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 Ward One (Urban) Kelly Henderson.
Election day is October 26th.
First and Last Name
Kelly Henderson
What position are you seeking in the upcoming municipal election on October 26?
Belleville City Councillor
Question 1 – Why are you running and what are your main priorities if elected/re-elected?
I am running for re-election so that I can continue to move forward with initiatives I have already started and work toward meaningful improvements for our community. One of my priorities is to bring municipal water services to residents on Marshall Road, Bridge Street West, and West Moira Street. I also want to continue working with our By-law Department to address ongoing issues that negatively impact our neighbourhoods, particularly those involving absentee ownership and rental investment properties where properties are not being properly maintained and neighbourhood standards are not being respected. In addition, I look forward to continuing to work with City staff and the Accessibility Advisory Committee to develop an accessible fishing area that allows residents with mobility challenges to enjoy our local waterfront and participate more fully in our community. These are important initiatives, and I am committed to continuing this work to improve our neighbourhoods and quality of life for all residents.
Question 2 – How do you balance budgetary restraint with continuing increases in many areas of the municipal budget?
A significant portion of municipal budgets is allocated to external agencies and service providers. As the budgets of organizations such as Hastings County Community and Human Services, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Long-Term Care, Police Services, and Southeast Public Health increase, the impact is felt directly in our municipal budgets and the property taxes residents pay. It is important that we carefully monitor these agencies’ budgets, ask questions, scrutinize expenditures, and look for opportunities to improve efficiency and achieve cost savings wherever possible. While we have a responsibility to ensure accountability for the dollars being spent, we must also recognize that our ability to control these costs is sometimes limited. Many services are essential, and rising costs associated with delivering social services through Hastings County, for example, are not always within our control. Our focus must remain on understanding these pressures, advocating for responsible spending, and ensuring that every dollar is used as effectively as possible while maintaining the essential services our residents rely on.
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?
Water and wastewater infrastructure represents one of the most significant long-term financial challenges facing municipalities. Aging pipes, necessary treatment plant upgrades, population growth, and rising construction costs continue to place considerable pressure on municipal budgets. While the principle that growth must pay for growth means using development charges to help fund the infrastructure required to support new development, the renewal and replacement of existing infrastructure presents a separate and increasingly difficult financial challenge. Municipalities cannot reasonably be expected to shoulder the full cost of these substantial infrastructure investments on their own. We must continue our advocacy efforts with both provincial and federal governments to pursue all available funding programs and initiatives that can help municipalities address these critical needs, maintain reliable services, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our water and wastewater systems.
Question 4 – What measures can the municipality take to address the issues of affordability and housing security?
What many people fail to recognize is that municipalities are not in the business of building homes; our primary responsibility is to serve our residents. That means delivering essential services, maintaining infrastructure, establishing responsible land use and zoning policies, and providing critical services such as police, fire, and emergency response. Housing affordability is fundamentally influenced by supply and demand. When demand for housing outpaces supply, prices tend to rise. When housing supply increases to better meet demand, there is greater potential for prices to stabilize and affordability to improve. Municipalities have an important role to play in creating an environment where housing can be built. Through effective planning policies, appropriate zoning, timely development approvals, and investment in the necessary infrastructure, we can help remove barriers and make it easier for developers to bring more housing to market. That said, there is a distinction between facilitating housing development and being responsible for delivering housing itself. Municipalities can establish the conditions for development, but we cannot solve the housing affordability crisis on our own. Developers, provincial and federal governments all have important roles to play.
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?
Homelessness and homelessness prevention remain significant challenges across the country, affecting municipalities of all sizes. While municipalities play a critical role in responding to the immediate needs of individuals experiencing homelessness, the issue requires a coordinated, adequately funded, approach led by the Provincial Government Currently, the City of Belleville operates under a shared services agreement with Hastings County for the administration of social services. While this arrangement supports the delivery of essential services, concerns have emerged regarding the increasing number of individuals experiencing homelessness who are arriving in Belleville from other communities in search of emergency shelter and access to local social supports. In some instances, individuals are reportedly being directed to Belleville in the hope of accessing shelter at the Grace Inn and other available services. Although the need for support is real, the capacity of our local shelter and support systems is not unlimited. Our shelter is already operating at capacity, and the continued influx of individuals without a corresponding increase in resources is creating significant challenges. Individuals arriving from other communities may find themselves without accommodation in a city where they have no established connections, family, or support networks. This can leave vulnerable people in an unfamiliar environment, further complicating their circumstances and making it more difficult to connect them with appropriate, longer-term supports. I believe that we need to have a compassionate and collaborative approach. Where appropriate and with the individual’s consent, facilitating a return to their home community may be the most compassionate and constructive option. Reconnecting individuals with familiar surroundings, family, community resources, and established support systems can help provide a more stable foundation for recovery, housing, and long-term well-being.
Question 6 – What message do you want the voter to know about you and your campaign and your priorities for the next four years?
Above all, I want voters to know that I am here for them. I am accessible, approachable, and available to listen. No issue is too big, too small, or too controversial to bring forward. I believe in listening to residents, standing up for our neighbourhoods, and working to protect the interests of the people who call our city home. Over the next four years, I will continue to focus on the following priorities: 1. Protecting Our Neighbourhoods I will continue to address the ongoing negative impacts on our neighbourhoods caused by out-of-area real estate investors who fail to respect the communities in which they invest. Anyone choosing to invest in our city has a responsibility to respect their neighbours, our neighbourhoods, and the community as a whole. Our residents deserve to feel respected in their own homes and neighbourhoods and I plan to make sure that they are respected. 2. Advocating for Municipal Water I will continue to advocate for bringing municipal water services to residents of Marshall Road, Bridge Street West, and Moira Street. Residents deserve continued advocacy and a commitment to exploring solutions that address this most important issue 3. Preserving the Bell Creek Watershed I will continue my efforts to protect and preserve the Bell Creek Watershed. Safeguarding our natural environment is an important responsibility, and I remain committed to advocating for its long-term protection. 4. Promoting Openness and Full Disclosure I will push for greater openness and transparency in decisions involving the acquisition and disposition of city owned real estate assets. Residents deserve clear information and accountability when decisions are made about public assets and the future of our community.
