Council candidates: Jason Davis

Introduce yourself to readers. Who are you?

I, Jason Davis, am a 36 year old father and diesel mechanic. Due to a lack of childcare I switched to working three 14 hour shifts on weekends fixing transport trucks and farm equipment so I can be home with my son during the week. I also own and operate Stratford Comic Stop, where I sell books online and at the local toy and collectibles show. For the last several years I have also given away free comics to all kids who come by my booth, in the hopes of sharing my love of reading with future generations.

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

The core issue I have tried to focus on, in and out of every election period is working class economics. Whatever level of government we are looking at the focus needs to be on affordability, helping keep more money in the pockets of our citizens so that they can use that money to stimulate our local economy. The largest hurdles to prosperity, especially for young individuals and families today are housing and childcare. I have also focused heavily on our unhoused community as a rising tide lifts all ships, and a moral society cannot leave individuals on the street. 

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?

While the most effective long term solution to our ever increasing residential property taxes is increasing our disproportionately small industrial tax base. I believe a short term solution is implementing a zero based budget. This should be done for no more than a few years to find efficiencies. Especially within the parks and forestry budget which nearly rivals the entire social services departments municipally funded budget at 2.6 vs 3.3 million respectively. Relying on outside consultants to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year also needs to be revisited. 

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?

In my report to council following the last election I made it clear simply building more units does not lower prices. One in five new homes in Stratford are already purchased directly by investors. We need to focus on building the right kind of housing, from revisiting current spending to create year long overnight supports, to building non-market homes for purchase. Relying on the private market which already encompasses 95 per cent of all residential units in Stratford is not a viable solution. We need to stop selling public land for private development and create an affordable housing reserve fund immediately. 

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

The GTR should focus on community spaces, affordable housing and childcare expansion. I struggle with the current plan and giving millions of dollars to a private non-profit that cannot maintain capacity for the childcare spaces they already have due to paying below living wages. A new facility will not address these issues, just like it will not address being the most expensive gym membership in the city. If we are going to invest public dollars in something the goal should be to benefit the entire community – we need assurances that any hosts receiving municipal funds will pay a living wage.