Latest news with #Deutschmann
CBC
04-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Waterloo region council has an open seat. Here's how they might fill it
Social Sharing Waterloo regional council has a decision to make when it comes to filling former councillor Rob Deutschmann's seat. Deutschmann vacated his seat in January to run as the Ontario Liberal candidate for Cambridge in the recently decided provincial election, losing to PC incumbent Brian Riddell. After declaring the seat vacant on Jan. 29, regional council must decide how the seat is filled by Mar. 30. The choice is between appointing a new councillor to fill the seat or holding a by-election. Option 1: Appointment According to the Municipal Act of 2001, to be eligible for a council seat, the appointee must be a Canadian citizen above the age of 18 and they or their spouse must own property or rent in the Region of Waterloo. Other than these eligibility requirements, the act has no requirements for how to fill the seat by appointment. The first appointment option, listed in a staff report, is for regional council to select a candidate from the 2022 municipal election. That's what happened in 2015 when the death of Kitchener regional Coun. Wayne Wettlaufer led to then-chair Ken Seiling appointing Elizabeth Clarke, who was runner-up in the 2014 election. In the case of Deutschmann's Kitchener seat, Matt Rodrigues received the fifth highest vote percentage in the 2022 election, coming in about 400 votes shy of Deutschmann. "Staff have contacted Mr. Rodrigues and he has indicated that he remains eligible and is willing to serve," the report said. The second option is to appoint someone through an application process. This would open up a public option for any eligible candidates to submit an application. If council went with this option, a meeting would be held on Mar. 26 for applicants to present their case before a decision is made. The staff report says this option would cost about $5,000, which would be covered by the election reserve fund. The third appointment option is to simply pick someone. Councillors could present nominations for any eligible individual at the council meeting on Mar. 19, where council members would pick from a list. The report said this gives council the option to pick an applicant who meets desirable criteria, "such as, being committed to not running in 2026, providing a diverse voice to Council, or being able to get up to speed quickly." Option 2: By-election If Waterloo regional council decides against appointing a councillor, they would be required to call a by-election, which the staff report says would likely be between June 2 and June 30 this year. The cost for a by-election would be approximately $800,000, according to the report. If council decides to go the election route, the seat would remain open longer and it would cost far more than any of the other options. Council will make a decision on how to fill the vacant seat at a council meeting Tuesday.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Community members, politicians react to racist graffiti sprayed on Ayr town sign
Politicians and community members are reacting to racist graffiti that recently turned the Ayr town sign into a "despicable act of vandalism." The town sign has a blue background and white lettering with the name "Ayr" in the middle. Added to the end of the town name was white paint with two capital letters "AB." "This despicable act of vandalism is a clear attempt to spread hate and division in our community," said Rob Deutschmann, a former regional councillor and current Liberal candidate in Cambridge in the Ontario election. In a release sent out Monday, Deutschmann called for the region and mayor to "immediately remove the offensive sign." "We must send a clear message that hate has no place in Ayr or anywhere in our region," Deutschmann said in the release. "I call on our community leaders to act swiftly and decisively to address this incident and reaffirm our commitment to inclusivity." In his release, Deutschmann described an "influx of new residents from diverse cultural backgrounds." For her part, North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton said she reached out to the Region of Waterloo over three weeks ago to request the sign be fixed. Foxton said she also reported the graffiti to the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS). "This is not who we are," Foxton said in an emailed response to CBC News. "We have always been a diverse community that has come together and stood side by side, our lives intertwine and connect. We are community. We are Canadian and in that statement it stands for diversity of many coming together to create a greater nation." WRPS spokesperson Brad Hickey told CBC News he has no documentation for a report about the vandalism. CBC News did not hear back from the Region of Waterloo by the time of publication. Tensions exist among residents, community member says Qavi Aziz is the chair of the Ayr Islamic Centre and has been living in Ayr for about three years. Aziz said he hasn't seen the vandalism for himself, but he intends