Council candidates: Gary Robinson

Introduce yourself to readers. Who are you?

My name is Gary Robinson I was born and raised in Stratford and have worked here all my life. I have been married to my wife Sarah for 48 years. We raised four sons and I am a proud grandfather of nine. I have always believed in being involved with my community. I played JR B hockey here in Stratford in 1975-1977 and refereed for the OMHA and Alliance for over 40 years. I also have umpired baseball for over 40 years. For over the past 10 years I volunteered with the Brian Sippel baseball cancer tournament …

What are the core issues you are focused on this election?

My issues with Stratford ... Taxes are too high comparing them to other cities around us. Infrastructure is moving too slow and only being done when there is an election year. Housing for seniors. Families for needs to be addressed. The homeless situation needs addressed sooner then later. 

Next year’s budget, like last year’s, will be presented and guided by the mayor. As a councillor, what will you do to keep the tax levy low?

Taxes for 2026 ... $90 million ... To my understanding the higher the housing markets the lower the taxes. This doesn't happen in Stratford and, in my opinion, Stratford pays out too much in salaries.

Housing and homelessness in Stratford continues to be a challenge. What, in your opinion, is the strategy the city should be taking in building more homes and/or improving affordability?

For the homeless why can't we do what Waterloo did on Erb Street by Costco. There is a tiny village with homes and a main building for kitchen use and bathrooms for them. The city owns the land out on pork road by the dump where they had the track for driverless cars, why can't we as a community build something there? I'm sure with all the businesses in town that they would help donate supplies and ask for volunteers to build. The high schools could help in the carpenters class. It is close to the grocery stores for them …

Are you in favour of the current council’s direction on the GTR? If not, what strategy would you be in favour of?

The past city council now have spent $28 million and haven't broke ground. We should ask for outside investors and possibly government grants, but with all the lawsuits going on now and the past not sure if that will happen. They spent $10 million on the Waterloo campus and that's all they can show on the Grand Trunk land for the last 20 years.