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_, Residents ask i questions about housing I!“ it“: The most crucial “all candidates meetipg" for Waterloo city council hope- fuls was held at the Adult Recreation Centre Nov. 23 evening. About 100 people tamed out for the meeting‘Sponsor- ed by the Downtown resi- dents Association. After each of the 18, can- didates presented his or her position, the audience was able to direct ques- tions at the candidates. As was expected, region- al government came out on top as popular topic of theevening. One concerned citizen requested a show of hands by all candidates who would approve the elimin- ation of regional govern- ment." Although the major- ity of candidates opposed regional government. not one candidate agreed that it should be eliminated. Donovan Meston, a coun- cil hopeful. said legislation concerning regional gov- ernment must be changed. "The municipalities must jointly go after this. You can't do it on your own." he said. Another candidate, Paul Gellatly, said we should The candidates reply to chamher's questions In preparation for the Dec. 6 municipal election, the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce mailed ques- tionnaires to the " council candidates. The questions. which cover topics such as down- town development. open space. regional gavern- ment. the city's growth rate, and a street widths policy, were formulated by the chamber. (I) Are you in favour of re-locating the Regional Govern- ment headquarters to the KoMart site on Highway No. " Jim Beecher. Regional Headquarters should stay where they are for the next few years, giving more time to locate a good site and determine specific need. Blake Hull: I consider it an unnecessary expenditure: it is premature and not widely accepted by other agencies in- volved. Glen Wright: Relocating regional headquarters on the K- Mart site is going to cost us money. I don't want to see any unnecessary spending of our tax dollars. I am not convinced that relocation is necessary at this time. I The chrorticidhas agreed to print the replies to help voters make their choices on Dec. 6. Here they are. Mb By Lindsey Brown More profiles on the council candidates. Pages 16. 17. 20, 2r The University of Waterloo discusses its role in the community. Page 27. The Midas Midgets hockey team wins two games. Page 24. The aldermanic candidates reply to ques- tions from the Chamber of Commerce. Continued on pages 5, 6. Inside waterloo "dllrtiriiinjii . - '_, c mpc/harris'. 12tst Year No. 48 Wp grumbling about re- gional government and do something about it. ,, A Yet another candidate, Ahi. Mary Jane Mewhin- may. said she felt there was room for regional gov- ernment. Running a close second in citizen concern, was the issue of' housing develop- ment. The possibility of a high- rise, housing development being constructed in the city works yard sparked candidate interest in the questiorrordeve1opment. Ald. Mewhinney said she believes some higher density buildings are need- ed to feed the commercial district but she. felt height restrictions should be plac- ed on those buildings. Ald. _ Charles Voelker said he was in favor of the high-rise development but because of financial rea- sons he didn't feel con- struction on the site would occur in the near future. Newcomer, Tom Raidy said he thinks the city should work for creative development in housing. Ald. Bob Henry said the only way to go is up. if we don't want to ruin valuable farm land. Wednesday. Decembet 1, 1976 Waterloo voters will go to the polls Monday Dec. 6 to elect em elder-men. thrai.tltmtertoo,4;ountr Board of Education trustees and one separate school reptesentetive for the” publlc ttotvrd.'Morat'th,an 35.000 voters are eligible to vote in the election. Saturday 252 people voted at the Waterloo Public Library in one of the largest advance polls in recent years. Walter McLean: I cannot make judgment. since I do not have all the facts. Incumbent aldermen can make definitive statements. It would seem good planning to secure the K- Mart site in case it should be judged an appropriate move at a future date. Dave Boehm: No, Not in this time of restraint. Don Merton: No change is necessary at this time and it cer- tainly isn't one of my priorities at the regional level. John Shortreed: No, this is an additional expense at the Regional level which is not necessary. Bob Henry: No. At this point in time Regional Council and Area Councils should be sorting out and clarifying just what their respective roles and responsibilities are and not build- ing a facility which may never be needed. John Zupko: No. Dorothy Schnarr: No I think any present action is immature, warrants careful thought and consideration. Would prefer downtown city location. " Marjorie Carroll: I have repeatedly voiced strong opposition to any move from the core of the city due to cost and inac- cessability. Mary Jane Mewhinney: I am opposed to the relocation of regional government headquarters to the K-Mart site or any site at this time. Any major capital expenditure during a time of financial restraint must be in response to a proven need. I feel the growth of regional government must be con- trolled. whereby additional space will not be necessary. Roy Bauman: N0.They should continue to rent for the pres- ent, until they look at other alternatives for purchase, Tom Raidy: I am opposed to the re-location, particularly in these times of financial restraint. Charles Voellier: No. We have a better site already serviced in Waterloo for future development. The question is pre- mature. . Paul Gellatly: I am not in favor of the re-location of regional government headquarters to the K-Mart site on Highway 8. I believe I, as a citizen of Waterloo. am paying too much for regional government already, Robert Cruise: No "e-e The present facilities are adequate. Brian TurnhuII: No Another candidate. Wal- ter McLean. asked what the effect would be if more people were concentrated in the downtown. "With growth you have to look at the social problems it will create," he said. Waterloo, Ontario (2) What is your attitude toward rate of growth of the community: status quo - slow rate of expansion - rapid growth & development? Beecher. A growth rate of at least 5% would be acceptable, provided it would be in balance with water. hydro and sew- age systems. Hull: I favour moderate controlled growth. However, We must be prepared for strong external pressures for growth outside our region. Wright: I would like to see healthy, controlled growth that will add to our city's vitality without detracting from our current life style. l don't want to see growth just for the sake of growth. McLean: I would favour controlled growth, with a continued special emphasis on quality of life. Growth is inevitable, but care must be taken to maintain homogeneous neighbour- Another area of public concern was whether or not the city of Waterloo needed a planning board. Aid. Boehm: I would prefer a slow. controlled rate of expansion. Meston: Natural growth that is wanted and beneficial to the community. Shortreed: I favour the status quo in order to preserve both our tax base and our good quality of life. Henry: The growth of a community should be judged on its quality rather than its rate. Therefore I am in favour of con- trolled development. Zupko: I am in favour of controlled, quality growth. I would try to attract to our city, research oriented industries such as NCR which would complement and take advantage of the fact that we have two Universities. Sch-arr: Our present economy dictates the need for a steady 2 to 3% growth rate, however policies must be flexible, cir- cumstances may alter and we must boirepared to accept rapid growth if and when conditions warrant same. Carroll: Well-planned rate of expansion. A balanced tax base - residential, commercial and industrial - has to be a basic criteria. Mewhinney: I feel a slow rate of growth which allows us to maintain the qualities of life which we enjoy in our city and allows us to plan for the provision of services in the health, (Continued on page 5) Brian 'l‘urnbull vowed that if the issue came before council, he would vote in favor of it.