Council of Canadians candidate survey reveals local candidate stances
As an organization, the Council of Canadians (CoC) has long held the powers that be to account since its founding in 1985 by Maude Barlow, Mel Hurtig, ecologist David Suzuki and author Margaret Atwood. The CoC’s main focus remains the expansion of public health care, climate justice, the protection of democracy, and the protection of water as a human right, an increasingly important electoral issue with the expansion of water-consuming AI data centres. The CoC remains active locally in London, Ontario, demanding the best of the powers that be.
As municipal elections approach, the Coc’s grassroots advocacy seeks to provide voters with a clear map of where our candidates stand on the issues that most affect our community.
In September, the CoC created a survey for London’s municipal council candidates to obtain their positions on important local issues. The survey sought to highlight the goal of the individual candidates with respect to council — to move past vague political messaging that helps voters stay informed.
The scope of the survey reflects the pillars of the Council: The future of London’s water, public infrastructure, climate action, affordable housing and landlord accountability, the homelessness crisis, public safety, democratic governance, and municipal finance.
Two out of 12 mayoral candidates responded, and 25 out of 69 councillor candidates responded. Candidates were the most divided on the subject of locally hosting the annual arms manufacturing trade fair, 61 per cent of respondents say that the arms trade fair is in keeping with London’s civic values..
The CoC survey expresses concerns regarding the Special Economic Zones and exemptions from both law and municipal bylaw, and the rolling back of environmental protections, health and safety, and labour.With respect to that, an impressive 88per cent of candidates polled oppose Ontario’s Bill 5 and additionally support the legal opposition to Bill 5 from Ontario First Nations Chiefs.
Candidates responded in 92 per cent agreement that the Emergency Services Campus budget needs greater transparency with regards to policing, and an equal number of the respondents agree that the vacant commercial properties should be addressed by seeking additional municipal powers from the province, potentially in the form of a vacancy tax.
Of the respondents, the same 88 per cent also support expansion of Property Standards Officers to document landlord fraud, bad faith evictions and refer evidence for criminal investigation.
All respondents polled said they support the public ownership of water and sewage through direct municipal control and additionally committed to opposing provisions that threaten to privatize these services. 96 per cent of the 25 candidates have committed to protect London’s Blue Community Status. London’s Blue Community Status was spearheaded by the Council of Canadians and the Canadian Union of Public Employees for the adoption of a “water commons” framework, which treats water as a shared and protected resource essential for life instead of a commodity to be sold. This designation was voted nearly unanimously by London City Council in March of 2021. This protection against corporate exploitation enshrines water as a public trust and human right.
Mayoral candidate Bronagh Joyce Morgan opposes the use of Strong Mayor powers to overrule council majority, affirms water as a human right, and supports banning single use bottled water at municipal facilities and events. Morgan believes that the building of data centres is not in the long term best interest of our community, and does not feel that the arms trade fair is in keeping with London’s civic values. Morgan also commits to affordable housing.
Lawrence-Zachary Howe, the second mayoral candidate to respond to the survey, opposes the building of data centres without community integration from investors, but does not “ideologically oppose” the building of data centres. Howe believes that the arms trade fair is consistent with London’s civic values.
Council candidate Roger Caranci’s platform is based on “safe neighbourhoods,” including the opposition to open drug use, and to drugs in taxpayer funded shelters. Note that the London Police Department’s current approach is based on a phase based strategy of intervention and support first, and arrest when necessary. Caranci had no response on the subject of building AI data centres in our community, and no response regarding Bill 5. Caranci maintains that the arms trade fair is in keeping with London’s civic values. In regards to the survey inquiry as to whether he would support the condemnation of right-wing bigotry, Caranci also had no response.
Shawn Lewis, Ward 2 Candidate has a platform focused on housing as a municipal responsibility in addressing homelessness, but also holds this in balance with community safety. Lewis had no response regarding Bill 5, but opposes the building of data centres in our community. Lewis believes that an arms trade fair is consistent with London’s civic values.
Another candidate for Ward 2, Zack Ramsey, opposes the building of AI Data Centres, opposes Bill 5, and believes that the arms trade fair is not in keeping with London’s civic values.
Ward 3 Councillor Candidate Leroy Osborne shares Ramsey’s oppositional stance on AI Data Centres and Bill 5, and also does not believe that the arms trade fair is consistent with London’s civic values, but would not support a city council request to discontinue hosting the event.
Bob Wright, Candidate for Ward 4 supports a moratorium on data centre construction until we can be reassured that water usage will be recycled and won’t lead to higher energy costs for consumers. Wright opposes Bill 5, believes that the 2017 response from City Hall to right wing bigotry was appropriate and should be a model for the future. He believes that the arms trade fair is in keeping with London’s civic values.
Ward 4 Candidate Mario Jozic has a safe neighbourhood stance similar to Caranci, but still emphasizes housing as a means to address homelessness. Jozic also believes that the arms trade fair is in keeping with London’s civic values. Ward 4 candidate Randi Prunner disagrees.
Ward 5 Candidate Corrine Rahman opposes the building of new data centres, opposes Bill 5, and believes that the arms trade fair is in keeping with London’s civic values.
Ward 6 Candidate Ian Sterling Leishman opposes the building of data centres, Bill 5, and believes that the arms trade fair is in keeping with London’s civic values.
Germán Gutiérrez, candidate for Ward 7 affirms housing as a human right, opposes the building of data centres, opposes Bill 5, and believes the arms trade fair is in keeping with London’s civic values. Sam Hajar, another Ward 7 candidate emphasizes affordable housing, does not oppose the building of data centres, and agrees with Gutiérrez that the arms trade fair is in keeping with London’s civic values. The majority of the candidates emphasize housing affordability, addressing homelessness, and speak to voter anxieties about safe neighbourhoods.
The Council of Canadians continues to believe that candidate transparency is an essential part of a healthy democracy. All survey results can be found on the Council of Canadians portal here.
Elections will be held on October 26, 2026.
