JAN D’AILLY
Approaching municipal politics with a strong background in both the private business and public service, Jan d’Ailly is hoping to carry the Region of Waterloo forward as its next chair. A former City of Waterloo councillor for two terms between 2003 and 2010, d’Ailly says he’s seen the region through some its formative challenges over the years
The former councillor said he played a key role in bringing financial stability to the City of Waterloo in the wake of the RIM Park financial debacle. D’Ailly also lead the charge in the establishment of the Laurel Creek Headwaters Environmentally Sensitive Landscape designation, protecting the vital water moraines of Waterloo Region.
In moving from city councillor to regional chair, d’Ailly said one of his key priorities was ensuring the township’s concerns were heard and addressed at the regional government.
“The townships ... want to make sure that their voice is properly heard through their representatives at regional council, and that they don’t lose that voice,” said d’Ailly of the region’s priorities. Transportation and public transit were also priorities that needed greater funding and support, he added.
“I think the fundamental premise is that we must invest in transit. Everybody needs to be able to get around, and the townships are as important as the core in having to have adequate service,” he said, whether that was through expanded bus services, or more innovative options like subsidized ride-share services like the popular “Uber” application.
“And you have to make that investment, because people are not going to start using it until the buses are there. So we’ve got to find a way to be able to create that demand, and create that dependency on a system that is going to work.”
Affordable housing too has become a major concern for residents across the region, said d’Ailly.
“It’s a big problem. I’ve always said, the cracks are
starting to appear in our system. And one of the big cracks is certainly in the affordable housing side,” said d’Ailly. “As much more higher tech and high income jobs are coming into the core, people are starting to move out into the townships and driving up house prices, and crowding out the current residents. And that’s just not appropriate.”
The region needed to approach the problem from both sides, suggested d’Ailly, incentivising developers to build more affordable housing in the region, while also supporting residents with limited incomes.
“Whether it comes through a direct subsidy or on the income side, or whether it comes through encouraging the private sector to build more lower cost seniors’ homes,” said d’Ailly. “We certainly need to make that investment in the social infrastructure.”
Outside of politics, d’Ailly has had a career as a business executive, with an expertise in strategic planning and business development. He also notes his extensive experience living and working outside the country, including in Europe, Mexico, Taiwan and South Africa.