to talk to the township to get it removed. "If that sign is there, that means people — some people, not all, some people — are thinking that is not a welcoming sign for us to be here," he told CBC News. Aziz is involved with an organization that has recently organized a Friday prayer group at the Ayr Curling Club, a development Deutschmann referenced in his release on Monday. Aziz said there are about 25 to 30 people who go every week and they hope to have their own space one day, but working with the Ayr Curling Club has been "amazing." "They are helping us, everybody there — not a single fellow that I've seen has had any objections," he told CBC News. Aziz said it's a change from other responses he got before landing at the curling club. "Any other places we tried to go, they said, 'No, sorry, we don't have the space.'" He said he's experienced other tensions after moving to Ayr, including posting an invitation to an event run by the Ayr Islamic Centre on a city-run Facebook site, under which there were several negative comments. "There were a few people who objected to it [saying], ''Why are you putting this invitation here, this is not the place to put the invitation here,'" Aziz remembered. But a community of newcomers is growing in the region, and Aziz sees potential for a welcoming and warm community. He is trying to get a cricket pitch built in the town in order to participate with other clubs around the region. "I'm trying my level best ... most people are giving me encouragement. They are trying to help us."
CBC
24-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Community members, politicians react to racist graffiti sprayed on Ayr town sign
Politicians and community members are reacting to racist graffiti that recently turned the Ayr town sign into a "despicable act of vandalism." The town sign has a blue background and white lettering with the name "Ayr" in the middle. Added to the end of the town name was white paint with two capital letters "AB." "This despicable act of vandalism is a clear attempt to spread hate and division in our community," said Rob Deutschmann, a former regional councillor and current Liberal candidate in Cambridge in the Ontario election. In a release sent out Monday, Deutschmann called for the region and mayor to "immediately remove the offensive sign." "We must send a clear message that hate has no place in Ayr or anywhere in our region," Deutschmann said in the release. "I call on our community leaders to act swiftly and decisively to address this incident and reaffirm our commitment to inclusivity." In his release, Deutschmann described an "influx of new residents from diverse cultural backgrounds." For her part, North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton said she reached out to the Region of Waterloo over three weeks ago to request the sign be fixed. Foxton said she also reported the graffiti to the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS). "This is not who we are," Foxton said in an emailed response to CBC News. "We have always been a diverse community that has come together and stood side by side, our lives intertwine and connect. We are community. We are Canadian and in that statement it stands for diversity of many coming together to create a greater nation." WRPS spokesperson Brad Hickey told CBC News he has no documentation for a report about the vandalism. CBC News did not hear back from the Region of Waterloo by the time of publication. Tensions exist among residents, community member says Qavi Aziz is the chair of the Ayr Islamic Centre and has been living in Ayr for about three years. Aziz said he hasn't seen the vandalism for himself, but he intends to talk to the township to get it removed. "If that sign is there, that means people — some people, not all, some people — are thinking that is not a welcoming sign for us to be here," he told CBC News. Aziz is involved with an organization that has recently organized a Friday prayer group at the Ayr Curling Club, a development Deutschmann referenced in his release on Monday. Aziz said there are about 25 to 30 people who go every week and they hope to have their own space one day, but working with the Ayr Curling Club has been "amazing." "They are helping us, everybody there — not a single fellow that I've seen has had any objections," he told CBC News. Aziz said it's a change from other responses he got before landing at the curling club. "Any other places we tried to go, they said, 'No, sorry, we don't have the space.'" He said he's experienced other tensions after moving to Ayr, including posting an invitation to an event run by the Ayr Islamic Centre on a city-run Facebook site, under which there were several negative comments. "There were a few people who objected to it [saying], ''Why are you putting this invitation here, this is not the place to put the invitation here,'" Aziz remembered. But a community of newcomers is growing in the region, and Aziz sees potential for a welcoming and warm place for them. He is trying to get a cricket pitch built in the town in order to participate with other clubs around the region.
