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← Councillor Ward 13

Andrew Joseph Crook

Candidate for Councillor Ward 13

In their own words

This candidate hasn’t listed a campaign website or social account with the Town. That says nothing about them as a candidate — it just means less of their material is published online for us to summarise.

Where they stand

Every candidate in this race is shown against the same 16 issues, in the same order, whether or not we’ve found something for each one. Why we do it this way.

Housing

Will I be able to afford to live here?

Would speed approvals and allow gentle density along transit corridors, adaptive reuse, office conversions and missing-middle housing.

  • Established neighbourhoods need thoughtful transitions, infrastructure and public amenities so growth strengthens communities.
  • Affordability also means preventing people from losing housing they already have.
Show their words & source (one sentence)
“I support faster approvals, gentle density where appropriate, more housing along transit and major corridors, adaptive reuse, office conversions, missing-middle housing and incentives that make infill financially viable.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Andrew Crook, Ward 13)

Confidence:High

Taxes & spending

What happens to my tax bill, and where does the money go?

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Crook: a safe city comes first; civic engagement — not more police force — is what will keep streets clean

  • Asked whether he would prioritize any municipal needs over reducing or limiting property-tax increases, Crook answered yes: a safe city is the first job of any municipality.
  • He said more police force is not the solution — renewed citizen engagement is what will keep streets clean.
“Yes. Safe city is the first job of any municipality. This must take priority, but more force (police) isnt the solution. We need citizens engaging again. That is what will keep streets clean.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Council of Canadians (London Chapter) — 2026 candidate survey (Andrew Joseph Crook, Ward 13)

Confidence:High

Crook: keeping property taxes low is key to prosperity; high taxes are pushing seniors into the streets

  • Asked whether keeping property taxes low is a priority, Crook answered yes, calling it key to prosperity.
  • He said high taxes are pushing seniors into the streets and make London 'un-investable'.
“Yes. This is key for prosperity. We are pushing seniors into the streets with high taxes. Plus it makes London un-investable.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Council of Canadians (London Chapter) — 2026 candidate survey (Andrew Joseph Crook, Ward 13)

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Emergency services

When I call for help, will it come fast enough?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Transit

Can I get where I need to go without driving?

Would prioritize reliable transit to employment areas and better evening/shift-worker service; the standard is reliability, not coverage.

  • A bus that technically exists but does not run when workers need it is not useful transportation.
  • London must advocate aggressively for better intercity rail, bus and air connections.
Show their words & source (one sentence)
“I would prioritize reliable transit to major employment areas, better evening and shift-worker service, and stronger connections between neighbourhoods, institutions and commercial centres.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Andrew Crook, Ward 13)

Confidence:High

Government

Will decisions be made in the open, and will anyone answer for them?

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Crook: engage nonprofits early enough to shape decisions; show publicly how input affected the outcome.

  • Pillar Nonprofit Network 2026 candidate survey — Q9: Ensuring nonprofits are included in decision-making.
“Nonprofits should be engaged early enough to shape decisions, not invited to comment after the direction has effectively been settled. I would support: -Including relevant nonprofit organizations during the early design of major policies and community initiatives; -Publishing plain-language summaries of proposals and trade-offs before decisions are made; -Creating accessible opportunities for written, verbal, and small-group participation; -Seeking input from both established organizations and smaller neighbourhood groups; -Showing publicly how consultation affected the final recommendation; and -Reporting back after implementation on whether the expected outcomes occurred.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Pillar Nonprofit Network — London 2026 Candidate Survey (candidate's own Q&A answers)

Confidence:High

Crook supports the practical, evidence-based parts of the Downtown Plan but won't treat it as a blank cheque — tie funding to outcomes.

  • Support moving forward with practical, evidence-based parts of the Downtown Plan
  • Would not treat the Plan as a blank cheque
  • Tie funding to clear outcomes and regular public reporting
“I support moving forward with the parts of the Downtown Plan that are practical, evidence-based and clearly improve downtown. I would not support treating the Plan as a blank cheque.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Downtown London BIA — 2026 Municipal Election Candidate Survey Responses (Andrew Crook, Ward 13)

Confidence:High

Crook: multi-year funding only with clear outcomes and reporting — 'not automatic renewal without review.'

