Political Action Committee

CUPE Local 905

165 Pony Drive,

Newmarket, ON

L3Y 7B5

August 13, 2014

Dear members of CUPE Local 905 Political Action Committee,

I want to thank you for your survey questions and letter dated July 23, 2014. Please find below a

response to each of the twenty questions. I trust you will find my responses engaging, innovative and

credible.

I would appreciate your formal endorsement and support for my mayoral bid in Whitchurch-Stouffville.

Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Arnold Neufeldt-Fast, PhD

Candidate for the Office of Mayor, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Address: 672 Millard St., Stouffville, ONL4A 0B2 Email: arnold@arnold4mayor.ca

Webpage: www.arnold4mayor.ca (with donation option)

Facebook: arnold4mayor

Twitter: @neufast

Instagram: @neufast

Mobile: 647-298-4524

Question 1: What kind of issues / campaigns have you participated in your local community?

Post-Secondary Satellite Campus: Over a number of years I have advocated to the Mayor and Council

for a post-secondary education strategy for our town within the context of our region. There have and

continue to be some opportunities for satellite campuses in Ontario. Our community has very specific

assets appropriate for a smaller satellite campus (like in Stratford); this would be an engine for attracting

other knowledge-based industries in our community as well. This spring Council rejected my proposal

for a task force, and passed up the opportunity to present a bid when asked by York University last

Spring (cf. my presentation to Council (link).

Library: For years I have been a strong advocate of more robust library funding. Currently we are the

worst-funded library in the province for our category (per capita funding $26; provincial average: $44).

The Towns recent Efficiency Review ensured that our staffing levels would, correspondingly, also be

the be worst in the province and in the local librarys longer history (cf. my collected correspondence

last January just prior to the cuts link).

Transit: I have communicated regularly with council and I have written letters of concern to the papers

about our YRT serviceespecially immediately before and after the 2012 YRT transit reductions.

Because of the cuts, ridership has decreased even as our population has mushroomed. Why? Frequency

during rush hours is sub-standard; routing of Rte. 9 is not convenient; we have far too few shelters at

key stops; the last bus north from hospital leaves just before 8 pm; we have no weekend service on Rte.

9. Of course ridership plummeted after this ill-conceived plan was implemented. This deficit is

particularly difficult for businesses and workers (cf. here a few letters written to the papers over past

years: 1, 2, 3, 4).

Heritage and Culture: I have been a strong advocate for heritage protection and recognition (Grain

Elevator, Mantle Site, etc). The Arts have been almost studiously neglected by our town. Unlike

Richmond Hill, we have no robust arts strategy, with short, medium and long-range goals (some sample

articles in which I have led: 1, 2, 3, 4).

Environment: I have been an advocate of more compact, urban development in town, while protecting

the moraine from sprawl and enhancing its integrity. We have not had a greening strategy for our town,

nor do we have an environmental advisory committee (e.g., a letter to the paper by me). I have also

helped to galvanize opposition to a Pickering Airport in Stouffvilles backyard over a number of years

(click here).

Walkability / Bikeability: I have advocated for that our town plan to become a pedestrian and bike

friendly; a car-centric vision has dominated Councils vision of our town.

These are some of the issues that I have been involved in. For more details on these and other issues,

see: cf. http://www.arnold4mayor.ca/media/ ).

Question 2: If successful, what would be your priorities after the elections?

Champion high-speed broadband connectivity for Community of Stouffville (see York

Regions new broadband strategy).

YRT Transit advocacy at Region level: convenient, frequent, evenings & weekends;

shelters (see links above).

Library /Leisure Centre Expansion as Canada Sesquicentennial Project

Develop compact urban, mixed use, walkable, bikeable development plan for Main

Street, between Ninth and Hwy. 48. Bike-lanes on Main Street / Ninth Line in 2015 (not

2017 to 2021; cf. FB page)

Increased Arts funding and a robust Cultural plan with short, medium and long range

goals; strike an Arts Advisory Committee (Richmond Hill has set the bar).

Plan for mixed housing options for all stages of life (incl. affordability) as a priority (my

presentation and slides to council).

Increase Library per capita funding to meet or exceeds prov. average within four years.

Develop a Greening of Whitchurch-Stouffville Strategy, with sustainable development

initiatives including GHG reduction targets (again, Richmond Hill sets the bar);

Plan for development of complete communities: from sprawl, strip malls & endless

parking to mixed-use, pedestrian friendly communities

Protect moraine: balance economic (agric) livelihood and ecological integrity

Pickering airport opposition: I will advocate actively on behalf of our town and for the

land against airport development in Pickering (e.g., letters: 1, 2, 3).

