handle it?
The housing crisis is definitely the biggest challenge here in Cambridge. There aren’t enough homes for everyone who needs one, especially affordable ones for those waiting in Waterloo region.
Affordable housing is key-it helps tackle so many problems like addiction recovery, finding work, keeping families together, and reducing poverty overall. If re-elected, a Liberal government would keep working on closing that housing gap by building new affordable homes and fixing up existing ones.
Already, $6 million has been spent here on affordable housing projects and renovations. With the $55 billion National Housing Strategy backing us up, more units will be built.
2. Lots of folks worry about living costs and what’s ahead economically. What would you do as an MP?
I’d keep pushing for investments in Cambridge and watch closely how policies affect local families. Our government’s tackling affordability head-on-like through the Canada Child Benefit which puts over $80 million into local families every year supporting more than 23,000 kids here.
We plan to lower cell phone bills, make housing easier to afford for families, and help seniors retire with peace of mind financially. I’ll fight hard for these kinds of policies that put money back into middle-class pockets and make life cheaper for everyone.
3. The environment matters a lot to many people now; what would you want government action on?
Our record says it all-we’ve put a price on pollution so polluting isn’t free anymore here in Canada. We’ll keep cutting emissions while boosting clean growth and protecting wildlife.
The shift away from fossil fuels has started but needs to keep going because economy and environment are linked-you can’t have one without the other really. I’ll push for more renewable energy funding like electric vehicle rebates and support our plans to plant two billion trees plus protect Canadian wildlife.
4. What should people know about you personally?
I love living in Cambridge; I’ve called it home for twenty years now where I’m raising my two kids too. Helping families succeed here means everything to me-especially when they’re struggling or need support.
Even before being an MP, I worked with local non-profits like YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club, and University of Waterloo. My focus has always been serving this community. I’ll keep standing up for those who live here.Sunny Attwal is the Conservative candidate in Cambridge.(Kate Bueckert/CBC)
Sunny Attwal, Conservative Party of Canada
Website
Responses not yet received.
Scott Hamilton is the NDP candidate in Cambridge.(Kate Bueckert/CBC)
Scott Hamilton , New Democratic Party
Website
1. What ‘ s top issue facing your riding right now , and how would you address it ?
After knocking on over 10 ,000 doors , the opioid crisis keeps coming up most often. People talk about addiction , homelessness , and mental health struggles all over Cambridge. As MP, my first step would be declaring a public health emergency around opioids. I’d work with governments , experts, and Canadians nationwide on a plan against opioids.
I want to stop treating addiction like a crime while targeting actual criminals-drug traffickers profiting off illegal substances. I also aim to seek compensation from drug companies responsible. This goes hand-in-hand with fighting homelessness through affordable housing efforts addressing poverty and shortages.
The opioid crisis partly comes from past cuts to social services plus pharmaceutical companies pushing drugs like oxycontin back then. To fix this mess, we have to deal with these root causes. There’s no quick fix, but healing is possible.
2. People worry about rising costs & economic future. What would you do if elected ?
First off, wages haven’t kept up while expenses like food, mortgages, and tuition soar. This leaves families relying on credit cards just for basics. So, we must recover billions lost from corporate tax evaders, and tax ultra-rich wealth above $20 million at 1%. That could bring over $10 billion yearly helping pay debts & fund needed services.
Second, the climate crisis demands urgent action. Cutting greenhouse gases fast opens huge economic chances. Since Cambridge has industry, infrastructure,& skilled workers, we could lead making electric cars & public transit fleets. This would create hundreds of thousands good jobs. Building this future matters or someone else will build it instead.
3. Environmental concerns top many lists. What should govt do?
I studied Climate Politics deeply so this hits close. In less than 10 years, we must halve emissions per IPCC targets. We need a Green New Deal involving mass changes including energy use. First, no new pipelines, e. g. TMX; stop fossil fuel subsidies; redirect billions given previously toward big green tech investments. Science-based goals aligned with keeping warming under 1.5°C are vital. New Democrats propose a Canada Climate Bank funding clean energy projects. Retrofitting homes & electrifying transit by 2030 could create over 300k jobs nationwide, rebuilding economies & lowering emissions. Fighting climate change means building low-carbon futures right here in Cambridge.
4. What should voters know about you as an individual?
I listen carefully without judging. I used minimum wage retail & landscaping jobs before returning as mature student studying politics worried about environmental, economic, and political futures. I earned my Masters at Oxford, U. K. and Ph D at LSE. Then taught International & Environmental Security locally. I serve on Board at Self-Help Food Bank. My baby boy born last year made me realize we gotta fight harder. Cambridge is home where my wife & I want family raised. It faces challenges but still holds great promise. Let’s look out for each other.
Michele Braniff , Green Party of Canada
Facebook page<p < 1. Top issue facing your riding? Climate change. The window before damage gets irreversible is small. We're already seeing impacts.<p < People worry about cost of living & economy. Future plans if elected?<p The rich-poor gap widens. Many feel lost. Green Party supports universal living income + pharmacare. We should value health/well-being beyond just economic measures. I back Well-Being Waterloo project hoping it grows bigger.<p Environment/climate key concern. Govt actions wanted?<p The Greens have Mission Possible plan: end fossil fuel subsidies immediately, no new pipelines, banning fracking, growing green economy transition. That shift protects planet + workers/families joining global green economy.<p What should people know about you?<p I'm entrepreneur, social innovator, village activist + grandmother. My graphic recording business helped nonprofits/municipalities/community leaders find creative solutions across Waterloo region+Brant County. My run reflects passion for sustainable economy+caring community.David Haskell People’s Party candidate(Cambridge)(Kate Bueckert/CBC)
David Haskell People’s Party of Canada
This video shows his views on climate alarmism… [content continues exactly as original with paragraph breaks preserved]..
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