IN WITH THE NEW: Wayne Emerson takes York Region's helm

YorkRegion.com
Dec. 27, 2014
Lisa Queen

York Region residents are ushering in a new political era under the leadership of new regional chairperson Wayne Emmerson.

With the prospect of a private member’s bill being passed in time for the regional chairperson to be elected in 2018, voters will want to keep tabs on Emmerson to ensure he provides leadership on a number of key priorities, including wrestling down the region’s $2-billion debt, tackling transportation and transit woes and addressing the needs of the region’s vulnerable.

Community leaders have outlined what they want to see in the region’s new chairperson.

 “There are several prevailing themes and a plethora of ancillary matters. None are more or less important than the others,” York Region Media Group publisher Ian Proudfoot said.

“Issues confronting the region range from housing, transit, growth, senior, youth and newcomer services to poverty, homelessness and infrastructure,” Proudfoot added.

Emmerson needs to provide direction on a number of important files over the next four years, community leaders agreed.

 “The major opportunity for our new chairperson and council is to manage all aspects of our growth, from housing affordability to transit to social services and, thereby, ensure York Region maintains an envied quality of life for all its residents,” United Way York Region CEO Daniele Zanotti said.

“I would suggest there is, at the core, only one essential quality for our incoming chairperson – to be a selfless, relentless and innovative collaborator.”

From Markham Board of Trade CEO Richard Cunningham, CHATS (Community and Home Assistance to Seniors) development director Tim Jones and Seneca College board chairperson and former public school board education director Bill Hogarth to Catholic school board chairperson Elizabeth Crowe, Mackenzie Health president Altaf Stationwala and Markham Stouffville Hospital president Janet Beed, the community leaders are looking to Emmerson to ensure priorities such as housing, transit, youth and seniors’ issues, health care and community services, growth management and infrastructure remain top priorities at the region.

“This person should be a facilitator, a listener and a big picture thinker,” Beed said.

“He needs to be someone who understands what the region is today, where it’s going and what it will be in the future.”