Election Wrap up

The elections are over and there going to be new people representing Halton in every Municipality. The face of our school Board has changed as well. First off a thank you to all those who put there name forward and ran for Council or the School Board. Even in defeat they brought forward ideas and fostered discussion and debate.
In Halton Hills we have lost Ward 4 Councillor John Duncan who always brought a businesslike view to Council. In his place we will have Anne Lawlor who is a long time community volunteer, a member of our Hydro Board and a business woman in her own right. She will be a great addition to our team.

Thank you for the vote of confidence. I look forward to continuing to work for you. I also want to continue to represent both Halton Hills, and Halton on the national level.

The changes at Halton Region will be dramatic; we have 2 people in Burlington who will be new and a new Mayor. In Oakville we will have a new Councillor; Milton has new wards and a new Councillor as well. All willhit the ground running and will be eager to get to work.

During the election we all heard from the public as to what they saw as the issues and the expectations they had. In Halton Hills, the citizens were concerned about the prospect of a 8 lane highway cutting through the centre of our rural area. Taxes and services are always a concern, as well as the need for new recreational facilities and parks. The impacts of growth is always an issue. This is not the complete list but a snapshot.

We listen and will take those concerns to our staff and colleagues. They will be raised at our strategic plan sessions and in our committee meetings. We will look at how to implement them and strategies for inclusion in our capital budget.

Due to the town having to purchase the MSB lands our budgets will feel the impact for a number of years. A small town like Halton Hills will have to juggle the budget for the over 1 million we had to spend to purchase it.

There were changes to both the public and catholic school board. At the public side Gillian Kutarna was elected as the sole rep for Halton Hills. She is a capable women who served as Chair for 2 years as well.
At the Catholic Board historian Mark Rowe is the new trustee. He is a retired teacher who has spent many hours as the Chair of Heritage Halton Hills and is a local author.

The MSB issue was divisive almost as much as the short sighted decision to cancel bussing to the High Schools. I have never seen so much public anger towards both school Boards and the arrogance of the staff in dealing with it.
But let’s move on. The Town will need to work with the new trustees to rebuild the relationship with both boards. The Board will need to treat us with respect and understand our limitations. We must always remember that there is only one taxpayer.

My Council colleague’s and I, have been given the sacred trust to represent you and a mandate to continue to build Halton Hills and Halton Region into the best place to live, work and play.
We have challenges ahead of us but as always we will deal with them head on. You expect nothing less and demand something more.

Vote Damnit!

“The Price of Freedom is eternal vigilance.”
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US
Freedom is the right to be wrong, not the right to do wrong
Hon John G. Diefenbaker PC, Prime Minister of Canada

All of us here in Canada guard our freedoms, our freedom of speech, our freedom of movement, our freedom to associate with others and of course our freedom of choose in what or whom we wish. Our soldiers have waged war to protect our freedoms and many sacrificed their lives and themselves for us.
One of the things that happen in a free society is elections. All of us at some point in time are asked to make our mark for one candidate or another. Whether it is locally, regionally, provincially or federally we are asked for our opinion as to who is going to assist you in building the towns, schools, Province and the Canada we all want to see. It could be an issue as close as a school closing or as abstract as trade agreements that makes us all participants.

This October 25th the Municipal elections will be held. While in some areas their may not be races for all seats. It is incumbent on all of us to make sure our voices are heard for the races that remain.
The Municipal level of government is one that is often called the “closest to the people”. It has a direct impact into your daily lives, from the moment you turn on a tap to make coffee, shower, drive to work, drop the kids off at school or, know you are protected by Police, Fire and EMS workers.

Municipalities have that impact and the people you choose to send to represent you have the opportunity to decide where a school will be built, what type, the design of the road, where the parks are, bus routes, everything right down to the speed limit by the school.

We often forgot that and can get caught up in the Provincial and Federal races as they occur. They have the flashy ads, TV debates and spend millions trying to sway a vote one way or another.

But consider this, the Region accounts for about 40% of your property tax dollar. The Town about 36% and the School Boards about 24% The total budget for all of them in Halton is over a billion dollars, each year.

Your Municipal candidates are out working to try to make sure you have the material you need to make your choice. When they stop at your door, ask them about the issues important to you. Their contact information can be found on your local municipal websites. Phone, email or try to get to an all candidates meeting to learn who has earned the right to receive your vote.
It has been said that when you don‘t vote you let someone else speak for you. On Election Day make your voice heard!