Candidate did not respond to our questions.
1. What do you feel is the #1 accessibility issue facing the City of London?
Implementing and understanding our city’s obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. I would like to see next council’s orientation to include better education on municipal requirements as well as improving council’s relationship with the Accessibility Advisory Committee. We know what we must do but how are we doing it continues to be a concern. As the Province undertakes a new Code of Conduct for municipalities there needs to be mandatory training and education on AODA regulations as well as other provincial mandated requirements.
2. How will you commit to improving accessible housing opportunities in our city?
Affordable housing is important to all Londoners Our city has experienced significant population growth, which has increased the demand for housing and the funding needed to support it.
I will continue to support funding initiatives that provide accessible modifications to existing homes, as well as incentives for developers to create more affordable rental units as well as commitments to increase the availability of accessible housing.
The city is mandated to build more housing units, but we can do a better job of identifying and tracking whether those units are accessible, supportive or affordable. I continue to have concerns meeting our overall housing targets does not necessarily meant that we are creating more accessible or affordable housing units. We need to do a better job reflecting the type of homes we are building and who they serve.
3. How will you work to improve accessible transportation including conventional transit, Paratransit, taxis and ride sharing?
I will continue to support investments in transit and paratransit services. Londoners are increasingly calling for improvements to these services, particularly in Ward 9, where we are experiencing significant growth but are still falling behind when it comes to opportunities to move around our community.
Advocacy is also needed with the taxi/ridesharing industries to increase the availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles. We all have a role to play in creating accessible transportation and ensuring that everyone can move around our city with greater independence.
Candidate did not respond to our questions.
- What do you feel is the #1 accessibility issue facing the city of London?
I’d guess one of the biggest accessibility issues in this city is that what checks a box on a bureaucrat’s scorecard doesn’t always translate into anything that actually helps someone. If you’ve ever dealt with City Hall on anything, you’ve run into that same issue. LTC’s own plan lists dozens of bus stops with a ramp-capable boarding pad and no sidewalk connecting to it. It fills a checklist, but still leaves someone stranded at the curb. - How will you commit to improving accessible housing opportunities in our city?
Most of London’s housing was built before today’s accessibility standards applied, and those standards only kick in on new construction or a major renovation. That’s why people are reporting years-long waits for something as basic as a wheelchair-accessible unit. The one program built to help someone retrofit their own home, Ontario Renovates, is funded by the federal and provincial governments and delivered through the City, and it runs out most years before demand is met. I can’t set that funding level from a council seat, but I can make sure residents actually know the program exists and how to apply before the year’s funding is gone. - How will you work to improve accessible transportation including conventional transit, Paratransit, taxis and ride sharing?
Paratransit riders report strong on-time performance, at 85% compared with 46% for conventional transit. Their problem is capacity. LTC turns away hundreds of trip requests. More vehicles and scheduling capacity would help, but funding is the constraint.
The taxi issue is economic too, from a different angle. Sixteen of London’s 31 accessible-cab licences sit unused, so this isn’t a licence shortage. Converting or buying an accessible vehicle runs over $130,000, and it must charge the same fare as a regular cab. The City’s bylaw then forces that vehicle off the road at 12 years old, even though every cab already passes an annual City safety inspection regardless of age. I’d replace that flat age limit with the annual safety inspection the City already requires for Vehicles for Hire. And I’d like your opinion: if taxis could charge an increased fare for paratransit in exchange for more accessible cabs on the road, would that be worth exploring? Or off the table?
Ride-sharing isn’t filling that gap either. Uber’s wheelchair-accessible option only runs in a handful of Canadian cities, and London isn’t one of them. The City’s Vehicle for Hire bylaw already allows an Accessible Private Vehicle for Hire. Operators aren’t putting those vehicles on the road here. I’d like to explore if there’s something that London could do to accommodate this.
1. What do you feel is the #1 accessibility issue facing the city of London?– I believe one of London’s biggest accessibility challenges is consistent access to transportation and the ability to move independently around the city. Accessibility needs to be considered in how we design roads, sidewalks, crossing, public spaces, transit and buildings. Not treated as an afterthought. We should continue listening to people with lived experience to identify barriers and prioritize practical improvements.
2. How will you commit to improving accessible housing opportunities in our city? We need more accessible housing options across London, including affordable and supportive housing. I would support incorporating accessibility into new housing development, encouraging adaptable housing designs and working with developers. Accessibility should be considered from the beginning of the planning process rather than added later.
3. How will you work to improve accessible transportation including conventional transit, paratransit, taxis and ride sharing? – London’s transportation system needs to be reliable, accessible and connect. I would support improving conventional transit accessibility, expanding paratransit capacity and reliability, and working with taxi and rideshare providers to increase accessible vehicle availability. We should also improve sidewalks, crossing and connections between transportation services so people can travel safely and independently throughout the city.
Candidate did not respond to our questions.
