In an effort to promote discussion on key issues during the current election period, we are giving candidates the opportunity to answer a number of questions that may be of interest to local voters.
Everyone receives the same questions, and their answers are presented with minimal editing for format purposes only.
Here is the candidate profile for Belleville Council Candidate for Ward One (Urban) Hazzem Koudsi.
Election day is October 26th.
First and Last Name
Hazzem Koudsi
What position are you seeking in the upcoming municipal election on October 26?
Councillor Ward 1
Question 1 – Why are you running and what are your main priorities if elected/re-elected?
As Belleville continues to grow, residents deserve thoughtful leadership focused on practical
solutions. My goal is to bring my experience, problem-solving skills, and commitment to service to
council, to help ensure Belleville remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family. I am
seeking the opportunity to serve Belleville residents and contribute to the community’s future.
My campaign will focus on three key priorities:
Housing: Supporting solutions that encourage affordable and attainable housing options for
residents.
Infrastructure: Advocating for responsible investment in the roads, services, and facilities that
support a growing community.
Responsible Spending: Promoting responsible decision-making and ensuring taxpayer dollars are
managed effectively.
Question 2 – How do you balance budgetary restraint with continuing increases in
many areas of the municipal budget?
I believe managing the City’s budget should be approached much like managing a household
budget: we have finite resources, competing priorities and difficult choices to make. The key is
ensuring that every dollar we collect from taxpayers delivers meaningful value to our community.
Budgetary restraint is not simply about spending less; it is about spending smarter. We need a
clear understanding of where Belleville is going as a city, what our priorities are, and what it will
realistically cost to achieve them. Investments in essential infrastructure, public safety and the
services residents rely on must be carefully planned, while new initiatives must demonstrate their
value and align with our long-term goals.
I also believe we need to take a hard look at the services we currently provide. Are we delivering
them as efficiently as possible? Are there opportunities to improve processes, reduce duplication,
find savings or work more effectively with other levels of government and community partners?
We should regularly evaluate both the cost and the outcomes of our services, using measurable
performance indicators to ensure taxpayers are getting value for their money.
At the same time, we must recognize that delaying necessary infrastructure maintenance can
simply create larger, more expensive problems down the road. Responsible financial management
means balancing today’s needs with tomorrow’s obligations, rather than passing avoidable costs
on to future taxpayers.
Accountability and transparency are essential. Residents deserve to understand where their
money is going, why spending decisions are being made, and what results those decisions are
delivering.
Question 3 – Infrastructure projects are a huge strain on local budgets, especially
when it comes to water/wastewater. How can we address/reduce these costs
moving forward and mitigate the impact for ratepayers/taxpayers?
My approach would be to establish clear priorities, rigorously evaluate spending, protect essential
services, plan responsibly for the future and be transparent with taxpayers about the results.
Belleville is growing, and we need to manage that growth wisely while ensuring our city remains
affordable, well-maintained and a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Water and wastewater infrastructure are among the most significant financial challenges facing
municipalities, and the costs ultimately affect residents through their utility bills, property taxes
and the cost of new housing. We see that in Prince Edward County and here in Belleville based on
the $30 million gap identified in the cities 2025 asset management plan. We cannot eliminate
these costs, but we can do a much better job of planning, managing and funding them.
We need to take a long-term, coordinated approach to infrastructure planning. Roads, water and
wastewater systems should be planned together, alongside anticipated residential and
commercial growth. We need to understand the capacity of our existing systems, identify future
requirements early, and coordinate projects to avoid repeatedly digging up roads or undertaking
costly work that could have been addressed together. Preventative maintenance and timely
rehabilitation can also help avoid much more expensive emergency repairs and premature
replacement.
The costs of major projects must be reviewed. That means competitive procurement, careful
project management, independent cost estimates where appropriate, and transparent reporting
on budgets, timelines and overruns. We should also look for opportunities to standardize designs,
use innovative construction methods where they make financial sense, and evaluate the full
lifecycle cost of infrastructure rather than simply choosing the lowest initial price.
We need to ensure infrastructure is funded fairly. Growth should contribute appropriately to the
infrastructure it requires, using development charges and other available funding mechanisms. We
should aggressively pursue provincial and federal grants and partnerships rather than relying
disproportionately on taxpayers. At the same time, we must recognize that existing residents
should not be unfairly burdened by the costs of accommodating growth, nor should new
development be approved without a clear understanding of its long-term infrastructure and
operating costs.
Transparency with residents about what projects will cost, why they are necessary, how they will
be funded and what alternatives were considered is essential. Water and wastewater rates must
be financially sustainable, but potential increases should be supported by clear evidence, sound
planning and a demonstrated commitment to efficiency.
