Top 10 Reasons you must vote on Oct 27th.. All trade begins on Main Street

WOW that's a big statement!  But think about it, all trade no matter how big or small starts on Main Street or another way in our own local communities.  A widget made in Halton Hills and sold in Rosewood Ohio is all part of our community.
About 5 years ago Halton Hills passed a motion on pushing back on the By American provisions.  What happened to it?  Well over 100 other municipalities agreed and it went to FCM to be debated.  To make a long story short it passed and a motion started in Halton Hills was debated nationally, actually internationally and was partially resolved in the White House.  Imagine as a Councillor passing something and having it debated and discussed in the White House!  Still surprises me!
The Buy American provisions proposed then are coming back and once again municipalities are pushing back.  Led again by Halton Hills.  Recently the US has tried to insert Buy American provisions into federally funded infrastructure projects.
Why should municipalities push back?  Because the US is wrong!  Our economies are so intertwined a product may start int he US have some work done in Canada and travel back and forth across the border with sub components added.  Municipalities should push back as there are literally hundreds of thousands of jobs at stake. We spend a fortune attracting new companies and ensuring our businesses have a good environment to work in.
But it also speaks to the importance of advocacy.  Of municipalities working and speaking to other orders of government on our needs wants and desires.
Our municipalities receive gas tax and GST rebates which help keep our taxes down and help us invest in our communities.
All of us locally want to build our communities and have a health community, safe roads, a good business environment and engaged citizens.  By working together we can make it happen.
 

Top 10 reasons to vote on Oct 27th Number 4 Government closest to the people

Why vote in your municipal elections?  I have been trying to highlight the importance of it over the last few posts and last few years.
Local government is called "the government closest to the people" and without a doubt it is.
I use this analogy when I present at the Grade 10 Civics classes
If the Federal government stopped working when would you notice?  Unless you are travelling cross border, or serve in the military it may be weeks before you notice.
If the provincial government stopped it may be weeks unless you needed to renew a drivers licence or health card.  of course with Service Ontario you could be in line that long and given 3 different answers to the same question.
But if the local government stopped you would notice almost immediately.  The water for your morning coffee and shower is provided by your local government.  As is the police, firefighters and paramedics that keep our communities safe.
Try driving on only provincial roads.  Well the 401 is good but once you exit it you are likely on Regional or town roads.
Our health departments working with the province provides inoculations for those travelling to foreign countries.  But also it leads the inspections to make sure our restaurants and pubs are safe, our servers trained and the water is tested.
All our parks, recreational facilities and roads are planned for by the local government.
How can you be part of it?  Contact the candidates, read their material and learn what is planned in your neighbourhood.
But it all starts with the simple act of voting.  it only takes about 5 minutes to do it.
Can you not spare 5 minutes to see how your tax dollars are spent?

Top 10 reasons to vote on Oct 27th Number 5 roads, transportation

Roads, we all hate to see them under construction and we hate that when their done the traffic increase.
Here is a secret about the road in front of your house.  It is not your road.  it belongs to everyone in the community and was paid for mainly by taxes.
Planning for roads, sidewalks, cross walks and any active transportation such as bike paths, or multi use paths starts years before they are constructed.  Sometimes it is because of property acquisitions or hydro lines need to be moved. Or it could be that a environmental assessment needs to be done to make sure no environmental harm happens from the road being done.
Whenever their is road construction their is inconvenience in some way.  Once the road is done the grateful residents who live near by can sometimes see increased speed and traffic due to the road work.
It is important that you as a taxpayer follow what roads are planned to be upgraded or improved in your neighbourhood.  Whenever road work is going to be done, a flyer is usually sent out to advise of it and some sort of public open house is held so you can provide input.  We usually try to coordinate the road work with the region so we don't have to rip up new roads for water or sewer works. Yes we hate it but sometimes it is unavoidable.
It is important as your tax dollars are going to work to rebuild roads.  We use federal gas taxes to assist in the work and are grateful for the gas tax fund and the money we receive from it.
Here is another secret about the province and the roads.  We get no money to rebuild roads unless it is a special one time grant.  those are as common now as unicorn sightings.
Halton Hills about 10 years ago started a pavement management plan for local roads.  it has been hugely successful and is helping us catch up.  We are a long way to go to do so and our Infrastructure deficit here in town is about 100 million dollars. The annual budget is about 30 million.
We have a long way to go and it is important that you work with your members of Council and staff to help make sure your priority roads area a priority.  How they plan to work with the Province, Metrolinx and the federal government on transit and transportation issues.
That all starts with a vote.  Call the candidates and ask where they stand on issues that matter to you.

Top 10 reasons you MUST vote on Oct 27th number 6 planning..

Now I am the first to admit that if you put a group of planners together in a room they may emerge all on the same page singing the same song.  Sometimes I have criticized them for not seeing the forest or the trees.

But planners play an important and vital role in our communities in deciding about changing use of a building, schools, firehalls, where new parks and recreation facilities should be located to new subdivisions and how they are designed.Sometimes we end up looking at plans that may not happen for 10 years.  Some are ones that will come to fruition in a year or 2.