Economy: I will attract business using quality of life as recruitment tool for creative class

& knowledge-based industry; i.e., walkability, bikeability, transit, library, etc. I will

send the right signals (as I have in the past with library, satellite campus initiative, arts)

that we are not just a sports or commuter town, but open for the creative economy.

Question 3: What measures do you think that your municipality should be taking to ensure it is a leader

in climate change adaptation and environmental projects?

Amongst our neighbouring municipalities, Whitchurch-Stouffville stands alone as a community without

an Environmental Advisory Committee (dismantled in 2006). I will initiate a Greening of Whitchurch-

Stouffville initiative which emphasizes Green House Gas reduction targets (which connects with

walkability, bikeability, and transit supportable development), protection /enhancement of the moraine,

for example. See two letter: 1, 2 (links).

This has simply been off the radar of the current council. I am a strong supporter of the Greenbelt and

Oak Ridges Moraine Protection plans; our growth and building must be smart, sustainable and focused

in the urban area of the Community of Stouffville.

As mayor, I will ensure that we join the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Partners for

Climate Protection (PCP) program. The PCP framework helps a community to set priorities, create action

plans and establish milestones.

Question 4: How do you view the role of public services in your municipality? What value do you place

on the people who provide these public services?

I know that our town staff is, by-and-large, over-extended and over-worked. The Towns 2012 Efficiency

Review went far beyond cutting gravy; it cut out services, over-taxed staff, and has resulted in a

certain level of antagonism at the staff level (e.g., see my chart on staffing levels at our public library--

link). This is counter-productive.

A telling sign of the current climate on council: our most important civic building is now off of Main

Street in a business park. The signal it sends is clear (implicitly and explicitly): Town residents are simply

tax-payers and customers. The customer service culture can be appropriate at certain junctures, but

only temporarily because first and foremost we are citizens! Reducing residents to tax-payers who

negotiate for private services is to undermine our status as citizens, and it tears at the fabric of

community. The pendulum in Whitchurch-Stouffville needs to swing back to citizen-focused language

which can identify short-comings in areas critical for a vibrant, flourishing, inter-dependent community

(like library funding, the arts, the creation of civic space, affordable housing, decent public transit, and

24/7 fire safety in Ballantrae). I am concerned that our Towns customer service paradigm results in a

commoditization of services, rather than citizenship building and the strengthening of the fabric of the

community.

Question 5: Where do you stand on alternative financing, contracting out, or privatization of public

services? What services are currently being privatized in your municipality?

(see above and below).

Question 6: Please give us your views on taxes and the cost of delivering public services.

As noted above, I have philosophical concerns about the down-sizing and out-sourcing of the things we

need to do together as community in order to be a community. Taxes is not a four-letter word: they

help us to do things together as a community which we cant do on our owna form of mutual aid

and we discern together what that should be. Efficiencies at this point have already resulted in

reduced public service in Whitchurch-Stouffville.

On taxes: Our commercial and industrial tax revenues make up only 13% of the total (residential tax

revenues: 87%; prov. avg: 79.6%). This is a problem which will not be addressed by lowering already

very low commercial tax levels; this did not keep us from losing 60 businesses between 2009 and 2013.

We need to build quality of life (library, walkability, etc) together with a push for broadband connectivity

to attract and fill our employment lands with knowledge-based industry which can help our tax base.

Question 7: What is your view on the sale of public assets?

Municipalities should have a detailed asset management plan to optimize investment, manage risk, and

ensure the health and safety of the public. The public plays a critical role in the process. Selling public

assets that are no longer needed for the municipality to achieve its vision and goals is prudent (e.g.,

selling of redundant properties). However, selling quality assets for short-term goals can be misguided

and result (in some cases) in health and safety risks to the community.

Question 8: What is your view of transit expansion, privatization, and the role of Metrolinx?

I am a strong supporter of a more robust public transit service, and I have spoken and written against

the reduction of YRT service levels to Stouffville for a number of years. It is however a very expensive

service compared to other municipalities (see links above).

The GO system works very well for our community; my one concern with Metrolinx currently is its stated

plan to remove the Downtown Stouffville Grain Elevator in order to secure another 20 parking spots.

Question 9: What work have you done on equity and human rights? How would you promote the equity

agenda.

