Harinder Cheema

3786 Howard Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N9E 3N7
Phone: 647-274-8728 or 519-982-6324
Email: hcheemalaw@gmail.com
Website: www.cheemaward9.wixsite.com/cheemaward9

2022 Windsor Election Rose City Politics Candidate Questionnaire answers:

1. What is your prior political experience?

I have been interested and participating in the politics from my student life. I have been member of college and university student unions, member of University Teachers Association as well as member of Bank officer Association apart from working for and with political leaders at Municipal, Provincial and Federal level.

2. Why are you running?

Due to my passion for politics and desire to give something back to the society which has given me so much. As resident of Ward 9, I am aware of the various issues affecting the common residents and also know that most of those are not being addressed for a while. People from my ward by and large are disappointed and losing hope in this electoral system due to the belief that after elections nobody comes back to listen and address their issues. I am advising them not to leave the hope and look for a change for the better. I am running to restore their faith in the system and not to lose hope for ever.

3. What do you do currently for a living?

I am a lawyer practicing real estate and family law apart from providing services like Wills, Power of Attorney, Affidavits, Notarization etc.

4. What is the biggest issue affecting the ward you are running for?

Safer Neighborhood such as safer streets free from crime, safer road, safer parks and safer schools free from drugs and violence. There are many streets with ditches without any sidewalks and even without street lights. There is dire need for increased police patrol. People want more of the play grounds in the area so that their children don’t have to go distance for that.

5. What is the biggest issue affecting the city of Windsor?

Improved infrastructure, homelessness, safer neighborhoods, more jobs especially reflecting the diversity and providing basic services to all residents.

6. Are you seeking any endorsements?

Yes, I am seeking endorsements from all the residents of my ward, my friends and well wishers of this ward.

7. Have you received any endorsements?

Apart from my friends I have received special endorsements from the following well wishers:

• Sushil Jain – Chair, South Asian Political Action Comm
• Khassan F. Saka- Chair, Integrative Canadian Gp Org.
• Hilary Payne – Ward 9 Councillor (2010-to-2018)
• Paul Borrelli – Ward 10 Councillor (2014-to-2018)
• Linda Qin – Public School Board Trustee of W1,2,9
• J. Leontowicz – Windsor West Ont PC Candidate 2022
• Al Teshuba – President of CPC EDA of Windsor West
• Alex Aggarwal- Councillor Candidate Ward 9- 2018

8. Will you continue the “hold the line on taxes” policy?

Yes, I will, especially after Covid and Post-Covid financial situation.

9. Do you support the mega-hospital location?

Yes I do, it is a centralized location to all the residents of Windsor-Essex and this hospital will bring a lot of infrastructure and new development in the region. This location will benefit the entire Windsor-Essex community in general and Ward 9 residents in particular. At the same time, I am for keeping the existing health services. I will work with Transit department to arrange for increased transit services from this hospital to all the locations to make it easy for the residents accessibility.

10. Do you support strong mayor legislation?

No. I am not in support of this. The mayor should not be able to make decisions on his own. It should always be an collective effort and the whole City Council should have the Right to Say on all issues and topics.

11. Should the city use taxpayers dollars to bring jobs to the area?

Yes, Windsor must do more to get the unemployment rate down and bring more jobs to the area and for this whatever resources are available, local, provincial or federal, should be used.

12. If you are running in a ward with an incumbent who is also running, why is change necessary, and why are you the person to deliver it?

The problems faced by residents such as poor roads, unsafe streets, unsafe parks, crime, accessibility of the elected representatives are the reasons for the necessity of change and the residents of ward 9 have made up their mind to bring the change. The other reason for change is the fact that the residents, by and large, feel let down by their representative in opposing the Mega Hospital in the proposed location in ward 9. Further, the residents are not impressed from the efforts of the incumbent, being vice- chair of ERCA, in opposing the audit in to the allegations of bungling of $292 K in a phishing scam. The residents are fed up and want a change and that is why I am here. Moreover, I have no personal agenda and have no desire, like
some others, to run the next Federal elections, whenever held, and impose by-election on the residents at the cost of their tax money. I believe that I have the potential and passion to deliver with Ability, Accessibility & Advocacy

13. How many hours per week do you plan to allocate towards council business if elected?

Whatever time/hours will be required to fulfill my job while performing my task as councilor and for the satisfaction of my constituents.

14. Do you live in the ward you are running for?

Yes, I live in ward 9 and aware of the ward problems.

15. What agencies, boards, or committees do/have you served on, and in what capacity?

Not so far.

16. What person, animal or fictional character should be Windsor’s unofficial mascot?

A Bridge. Bridge signifies reducing gaps & bringing closer. I believe that a Bridge will inspire to bridge the gap between rich and poor, haves and have-nots, elite and common person, influential and underprivileged, for harmony and betterment of the city by treating all residents on the same level.