Brantford's Mayoral Candidates Question & Answer

The 2026 municipal election is coming up fast in Brantford, with online voting opening on October 13 and advance voting opening on October 15. Election day is October 26^th. To help students prepare to vote, the Students' Union Government and Stakeholder Relations team reached out to several of the Brantford Mayoral Candidates to ask 7 questions on important issues in the city of Brantford. 

Students are encouraged to research issues important to them and candidate platforms, to make an informed decision when voting. Remember that your voice matters, and you can make a difference in your community by voting!

For more information regarding where to vote, how to register to vote, information on candidates and more, visit https://www.brantford.ca/your-government/municipal-election/ 

Note: Candidates contacted by the Students’ Union who submitted their responses by the deadline were included in this article.

Question 1: Transit

There is currently a 5-phase transit upgrade report that was approved by the city council in 2024. The city has funded the first two phases, but the next three have yet to be approved by the council. Would you approve the following phases if elected, and/or what else would you do to improve both local and interregional transit? 

Ricky Willdy: I support improving Brantford’s public transit system, but I would want to review the costs, ridership projections and expected benefits of the remaining three phases before committing to approving them.

Reliable transit is particularly important for students, seniors and residents who don’t drive. I would prioritize dependable service, practical routes, reasonable wait times and connections between residential neighbourhoods, downtown, schools and employment areas.

I would also explore opportunities to improve regional connections, particularly for people commuting to Hamilton, Cambridge and other nearby communities.

My goal is to give residents practical transportation choices while ensuring transit investments provide good value for taxpayers.

Rose Sicoli: A strong and reliable transit system is essential for a growing city, particularly for students, seniors and residents who rely on it every day. I supported our Transit Plan and the first two phases are now in place with new routes. On September 6th, I spent time with transit staff at our Lynden Park Mall Hub, learning about new routes, speaking to residents who use our transit system and hearing feedback. 

  I’m supportive of continuing to improve transit, looking at ridership, results and affordability. I also want us to continue looking at better regional connections so people can more easily travel between Brantford and surrounding communities. 

Dan McCreary: As a student at University of Toronto in the ‘70’s, I was fortunate to live and learn in Downtown Toronto. My truck was parked all week as I was able to walk or take transit everywhere. Toronto’s street grid makes transit efficient. Brantford has no street grid and bus routing is more of a challenge. We’ve made great strides and will continue to do so. Transit improvements will be first and foremost a concern at budget time.

Richard Carpenter: I would absolutely approve the next three phases.  We need to work with the county and Six Nations to expand our public transit to each.  I would also look into an Express GoBus to Aldershot and to Cambridge.  We need to connect the two Go Stations.  

Mandy Samwell: Reliable, affordable transit matters whether you're getting to class, going to work or travelling across the city.

I support continuing improvements to Brantford Transit, but before approving the remaining phases of the Transit Moving Forward plan, I want to know how the recent changes are working. That means looking at ridership, reliability, wait times and feedback from passengers and frontline staff. Are buses getting people where they need to go, when they need to be there?

I also want to examine more affordable transit options, including support for people on low incomes, students and families.

Regional connections need attention too. I will work directly with Metrolinx, the Province, neighbouring municipalities, post-secondary institutions and local businesses to advance faster, more frequent GO connections, including express service to Aldershot, better connections to Waterloo Region and improved service to surrounding communities, including Paris and Six Nations.

My commitment is to bring partners together around specific improvements, pursue funding and report on progress. Better regional transit needs to be an active priority, not just something we continue asking for.

Question 2: Homelessness

The city currently has many initiatives to address the homelessness crisis, such as Brantford Bylaws' partnership with housing services and recent acquirement of buildings to turn into affordable housing. As mayor, how would you continue to support these initiatives and what new approaches would you like to introduce?

Ricky Willdy: I support continuing initiatives that connect people experiencing homelessness with housing and appropriate services. I would want to evaluate the results of existing programs, including the City’s partnerships and affordable housing initiatives, before deciding where additional resources are needed.