CBC
18-02-2025
- Health
- CBC
Cambridge candidates on how they'll address health care, homelessness and tariffs
Health care is a top issue for Cambridge voters. Here's what the candidates say they'll do 4 hours ago Duration 3:36 Social Sharing Health care, homelessness and the threat of U.S. tariffs were among the top issues addressed by Cambridge candidates as part of a panel discussion on CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition on Tuesday. Three candidates joined host Craig Norris for the panel discussion. CBC K-W invited the candidates from the four parties with MPPs currently sitting at Queen's Park. There are five candidates in Cambridge: Rob Deutschmann, Ontario Liberal Party. Carla Johnson, Green Party of Ontario. Belinda Karahalios, New Blue Party of Ontario. Marjorie Knight, New Democratic Party. Brian Riddell, Progressive Conservative of Ontario (incumbent). Three candidates — Deutschmann, Knight, and Johnson — attended the panel. Riddell declined the invitation to participate. More information about Karahalios can be found below. Health care In CBC K-W's voter survey, people in the Cambridge riding identified health care as their top concern. Candidates were asked what they believe the challenges are for health care in Cambridge specifically, and how they plan to address it. Knight said the number one issue she's hearing is the lack of family doctors. She described a personal experience of being treated on an emergency room cot for days due to bed shortages after experiencing a heart attack. "The nurses and the doctors were fantastic and they looked after me, but you're giving somebody a basket to carry water," she said. As a solution, Knight said there are foreign trained doctors who are living in the city that she would like to see trained under Canadian certified doctors so they, too, can practice, which would add to the supply of doctors. Johnson agreed with what Knight laid out and criticized the current Progressive Conservative government for what she called "terrible, neglectful decisions." "What breaks my heart is we have a province who overwhelmingly continues to vote for a government that refuses to do anything to even try to solve the problems," she said. Deutschmann said the issue of access to primary care is as dire in Cambridge and North Dumfries as it is across the province. He also mentioned that when visiting his father at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, he saw multiple people laying in beds in the hallway. "I watched the debate [Monday] night and Doug Ford kept talking about the millions and billions of dollars that they've invested," Deutschmann said. "If that's true, and given what we're seeing today, it's either a complete lie or he is the most inefficient spender of our money in the province." Housing and hmelessness Housing and homelessness were another major concern for Cambridge voters, particularly encampments and affordable housing. Candidates were asked how they'd address the growing crisis. Johnson condemned efforts by the current government to persecute people experiencing homelessness. "Homelessness should absolutely never be criminalized. These are people with needs. These are our most vulnerable people," she said. Johnson said her government would try to look at solutions, because she says the PC government hasn't been doing enough. Deutschmann argued for stronger provincial and municipal funding partnerships. He said he believes that municipalities have footed the bill and left to their own devices when it comes to handling housing. "Too much has been shifted from the province down to the municipality and onto the property tax base, which was never intended for a lot of the things that we deal with now," he said, adding the region spends $180 million on those issues. He said he would work toward no-strings-attached funding from the province to help deal with chronic homelessness, which he said would cost the region around $300 million. Knight highlighted that homelessness is not just about addiction or mental health, rather many people are simply unable to afford rent, including full-time workers and seniors on fixed incomes. Knight herself has experience living in a shelter. "I worked full time, 44 hours a week, while I lived in the shelter because I couldn't find somewhere that I could afford to rent," said Knight. "We need to stop thinking about people who are homeless as second class citizens and we need to start building homes again." U.S. tariffs With proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods potentially impacting various businesses and industries, candidates were asked what they would do as Cambridge's MPP to address those tariffs. Deutschmann called for a "Team Ontario" approach, gathering local business, labour and trade experts to determine exactly how tariffs would impact the riding, and bring those voices to Queen's park. He stressed that tariffs are a federal concern. "It's not the premier