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.

FCM speech

It was a great weekend at FCM and I am humbled by the support I have recieved.  Here is my speech I gave that morning to the delegates.

Good Morning Everyone, Bienevue

I am Clark Somerville, a Local and Regional Councillor for Halton Region, and I am a asking for your vote for 3^rd Vice President. 

I share your passion for strong local government.  I believe that municipalities are the true keepers of democracy in Canada as we ARE the order of government closest to the people. We listen, we work together and we respond.  But we can’t do it alone.

My Council role, like being 3^rd Vice President, requires balance. I deal with issues like poverty reduction, housing, public transit as well as the vitality and sustainability of our agricultural communities.  I deal with places that have high as well as no growth. I am someone who will meet YOU on the level.

I am willing to learn to improve myself and serve you.

We don’t know what the next 5 years will bring, but I feel I have the VISION to lead us as we move forward. I AM committed to FCM and to serving you and your communities.

Increasingly a rural /urban divide is being felt and we must remember that all of us have a tremendous amount to contribute to the agenda and WE AS AN ORGANISATION must strive to reach that,  we need to build bridges, not of steel and concrete, but of understanding between our large urban centers and our smallest rural areas. 

We need to find ways to keep OUR members engaged through  innovative ideas like  webstreamed meetings,  and pooling travel rewards programs to assist smaller communities in attending.  Let’s have the discussion.

We have made great strides with the Federal government but we can’t rest on our laurels.  We need to advance OUR municipal agenda and lay the ground work to build 22^nd century Canada.

Infrastructure means different things to different people.  Transit is not just roads but includes active transportation and public transit.  It must include our hospitals, recreational, senior and youth centres and a host of other projects we fund off our property tax base.  We need to make sure that ALL infrastructure is discussed.

We need to get aggressive on items that may be falling behind. 

We all know we need a better financial deal.

We need to enhance our partnership on trade issues as ALL trade and economic growth in Canada begins on Main Street.  We ARE the front line.

Canada is only as healthy as our cities, towns, regions and rural areas.

We must take EVERY opportunity to remind the Federal government of our needs. 

Together let’s make our voices heard.    Together, elect the candidate with vision, passion and commitment to advance your needs as your future President.  Together elect Clark Somerville as your 3^rd Vice President.

Je vous demande d’élire Clark Somerville pour le TROI-ZI-M  vice-président de la FCM.

Remember Click on Clark 

Clique Sur Clark

I ask for your vote.

Why I am running for FCM 3rd VP

I’m Clark Somerville a Local/Regional Councillor for the Town of Halton Hills and Halton Region. I’m also a candidate for 3^rd Vice President of FCM.

I have served on the Board of Directors and the Ontario Caucus of FCM for the last 4 years on various committees.  I am currently the Vice Chair of the Rural Forum and have served as the Chair of the Housing Subcommittee and Vice Chair of the Social Economic Development Committee.  I have actively participated in the annual Advocacy Days and other FCM events, such as the Sustainable Communities conference.

All of us who run for municipal government have a passion to serve our constituents, to make our communities better and to help plan and guide them into the future.  I share that passion.  We know we need to collaborate, build consensus and listen to our citizens.  We need to be willing to adapt to, and  listen and learn as new items come forward.  The one constant we know, is change.

I feel my background provides me with a unique perspective and balance to represent you as 3^rd Vice President.  My community, while on the edge of the Greater Toronto Area, is both urban and rural.  I see daily the challenges and conflicts that happen as our cities and towns grow and the pressures that it places on our rural and agricultural communities.  As Chair of the Halton Health and Social Services Committee, I see the need for affordable housing and other social programs that assist those in our communities who may be on the lowest spoke of life’s wheel. 

All of us are facing challenges with our infrastructure deficits and tightening budgets. We need to ensure that when we talk about building much needed infrastructure, that it’s not only roads and bridges but also the social infrastructure our communities need.

Over the last few years FCM has made tremendous gains with the Federal Government and we need to capitalize on this and ensure that our voices continue to be heard.  We need to listen to the concerns of our communities and act on them. 

It’s important that all FCM members are able to participate and we must explore innovative ways to engage them.

Municipalities have a role to play in the economic development and the strength of our nation.  Whether it is manufacturing, agricultural, resource based, or tourism, municipalities must be recognised for the role they play in building our nation.  All trade travels on Main Street and we should be treated as partners.

FCM is a dynamic organisation and its 3^rd Vice President should be someone who will work and help advance our agenda.  FCM needs someone who will work to bridge the rural/urban divide that is felt increasingly as Canada grows.  It needs someone with a vision and passion for municipalities.

On June 2^nd Vote Clark Somerville for 3^rd VP of FCM.

Please contact me if you have any questions or comments.  My email is clarks@haltonhills.ca or phone at 905-703-6388.  Visit clarksomerville.com

REGIONAL COUNCILLOR CLARK SOMERVILLE JOINS MUNICIPAL LEADERS FROM ACROSS CANADA TO MEET WITH FEDERAL COUNTERPARTS TO BUILD AND EXPAND PARTNERSHIP

(Halton Hills) - This past week Regional Councillor Clark Somerville joined more than a 100 other municipal leaders in Ottawa for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) annual meetings on Parliament Hill. FCM met with more than 100 Members of Parliament, including party leaders and cabinet ministers, to build practical partnership and protect core investments in Halton Hills and Halton Region as well as municipalities across Canada.
“As a local and regional Councillor as well as Halton Regions representative at FCM it is important that I present the challenges we are facing here,” said Somerville. “I am honoured to be asked by the President to sit on the Municipal Infrastructure Forum and the International Trade Working groups. Both groups will work closely with the Federal Government on these important issues. I thank Chair Carr and Mayor Bonnette for their continued support as well as the support I receive from all my Council colleagues and staff that allows me to work as a Board member with the FCM. Whether it is rural, housing, transit, policing or other issues I try to provide the Halton snapshot.”