I believe compassion and accountability must go together. People experiencing homelessness deserve access to shelter, supportive housing, mental-health and addiction services, and opportunities to regain stability. Residents and businesses also deserve safe, accessible public spaces.

I would like to examine approaches to public drug use, strengthen cooperation between service providers and enforcement agencies, and ensure taxpayer-funded programs are evaluated based on measurable outcomes.

Housing and healthcare require substantial provincial and federal support, so I would also advocate for Brantford to receive the resources it needs.

Rose Sicoli: A simple question with a very complex answer. We need to continue moving away from simply managing homelessness and focus on actually moving people along the path to rehabilitation. I support the work already underway, including the City's investment in Fox Ridge and the creation of additional temporary and permanent housing options.  

I was in Ottawa last month meeting with Minister of Health advocating for Provincial Funding for a HART HUB (Homelessness Addiction Recovery Treatment). This will provide a 12 week program with the intention of using FoxRidge as supportive transitional housing afterwards.  We need to continue this advocacy work to break down funding silos between Mental Health and Addiction programming.  

The housing continuum advances into my proposed solution for creating more affordable housing developments.  Municipalities like Niagara Falls have partnered with the private sector developers in a unique partnership model to create affordable housing- The city provides land, the developer builds it and they co-own the property until the developer recoups their investments. The building then converts to City Ownership.  These are unique concepts that allow us to unlock units without downloading the cost to the tax payers. 

Dan McCreary: Many of the visible homeless suffer from addiction. Firstly we’ll house and help them as much as possible..considering that some will not seek or accept assistance. We’ll also repatriate those who come from other cities and help them reintegrate in their home communities near friends, family and supports. Lastly, we’ll seek to relocate services to the homeless out of the university and business district. Students should be learning in an positive, friendly and enjoyable environment.

Richard Carpenter: I would continue to support the projects we have.  We have tax grants for building more housing, in particular rental units that are affordable.  I would continue all of these programs.  These programs came from me for the Brownfields.  The current hotels along Colborne Steet that are used for city programs need to be converted into apartments. We also need housing first with addiction and mental health treatment centres attached to it.  We also need tiny homes. There is not just one solution.  Several things need to align and take place to ensure we get as many individuals off the street, the treatment they need, and allow them an opportunity to have a fresh start.

Mandy Samwell: Finding an affordable place to live has become increasingly difficult, including for students balancing tuition, rent and everyday expenses. At the same time, too many people in Brantford are struggling to remain housed.

Through my work as Chair of the City's Social Services Committee and my background in public health, I've seen where our housing and homelessness systems are working and where people are still falling through the gaps.

I will focus on delivering our ten-year Housing Stability Plan, strengthening eviction prevention, increasing affordable and rental housing options, and moving the approved Fox Ridge housing project forward. I will also work to remove unnecessary municipal barriers for nonprofit, co-operative and Indigenous housing providers.

I want to strengthen the coordination already happening between bylaw, housing services and community outreach teams. When concerns arise, people need a timely, coordinated response that addresses neighbourhood impacts while helping those experiencing homelessness connect with appropriate supports.

Working with Laurier, Conestoga and housing partners, I want to better understand student rental needs and encourage safe, affordable housing options.

We also need better access to mental health, addiction treatment and recovery services. I will make securing a HART Hub for Brantford a priority, working directly with the Province and community partners to bring the necessary resources here.

I want to see measurable results: fewer people losing their homes, more housing completed and better access to the services people need.

Question 3: Student Safety 

Safety is one of the biggest concerns of students in Brantford. What steps would you take to increase safety and security, and what efforts currently being made by the city would you continue to support?

Ricky Willdy: As a teacher and parent, I take student safety seriously.

I grew up in Brantford and watched downtown improve considerably between 2009 and 2019. I’m concerned that we’ve started losing some of that progress. Students should feel comfortable attending classes, using the library and YMCA, visiting businesses and travelling downtown.