I am the co-founder / co-organizer of the Stouffville Peace Festival. Last year our Peace Panel included

three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish (Gaza Doctor) and Gerry Caplan, author of

the UN Report on Rwandan genocide. This year we have invited Dr. James Orbinski, who as President of

Doctors without Borders received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 on behalf of the organization (see

flyer).

As a professor with graduate degrees in philosophy and theology, I have taught ethics for over many

years, and am sensitive and aware--and an advocate--of equity in all regards (as a grad student I was

even a TA/seminar leader for the one ethics course required of all business majorsand did they ever

need it!).

Question 10: If elected, what would you do to improve the lives of seniors in your municipality?

The percentage of seniors in York Region will double by the time I retire (I am the last of the baby-

boomers, born in 1964). A walkable community is especially important for seniors, who need to stay fit

and have meaningful, daily destinations to walk to (e.g., grocery store, bank, lawyer, etc). Stouffville

could become Ontarios most walkable, bikeable community, but weve recently made so many poor

decisions that still require the car for viable participation in society. I will change this. Seniors also need

good transitfor which I am an advocate. We will create significant dedicated space in the leisure

centre expansion for the 55+ seniors programming; I support this. The library expansion too will serve

the bulging seniors demographic. Generally, residential density along Main Street will be good for

seniors and the community as a whole.

Question 11: What are your thoughts on Long Term Care? Do you support the Time to Care campaign

of 4 hours of care, per resident, per day?

I agree that we have a Long Term Care crisiswhich will only get worse as the baby-boomers age. I am

50 years old, and my wife and I have seen first-hand how difficult it is to get quality care and support for

aging and needy parents. Four hours of care per day, per resident sounds rightand I am supportive of

the initiative.

Question 12: If elected, what would you do to improve the lives of individuals living below the poverty

line, and/or homelessness in your ward/municipality?

I have addressed Council on a number of occasions on this issue. A healthy or complete community

must promote an appropriate mix and range of acceptable housing to meet the needs of residents and

workers, according to the York Regional Plan. Local municipalities are to ensure a mix and range of

housing types with specific affordable housing targets. Why? Each of our families requires different

types of housing at different stages of life. Appropriate housing is key to promoting vibrant, whole

communities and a strong local economy.

In the past years, Stouffville has experienced a frenzy of building, yet the mix and range has excluded

many from the market. The percentage of apartments, for example, is far below the provincial average

(8.8% vs. 30%). When our largest employment in town is low-paying service sector jobs, it is easy to see

that our housing situation is unsustainable--socially and economically.

Were already feeling the economic costs: 36% of WhitchurchStouffville businesses said in 2012 that

the community was poorly positioned to attract new immigrant employees, and 45% said the same for

retaining and attracting employees under 30 years of age. Why? Because of the high-cost of housing in

Stouffville (and lack of good transit). (My presentations to Town Council: 1, 2, 3).

Affordable housing is a complex matter, needing the attention of all levels of government. I have

advocated for a planned mix of housing types appropriate to our community, enabling us to fulfill our

vision of becoming Ontarios most welcoming and vibrant small town.

I support the Federation of Canadian Municipalities affordable housing resolution and would adopt

FCMs Quality of Life Reporting System.

Question 13: What role do you think public libraries play in your community? Are you an advocate for

the public library system?

The Library needs a champion at this critical time. I am a professor and father, and I understand the

changing nature of libraries, and their role for offering space to gather, network, resource, and to

create. A well-resourced library contributes profoundly to a towns well-being and prosperity.

We are getting a long-overdue library expansion, but the current proposal is the minimum

recommended size for a 2021 populationand some want it smaller. Our per-person library operating

funding is the lowest in the province amongst comparable communitiesthis is what the past council

wanted. It has impacted the size of the collection (hard copies and e-copies), the archival and research

possibilities for students, the number of computer stations and, importantly, the staff to help curate,

access and create knowledge. Weve all become poorer as a result.

A commitment to build by 2017 does not change the attitude towards the library. In 2009, the Library

Boards SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) identified lack of shared

vision with Town Council as both a key weakness and threat the library faces (see also Board Chair

remarks http://www.yorkregion.com/opinion-story/1414708-library-funding-not-keeping-pace-with-

growing-town/#comments). This is a devastating judgement!

In 2011, I brought a petition with 400 signatures to Town Council askingmodestlythat our per capita

funding for the library meet the provincial average over the next four years. Yet the cleft between our

level of funding and the provincial average per person library funding has only grown wider. Here is a

letter reference I wrote for the Library Aware Community Award; here an early critique of council

funding, 2011; here collected correspondence in January 2013 in light of efficiency cuts).