Question 4 – What measures can the municipality take to address the issues of
affordability and housing security?
Housing affordability and security are among the most important challenges facing Belleville.
Through my work with Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings, I have seen firsthand that
addressing this challenge requires more than building houses. It requires making housing
financially attainable, creating a range of housing options, and bringing together governments,
builders, non-profits and community partners to turn plans into homes.
My approach would focus on increasing the supply of attainable housing, using municipal
resources strategically, and ensuring that people have a realistic pathway to an affordable home.
Increasing the supply and diversity of housing is key. Belleville needs options for different stages of
life and different household incomes, including rental apartments, affordable homeownership,
townhouses, duplexes and other forms of appropriately designed higher-density housing. We
should make better use of suitable vacant and underutilized properties, including municipal land,
and encourage development that makes efficient use of existing infrastructure. Green spaces like
Queen Mary School and Bell Creek Water Shed need to be addressed, in consultation with
community members, when considering housing development projects.
Reducing unnecessary barriers and costs that delay housing projects must occur. That means
predictable planning approvals, clear development requirements, collaboration with builders early
in the process, and the strategic use of municipal incentives where they can demonstrate a
meaningful public benefit. We should also pursue Hastings County, provincial and federal funding
aggressively and work with non-profit housing providers and private-sector partners to make
projects financially viable. My experience at Habitat has taught me that partnerships and sound
project planning can help turn a promising housing proposal into a project that actually gets built.
We must recognize that affordable housing is not limited to subsidized rental housing. Affordable
homeownership can give working families an opportunity to build equity, establish stability and
create a stronger foundation for their children. I believe Belleville should support a continuum of
housing solutions, including non-profit and attainable homeownership models, alongside
affordable rental housing and supportive housing for residents who need additional assistance.
Housing decisions must be connected to responsible infrastructure and financial planning. New
homes require roads, water, wastewater and other municipal services. We must understand those
costs before approving development, coordinate investments carefully, and ensure that growth is
financially sustainable without placing an unreasonable burden on existing taxpayers.
My recent experience in Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings has reinforced my belief
that housing is more than a roof over someone’s head. It is the foundation for family stability,
community participation and economic opportunity.
As a councillor, I would bring practical housing-sector experience, a collaborative approach and a
strong focus on results. My goal would be to help Belleville build more of the right housing, at
attainable prices, while managing public resources responsibly and ensuring that more residents
have a place they can afford to call home.
Question 5 – Homelessness has become a major issue for most local communities.
What would you do to address this issue and what needs to happen to have a
meaningful impact?
This is probably the most complex question to answer. To address homelessness meaningfully,
communities must shift from simply managing the crisis to actively treating its core root
causes: untreated mental illness, severe addiction, and a lack of supportive housing.
The most effective strategy relies on an integrated, recovery-focused network that brings multiple
services under a single roof. This approach is demonstrated by Belleville’s HART Hub.
To resolve the overlapping challenges of addiction and mental illness, clinical teams must be
embedded directly into these spaces. Organizations like CMHA and RAAM clinics need to be
appropriately funded to support the needs of those seeking help through the HART Hub. Running
parallel to this is supportive transitional housing solutions that support those managing recovery
and gradually moving to independent living. This step bridges the gap between active crisis and
permanent independence, effectively preventing people from cycling back onto the streets after
receiving medical help.
This is a very high level response with many community partners needing to be engaged and
properly funded before we can see measurable impact. My experience working with multiple
levels of government combined with my knowledge of community organizations like
AllTogetherHousing, CMHA and RAAM clinics, Hastings County supportive programs will be an
asset as we improve the lives of these individuals.
Question 6 – What message do you want the voter to know about you and your
campaign and your priorities for the next four years?
These are my initial thoughts on some challenging and complex questions facing our community.
My responses reflect my experience in government, my work with community charities, and my
advocacy with provincial and federal governments to help make our community stronger.
I recognize that the challenges facing Belleville do not have simple solutions. They require
thoughtful decisions, collaboration, fiscal responsibility and a willingness to listen, learn and get
things done.
If I have the privilege of serving as your Ward 1 Councillor, I want to earn your confidence through
my actions, the decisions I make, and the results we achieve together. My goal is simple: to earn
your support for re-election four years from now because you can see the positive difference my
work has made for our community. As I stated at the Belleville Chamber of Commerce Candidates
forum – “Past performance is an indicator of future performance.”
Ultimately, I believe public service is about accountability, delivering results and making Belleville
a better place to live, work and raise a family.
