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← Councillor Ward 7

Sam Hajar

Candidate for Councillor Ward 7

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?

Hajar backs office-to-residential conversion where market conditions make sense, removing obsolete office inventory to add residents.

  • Support office-to-residential conversion 'where the building and market conditions make sense'
  • Older office buildings may have a stronger future as housing or mixed-use
  • Removing obsolete office inventory reduces vacancy, adds residents, creates customers
Show their words & source (several paragraphs)
“I support office-to-residential conversion where the building and market conditions make sense. As my time working in the City of London's Building Department I have recognized some older office buildings are no longer competitive as modern workplaces and may have a much stronger future as housing or mixed-use developments. In those cases, removing obsolete office inventory can simultaneously reduce vacancy, add residents and create customers for downtown businesses.”

Source: Downtown London BIA — 2026 Municipal Election Candidate Survey Responses (Sam Hajar, Ward 7)

Confidence:High

Taxes & spending

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

Wants infrastructure built and growth paying fairly, without unnecessary pressure on residential and commercial property taxes.

  • Asked about infrastructure, growth and taxes, Hajar said the City should ensure those who benefit from growth contribute fairly to its cost.
  • Says this should be done without placing unnecessary pressure on residential and commercial property taxes.
Show their words & source (one sentence)
“We must build the infrastructure London needs to grow, ensure those who benefit from growth contribute fairly to its cost, and avoid placing unnecessary pressure on residential and commercial property taxes.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Sam Hajar, Councilor Ward 7)

Confidence:High

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?

Wants better transit to employment areas for shift workers, plus stronger intercity bus, rail and airport connections.

  • Asked how he would improve transit, Hajar said he would prioritize improving transit to major employment areas, especially industrial and commercial areas hard to reach without a vehicle.
  • Wants reliable, frequent bus connections to Toronto, Pearson, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton and Windsor, stronger passenger rail and frequent London airport connections to major Canadian cities.
Show their words & source (one sentence)
“I would prioritize improving transit to major employment areas, particularly industrial and commercial areas that are difficult to reach without a vehicle.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Sam Hajar, Councilor Ward 7)

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.

Hajar: supporting the Downtown Plan shouldn't mean approving spending without evaluating whether initiatives produce results.

  • Support moving forward with the Downtown Plan actions
  • Implementation needs clear priorities, measurable outcomes, ongoing accountability
  • Appropriate funding allocation with regular reporting on progress, costs, outcomes
“Supporting the Downtown Plan should not simply mean approving spending without evaluating whether individual initiatives are producing meaningful results.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Downtown London BIA — 2026 Municipal Election Candidate Survey Responses (Sam Hajar, Ward 7)

Confidence:High

Hajar: stable, accountable partnerships improve service continuity and long-term outcomes.

  • Pillar Nonprofit Network 2026 candidate survey — Q8: Support multi-year funding & longer-term partnerships (Yes/No + why).
“Yes — Because by investing in stable, accountable partnerships, the City can strengthen the nonprofit sector, improve service continuity, and achieve better long-term outcomes for residents.”

(one sentence)

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

Confidence:High

Hajar: formal mechanisms for nonprofit participation, e.g. advisory committee representation.

  • Pillar Nonprofit Network 2026 candidate survey — Q9: Ensuring nonprofits are included in decision-making.
“I would ensure nonprofits are included as strategic partners by involving them early and not after major decisions have already been made. Furthermore I would establish formal mechanisms for nonprofit participation, such as representation on advisory committees and I would support ongoing relationship-building rather than relying solely on one-time consultations.”

(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?

Says growth should pay for as much of growth as possible by maximizing development charges and controlling costs.

  • Asked how London should pay for growth, Hajar said growth should pay for as much of growth as reasonably possible by maximizing development charges and other growth-related revenues.
  • Also wants to keep London competitive by controlling infrastructure costs.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“Growth should also pay for as much of growth as reasonably possible. That means maximizing development charges and other growth-related revenues available to the City, and keeping London competitive by controlling the cost of the infrastructure we build.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Sam Hajar, Councilor Ward 7)

Confidence:High

Economy

Will our main streets and local jobs thrive?

