Katherine Hauser for Ward 6
I want to make commitments that are realistic, responsible and achievable.
I have the benefit of already sitting at the Council table. I understand the realities of municipal budgets, provincial legislation and the limits of what municipalities can accomplish alone.
My focus is becoming very clear: affordability, responsible growth, strong core services and infrastructure, effective advocacy, and respectful collaborative leadership.
Katherine Hauser for Ward 6
I want to make commitments that are realistic, responsible and achievable.
I have the benefit of already sitting at the Council table. I understand the realities of municipal budgets, provincial legislation and the limits of what municipalities can accomplish alone.
My focus is becoming very clear: affordability, responsible growth, strong core services and infrastructure, effective advocacy, and respectful collaborative leadership.
Affordability & Responsible Spending
- Affordability has to remain at the centre of our decisions.
- I understand what an ordinary household budget looks like. Increased taxes, utilities, housing, transportation and food costs all add up.
- At the same time, I don’t believe in promising tax cuts without talking honestly about what services would be affected.
- I want to protect the services residents rely on while constantly asking: Are we getting good value for the money we’re spending?
- Fiscal responsibility and strong public services do not have to be opposing ideas.
Responsible Growth & Infrastructure
- Guelph is growing, and much of that growth is provincially mandated.
- Housing cannot be discussed in isolation.
- Growth affects our roads, water and wastewater systems, transit, parks, recreation, emergency services and schools.
- I want growth that is thoughtful, sustainable and properly supported by infrastructure.
- We need to make sure today’s decisions don’t leave future residents paying for infrastructure we failed to plan for.
Strong Communities
- I want Guelph to remain a city where students, families, seniors, renters, homeowners and businesses can all belong.
- Strong neighbourhoods and a strong downtown aren’t competing priorities. We need both.
- I believe in meeting people where they are and being present in the community.
- I don’t particularly enjoy traditional networking. When I’m invited somewhere, my instinct is always: “Can you put me to work?”
- That’s how I approach public service too.
Service isn’t about being seen. It’s about showing up.
Stronger Advocacy & Working Across Silos
- Some of Guelph’s biggest challenges cannot be solved by City Council alone.
- Housing, homelessness, healthcare pressures, education, infrastructure and affordability cross jurisdictions.
- I have experience sitting at many different tables—municipal government, the school board, the University, the Elliott, and labour.
- That has given me a unique perspective on how interconnected these systems really are.
- Guelph needs strong relationships with the provincial and federal governments and with our community institutions.
- We need to stop operating in silos and start having meaningful conversations across those tables.
- I want to use the relationships and experience I’ve built to help make that happen.
What Makes Me Different?
I don’t think residents need another politician promising everything during an election.
I believe they need representatives who:
- Show up.
- Do their homework.
- Listen.
- Ask questions.
- Stay accessible.
- Work with people they disagree with.
- Understand the responsibility of spending public money.
- Remain accountable after the election is over.
- Be open minded to different opinions and lenses.
I’m reluctant to make one big, flashy campaign promise.
Instead, my commitment is to be:
Prepared. Present. Accessible. Agile. Responsible. Respectful.
And willing to work with anyone who genuinely wants to make Guelph better.
The Heart of My Campaign
Service isn’t about being seen. It’s about showing up.
Progress isn’t made through division. It’s made by working together.
Elect Respect.
And after everything I’ve learned and all the experience I’ve built:
I’m just getting started.
Elect Respect
This is more than a campaign slogan for me.
- I believe disagreement is healthy.
- I don’t expect 13 members of Council to agree.
- Municipal government isn’t simply left versus right.
- We are 13 people sitting around a horseshoe who have to find ways to move an entire city forward.
- We can challenge ideas without attacking people.
- We can disagree strongly and still treat one another with dignity.
- Respect doesn’t mean avoiding difficult conversations. It means making those conversations possible.
Progress isn’t made through division. It’s made by working together.
Want to help Katherine continue to represent Ward 6?
Campaigns take a lot of effort and every little bit helps. You can sign up to:
- Canvass at the door
- Deliver flyers at homes and apartments
- Deliver lawn signs
- Organize and call people
- or Donate to help fund the campaign!