Another day, another political ward. Today we will look at who is running in Ward 3 and how they tackled questions relating to responsible growth and development in Grimsby. If you aren’t sure what Ward you are in you can visit this Town page with the electoral map. Responses to our questions were received from all five Ward 3 candidates.

Don’t forget, you can vote for two candidates for Ward Councillors!

First, lets take a look at the candidate bios:

Veronica Charrois

Occupation: Previously education, currently co-managing a small family-operated HVAC business
Running In: Ward 3
Living In: Ward 3

Ryan Day

Occupation: District Supervisor, Transportation, Roadway Maintenance, City of Hamilton, Public Works
Running In: Ward 3
Living In: Ward 1

Joanne Johnston

Occupation: I run a small independent Pharmacy, Hodgins Pharmacy on Main Street East
Running In: Ward 3
Living In: Ward 3

Jennifer Korstanje

Occupation: Specialty Retail 
Running In: Ward 3
Living In: Ward 3

Duncan Storey

Occupation: Financial crimes analyst, fraud prevention specialist
Running In: Ward 3
Living In: Ward 2

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And here is how the candidates answered our questions…

Q: What is the most important experience or skill set you can bring to Council if elected/re-elected?

Veronica Charrois	Extensive knowledge of council issues. Over this term, I have diligently watched council meetings, researched, and followed up on our most pressing issues. I’ve been working hard in a resident capacity but will get more accomplished with a vote at council.
Ryan Day	Municipal Experience. Leadership, People leadership, Customer service for 20 years. I understand Contruction, Roads, By-laws, Procurement, Finance, Development, Budgets, Parks and Inter - Municipal Relations. I also have understanding of the Role of Council and service delivery levels. Which I work with.
Joanne Johnston	This Council made mistakes because of the pettiness and inexperience. Change is good with a mixture of new blood and experience. Anyone who knows me knows how involved I am in our community. That's important experience too. I love engaging with people and really listening to what they say.
Jennifer Korstanje	Having the opportunity to work and volunteer with a variety of demographics has taught me there are many perspectives to any one decision. I have the gift of being able to listen and respecting the value of each individual contributing voice.
Duncan Storey	4 generations of my family have lived in Grimsby, so I'm in tune with our geography and past and present. I will be able to guide planning policies that will preserve our small-town character.

Q: Do you believe in the concept of responsible growth?  If yes, please explain your definition of responsible growth as it relates to Grimsby?

Veronica Charrois	Responsible growth to me means building in a way that adds value to our community first and foremost. Developments should prioritize the needs of the Town’s residents, and be built in a way that respects Grimsby’s official plan, nearby established neighbourhoods, key heritage features, parking, traffic, and existing infrastructure.
Ryan Day	Yes, I do. Having sustainability and good planning. Building/Development is happening everywhere, wherever there is a space, there is an opportunity. We may compromise the future of Grimsby's functioning communities by continuing to develop at this rate and without good planning.
Joanne Johnston	Responsible growth is growth that is both appropriate for the existing neighbourhood and sustainable. Responsible growth begins with responsible staff who want the best Grimsby to live in.
Jennifer Korstanje	Yes. Responsible growth identifies the current and future needs of the community in both a residential and commercial aspect. It considers the existing infrastructure, environment and the possible impact on community safety, accessibility and resources.
Duncan Storey	I believe in responsible growth. We need to follow our official plan and the rules we created to guide the growth of our town. I will listen to the people I represent, so I can be their voice on town council.

Q: What do you see as the biggest challenge or hurdle facing the Town in terms of planning and development and how would you solve it?

Veronica Charrois	Our biggest hurdle will be pushing back on unreasonable development applications that have a precedent-setting standard in place. I feel council needs to take a firmer approach with developers so they know this council will hold them to a higher standard than they were previously held to.
Ryan Day	Development and Traffic. With development there is more Residents, with more residents there are more moving parts. More traffic and pedestrians. We will need to identify problem areas and plan accordingly so that we can live collectively while public safety is the top priority.
Joanne Johnston	The biggest challenge facing Grimsby right now, whether it's for planning or managing our finances,is that we have a council focused on petty divisions rather than working together. Councillors should be focused on the needs of the residents not political attacks. We cannot move forward until that changes.
Jennifer Korstanje	Our lack of public trust and communication. Without effective communication from Council, Planning and our Advisory Committees there is an incredible lack of public trust. A united front where all opinions are evaluated and respected in order to shape our pending growth is imperative.
Duncan Storey	The council votes are being bulldozed by the OLT. We need to have more power to follow our official plan without the decisions being overturned by the province for developers who have the money to fight. Together, our council needs to work with the province to empower local decision-making.

Q: Ward 3 is a mostly built-up and stable residential community. The pressures to meet intensification targets will likely translate to more infill and property severances in your Ward.  What will you do to ensure new development is compatible and sensitive to the existing community?

Veronica Charrois	The Town of Grimsby will have the opportunity to review its Official Plan shortly. At that time, I will advocate for extensive public consultation and receiving guidance from a proven municipally sensitive planning consultant to help us strengthen development requirements and zoning by-laws, ensuring that new developments fit properly in density and style. Growth will continue, and it is paramount that our new council is forward-thinking and installs parameters that protect our waterfront, green spaces, and established neighbourhoods.
Ryan Day	For severance development in older and established neighbourhoods, zoning by-laws can be created. So that new builds can fit with the overall character of a neighbourhood.
Joanne Johnston	The Council I was on created a plan. We directed intensification away from the traditional neighbourhood with the Winston Road and Go Transit Station Secondary Plans.That created enough capacity to handle the intensification for decades. When staff warned of intensification pressures near the hospital, we started a secondary plan that ensured appropriate development. The New Council cancelled it, then spent much time bickering that developers got approval for intensification with six stories.. I understand Council wanted to do things differently but should have had agreement on New plans before KILLING ours. You need proper planning.
Jennifer Korstanje	It is important for us as a community to understand our Official plan and the intensification that it allows and where. We need a collective approach between our community, council and professionals to establish strict guidelines for development. Established zoning needs to be respected to achieve the proper balance between residential and commercial while still preserving our heritage. Community needs to be at the foundation of any Ward 3 intensification decisions, particularly as it pertains to existing infrastructure, environmental recourse and safety. Consistent public consultation, education and access to information will help build a relationship of public trust.
Duncan Storey	We need to focus the growth to areas such as the Go Train station location while protecting the sensitivities of stable neighbourhoods. The residents of Ward 3 have expressed the need for the Go Train and are willing to accept some growth if it’s done responsibly but we need to preserve existing character, streetscapes and green spaces. I want Grimsby to grow and keep up with the times but still be the place where my family grew up. It’s a balancing act and I feel I’d be a strong and sincere voice for Grimsby.

That’s a wrap on the Ward 3 candidates…. see you tomorrow for the seven-candidate Ward 4 Battle Royale + Mayor Finale!