Get to know your Kitchener candidates ahead of Monday's municipal election
CBC
Homelessness, housing and climate change are among some of the top reasons candidates for council in Kitchener are running in this year's municipal election.
Three of the city's 10 councillors are not seeking re-election, which means there will be some new faces around the council horseshoe this fall. Those not seeking re-election are:
The municipal election will be held on Monday and to help people in Kitchener get to know their candidates, CBC Kitchener-Waterloo asked all candidates to answer a survey that listed their top three reasons for running.
Click on the links below to read what local candidates have to say:
The responses are in alphabetical order by last name.
There are five people running for mayor in Kitchener. They are:
Rehman-Ullah Khan did not respond to CBC K-W's survey.
Manikantan Nair says the top three reasons he's seeking the mayor's chair in this election are:
"Affordable housing, homelessness, addiction, mental health, lack of timely access to quality health-care services, rising cost of utility bills and property taxes are some of the challenges we are facing," Nair said.
"In order to overcome some of these challenges, we need bold leadership from the mayor and collaboration with other levels of government."
Nair moved to Canada from Delhi, India, 21 years ago and is a long-time resident of Kitchener. He currently works in the field of network and cyber security at a local university.
He says he's passionate about community service, public policy debate and social service. In 2018, he and some friends created Namaste Debate to promote Indo-Canadian candidates to run for public office and to help educate the public and voters about issues facing Waterloo region.
Nair says he's "open-minded and a good listener … compassionate and empathic."
Val Neekman said his top three reasons for running for mayor are:
The government of Saskatchewan has announced plans to reduce the length of non-resident game bird hunting licences to combat illegal guiding.
An 87-year-old Alberta man is fighting extradition to the United Kingdom to stand trial for historical allegations of physical and sexual assault involving minors.
Eight casinos across southwest B.C. have been sold to First Nations in the last two years, with the province's gambling scene set to be reshaped as a result.
Hamilton hosts the Junos Sunday, and the musical awards show is bringing tourists, musicians, concerts and a ton of themed events to the city this week.
The multi-million-dollar deal at the heart of a high-profile fight between the Canadian government and one of the world’s biggest carmakers contains multiple clauses about the company’s footprint in Ontario, according to a copy obtained by CBC Windsor.
In recent months, Calgary police have carried out three day-long safety blitzes, parading out dozens of officers to flood an area with their increased presence — at least, temporarily.
A national organization is seeking people with experience in Canada's forestry sector as they put together a working group that will examine ways to improve forest recovery following wildfires.
Ella Heyder is bracing for a breakup, even though she already moved out decades ago.
Shawne Hopkins never saw it coming.
Politicians return to Queen’s Park Monday for a shortened spring session, as Premier Doug Ford prepares to unveil his eight budget amid heightened global economic uncertainty.
Despite a recent announcement that a water supply pipeline will be build in Oneida Nation of the Thames, some members of the community say that's no excuse for taking water for granted.
As scandal has swirled around former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, questions and curiosity have also focused on his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Friday may have been the first day of spring, but winter storms are not over yet for Newfoundland.