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 Quinte West Mayoral Candidate Zack Card.
Election day is October 26th.
First and Last Name
Zack Card
What position are you seeking in the upcoming municipal election on October 26?
Mayor of Quinte West
Question 1 – Why are you running and what are your main priorities if elected/re-elected?
I have a vision for the future of Quinte West. It’s a vision of a more affordable city, with voting equality, and a modern, responsive city government. A city with the growth and prosperity needed for our kids and grandkids to build lives here. To achieve change, we will need new ideas and new approaches. I believe my background and policy proposals best embody the approach that citizens want for the next Mayor and council. I can best realize this vision from the office of the Mayor. That is why I’m running. Some may call it naive, but I still believe public service is a noble endeavour. I have seen Institutional and government trust erode during my lifetime. It is concerning and hurts community cohesion and coarsens our politics. I believe I have the approach, experience and skillset to address that. We have so much untapped potential in our community. I want to realize that potential by way of good policy, communication and leadership.
Question 2 – How do you balance budgetary restraint with continuing increases in many areas of the municipal budget?
Like many municipalities in Ontario, Quinte West has had significant fiscal challenges over the previous years. These challenges stem mainly from our maintenance of existing roads and infrastructure. This pressure has resulted in council creating a “capital levy” that is added to the natural tax increase each year, increasing the cost to ratepayers. I’ve said many times during this term of council that, “we cannot tax our way out of this problem”. That is to say that these challenges cannot be solved only on the taxation side. We must make difficult choices on both sides: costs to support the infrastructure and taxes. We must also strive to get more value from existing tax dollars. My modernization and technology agenda will empower staff with better tools to achieve productivity and efficiency gains that will benefit taxpayers and improve customer service. Especially during this Affordability Crisis, our businesses, young people, seniors and working families need a balanced approach to addressing our cost drivers, principally the capital levy. Increasing affordability for residents should be the top priority of the next council.
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?
In Quinte West, water and wastewater bills are not merely a reflection of usage, but of the infrastructure required to deliver those services across a large, lower density area. The high cost of these utilities is driven by three primary factors: provincial mandates, the “density deficit,” and the reality of aging infrastructure. Rate increases have been especially high over the past four years. As the next Mayor, I will ask council to open the water/wastewater rate bylaw and address this driver of municipal unaffordability. Under current policy, rates will increase next term by a similar rate as this current term. We must be responsive to the community expectations and ability to absorb steeper than average rate increases for another four years. We can continue to make high ROI investments to extend the lifespan of this infrastructure. We must look at our capacity utilization projections to ensure we are not paying to expand or update capacity before we need it.
Question 4 – What measures can the municipality take to address the issues of affordability and housing security?
I’m committed to addressing the lack of affordable and attainable housing head-on. Council has made significant progress on this issue over the last term, 2025 saw the largest investment in affordable housing in the City’s history, but there is more work to do. My platform focuses on supporting and expanding the city’s existing Housing Action Plan policies, including municipal land disposal and the housing CIP program, which gives a tax rebate to incentivize affordable housing builds. I also believe that the city of Quinte West needs a “Renoviction Bylaw” to protect our most vulnerable seniors and working families from bad-faith landlords who manipulate the N13 system, use fear and uncertainty for economic gain. This practice must end.
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?
There are no quick or easy solutions on this subject. But we can safeguard our vulnerable tenants by introducing a targeted renoviction bylaw, incentivize the creation of more attainable housing, support our local resource providers and food kitchens. We can work with local law enforcement, advocate to our Provincial and Federal representatives to proactively ensure that Quinte West is a safe, stable and inclusive environment. My continued work and support for vulnerable populations through past volunteer and board service with Community Partners for Success, showed me to how quickly a life situation can change. Homelessness and food insecurity are both growing issues in Quinte West. As a community, we need all levels of government to work together to ensure appropriate supports are in place that are stable, inclusive and long term.
Question 6 – What message do you want the voter to know about you and your campaign and your priorities for the next four years?
The next Mayor and council will face many challenges and opportunities that require new ideas and new approaches. We are going to have to do more with less. We’ll need to excel at communicating in a digital age where many residents feel left behind. The next mayor will need to lead, with a strong value system and conviction. I believe it’s time for the next generation of leaders to step forward and seize on our city’s potential. If my vision sounds like yours, vote Zack Card.