of Ontario who's going to be the voice for Canada," he said. Knight agreed that tariff threats are a federal issue "but we need to have a Team Canada, Team Ontario vision," she said. Similar to pandemic relief efforts, Knight suggested her government would seek out provincial funding for businesses to ride out tariffs, if implemented. "Maybe we need to help people to find other markets for their things," she said. Johnson said her plan to address tariffs would be focused on hearing from those most affected by them. "There are no simple solutions to this, but we are a country of people who like to stick together," she said.. Johnson said she would also work toward breaking down interprovincial trade barriers to strengthen local markets. Candidate from a non-major party Belinda Karahalios is the New Blue Party candidate for Cambridge. While she is a former MPP for the riding, having lost the 2022 election to Riddell, the party she's running for now does not hold a seat at Queen's Park. Karahalios said in an email to CBC News that her top priority for Cambridge is to clean house at Queen's Park, ensuring proper representation for the province. "The riding of Cambridge is rapidly growing and our needs are not currently being properly addressed," she wrote. She said she believes the cost of living is the greatest issue for voters in Cambridge. She said the PC government's undelivered promise to cut income tax for the middle class and the addition of an industrial carbon tax in the province has made life more costly. She said if re-elected, she would fight for a variety of issues like increased autism support, lower taxes and fiscal responsibility. "The people of Cambridge deserve an MPP who will show up to work and bring their issues to Queens Park," she said. Voting Advance polls run Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are three advance polling locations in the riding of Cambridge: Islamic Centre of Cambridge, 1550 Dunbar Rd. North Dumfries Community Complex, 2958 Greenfield Rd., Ayr. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 126, 334 Westminster Dr. N., Cambridge. Until Feb. 26, people can also vote Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cambridge election office, located at the Smart Centres Cambridge, 4-46 Pinebush Rd., Cambridge. Election day is Feb. 27.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cambridge candidates on how they'll address health care, homelessness and tariffs
Health care, homelessness and the threat of U.S. tariffs were among the top issues addressed by Cambridge candidates as part of a panel discussion on CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition on Tuesday. Three candidates joined host Craig Norris for the panel discussion. CBC K-W invited the candidates from the four parties with MPPs currently sitting at Queen's Park. There are five candidates in Cambridge: Rob Deutschmann, Ontario Liberal Party. Carla Johnson, Green Party of Ontario. Belinda Karahalios, New Blue Party of Ontario. Marjorie Knight, New Democratic Party. Brian Riddell, Progressive Conservative of Ontario (incumbent). Three candidates — Deutschmann, Knight, and Johnson — attended the panel. Riddell declined the invitation to participate. More information about Karahalios can be found below. LISTEN | : Health care In CBC K-W's voter survey, people in the Cambridge riding identified health care as their top concern. Candidates were asked what they believe the challenges are for health care in Cambridge specifically, and how they plan to address it. Knight said the number one issue she's hearing is the lack of family doctors. She described a personal experience of being treated on an emergency room cot for days due to bed shortages after experiencing a heart attack. "The nurses and the doctors were fantastic and they looked after me, but you're giving somebody a basket to carry water," she said. As a solution, Knight said there are foreign trained doctors who are living in the city that she would like to see trained under Canadian certified doctors so they, too, can practice, which would add to the supply of doctors. Johnson agreed with what Knight laid out and criticized the current Progressive Conservative government for what she called "terrible, neglectful decisions." "What breaks my heart is we have a province who overwhelmingly continues to vote for a government that refuses to do anything to even try to solve the problems," she said. Deutschmann said the issue of access to primary care is as dire in Cambridge and North Dumfries as it is across the province. He also mentioned that when visiting his father at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, he saw multiple people laying in beds in the hallway. "I watched the debate [Monday] night and Doug Ford kept talking about the millions and billions of dollars that they've invested," Deutschmann said. "If that's true, and given what we're seeing today, it's either a complete lie or he is the