Question 14: Do you think that all boards of the municipality should consist of elected officials and

members of the community? Or do you think they should all be appointed? Why?

The Library Board and the Advisory Committees consist of both elected officials and members of the

community. Some advisory committees (like Environmental) no longer exist because of the perception

that staff already provide the expertise. This is a misunderstanding of the role of advisory committees,

which represent and articulate the communitys values that are critical for good decision making in light

of information brought by specialists, for example. Appointments are necessary to ensure a right mix of

competency and representation. However appointments are political, and they can exclude important

voices (e.g., my application to the Library Board was turned down by the current Council).

Question 15: Do you feel the head of regional council should be an elected position? Why?

Popular election of the Regional Council Chair would not necessarily benefit the smaller municipalities in

York Region. A head appointed by regional councillors can insure equity between the lower-tier

municipalities. That being said, the Liberal provincial government will likely reintroduce the Election of

Chair of York Region (Bill 60, 2010); while I would not actively oppose the bill, I think a rotational chair

(like at the UN Security Council, or in the presidency in Switzerland where I lived for six years would be

better).

Question 16: Do you feel the system used in your municipality should be Strong Mayor or Powerful

Executive Committee? Why?

A strong mayor system is liable to corruption and--especially with development pressure on Whitchurch-

Stouffville. The public good can more easily be compromised in favour of the agenda of a specific private

lobby under a strong mayor system. In contrast, council-manager governments are cleaner and better

managed local governments (day-to-day management is insulated from political intrusion). I believe that

policy decision-making should lie with the council. The mayor in the current system should be a sage

and reasoned representative of the town municipal government. As a university professor and acting

Dean, I am a credible candidate for this role.

Question 17: What role do you see for the municipality and Municipal Councillors around economic

development and protecting or creating good jobs? How would you support pro-active measures to

assist workers to achieve unionization?

I have taken the current Mayor to task (click here) when he looked forward to 10,000 jobs in the hotel

and restaurant industry in response to the Pickering Airport announcement June 2013. I have criticized

Councils lack of imagination and vision when they rejected an opportunity to tell York University why

we would be an ideal location for their satellite campus (my presentation notes here); and more

recently, I helped galvanize opinion against the mayors vision of attracting a large Pacific-Mall-type

warehouse to our employment lands in Stouffville proper. We have lost 60 businesses since 2009in

part because we are sending all the wrong signals about being a welcoming place for knowledge-based,

creative class industries. For the first time, low-paying service sector jobs is our largest employment

sector, and these employees cannot even afford to live in our town. I have the vision and energy to help

develop the environment to attract and protect quality jobs in a variety of sectors.

Regarding unions: I know that unions have played a critical role in Canadas development and

prosperity, past and future. Today I am saddened by the reality of larger numbers of working poor

who cannot even live in the community in which they work (e.g., Stouffville). I am very conscious of the

ever-increasing gap between rich and poor and the disappearance of the middle class. Unions have and

can play an important role in turning this trend aroundwhich I support.

Question 18: What role do you think unions have in your community?

See above; they have proud history in our province and community.

Question 19: If you are endorsed how will you be accountable on key issues? Would you be willing to

meet on a regular basis?

I think that I am the candidate which CUPE Local 905 needs at this time in Whitchurch-Stouffville. Any

other choice will result in more of the same efficiencies. While I am accountable to constituents, I am

confident that my priorities resonate reasonably well with those of your union. I want to meet with all

interested parties along the way, to hear and to learn, and that would include meeting with your union

regularly. I welcome your endorsement and support in this important election.

Question 20: Municipal workers like our members often have feedback and innovative ways to improve

services but feel that their suggestions and innovations are not ever heard by their elected officials.

Would you support workers being involved in the planning and implementation of services and how

would you achieve this?

Municipal workers are on-the-ground experts in their fields. I am a collaborative leader who knows that

good decisions require brain-storming and the suggestions and innovative ideas of all involved. If the

tax-payer, resident as customer culture at town hall can change to a citizenship model, town staff

will be taken seriously in their work as collaborators in the building up of the community.

Arnold Neufeldt-Fast, PhD

Candidate for Mayor, Town Whitchurch-Stouffville

Email: arnold@arnold4mayor.ca

Webpage: www.arnold4mayor.ca (with donation option)

Facebook: arnold4mayor

Twitter: @neufast

Instagram: @neufast

Mobile: 647-298-4524