The growth in our communities does just not happen by happenstance or willy nilly.  It is the result of many meetings, long discussions and public consultations.  Sometimes when we are looking at an area we will have a group of dedicated citizens sit on a committee to come up with plans and designs.

All of you planning decisions have a public process from Public Information sessions, to pen houses to full public meetings.  The information we gather from theses are vital for us as elected people to decide how our communities are going to look.  All of our meetings like these are advertised and notifications sent to people who live near by.

The best way you can be involved is by engaging your local elected official.  By working with them you can help shape the future of our town.  The best way to start that is to contact the candidates, talk to them and VOTE.
It all starts with a VOTE!  VOTE and make your voice be heard.

Top 10 reasons to vote.. number 7 school boards and trustees

Take out your tax bill.  Almost 1/3 of what you pay yearly is for our schools.  Whether a public or separate school supporter you are paying a lot of money to our education system.  That does not include the amounts (which are higher) paid for by industrial and commercial tax payers.  Nor does it include provincial grants they receive.

The Trustees elected play a vital role in the education and services that OUR Children receive during their school years.  From Senior Kindergarten to Grade 12 the education the services they receive you have a say over.

Our schools are full of passionate people who want to teach and we need to make sure the trustees give them the tools to do so.

In the past we have seen bad decisions by the school board over selling school sites, transportation issues  and other items.  But is it not important for you to meet your trustee?  Have a chance to talk to them and also for them to provide the liaison between the board and you.  They will work with the school parent councils on a regular basis.

It is important that no matter which system you support in Ontario that YOU as a voter learn about the candidates running for the school boards and what they stand for.  Do you not want to have your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews receiving the best possible education to position them in our ever changing world?
Remember Oct 27th is election day here in Ontario.  VOTE!

Top 10 List of why you MUST VOTE on Oct 27th Number 8 Recreation and health

Each year when your community allocates its budget, one of the largest items that is set aside is for recreation, health and active lifestyles.  Consider the parks, trails, bike paths, Senior Centres, pools and arenas, not to mention every other aspect of the social well being spectrum.  When you consider all these you can see that your local government has a interest in your well being, whether it is is health related or your social well being.

When we go to build new parks, or arenas or any other major recreation facility, we do not do it willy nilly.  It is after much consultation, consideration and planning.  Whether is a small neighbourhood park, a large community style park or an arena, we plan in advance as to where they will be located.
But recreation is more than parks.  It is also people.  Having services in our health, social services and recreation departments geared to people of all ages is a base competency of municipalities.

We provide daycare, seniors centres, learn to swim, day camps, adult day programs.  We also teach people active lifestyles with programs to learn to skate, swim, play tennis and the list goes on.

One of the reasons Municipalities do this is unlike the other orders of government, we can respond to the needs of your own community.  We can, based on what our community needs, plan programs that they want.
Halton Hills has a young community and the need for services geared for that will be needed for a while.  We have a high percentage of arena usage which predicated our need to build the arenas we are doing now.
We have an active seniors community and our commitment to their centres is evident by the recent expansion done in Acton and our finding a solution in Georgetown.
Our trail system has expanded greatly the last few years and are a very popular way for people to get exercise, socialize and remain active.
When the candidates come to your door ask about their views on recreation, health and social services we provide.

Top 10 List of reasons to Vote on Oct 27th...Number 9 Public Safety

Your local government is responsible for public safety.  From making sure your  Police,Fire and paramedics have adequate resources to protect your community, to emergency planning and protecting your neighbours.

We all know that local government is responsible for making sure our roads and parks are safe. But some people forget the role we play in our emergency services.  

It is mandated by the Province on how we provide the services, but with Fire and Police, very little money, if any ever flows from the Province to pay for them.  They are paid for by you, the local taxpayer.The Province covers some of the Paramedics costs but not enough.  You still pay the majority.

Our Regional Police Services are governed by a Police Services Board that is independent of Council, but does have Council representatives on it. Council approves the budget that is passed by the Board and the board works closely with the Chief to set it.

All our Emergency Services work hard to keep our communities safe.  They spend countless hours promoting things you can do to make your home and neighbourhood safer.

In Halton we are part of a group that literally has the highest survival rate for people having Heart attacks.  We also work to increase the number yearly who have CPR and can be part of the chain of survival.

When you need to call the Police, Fire or Paramedics, they arrive as quickly and safely as possible.  They are ana ctive part of your community.

When you vote in a Municipal election, the Mayor and Councillors you elect work with all the groups to set the budget.  They approve master Plans that set out how the service will operate and also how it will grow.

We live in one of the Safest Regions in the Country.  We need to make sure that those we elect will keep it that way!

Remember VOTE in the upcoming Municipal elections.

Top 10 reasons to Vote on October 27 in the Municipal Elections.. Number 10

 Number 10 All aspects of your everyday life are in some way affected by your Town or Region.