most inefficient spender of our money in the province." A composite photo of four of Cambridge's candidates for the 2025 Ontario provincial election. Appearing from left to right is Liberal candidate Rob Deutschmann, Green candidate Carla Johnson, NDP candidate Marjorie Knight, and PC candidate Brian Riddell. (Cameron Mahler/CBC) Housing and hmelessness Housing and homelessness were another major concern for Cambridge voters, particularly encampments and affordable housing. Candidates were asked how they'd address the growing crisis. Johnson condemned efforts by the current government to persecute people experiencing homelessness. "Homelessness should absolutely never be criminalized. These are people with needs. These are our most vulnerable people," she said. Johnson said her government would try to look at solutions, because she says the PC government hasn't been doing enough. Deutschmann argued for stronger provincial and municipal funding partnerships. He said he believes that municipalities have footed the bill and left to their own devices when it comes to handling housing. "Too much has been shifted from the province down to the municipality and onto the property tax base, which was never intended for a lot of the things that we deal with now," he said, adding the region spends $180 million on those issues. He said he would work toward no-strings-attached funding from the province to help deal with chronic homelessness, which he said would cost the region around $300 million. Knight highlighted that homelessness is not just about addiction or mental health, rather many people are simply unable to afford rent, including full-time workers and seniors on fixed incomes. Knight herself has experience living in a shelter. "I worked full time, 44 hours a week, while I lived in the shelter because I couldn't find somewhere that I could afford to rent," said Knight. "We need to stop thinking about people who are homeless as second class citizens and we need to start building homes again." U.S. tariffs With proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods potentially impacting various businesses and industries, candidates were asked what they would do as Cambridge's MPP to address those tariffs. Deutschmann called for a "Team Ontario" approach, gathering local business, labour and trade experts to determine exactly how tariffs would impact the riding, and bring those voices to Queen's park. He stressed that tariffs are a federal concern. "It's not the premier of Ontario who's going to be the voice for Canada," he said. Knight agreed that tariff threats are a federal issue "but we need to have a Team Canada, Team Ontario vision," she said. Similar to pandemic relief efforts, Knight suggested her government would seek out provincial funding for businesses to ride out tariffs, if implemented. "Maybe we need to help people to find other markets for their things," she said. Johnson said her plan to address tariffs would be focused on hearing from those most affected by them. "There are no simple solutions to this, but we are a country of people who like to stick together," she said.. Johnson said she would also work toward breaking down interprovincial trade barriers to strengthen local markets. Candidate from a non-major party Belinda Karahalios is the New Blue Party candidate for Cambridge. While she is a former MPP for the riding, having lost the 2022 election to Riddell, the party she's running for now does not hold a seat at Queen's Park. Belinda Karahalios and her husband Jim Karahalios, both of the New Blue Party, pose for a photo after the 2022 provincial election. (Hala Ghonaim/CBC) Karahalios said in an email to CBC News that her top priority for Cambridge is to clean house at Queen's Park, ensuring proper representation for the province. "The riding of Cambridge is rapidly growing and our needs are not currently being properly addressed," she wrote. She said she believes the cost of living is the greatest issue for voters in Cambridge. She said the PC government's undelivered promise to cut income tax for the middle class and the addition of an industrial carbon tax in the province has made life more costly. She said if re-elected, she would fight for a variety of issues like increased autism support, lower taxes and fiscal responsibility. "The people of Cambridge deserve an MPP who will show up to work and bring their issues to Queens Park," she said. Voting Advance polls run Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are three advance polling locations in the riding of Cambridge: Islamic Centre of Cambridge, 1550 Dunbar Rd. North Dumfries Community Complex, 2958 Greenfield Rd., Ayr. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 126, 334 Westminster Dr. N., Cambridge. Until Feb. 26, people can also vote Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cambridge election office, located at the Smart Centres Cambridge, 4-46 Pinebush Rd., Cambridge. Election day is Feb. 27.
