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Goertz would use public land for affordable housing via non-profit partnerships and keep township ownership through long-term leases.

• Support using Regionally and municipally owned land for affordable housing where it makes sense, in partnership with non-profits, co-operatives and other housing providers.
• Inventory Township-owned properties for housing suitability; where appropriate keep Township ownership of the land and lease it long-term to a non-profit, co-op or affordable-housing provider.
• Build a housing mix — smaller homes, townhomes, apartments, secondary units and seniors' housing — with communities involved in deciding what fits their needs.
• Create a faster, clearer process for secondary units: one place for help, step-by-step guides, checklists and pre-reviewed plans or templates so homeowners can add rental, multigenerational or aging-parent housing.

Confidence:High

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

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

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Salonen frames affordability as long-term financial sustainability through zero-based budgeting, rebuilt reserves, and tax-base growth.

• Argues affordability is more than the tax bill: predictable taxation, long-term financial planning, and growing the tax base.
• Directed a KPMG zero-based budgeting review of operating spending and is rebuilding reserves under a 2025 commitment to raise capital/reserve investment 9% per year for three years.
• Her 2026 township budget proposed a 9.7% property tax increase with 5% water and 6% wastewater rate increases.

Confidence:High

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

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Goertz would push for evening and weekend transit in Wilmot, better connecting residents to jobs, health care and services.

• Wilmot's Route 77 is weekday-only and ends in the early evening, limiting options for seniors, young people, lower-income residents and anyone who cannot drive or afford a vehicle.
• Advocate for evening and weekend transit and better connections to jobs, health care and services.

Confidence:High

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

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Wilkinson pledges open, transparent government with a stronger council role.

• Platform pillar: Transparent & Democratic Government.
• Leading openly, strengthening Council's role, and ensuring residents are informed, engaged and represented; 'listen before I decide' and explain major decisions clearly.

Confidence:High

Salonen pledges to represent Wilmot strongly at the Region and with other governments, rooted in representative democracy.

• Emphasizes representative democracy: listening to perspectives, weighing evidence and professional advice, and exercising judgment.
• Pledges strong representation for Wilmot at Regional Council and with provincial and federal governments; serves on the boards of AMO and ROMA.

Confidence:High

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

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Salonen emphasizes lifecycle-based asset management and a strong Wilmot voice in regional water supply decisions.

• Strengthened asset management so roads, bridges, facilities and parks decisions are based on condition, lifespan and replacement cost.
• On water: wants fair treatment for residents affected by municipal well interference and long-term, evidence-based decisions in the Region's Water Supply Strategy through 2051.

Confidence:High

Goertz lists reliable services and infrastructure — roads, fire services, water/wastewater, parks — as a campaign priority.

• Priority: 'Reliable Services & Infrastructure' — how Wilmot repairs and builds the community.
• Covers roads, community centres, recreation, fire services, water/wastewater, infrastructure and parks.

Confidence:High

Woolner wants Wilmot's house in order on taxes and costs, then industries targeted to match its strengths.

• Argues attracting business requires getting the township's house in order, since businesses want stable taxes, a competent workforce, and easy access to their inputs.
• Proposes analyzing the township's strengths and weaknesses and seeking industries and companies that would benefit from its strengths, with incentives explorable to attract businesses.
• Wants inaccuracies in the township website's Development Charges section fixed, and discusses the Highway 7 bypass to Guelph and 401 access (Trussler Rd via Cedar Creek Rd) as transportation context.

Confidence:High

Woolner wants ecological, transportation and land-use factors weighed in decisions to minimize the impact on farmland.

• Says ecological, transportational and land use considerations must become part of the decision process to minimize the impact on farmland and the entire community.
• Frames this as part of 'responsible growth' that respects residents, community values, the environment, and end users.

Confidence:High

Wilkinson promises to protect Wilmot's water and advocate for taxpayers.

• Platform pillar: A Strong Voice for Wilmot.
• Protecting Wilmot's water, advocating for taxpayers, and ensuring Wilmot's interests come first.

Confidence:High

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

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Goertz would work with health organizations and partners to identify gaps in rural care and recruit and retain health-care providers.

• Rural residents often travel farther for care and may have limited transportation.
• Work with health organizations, not-for-profits, seniors' groups and residents to identify what is missing in local care.
• Review zoning to ensure suitable locations are available for health-care providers and work with partners to help recruit and retain them.

Confidence:High

Woolner backs responsible growth: adequate parking, appropriate heights, and commercial uses fitting Wilmot's rural character.

• Defines responsible growth as growth that respects residents, community values, the environment, and end users.
• Says new residential developments must have adequate parking, appropriate building heights, and parks and walking trails; commercial and industrial developments must be compatible with the township's rural nature.
• Argues downtown-core parking is important for maintaining a healthy active downtown, since small towns lack the resident density that supports larger cities' cores.

Confidence:High

Wilkinson backs responsible growth planning, business attraction and a stronger tax base.

• Platform pillar: Smart Growth & Economic Opportunity.
• Planning responsibly for growth while attracting businesses and strengthening the tax base.

Confidence:High

Salonen favours managed growth guided by the new Official Plan and negotiated outcomes with builders.

• Supports planning for growth 'on our terms' within provincial planning rules, using new Official Plan frameworks to guide development.
• Points to negotiated barrier-free homes in new Baden and New Hamburg neighbourhoods to support aging in place.

Confidence:High

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

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Goertz would expand affordable licensed child care, adding licensed spaces in underserved rural communities and engaging home providers.

• Support expanding affordable licensed child care while recognizing rural realities where licensed centres are scarce or unavailable.
• Advocate for more licensed spaces in underserved rural communities and bring unlicensed home providers into the conversation on viability, barriers and paths into the licensed system.
• Work with the Wilmot & Wellesley Resource Centre and the Region on a local, opt-in child-care directory matching families with independent home providers (Township would not endorse or inspect).

Confidence:High

Wilkinson promises investment in roads, parks, recreation and community spaces.

• Platform pillar: Strong Communities.
• Investing in roads, parks, recreation, community spaces and local services that strengthen quality of life.

Confidence:High

Woolner flags independence concerns with water consultants affiliated with engineering firms: they may not give fully independent advice.

• Concerned that outside consultants affiliated with engineering firms may be reluctant to provide fully independent advice on water procurement
• From his verbatim answers in the Citizens for Safe Groundwater survey package (dated Oct 21 on waterlooregionvotes.org; no per-candidate submission date shown) — in-window discovery via live browser

Confidence:High

Goertz supports keeping water and wastewater publicly owned and operated and would oppose any move to private ownership or operation.

• Support keeping water and wastewater systems publicly owned and publicly operated; speak up against efforts to move services, assets or decision-making into private hands or structures that reduce public accountability.
• Oppose any future move toward private ownership or operation; contracting out should not be the default way of delivering these services.
• Water capacity should be considered before major growth and development decisions; protect recharge areas and assess the cumulative impact of development, water taking, drainage and landscape changes.

Confidence:High