I would support cooperation between the City, Brantford Police, universities, colleges and downtown businesses to identify problem areas and develop practical responses. That includes addressing violence, threats, theft and dangerous behaviour, maintaining clean and well-lit public spaces, and improving pedestrian safety around campuses and transit stops.

I would also want students involved directly in identifying safety concerns rather than assuming City Hall already knows what they’re experiencing.

Rose Sicoli: I’m advocating for a full downtown area CPTED analysis (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) Making sure we are doing our best to ensure we are designing our public spaces in a way that improves safety, reduces opportunities for crime, and makes the downtown feel safer and more welcoming for everyone. (This is something that can be done quickly and provide guidance through our Downtown revitalization project that is slated to begin soon). I have been considering but will need to see cost to having a dedicated team to garbage and street clean ups in key areas.     

  The Second Solution is more complex. We need to look at the “services” that our community is offering to the vulnerable population.  For example:  We have many methadone clinics, We don’t have any by-laws regulating pan handling, and we have a lot of harm reduction programs. We have no-bar housing.   

In short, We need to understand how our level of services compares with neighbouring communities and whether Brantford is carrying a disproportionate share of services for the region.  

Lastly, In service to our First Responders, I have been advocating (and are close to receiving funding) to develop a Skill Development Training centre. This regional Facility will allow our first responders to properly train for the evolving complexities of calls they are responding to. 

Dan McCreary: As Mayor, I’ll chair the police services board and provide positive direction to the chief of police. We’ll better integrate city bylaw, university security and city police.

Richard Carpenter: Safety and security in our downtown core is very important to me.  Our downtown should be the cleanest and safest area of the city.  We need to increase on street policing.  Having police on the streets allows them to take the appropriate actions necessary to keep the street safe to walk down both in the day and at night.  We need regular clean up of our downtown core.  Having a cleanup crew downtown on a daily basis would make the streets cleaner and at the same time take the garbage and unsafe materials off the streets and out of our parks before the day begins.    

Mandy Samwell: Whether you're walking between campus buildings, catching a bus after an evening class or spending time downtown, you should feel safe.

Through my work as Chair of the Brantford Police Services Board, my background in public health and years of neighbourhood safety work, I've gained a strong understanding of how police, City services and community organizations need to work together.

We've made progress downtown through the police Core Engagement and Response Team, Community Watch, coordinated bylaw and outreach team, and safety improvements such as the Code Blue emergency phones in Harmony Square.

I will build on that work with a focus on visible safety measures, improved lighting, safer walking routes, well-maintained public spaces and better follow-up when concerns are reported. I will also work with the Police Services Board to advance their strategic plan.

Public safety and compassion need to work together. We must respond to threatening and unlawful behaviour while improving access to housing, mental health and addiction services.

A safe and healthy community also means having access to healthcare when you need it. I will work with the Brant Community Healthcare System, its Foundation and the Province to advance our new hospital project, continue building the City's Hospital Redevelopment Reserve Fund and plan responsibly for our local share.

I will also support partnerships that improve access to family doctors and primary care, building on the work already underway with local healthcare providers.

I will work with students and post-secondary institutions to identify safety concerns and make practical improvements that people can see and experience.

Question 4: AI Data Centers 

Currently, AI Data Centers are being built, or are in the process of getting approval to be built, across cities in Ontario. If you were elected as mayor, would you allow an AI Data Center to be built in Brantford and/or what steps would you take if a data center is proposed in Brantford?

Ricky Willdy: I would be open to a data centre development, but my support would depend on the details. 

I would want to understand its electricity and water requirements, environmental impacts, permanent job creation and any infrastructure costs that could fall on taxpayers. 

My preference would be to locate such facilities on appropriately serviced industrial land rather than productive farmland or environmentally sensitive areas. 