Wants London among Ontario's easiest places to start and grow a business, with a single point of contact at City Hall.

  • Asked what Council should do to support business growth, Hajar said the City should concentrate on making London one of the easiest places in Ontario to start, operate and expand a business.
  • Proposes predictable planning and a genuine single point of contact for businesses navigating City Hall, plus employer-driven pipelines linking education with local opportunities.
Show their words & source (one sentence)
“I believe the City should concentrate on making London one of the easiest places in Ontario to start, operate and expand a business.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Sam Hajar, Councilor Ward 7)

Confidence:High

Environment

Is the candidate protecting the nature we live in?

Wants the 200-action climate plan narrowed to initiatives with the largest practical emission cuts, prioritizing efficiency and resilience.

  • Asked about the Climate Emergency Action Plan, Hajar said the next Council should be more disciplined, prioritizing initiatives that deliver the largest practical emission reductions while lowering costs and supporting growth.
  • Names building and energy efficiency, transportation and climate resilience as first priorities, and says every initiative should be evaluated against clear measures.
Show their words & source (one sentence)
“With more than 200 actions in the Plan, we should prioritize the initiatives that deliver the largest practical reductions in emissions while also lowering costs, strengthening infrastructure and supporting economic growth.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Sam Hajar, Councilor Ward 7)

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.

Hajar: treat nonprofits as essential community infrastructure — housing, homelessness, food, mental health.

  • Pillar Nonprofit Network 2026 candidate survey — Q6: Biggest challenges facing the nonprofit sector & actions candidates would support.
“The biggest challenge facing London’s nonprofits and charities are the following: -Funding from all 3 tires of government including short-term funding. -Operating cost. - Rising housing costs. - Homelessness. -Food insecurity - Mental-health and addiction concerns. -Increasing demand for services. -Staffing and volunteers. At City Council, I would support a more stable and collaborative relationship with the nonprofit sector.”

(several paragraphs)

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

Confidence:High

Hajar backs continued investment in supportive housing, mental health and addiction services, and outreach to move people into stability.

  • Continued investment in supportive housing, mental health and addiction services
  • Outreach and programs that help people move from homelessness into long-term stability
  • Services must have clear expectations and measurable outcomes
“I support continued investment in supportive housing, mental health and addiction services, outreach, and programs that help people move from homelessness into long-term stability.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Downtown London BIA — 2026 Municipal Election Candidate Survey Responses (Sam Hajar, Ward 7)

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Active transportation

Can I walk and bike safely around town?

Hajar wants downtown easy to access by transit, walking, cycling and vehicle so people feel comfortable spending time there.

  • Focus on consistent daily activity rather than occasional events
  • Make downtown easy to access by transit, walking, cycling and vehicle
  • Support ground-floor businesses and services people use regularly
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“making downtown easy to access by transit, walking, cycling and vehicle, and ensuring people feel comfortable spending time there.”

Source: Downtown London BIA — 2026 Municipal Election Candidate Survey Responses (Sam Hajar, Ward 7)

Confidence:High

Arts & culture

Does the candidate value what makes this place feel alive?

Says Centennial Hall's future — reinvest, replace or fold into a new facility — should be one of the first major decisions.

  • Asked which cultural infrastructure should be prioritised, Hajar said Centennial Hall should be one of the first major decisions, tied to decisions about the City Hall campus.
  • Says Council should decide whether to substantially reinvest in Centennial Hall, replace it, or incorporate its functions into a new facility, and wants a transparent city-wide cultural infrastructure plan.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“Centennial Hall should be one of the first major decisions. Its future is also connected to decisions about the City Hall campus.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Sam Hajar, Councilor Ward 7)

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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