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← Councillor Ward 8

Steve Lehman

Candidate for Councillor Ward 8

Elected (official result)

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?

Lehman: first addition to Middlesex London Housing in 50 years — keep growing rent-geared-to-income stock; tiny homes showing good results.

  • First addition to Middlesex London Housing in 50 years, providing more rent geared to income
  • Continue to look at ways this stock can increase
  • Partnerships with non-profits like Indwell; tiny homes in the south end showing good results
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“For the first time in 50 years London has added to Middlesex London Housing providing more rent geared to income. We need to continue to look at ways this stock can increase. Our partnership with such non profits as Indwell providing supportive care must also continue. Our new initiative of tiny homes in the south end is showing good results and could provide a blue print for further such developments.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 Candidate Survey (Steve Lehman, Ward 8)

Confidence:High

Taxes & spending

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

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

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?

Lehman: number one — a higher-speed, more frequent Via rail link to Toronto; improve transit to industrial areas.

  • Higher speed, more frequent Via rail link to Toronto is number one
  • Transit to industrial areas must be improved
  • Explore the airport taking on a bigger national presence
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“Number one is to get a higher speed, more frequent Via rail link to Toronto. Transit to industrial areas must be improved.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 Candidate Survey (Steve Lehman, Ward 8)

Confidence:High

Government

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

As Planning chair, cut bureaucracy to 90-day planning decisions and would extend that customer-service model to all departments.

  • Asked about municipal approvals, regulation, procurement and customer service, Lehman said as Planning chair he made the department less bureaucratic and more customer-service driven, with planning applications now dealt with in 90 days instead of months or years.
  • Wants that customer-service approach — look for ways to say yes rather than the easy answer of no — extended to all city departments.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“In my role as Chair of Planning I strove to make our Planning dept less bureaucratic and more customer service driven. We now see Planning applications being dealt with in 90 days vs months sometimes years.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Steve Lehman, Ward 8)

Confidence:High

Roads & infrastructure

Will the things I use every day actually get fixed?

Would keep prioritizing road, bridge and sewer investment, including continuing storm/wastewater separation.

  • Asked how to prioritise infrastructure, Lehman said a well-run city invests properly in roads, bridges and sewers, and must continue separating storm water and waste water systems.
  • Says public safety is the cornerstone: police, fire and EMS must be well equipped, trained and staffed to best-in-the-country service levels.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“A well run city has proper investment in infrastructure – good roads, bridges, sewers etc. We must continue to separate our sewer system into Storm Water and Waste Water for reasons outlined in the next question.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Steve Lehman, Ward 8)

Confidence:High

Economy

Will our main streets and local jobs thrive?

Lehman: keep commercial and industrial property tax competitive; tall downtown towers show London is serious about attracting talent.

  • Commercial and industrial property tax must remain competitive
  • Encouraged by tall, high-density downtown towers — a 50-storey tower shows London is serious about attracting talent
  • Leverage diversity: medical, Western & Fanshawe, agri-business, tech, defence, auto
Show their words & source (several paragraphs)
“Nothing like a 50 storey tower to show London is serious about attracting talent especially tech workers and business. I believe London strength is its diversity with our medical industry, Western & Fanshawe, agra business, tech business, defense and auto etc.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 Candidate Survey (Steve Lehman, Ward 8)

Confidence:High

Environment

Is the candidate protecting the nature we live in?

Would direct resources to climate adaptation: extreme-weather preparedness and river/sewer flood mitigation projects.

  • Asked about the climate plan, Lehman said the city must allocate resources to the impact of climate change, primarily preparing for more frequent extreme weather events.
  • Names flood-mitigation capital priorities: intensifying river walls at the Forks of the Thames, the Mud Creek project and continued storm/wastewater sewer separation.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“As a city we must allocate resources to the impact of Climate Change. Primarily being prepared for the increasing occurrences of extreme weather events.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Steve Lehman, Ward 8)

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?

Lehman: property tax was never intended for health care — province must bring back proper mental-health and rehab facilities.

  • Property tax was never intended for health care
  • Mental health and addiction are at the root of the downtown uptick
  • Province must bring back proper mental health care facilities and rehab centres
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“Property tax was never intended for health care. Mental health and addiction are at the root of this uptick in what we are seeing downtown. The province must bring back proper mental health care faculties and rehab centres.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 Candidate Survey (Steve Lehman, Ward 8)

Confidence:High

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 ease the way for creative groups with cautious investment and partnerships that make economic sense.

  • Asked about the role of arts and culture, Lehman said City Hall must make it as easy as possible for creative groups to bring their work to the public, with cautious investment and partnerships that make economic sense.
  • Would require a business plan showing a return to the city before committing taxpayer dollars, citing Canada Life Place as a good example.
Show their words & source (one sentence)
“City Hall must look at making it as easy as possible for groups to bring their creativity to the public with cautious investment and partnerships that make economic sense.”

Source: London Chamber of Commerce — 2026 candidate survey (Steve Lehman, Ward 8)

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?

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