I support attracting investment and creating jobs, but not every development is automatically a good fit. A proposal should demonstrate that its benefits justify its demands on local resources. 

Rose Sicoli: Data centres aren't something currently being proposed or contemplated in Brantford, so I don't think it makes sense to take a firm position on a hypothetical. As Mayor, I will not be seeking to encourage the Data Centre investments in our region.  

If a proposal ever came forward, I would look carefully at the specifics; including jobs and economic benefits, land use, infrastructure requirements and negative impacts on electricity and water before making a decision. 

Dan McCreary: Not enough is known about AI data centres. Anecdotally, they use tremendous resources, employ few staff and produce less taxation/per job.  Our limited available industrial lands can be put to better use.

Richard Carpenter: I do not support AI Data Centres.  I will make sure that there are no loopholes in our planning legislation that would allow an AI data centre from coming to Brantford.  I would ensure AI data centres could not be built without full consultation of the community.  But I personally do not support them. They do not create jobs, they use a lot of electricity, and they would take our precious water from the Grand River.   

Mandy Samwell: I do not support moving ahead with large-scale AI data-centre developments in Brantford until we have a clear understanding of their long-term impacts on our community.

These developments can place enormous demands on electricity, water and infrastructure.

Before considering approvals, we need answers about the environmental impacts, potential costs to taxpayers, demands on our existing services and whether the promised jobs and economic benefits justify those costs.

We also need to understand what these developments could mean for future housing, businesses and our ability to accommodate growth.

As Mayor, I will take steps to pause new large-scale data-centre development in Brantford while we complete a thorough assessment of the impacts, hear from the community and learn from other municipalities.

I will work with Council and City staff to determine the appropriate planning measures to protect Brantford's long-term interests.

Other Ontario municipalities, including Mississauga, have taken steps to pause these developments while studying their impacts.

I believe we should learn from communities that have already welcomed data centres. What have the actual costs been? Have the promised jobs materialized? What challenges have emerged, and what would they do differently?

I support economic development and attracting investment to Brantford, but not at any cost. Growth With Purpose means making decisions based on evidence, understanding the long-term consequences and ensuring our community's interests come first.

Until we have those answers, I do not believe Brantford should move ahead with these developments. Our community's long-term interests must come before the pressure to approve new investment.

Question 5: Integrating students into the community

Students are often seen as distinct from long-term residents due to the potential difference in age or time that will be spent in the area. What can we do to better integrate students into our communities and lessen the divide between the two groups?

Ricky Willdy: I don’t think students should be treated as outsiders simply because they may only live in Brantford for a few years. They’re residents who contribute to our economy, support local businesses and participate in community life. 

I would like to encourage more partnerships between the City, post-secondary institutions, local businesses and community organizations. 

One opportunity involves my proposed literacy and fitness incentives for Brantford residents under 18. University and college students studying education, health or fitness could gain valuable experience by helping younger residents develop reading and physical-activity skills. 

I’d also encourage opportunities for students to volunteer, participate in community events and engage with municipal decision-making. Students should have a voice in the future of the city they live in. 

Rose Sicoli: As a mom of two daughters, 23 and 19, I understand how important it is for young people to feel connected to the community around them. We should create more opportunities for students to participate in civic life, volunteer, attend community events and connect with local employers—because ultimately, I want more Laurier graduates to see Brantford as somewhere they could build a career and a life. 

My cousin attended Brantford Laurier and met her now husband and built a life here. This is true for many young adults.  Your voice in the community matters and can influence the results of an election. Please exercise your right to vote for the leadership that best represents your values. 

Dan McCreary: I’m not sure there is a great divide between the university population and the general population. I see students at many city events and students are held in very high regard. The presence of university learners in Brantford is really quite a source of community pride.

Richard Carpenter: We have a lot of seniors living in their homes with multiple bedrooms. I would like ot move to program where we reconnect the students with our seniors and maybe find a combination of students and seniors.  Such a program would help combat senior loneliness and give students accommodations at a reduced cost.  

