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Name: John Feher

What position are you running for? Mayor

What do you see as the principal opportunities and obstacles facing London’s economy over the next Council term? What should the City do to support business growth, job creation, entrepreneurship and investment, and how should it work with employers, Western University, Fanshawe College and others to attract and retain the talent London needs?

The unemployment rate is a major obstacle facing London’s economy which needs to be addressed as soon as possible. We need to make London more inviting for businesses by making the downtown core safer and cutting the red tape to make it easier for small businesses to want to open here. Youth and young professionals should playa central role in shaping London’s future. We need to give them strong reasons to stay, invest, open businesses and hire locally.

London now has a new Downtown Plan. Which elements would you prioritize and what results should Londoners expect to see during the next Council term? Please address the downtown business environment, public spaces, housing and office conversions, cultural and civic destinations, safety, transportation and implementation accountability.

I would lower taxes for small and medium businesses, simplify regulations making the process of opening and operating a business easier. I would also address the parking issues downtown, especially during special events. Affordable housing is an issue that needs to be looked at when the downtown homelessness get addressed.

London faces an urgent health and homelessness crisis. Residents, employees and businesses also have concerns about violence, property crime, public disorder and confidence in public spaces. These conditions require related but distinct responses. What actions would you support in each area, and what responsibilities should fall to the City, police, the health system, other orders of government and community partners?

All emergency responders must work in conjunction with business owners, the private sector so we can monitor the most critical areas until addiction centres and affordable housing are established.

What changes would you support to increase housing supply and affordability and create neighbourhoods with access to employment, services, transportation and public amenities?

London needs rules in place regarding time frames for empty dwellings. We also need more employment agents/social workers and training centres.

London’s cultural facilities, venues and public spaces are essential to the life of the city, and several face age, capacity or funding pressures. What cultural infrastructure should be prioritised during the next Council term, and how should the City decide where to invest?

I believe we should have more cultural centres that deal mainly with London’s history of the people and the businesses of the past.

London’s economic success depends on reliable local, regional, national and international connections. How would you improve local transit and service to major employment areas and shift workers, intercity bus and air links, and passenger rail? What should businesses and employees be able to expect in terms of frequency, reliability and access?

We must have transit available at peak times of Working hours in different parts of the city.

What changes would you make to municipal approvals, regulation, procurement and customer service to make it easier to invest, build and operate a business in London?

I’ve addressed this in earlier answers by cutting down on the red tape needed for permits required to open a small business.

London City Council approved the 2025–2035 ReconciliAction Plan in May 2025, committing the City to 155 actions over ten years. What should the next Council do to translate these commitments into a clear, properly resourced implementation plan developed with Indigenous partners? How would you advance reconciliation through economic development, procurement, planning, cultural investment and municipal services?

The city of London has to follow through with the deals made with the indigenous people.

London’s growth depends on roads, transit, water and wastewater systems, emergency services and community facilities. How would you determine which investments proceed first, pay for growth fairly and maintain competitive property taxes?

One of my main issues is the city being reactive instead of proactive. My first priority would be the city water, sewage. And re-examining the road construction throughout the city.

London City Council approved the Climate Emergency Action Plan in 2022. The Plan calls for a 55 per cent reduction in community-wide greenhouse-gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. Which elements of the Plan would you prioritise, accelerate or change during the next Council term? How would you ensure that climate action strengthens resilience, affordability and economic competitiveness for residents and businesses?

As a city, we need to find a more inexpensive way to address climate change and factory pollution.

Ontario’s strong-mayor legislation gives the Mayor of London enhanced authority in areas including the municipal budget, senior administration and matters connected to provincial priorities.
If you are a candidate for Mayor: How would you use these powers, when would you choose not to use them, and what standards of transparency and accountability would you apply?

I would use a strong mayoral powers. I know when I know the decision is good for all of London and not just for special interest groups. Everybody will have access to freedom of information and it will not take months to obtain that information. I strive to be fully transparent and held accountable for the major actions that occur in the city.

What role should arts, culture and the creative industries play in London’s economic and community development? How should the City support cultural organisations, artists, venues, festivals and creative businesses while ensuring that municipal investment produces lasting public value?

I believe everybody should have the opportunity to enjoy the theatre and the festivals around the city. Plus I believe we need to add more cultural and information centres.

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