Oakville North-Burlington - Improving resiliency

NRU
Sept. 9, 2015
By Leah Wong

For residents in Burlington and Oakville, resiliency is a very real concern as they worry about the environmental and economic challenges the country is facing.

Environmental resiliency is a priority for many residents following extreme weather events in 2014, including an August storm in which thousands of Burlington residents experienced flooding. With Canada in a technical recession and more people looking for work the economy is also a priority.

With no incumbent in the new riding of Oakville North-Burlington, candidates are working hard to convince residents that their party has the best plan for the country. Candidates in Oakville North-Burlington are COPE Ontario director Janice Best (NDP), Oakville councillor Pam Damoff (Liberal), educator Adnan Shahbaz (Green) and former Save the Children CEO and president Effie Triantafilopoulos (Conservative).

Damoff , who has served as a councillor since 2010, told NRU she decided to run federally because of the current government’s lack of leadership on the environment and climate change. As a councillor she said she’s realized the importance of partnerships among the levels of government when it comes to major issues such as the environment.

As most parties whip votes Shahbaz told NRU the role of an individual MP has become almost irrelevant, which is one of the reasons he decided to run. As the Green Party is an advocate for free votes, he said if elected he would answer to people in his riding before his party. Shahbaz also said previous government has not done enough in regards to sustainability.

“[The government] has been very reactive without foresight on sustainability and innovation,” said Shahbaz. “Canada has the opportunity to be a leader in the new green economy.”

Shahbaz and the other candidates have different opinions on how best to move Canada’s economy forward.

To kick start the economy Best said the NDP will lower taxes for small businesses and provide tax incentives for the manufacturing industry. She also supports a plan for a $15 minimum wage for workers in federally regulated industries.

“It would create more than 100,000 better paid jobs for Canadians,” said Best.

Given that the majority of Canadians live in urban areas, Shahbaz said there is a need to increase funding for municipalities.

The economy is also a concern for Triantafilopoulos. She says on her website that she wants to promote Oakville North- Burlington as a location for manufacturers and exporters. She also wants an increase in local jobs to reduce the need for residents to commute outside of Halton Region.

Another issue that impacts municipalities such as Burlington and Oakville is infrastructure. With municipalities facing budget challenges and growing infrastructure needs, many are looking to the federal government for support.

Damoff said the Liberals’ infrastructure funding promises will change how the federal government invests in projects.

“Funding would flow directly to municipalities for infrastructure and transit investments,” said Damoff. From her experience as a councillor, she’s learned the challenges of municipalities needing to apply for funding for projects that are shovel-ready.

Given that the majority of Canadians live in urban areas, Shahbaz said there is a need to increase funding for municipalities. He said more of the gas tax needs to go to municipalities and the federal government needs to bring municipal leaders to the table to talk about infrastructure priorities. The Green Party is proposing to bring together municipal, federal, provincial and First Nation leaders to work collaboratively.

With many residents facing financial challenges there are also concerns about housing affordability.

The NDP plans to provide incentives for the construction of 10,000 new affordable market rental housing units in the fiscal year 2016-2017. The party has also committed to maintaining and reinvesting in federal housing programs.