Mandy Samwell: My approach to leadership began long before I was elected to Council. Through my work with the Eagle Place Community Association, the Neighbourhood Alliance of Brantford and in public health, I spent years working alongside neighbours to solve problems and improve our community. That experience taught me the importance of listening, involving people early and following through.

I've met with the Students' Union, participated in the Town and Gown Committee, visited classrooms and connected with students studying User Experience Design.

I want to build on those relationships by creating regular opportunities for students to share ideas, raise concerns and hear how their input influences decisions.

Building stronger connections also means creating more opportunities for students and neighbours to get to know one another.

I want to work with Laurier, Conestoga, neighbourhood associations and community organizations to connect students with local events, volunteer opportunities and neighbourhood projects.

These are practical ways to build relationships and a greater sense of belonging.

I will also work with our post-secondary institutions and local businesses to strengthen connections to co-op placements, internships, jobs and career opportunities.

People First Leadership means involving people in decisions that affect them and following through on what we hear.

I want students to have affordable things to do, welcoming places to spend time and opportunities to contribute to the community beyond the classroom.

I want more students to enjoy their time in Brantford, build lasting connections and see a future for themselves here after graduation.

Question 6: Brantford Revitalization 

The Brantford revitalization project is working on developing and improving the Brantford Downtown core. How else do you think the city can work on the development of the downtown core and bring prosperity to the southern part of Brantford? 

Ricky Willdy: Downtown revitalization is particularly important to me. Between roughly 2009 and 2019, I watched downtown Brantford improve dramatically. I’m concerned that we’ve started going backwards. 

As a parent, I don’t want my children to grow up feeling that downtown is somewhere they aren’t allowed to go, as I experienced when I was younger. When families and students stop visiting downtown, they lose access to the library, YMCA and local businesses. 

I would prioritize public safety, cleanliness, better waste disposal and stronger support for the businesses already operating downtown. 

I welcome larger businesses investing in Brantford, but we also need to appreciate our independent businesses. They’re what give downtown its unique character. 

For southern Brantford, I would focus on infrastructure, traffic congestion, responsible development and ensuring services keep pace with population growth. 

Revitalization isn’t just about attractive buildings. It’s about creating places where people actually want to live, work, study and spend time. 

Rose Sicoli: The physical revitalization of downtown is an important start. The underground infrastructure that we're replacing will support future development. Upon completion, we will begin streetscape improvements that are intended to make downtown safer, more accessible and more inviting.   

The short of it is, we need more people living downtown, more businesses, restaurants, arts, entertainment and events, and we need to continue addressing safety and homelessness so that students, residents and visitors actually want to spend time there. When we have residents living in the downtown, the businesses thrive, the community invests and destination district is born.  It begins with people. 

Dan McCreary: People make places. As mayor, I’m going to attract investment downtown to create residential development and create employment. Business will invest to serve that population.  

Additionally, we’ll create life along our waterfront by offering opportunity for restaurants, cafes, galleries and other opportunities to introduce fun, life and enjoyment.

Richard Carpenter: The easiest way to revitalize downtown is to get people down there. If we planned housing that would allow individuals to live in our downtown core at a reasonable cost, we increase policing on the streets, have a daily street clean up program in place, our downtown would be safe and booming.  These are all things I would do. 

Mandy Samwell: Downtown Brantford has seen significant investment, and important work is underway. But revitalization isn't just about construction. It's also about how downtown looks, feels and functions every day.

Through my work representing Ward 5, I've worked closely with downtown businesses, the BIA and community partners, supported local events, helped advance safety initiatives and worked on practical assistance for businesses affected by vandalism.

I will lead a refreshed Downtown Master Plan that builds on these investments and sets clear priorities for what comes next.

Businesses, students, post-secondary institutions, neighbourhoods, first responders and community organizations will all have a role in developing it, with regular public updates on progress.

