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.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
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!
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!
Friday, September 26, 2014
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.
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.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
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.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
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?
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?
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