York Region chair talks priorities - Managing growth

NRU
Jan. 28, 2015
By Leah Wong

Even though he just started his new role as regional chair, Wayne Emmerson is already a veteran in the world of municipal politics in York Region.

Prior to his appointment at the region’s inaugural meeting December 11 Emmerson served as mayor of Whitchurch-Stouff ville since 1994 and before that as a local councillor.

The region has seen significant growth since Emmerson was first elected in 1988. According to the 2011 Census York’s population was 1.03 million, up 15.7 per cent since 2006. In his time as chair Emmerson is sure to see more growth as the province expects the region to surpass 1.5-million residents in 2031.

“It’s grown so fast in the last 20 years or so,” Emmerson told NRU. “I remember coming across Mulock Drive back then. There were hardly any houses and development there. Now look at it.”

Emmerson says growth will continue to be an issue moving forward.

“We’ve got transportation and transit issues. We’ve got housing issues now, more so than we did years ago,” said Emmerson.

To accommodate its growth the region has also had to grow its infrastructure, building roads and bringing water and sewer to new communities. And, to meet the needs of the growing population the region has had to take on debt.

“I would like to pay down the debt as much as we possibly can over the next four years,” said Emmerson. “I’m conscious of the dollar and how we spend our money. I just want to make sure we get the best bang for our dollar and we continue to provide great communities for people to live in.”

To stay on track over the next four years, Emmerson said council should stick to the game plan-outlined through the 2011-2015 Strategic Plan and Vision 2051 long-term strategy. He said if council wavers off course and allows more development in areas where infrastructure is not planned then it will cost the region a lot of money.

Emmerson is keeping the long-term plan in mind when it comes to governing York Region. While he already knows that he’d like to serve as chair for more than one term, in four years the selection process for the regional chair position could change entirely.

Newmarket-Aurora Liberal MPP Chris Ballard introduced a bill in November, which would make the regional chair an elected position. In December it was referred to standing committee.

Running to be chair in a general election would be akin to running for premier in one of Canada’s four Maritime provinces, of which York Region has the largest population. If Ballard’s bill becomes law, then York residents will be directly voting for the regional chair in 2018.

Emmerson isn’t sure if the regional chair position should be elected. However, he said if it becomes an elected position then more needs to be done to educate people on the role of the chair.

“I’m going to try my best over the next four years to get out and see as much as I possibly can [so I can] to tell residents what the region’s all about,” said Emmerson. He also said hewants to reach out to the public more to talk about his job.

Part of Emmerson’s job is to unite members of council from nine area municipalities and make sure they are focusing on the whole of the region, as well as the municipality they represent.

“Right now I have 20 members of council, who are all very seasoned and want to do everything they can for their municipalities,” said Emmerson. “I’ve got to bring them together and make sure they look at the bigger picture of York Region.”

Over the next year Emmerson will guide council through the decision-making progress on the strategic plan, the creation of a four-year budget plan and major public meetings in regard to the provincial review of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and Greenbelt Plan.