My priorities include clean and welcoming streets, better lighting, well-maintained public spaces, safer connections, more housing, support for local businesses and more opportunities for arts, culture, entertainment and recreation.

I want a downtown that people are proud of, where businesses succeed, public spaces are welcoming and there's always something to see or do.

We've already made important investments. Now it's about building on that work, following through and making sure people see and experience the difference.

Question 7: Food Insecurity 

The City of Brantford declared a local Food Insecurity Emergency in March 2025. In September 2025, Brantford City Council approved the Food Security Community Action Plan presented by City of Brantford staff, in partnership with the Brant Food System Coalition. As Mayor, how will you help address the local food insecurity emergency, recognizing that it is a multifaceted issue? 

Ricky Willdy: Food insecurity is closely connected to housing costs, employment, transportation and the overall cost of living. I don’t believe the City can solve it through a single program.  

   I would support working with the Brant Food System Coalition, food banks, community organizations and other partners to identify service gaps and evaluate the effectiveness of existing initiatives.  

I would also look for practical ways to reduce municipal barriers to community gardens, urban agriculture and other local food initiatives where appropriate.  

Protecting farmland is another priority. I’d prefer Brantford to grow inward through redevelopment and appropriate density rather than continually expanding onto productive agricultural land.  

More broadly, keeping property taxes reasonable, encouraging job creation, improving transportation access and increasing housing supply are all ways municipal government can help address the financial pressures residents face.  

I would support reviewing the Food Security Community Action Plan’s recommendations and identifying which actions the City can realistically deliver, what they would cost and how their success would be measured.  

My approach would be to work with organizations already doing valuable work rather than automatically creating new layers of municipal bureaucracy. 

Rose Sicoli: Food insecurity is complicated because it isn't simply about access to food—it is closely connected to income, housing affordability and the overall cost of living. That's reflected in the City's Food Security Community Action Plan, which combines local action with advocacy to the provincial and federal governments on issues outside municipal jurisdiction.   

In Ottawa last month, the City of Brantford began that advocacy work by holding a delegation with Ministeries.  As Mayor, I would continue supporting that work and our community partners, while focusing on the areas where the City can make a difference, including housing affordability, employment opportunities and removing barriers to accessing services. 

Dan McCreary: Firstly, we’ll go out and get investment for Brantford. We’ll create good jobs so that anyone who wants a good job can have one.  

Secondly, we’ll bolster the services available in our community to help those who have a tough time making ends meet.  

Thirdly, we’ll quite hiking taxes. People shouldn’t have to choose between eating, heating and paying tax.

Richard Carpenter: We would continue to encourage the community gardens and add community fruit trees in locations.  I would iek to work with the food bank to get them set up to accept month donations automatically from donors of $10-$20 per month. If we could get a few thousand people to participate in this monthly donor program, the food bank would be able to increase   the food for people in the community.  We should also work to support all groups that are giving back to the community in way of meals, snacks, and general food items.  We should support all groups, not just one. 

Mandy Samwell: Food insecurity is about more than access to food. It's about whether people can afford groceries after paying for rent, transportation and other necessities. Students are facing these pressures too, and their experiences should help inform our solutions.

Food security has been a priority throughout my work in public health, as Co-Chair of the Brant Food System Coalition and on Council.

I led Brantford's declaration of a food insecurity emergency, which brought greater attention to the issue and led to a community forum involving more than 50 local representatives.

That work contributed to the Food Security Community Action Plan approved by Council in 2025.

Now we need to deliver on that plan. I will work with food providers, community organizations, Laurier, Conestoga and student groups to identify gaps, improve coordination and strengthen access to affordable, nutritious food. I also support practical initiatives such as community gardens and food-sharing programs.

But food banks and donations alone cannot solve food insecurity. We need to address the underlying affordability pressures and work with other levels of government on income and housing supports.

My commitment is to make sure our Food Security Community Action Plan leads to measurable improvements, not simply another report.