AI data centres, affordability, core services and the protection of natural areas are the central issues in Waterloo's 2026 mayoral race. Five candidates are challenging or defending the mayor's chair.
Core issues
What this election is actually about
AI datacentres
A regional vote on Aug. 11, 2026 rejected a proposed pause on data-centre development and passed a study and best-practices approach instead.
Affordability
Property taxes, housing etc.
Core services
Investing heavily in foundational services like fire protection, enhanced sidewalk snow clearing, and road maintenance.
Environment
Safeguarding natural heritage areas, wetlands, and woodlots from suburban development, environmental sustainability.
The incumbent
The record you are voting on
Dorothy McCabe INCUMBENT
Running for Mayor of Waterloo · in office since 2022
Raising water conservation as an ongoing need in a region pumping more groundwater than it can replace.
Key votes and spending
Council decisions that shaped the issues above
| Decision | Result | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net-zero corporate emissions plan (2023) | Waterloo City Council approved a plan to reach net-zero corporate emissions by 2050 | — | |
| Canada's largest affordable housing project (June 2026) | A collaboration with Build Now and Habitat for Humanity to build over 1,000 affordable and attainable units | 1,000+ units | |
| Federal Housing Design Catalogue partnership (July 2026) | City of Waterloo became a local partner for the federal Housing Design Catalogue, allowing pre-approved architectural designs to accelerate building timelines and encourage gentle density | — | |
| Municipalities Under Pressure endorsement (Jan 27, 2025) | The City of Waterloo endorse the "Municipalities Under Pressure – the Human and Financial Cost of Ontario's Homelessness Crisis" report and work in collaboration with AMO to advance the key findings and recommendations of this report and OBCM's Solve the Crisis Campaign | — | |
| Indigenous Initiatives, Anti-Racism, Accessibility and Equity program (Feb 13, 2023) | Approves an increase of $225,000 in ongoing 2023 funding for the Indigenous Initiatives, Anti-Racism, Accessibility and Equity Strategic Implementation Program in the CAO department | $225,000 | |
| AI data centres, regional vote (Aug. 11, 2026) | Proposed ICBL / temporary pause on data-centre development. NOT PASSED. Instead they passed the "Study / best-practices approach for data centres" | — |
The other candidates
Drawn from published platforms and public statements
Jamie Hari
Running for Mayor of Waterloo
An independent running on Revolution Party lines: housing as a human right, corporate profit out of residential real estate, and public money redirected to social safety nets.
- AI data centres
- No public stance found
- Environment
- Local innovation ecosystem
- Housing
- Housing as a human right
Jerry Jiang
Running for Mayor of Waterloo
A tech entrepreneur and late entrant, running on flexible zoning for builders and on accountability after the region's water "secrecy pacts".
- AI data centres
- No public stance found
- Environment
- No environment platform found
- Housing
- Housing for builders
Jeyas Balaskanthan
Running for Mayor of Waterloo
The Uptown Waterloo business leader, running on a clearer city identity, less red tape and a City Hall that answers residents quickly.
- AI data centres
- Against water-intensive facilities
- Environment
- Urban and commercial lens
- Housing
- Public space and belonging
Shannon Weber
Running for Mayor of Waterloo
Ran in 2022 and lost by 331 votes. Back on affordability, value for tax dollars and core city services she says are slipping.
- AI data centres
- Against water-intensive facilities
- Environment
- Green growth, protected space
- Housing
- Affordable housing first
Side by side
Pick who you want next to each other
“Unclear” means we could not find a documented position, not that none exists.
| Issue | Dorothy McCabe INC | Jamie Hari | Jerry Jiang | Jeyas Balaskanthan | Shannon Weber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI data centres | Study and regulate | No public stance found | No public stance found | Against water-intensive facilities | Against water-intensive facilities |
| Environment | Climate action as infrastructure | Local innovation ecosystem | No environment platform found | Urban and commercial lens | Green growth, protected space |
| Housing | Densification on public land | Housing as a human right | Housing for builders | Public space and belonging | Affordable housing first |
| Land use | Smart growth, no sprawl | De-commodify land | Flexible zoning for density | Cut red tape, vibrant core | Faster building, protected green space |
| Policing | Balanced public safety | Against licence-plate surveillance | No public record | Safety as economic protection | Strong policing |
| Public funds | Invest now, 27% tax rise | Money to social safety nets | No public-funds platform found | Taxpayer value, no waste | Value for tax dollars |
| Transit | Transit as equity | No transit platform found | No public stance found | More connections, late-night service | Connected, affordable transit |
| Transparency | Local democracy, against Bill 100 | Openness against digital deception | Against secrecy pacts | Less backroom culture | Residents deserve to know |
Documented position Opposes Unclear or partial
Money and donors
- Dorothy McCabe
-
Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe primarily funded her initial mayoral campaign with her own personal contribution of $12,105, alongside individual donations from local supporters, academics, and figures with liberal political backgrounds rather than real estate developers.
The RecordThe Record, money in Waterloo Region mayoral races
- Shannon Weber
- Prominent property developers, local business executives, and community members funded Shannon Weber's high-profile campaign during her run for mayor of Waterloo, Ontario. Weber was the top municipal fundraiser in the region, collecting a total of $66,591 in individual donations.
- 2026 filings
- The municipal election takes place on October 26, 2026. Financial filing deadlines and public registries of campaign contributions become accessible through the local clerk's office following the conclusion of the campaign and voting period.
Do something with this
Ask every candidate the same questions we did, then tell us what they say.
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