Candidate for Councillor Ward 2
Elected (official result)
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.
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.
Will I be able to afford to live here?
Housing is the primary municipal role in addressing homelessness.
“Housing is the primary role a municipality can play in addressing homelessness, which is rampant across all of Ontario. But we must balance that with community safety.”
Source: London Municipal Candidate Survey: Individual Responses
Confidence:High
What happens to my tax bill, and where does the money go?
Stable property tax level is critical; property taxes are the least fair taxation.
“Property taxes are the least fair form of taxation, they do not take into account anyone's ability to pay. Therefore a stable property tax level is critical to allowing people to MAINTAIN their current housing.”
Source: London Municipal Candidate Survey: Individual Responses
Confidence:High
When I call for help, will it come fast enough?
Not reviewed yet. Know something?
Can I get where I need to go without driving?
Lewis wants transit expanded to east-end employment areas and schedules aligned with shift times, not just student routes.
“Expanding transit service to employment areas, particularly in the east end, has long been something I’ve spoken to. My concern with the current LTC direction is the continuing focus on Western and Fanshawe to the exclusion of workers who call London home 12 months a year. That also needs to involve discussions with the Chamber members and the Manufacturing Council and LEDC about how small changes in shift staggering (ie: some plants starting at 7:15, 3:15 shifts instead of 7 and 3, could assist in better practical delivery of transit services to the employment corridors.”
Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Shawn Lewis, Ward 2)
Confidence:High
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.
Lewis: long-term stable funding is not what the property tax base is for; sector should consolidate, not duplicate overhead.
“First is that we have frankly an over saturation in some sectors, which leads to duplication of overhead costs instead of productivity. Fewer strong organizations are better than many struggling ones. That is up to the sector to decide. It is not in my view Council's role or jurisdiction to be addressing concerns of longer term stable funding, that is not what the property tax base is for. If there is a desire to have Council support lobby/advocacy efforts to the senior levels of government, that is a role Council could assist with.”
(several paragraphs)
Source: Pillar Nonprofit Network — London 2026 Candidate Survey (candidate's own Q&A answers)
Confidence:High
Lewis: nonprofits should engage councillors directly rather than rely on public participation meetings.
“My door has always been open to dialogue, and the same is true of many of my colleagues. The concept that PPMs are the best consultation is false in my opinion. I think it is far better that non-profits engage with councillors directly.”
(a few sentences)
Source: Pillar Nonprofit Network — London 2026 Candidate Survey (candidate's own Q&A answers)
Confidence:High
Lewis says approvals reform is cultural: the 'Pathways to Approval' desk and back-to-office policies target a yes-first staff culture.
“We have already instituted a “Pathways to Approval” service desk on the second floor of city hall and instituted back to work policies in the office to ensure staff productivity and culture is focused on finding ways to say yes instead of reasons to say no. This is not a regulatory issue, we have a cultural issue within the city that needs to change.”
(a few sentences)
Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Shawn Lewis, Ward 2)
Confidence:High
Lewis supports multi-year community grants with clearer KPIs, not one-offs.
“Yes — Yes. And that has always been my concern, too many asks of Council are for start-ups or new initiatives rather than supporting longer term efforts. I continue to support the multi-year community grants, but not one offs. And it is also important to have clearer KPIs and alignment with the City's priorities--not a tenuous connection to a Strat-Plan item that was not priorities in the Multi-Year Budget.”
(several paragraphs)
Source: Pillar Nonprofit Network — London 2026 Candidate Survey (candidate's own Q&A answers)
Confidence:High
Will the things I use every day actually get fixed?
Lewis says the GMIS process already manages infrastructure prioritization and Council should follow staff's engineering advice.
“This is already well managed through the GMIS process, and the associated planning documents (such as the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and the Master Mobility Plan). It is important that Council listen to our Engineering, Finance, and Planning teams on major projects.”
Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Shawn Lewis, Ward 2)
Confidence:High
Will our main streets and local jobs thrive?
Lewis says the city's role is creating the environment for growth via the Economic Development Plan, plus trades pathways.
“Obviously the tariffs and trade uncertainty with the USA represents the largest challenge to London’s economy and the nation’s economy. It’s important to recognize that Mayor Morgan has been part of delegations with both Premier Ford to Washington, as well as delegations with the Prime Minister, to bring a municipal voice and perspective to trade discussions.”
Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Shawn Lewis, Ward 2)
Confidence:High
Is the candidate protecting the nature we live in?
Lewis says CEAP targets won't be hit and he won't commit more city resources without senior-government funding commitments.
“While the CEAP is aspirational, targets will not be hit. Decisions by the province for example on using more natural gas for electricity generation has negatively impacted London’s ability to reach such goals. BRT is overdue and over budget, while transit use in a downward spiral. The city cannot change behaviours, we can only lead by example in our own facilities and decision making. Right now the economic uncertainty also has to be considered and residents are not in a position to make the personal investments to move to things like heat pumps without the senior levels of government renewing loan and grant programs. At this point I’m not prepare to commit additional resources or prioritizations by the city until we can get commitments from the senior levels of government.”
Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Shawn Lewis, Ward 2)
Confidence:High
Will there be a doctor and a hospital when we need one?
Not reviewed yet. Know something?
How fast should we grow, and who decides what gets built where?
Not reviewed yet. Know something?
Who looks after the most vulnerable residents?
Residents have a right to feel safe; compassion must respect neighbourhood safety.
“To expect residents to be compassionate with the homeless while not respecting they have a right to feel safe in their own neighbourhood is a short sighted, and doomed to fail approach. Affordability, Housing, and Safety have to be addressed in a balanced manner.”
Source: London Municipal Candidate Survey: Individual Responses
Confidence:High
Can I walk and bike safely around town?
Not reviewed yet. Know something?
Does the candidate value what makes this place feel alive?
Lewis says creative industries must be treated as economic development first, modelled on the Film Office's success.
“Cultural and Creative industries need to be seen as Economic Development first, not as entertainment for Londoners, which is where I think we have fallen short and not paid sufficient attention to previously. We have seen considerable early success in the Film Office, and we need to learn from that and apply it to the Music Office as well. A UNESCO City of Music designation cannot just be about performances, it needs to be leveraged to build the sector with the behind the scenes skills and jobs that come with the music itself.”
Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Shawn Lewis, Ward 2)
Confidence:High
Should energy-hungry data centres be welcomed here?
Not reviewed yet. Know something?
Is our drinking water safe and our waste handled?
Not reviewed yet. Know something?
Are the rules fair, and are they actually enforced?
Not reviewed yet. Know something?
Candidates and members of the public can both report a correction. Every one is logged and answered, and corrections about a candidate’s own positions get priority.