The week’s most significant achievement was the launch of the Government of Canada’s new infrastructure planning process. The plan promises to stop the decline in our municipal infrastructure and build the roads, bridges, water and transit systems we need to support our families, businesses and economic growth.
In recent years, the federal government has worked with Halton Region and other municipalities to repair aging infrastructure, but 40 % of federal-municipal funding is set to expire by 2014. The new, long-term plan promised by the government will protect essential investments and reduce the burden on local property taxpayers in the years ahead.

The federal government laid out a clear timetable to take stock of recent investments in cities and communities, identify where investments need to be made in the future, and replace soon to expire programs with a new generation of long-term infrastructure investments.
"In the last few years, federal and municipal governments have worked more closely than ever to fight the economic crisis and rebuild Canada's aging roads, bridges, and water systems," said FCM President Berry Vrbanovic. "Together, we can tear down the silos that prevent us from serving taxpayers in the best way possible. Together, we can build a stronger, safer Canada."
Municipal leaders also received a report about FCM’s meeting this week with the Prime Minister. FCM representatives talked with the Prime Minister about how federal and municipal governments have worked together to fight the recession and how they can continue working together to keep Canada's economic foundations secure.
Municipal leaders also heard Liberal Leader Bob Rae and NDP leader Nicole Turmel discuss what their parties are doing to strengthen the economy, support communities, and protect property taxpayers from offloading by other governments.
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The Acton Quarry as a Town Park?

As we all know the Acton Quarry has been part of the business and social fabric here for over 100 yrs. From the production of crushed lime to the quarrying of rock. A piece of the Acton is in every major infrastructure project in southern Ontario.
The area north of 22 SR is to be completely mined out in about 6 to 7 yrs. Then the rehabilitation process begins. At one time this land was suggested to be a landfill site but after a very expensive legal battle that will not happen.
However, the Town has the formal option to purchase all of the rehabilitated land for 1 buck. It is about 300 hectares or 700 acres of land.

The town has a great opportunity to add significant open space at a low cost. However, we must first look at what our long term costs may be to the Town. There will be pumping required to keep water flowing to 16 mile creek and Black Creek. That maintenance costs needs to be factored in.


We also need to look at any potential liability the town may have with quarry walls about 50 feet high, a lake that is about 30 feet deep.
Also, our vision and that of the community needs to be looked at. What would the land be used for? Passive open space, fresh water fishing, bird sanctuary and naturally trails could all be accommodated.
I hope people will subjectively look at the options we have before us and give us your comments.
Opportunities like this do not come up that often for the Town so we need to do our due diligence.

How to build a better Canada

One of the amazing things that happens when you travel into “smaller town” Canada is the reception you receive from the people there. As I have in the past and present travelled across this great nation, I am always struck by our compassion and good nature.
Where else but a small Canadian City would you walk into a restaurant for breakfast and have all the patrons looking to see who were the new people entering. As they saw you not only were the shop keepers greeting you but the daily group who gather there for a coffee , breakfast and a chat all extend warm acknowledgement.
I am reminded of this today as I am in Corner Brook Newfoundland for meetings with FCM. Our March and September Board meetings move across this great land so we, as Municipal Leaders can learn the experience of our colleagues.
Corner Brook is a city of about 20,000 but is the hub on the western part of Newfoundland for government services.
Last night at an event in a matter of 20 minutes, I met people who had a niece in Georgetown, a daughter in Mississauga, family in Guelph and most amazingly someone who shopped in Acton.
When I said I was from near Brampton and narrowed it down, one man asked if I knew of the “Leather Place with the coats.” Here I was 2500 miles from home having a chat about the olde Hide House and his visit to Acton 15 years ago. He mentioned how he loved the look of the place and how they ate lunch in the restaurant. He said how they loved the jackets he and his wife bought and the time they had.
You can imagine the sense of pride and warmth I felt.
It is but one of the many nice surprises you get when you head out in Canada. You will find people say hello as you walk down the street. Cars stop in mid intersection to allow you to jay walk.
One of the things we are losing in places in Southern Ontario is our desire and drive to do some of those small town things. People shop with their heads down, their eyes not looking directly at people. Trying to avoid it almost seems is the human touch.
We would be well served to get “back to the country” and revisit small town Canada. A place where you will find 2 guys holding the doors open and each saying “go ahead”. A place where people like to hear your story and where you came from as you listen to theirs.
Everyone should, visit a place like Newfoundland, or spend a bit of time in the more rural parts of Canada. If we did we could build a better nation. Whether it is places like Paradise Newfoundland,Thompson Manitoba, Moncton NB, Weyburn Sask, Victoria BC, Oakville Manitoba or Oakville Ontario , our strength lies in our people.

Maybe we would not see the petty sniping politics we see lately in Ottawa, or Queens Park but true nation building.

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!