FEO, September 17, 2026, Volume 8, Issue 1
Each mayoral candidate has been asked the same questions and given the same opportunity to respond within the same word limit. Candidate submissions are not edited by the Observer, other than for basic formatting where necessary.
Housing and Growth
The Question:
Q. Much of the new housing being built is beyond the reach of many first-time buyers, young families and local workers. How would you, as mayor, balance the need for more affordable housing with protecting the character and quality of life that attracted many residents to Fort Erie in the first place? What types of housing and development would you prioritize?
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Much of the new housing in Fort Erie is beyond the reach of first – time buyers, young families and local workers. I hear it daily from young people who grew up here and families who lived here for generations. They cannot afford to stay and cannot find work here.
As Mayor, I would focus on affordable housing and jobs together while protecting the character and quality of life that brought us to Fort Erie.
First, housing that fits Fort Erie. We need more duplexes, triplexes, townhomes,and small apartments in our cores – Ridgeway, Crystal Beach, Stevensville and Garrison Road – not oversized developments in established neighborhoods.
Second, truly attainable homes. Support second suites, garden suites and downsizing options for seniors so they can stay in town. That frees up family homes. Require attainable units in every major new development.
Third, infrastructure first. I will not support new housing unless the infrastructure in that neighborhood is up to date and has the capacity to handle it. Water, Wastewater, Stormwater , Roads and Emergency Services must be ready before approval. Growth must pay for Growth.
Fourth, bring industry so our people can work here. We need clean, light industry, skilled trades, border businesses and year – round tourism jobs so young people and lifelong residents can work in Fort Erie. No one should have to drive an hour or more to Hamilton, St Catherine’s or cross border to make a living. If our kids can work here, they can afford to live here.
MIKE CAMPBELL
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How to solve the housing problem
Here, 39% of people can only live in rented housing, most are stuck in the predicament of difficulty renting, harder buying, and difficulty maintaining a home as well (almost all housings are anti-science, anti-regularity, anti-spiritual enjoyment, wastes manpower and material resources).
Free housing is the most basic human right. In China, almost every household has a house or more houses, the government collects not a single cent of property tax, temporary rental need only about $100 monthly! Here neglect the most resources and people,so far behind China!
The reason:government sells natural land that belongs to all people only to private enterprises to build houses, which inevitably results in high prices and low quantity! government must never merely dictate taxing the people like parasites,so that corruption,lazy and unscrupulousness,but ought to play the role of the largest organization that holds full authority over people, finances, and materials, lead the people in developing the economy, make everyone equally prosperous, provide food for free, and ensure everyone has housing without worry.
Specific plan: establish a democratic enterprise, recruit citizens to participate in building housing, and equally exercise all sovereignty, obtain housing at cost price, pay with wages, without high loans and interest,no property tax.
Production projects: patented ”movable modular double-story suite with sunroom (three bedrooms,one living room,two bathrooms)”,”water flowing uphill,”“self-service lifter,”etc.invented by our scientific team (no competitive pressure, little waste), which require no foundation excavation and can also self-supply water and electricity free of charge.
Finished housing can be supplied within a few months and concentrated into a beautiful new community.only with an area of only 2km², again attract foreign investment to develop our world-class patented”self-sufficient aerial mountain city skyscraper”:everyone with free apartment and dividend—real paradise! That is unique character and high-quality life Fort Erie ought to have by exceptional natural advantages!
JUAN LIU
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BALANCED AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Balancing affordable housing with community character requires a practical and co-operative approach to growth: working with residents and developers to help meet our needs, while protecting single-family neighbourhoods, green spaces, culture, heritage and shoreline identity.
The two-tier model with the Niagara region offers a variety of grants and incentives for both landowners and developers to reduce costs. Purpose-built housing incentives include programs such as door grants for new apartment units with rent held below market value, for example.
Fort Erie must maximize zoning initiatives to help maintain neighbourhood character while allowing higher-density development in identified areas such as the Garrison Road corridor and Bridgeburg, where transit, infrastructure, and services are already in place.
Affordable options include homeowners being incentivized to add secondary suites, as these offer low-impact, financially affordable density within existing lots.
Priority must go toward missing middle housing, multiplexes, and low-rise apartments suited for entry-level buyers and seniors looking to downsize, thus opening up existing homes through a domino effect.
Fort Erie needs to actively partner with experienced non-profit organizations and explore new co-op housing models.
Our town needs to collaborate with builders by targeting incentives that don’t burden taxpayers. Developers that include true affordable units should receive streamlined municipal approvals and significantly reduced development charges, removing major financial hindrances to growth in Fort Erie. Our development charges are currently the second highest in the region; that needs to change.
The bottom line is that it must remain a collaborative and regularly reviewed process with a goal of achieving the most affordable housing possible for all of our residents, including seniors, young families, and those in need.
As your Mayor, I will continue to work hard to support these issues as I always have.
TOM INSINNA
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HOUSING AND GROWTH
Housing affordability is an issue across Canada. While municipalities cannot alter the market, they can establish policies, provide the infrastructure and reduce costs to encourage construction of new housing. Everyone should be able to build a life in our community.
Throughout my tenure as mayor, Fort Erie has focused on integrating development with our natural heritage and protecting existing neighbourhoods. Over twenty years ago, Fort Erie became the first Niagara municipality to create a natural heritage inventory to identify the extent of our environmental assets. Fort Erie is the first local municipality in Niagara to secure provincial approval for its new Official Plan. The OP guides where and how we grow, alongside policies protecting our natural heritage, trees and historic buildings.
Several years ago, the Town’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee conducted a housing needs assessment that identified the need for more rental housing and has informed next steps we have taken: creation of an Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan that provides incentives for affordable units, streamlining of the application/permit processes, a re-consultation process that allows Town staff and developers to identify and remove barriers to construction, attention to infrastructure, a developers/builders forum and zoning changes to permit smaller lots in certain areas. When Council approves the provincial grant under the Development Charges Reduction Program, Town development charges on new homes will be reduced by half.
New housing has to take into account location, height, design, traffic, drainage and local infrastructure capacity, with residents involved in the process. My priorities are a mix of housing (rental apartments, smaller detached homes, semis, townhouses and apartments in existing houses) in appropriate locations. We also need housing that permits seniors to remain in town; hence our work with the Fort Erie Lions on their new affordable seniors’ residence currently under construction.
WAYNE REDEKOP