Some people think that voting municipally does not matter.  Boy are they wrong!  So many parts of your day are touched by municipal government.  Every day your local Town or Region has a impact on your life.  All of the items that touch you from the moment you get up to to to bed are in some way provided by your municipality.
Consider this: When you wake up and go to make your morning coffee, the water was provided by your municipality and it is clean safe water, your well can be tested for free by the Region to make sure it is safe.  The coffee arrived on roads paid for by your taxes and cleaned and repaired by the Town. That is even before you got to a shower or drove to work.
The Police, Firefighters and paramedics who keep our community safe are paid for by your local taxes.
The local parks and facilities are planned and paid for by your taxes.
Everyday people are making their voices heard by working with their Councillors, Mayor and Town Staff to shape the future of our community.
Get out and meet the candidates running for office in your community.  Ask for their views on items of importance to you and your family.
Check out the Halton Hills website to see if your on the Voters list.  Go to http://haltonhills.ca/

Should they not hear your voice?

“Seeds Sown for a Social Services Network”

April 30^th, 2014 - News Release

Over seventy people participated in a very successful one day workshop focusing on social issues in Halton Hills.  The event was held on April 25 at St. Andrew’s United Church.  Participants included representatives from Halton Region, the Town of Halton Hills, a wide range of “not for profit” groups and organizations, as well as church groups and private citizens.

Mayor Rick Bonnette’s address illustrated how the social component is an integral part of the Integrated Community Sustainability Strategy (ICSS), which was recently adopted by Council.  Damian Szybalski, Manager of Sustainability, Town of Halton Hills gave a presentation outlining the overall framework of the ICSS, and highlighted the contents of the Social component of the Strategy. The other three parts of the Strategy are the Economy, Culture, and the Environment.

Regional Councillor Clark Somerville explained the important role that Halton Region plays in the delivery of many social services in Halton Hills, including child care subsidies, subsidized housing, employment skills, managing the Ontario Works program, services for seniors, and mental health programs.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Joey Edwardh, Executive Director of Community Development Halton, gave the audience a snapshot of the demographic and social dimensions of Halton Hills as a community of communities.  She emphasized that social services enhance the quality of life of the entire community, and the importance of neighbourhoods as the core mechanism for people to look after each other. 

Beatrice Sharkey used the evolution of   the Cultural Roundtable as gave an example of how a small group of people can build an effective network to share information, improve cooperation and partnership, and increase the effective use of resources. She emphasized how the social services sector could benefit from such a mechanism locally.

Small group discussions tackling issues in the social services sector were animated and productive, and a key outcome was strong support for the concept of creating a structured ongoing network in the social services sector. Volunteers will be following up to make this concept a reality.

Event organizers David Clayton and Nancy Heinmiller, (who were the original co-Chairs of the Social component of the ICSS) said: “Our objective was to emphasize that the social services sector is as important as the other three components of the Sustainability Strategy, and to sow the seeds for a network that would bring greater cohesion and effectiveness to the social services sector in Halton Hills. We are pleased that we went some distance in achieving these goals, and greatly appreciate the help of the team who helped organize the event, and the enthusiastic participation of those who attended”.

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Councillor Clark Somerville calls on Federal Government to fix Flaws in New Building Canada Fund

Halton Hills, On – Councillor Clark Somerville joined other members of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Board of Directors in calling on the Federal Government to fix serious gaps in the design of the New Building Canada Fund.  Those gaps could put much-needed infrastructure investments in Halton Hills at risk.

Councillor Somerville, who is also the third vice-president of FCM, issued the call in Thunder Bay, following a meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Board of Directors from March 5-8.

“Halton Hills welcomed the federal government’s investment in the New Building Canada Fund, the longest and largest infrastructure program in Canadian history,” said Councillor Somerville. “But it is critical that these gaps be addressed so that the program can meet the needs of this community over the next decade and give our residents the best value for money.”

Councillor Somerville joined other board members in calling on the Federal Government to work with local leaders to address flaws in the design of the BCF and to work to prevent similar concerns from emerging in the future by improving the quality of federal consultations with local governments.

In 2012-2013, consultations between federal and local governments led to ground-breaking federal infrastructure investments, including a commitment to a new 10-year, $14 billion Building Canada Fund (BCF), a two per cent annual index of the federal gas tax transfer, and a pledge to work with FCM on the detailed design and rollout of the plan. However, a lack of meaningful program design consultations followed and there was inadequate study and discussion of the issues.  This left important concerns with the New Building Canada Fund unaddressed and important questions unanswered.

Municipalities like Halton Hills own the vast majority of Canada’s roads, water systems, public transit and other core infrastructure, but to date they have received no clear indication that a fair share of the new BCF will be invested in vital future municipal The new BCF’s funding rules further reduce local flexibility by eliminating core infrastructure categories from eligibility, such as local roads.

 

 

“It’s not too late for the federal government to work together with us to resolve these issues,” added Mayor Rick Bonnette.  “It is our joint responsibility to do so. This community counts on its federal representatives to work with local leaders to make informed decisions that serve the people of Halton Hills and get the most out of every tax dollar.”