  • Pillar Nonprofit Network 2026 candidate survey — Q8: Support multi-year funding & longer-term partnerships (Yes/No + why).
“Yes — Only where there are clear outcomes, transparent reporting, and demonstrated public value. Short-term funding cycles can make it difficult for organizations to retain staff, plan services, develop partnerships, and respond consistently to community needs.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Pillar Nonprofit Network — London 2026 Candidate Survey (candidate's own Q&A answers)

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Roads & infrastructure

Will the things I use every day actually get fixed?

Crook: treat parking as downtown accessibility; examine reinvesting downtown parking revenue back into the district's public realm.

  • Convenient, clearly signed, reasonably priced parking
  • Reduce parking-fee friction on evenings, weekends, major events
  • Reinvest a fair portion of downtown parking revenue into public-realm improvements and accessibility
Show their words & source (several paragraphs)
“Where parking revenue is generated downtown, I support examining ways to reinvest a fair portion back into the district through public-realm improvements, maintenance and accessibility.”

Source: Downtown London BIA — 2026 Municipal Election Candidate Survey Responses (Andrew Crook, Ward 13)

Confidence:High

Economy

Will our main streets and local jobs thrive?

Crook: City Hall can't simply 'create' employers — its job is removing friction and creating a stable environment for investment.

  • City Hall's job is to remove friction and create a stable investment environment
  • Employers need safety, reliable infrastructure, predictable permitting
  • Measure what changes: vacancy, storefront occupancy, new housing, foot traffic
Show their words & source (several paragraphs)
“I do not think City Hall can simply "create" employers. Its job is to remove friction, create a stable environment for investment and make downtown a place where people want to be.”

Source: Downtown London BIA — 2026 Municipal Election Candidate Survey Responses (Andrew Crook, Ward 13)

Confidence:High

Environment

Is the candidate protecting the nature we live in?

Would prioritize practical, measurable climate measures — retrofits, tree canopy, flood resilience, transit — over symbolic targets.

  • Less interested in symbolic targets than measurable results; every initiative evaluated for emissions, cost, affordability and unintended consequences.
  • The best projects reduce emissions while also lowering costs, protecting infrastructure or improving quality of life.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“I would prioritize climate measures that also make London more resilient, affordable and economically competitive. That includes energy efficiency, building retrofits, tree canopy, flood resilience, better transit, active transportation where practical, waste reduction and infrastructure that lowers long-term operating costs.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Andrew Crook, Ward 13)

Confidence:High

Healthcare

Will there be a doctor and a hospital when we need one?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Growth & development

How fast should we grow, and who decides what gets built where?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Social & community services

Who looks after the most vulnerable residents?

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Crook: treat organizations as community partners, not grant recipients after decisions are made.

  • Pillar Nonprofit Network 2026 candidate survey — Q6: Biggest challenges facing the nonprofit sector & actions candidates would support.
“London's nonprofits are being asked to respond to increasingly complex social needs while facing unstable funding, rising costs, staff and volunteer burnout, administrative burden, and growing demand for measurable results. The sector also faces a structural problem: organizations are often treated as grant recipients after policy decisions have already been made, rather than as experienced community partners who understand conditions on the ground.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Pillar Nonprofit Network — London 2026 Candidate Survey (candidate's own Q&A answers)

Confidence:High

Crook: 'Compassion without outcomes is not enough, and enforcement without a path to recovery is not enough either.'

  • Support investment in treatment, supportive housing, outreach, recovery
  • Measure both sides: fewer people sleeping rough, people getting into treatment and housing
  • Goal: downtown that is humane, safe and economically viable
“Compassion without outcomes is not enough, and enforcement without a path to recovery is not enough either.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Downtown London BIA — 2026 Municipal Election Candidate Survey Responses (Andrew Crook, Ward 13)

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Active transportation

Can I walk and bike safely around town?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Arts & culture

Does the candidate value what makes this place feel alive?

Would prioritize live-performance venues, festivals and youth participation, and use the UNESCO City of Music designation aggressively.

  • The UNESCO City of Music designation needs physical places where music and culture can actually happen.
  • Sees Richmond Row's potential as an entertainment district — 'a kind of Broadway or Nashville of the North'.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“London has a UNESCO City of Music designation, but that designation needs physical places where music and culture can actually happen. I would prioritize venues that support live performance, festivals, youth participation and larger touring acts, while making better use of existing civic facilities.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Andrew Crook, Ward 13)

Confidence:High

Data centres

Should energy-hungry data centres be welcomed here?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Water & waste

Is our drinking water safe and our waste handled?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Bylaw enforcement

Are the rules fair, and are they actually enforced?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Think we got something wrong?

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