Vaughan mayor, councillors pledge to give city 'purpose'

YorkRegion.com
Dec. 2, 2014
Adam Martin-Robbins

Simone Soman kicked off the inaugural city council meeting with a rendition of Celine Dion's The Power of the Dream. But once the newly sworn-in councillors began speaking, the focus quickly shifted to the challenging reality facing Vaughan.

And the most pressing challenge, they acknowledged, is the city’s crippling traffic congestion.

“Now, more than ever, we must focus on ways to make our city move and flow,” Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua said during his inaugural address dubbed A City With Purpose. “What we all heard, loud and clear, during the election campaign is that there’s a real need to ease traffic congestion and ensure you can get where you need to go. Our vision for transit is broad and will accommodate all road users – motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.”

The majority of councillors delivered the same message to the hundreds of invited guests seated in the council chambers as well as the hundreds of residents watching the proceeding on big screens set up on the ground floor meeting room at city hall and at Terrace Banquet Centre.
For her part, Maple/Kleinburg Councillor Marilyn Iafrate pledged to continue working on efforts to ease traffic congestion and gridlock in her ward, including lobbying the Region of York to “review and address the need for a centre-turn lane” along Major Mackenzie Drive in Maple and building a new GO station at Kirby Road and Keele Street.  

Thornhill Councillor Alan Shefman, meanwhile, had this message for Transportation Minister and Vaughan MPP Steven Del Duca, who wasn’t among the handful of dignitaries in attendance.

“Mr. Minister, if you are listening, repeat after me, Yonge Street subway extension,” Shefman said.

Beyond traffic congestion, there was also a lot of talk about ensuring the Vaughan hospital, to be built on city-owned land at Jane Street and Major Mackenzie Drive, stays on track.

Councillors also pledged to keep property taxes in check while maintaining current service levels.

There was also some talk of building new parks and upgrading old ones as well as addressing population intensification.

As he did on election night, Mayor Bevilacqua pointed to the pressing need for affordable housing.

But this time he hinted that potential solutions might go beyond simply developing a policy for allowing basement apartments as mandated by the provincial government.

“Affordable housing is an issue that must be addressed and I am committed to engaging in that dialogue with our government partners and development community to expand the type of housing options that are available in Vaughan and we’re going to get started with secondary suites,” said Bevilacqua, who was introduced by 14-year-old Giuliano Todaro, who along with his family founded Giuliano’s Journey, to raise funds for pediatric cancer research at SickKids Hospital after he was diagnosed with leukemia. 

Early on in his speech, the mayor shared some kind words about former regional councillor Deb Schulte, the only incumbent knocked out of office in the October election.

“During her four years as regional councillor, Deb Schulte demonstrated a deep level of commitment and dedication to improving the quality of life here in the city and for that, Deb, I offer you my sincere gratitude,” he said. “I know that as you embark on the next chapter of your story you will continue to contribute.”

The crowd erupted into rapturous applause for Schulte, who was seated at the back of the council chamber beside another former regional councillor, Joyce Frustaglio, who now serves as a citizenship judge.

Bevilacqua also welcomed back Regional Councillor Mario Ferri, who returned to council after four years on the sidelines following his election loss in 2010.

“Mario, this (place) is a little bit different than the one you were at before,” Bevilacqua said. “You come back to a new building with a new mayor, a new council, a new governance style that is rooted in hope, optimism, cooperation, respect, transparency and accountability. I say to you, you upgraded.”

Bevilacqua pointed out councillors will, once again, sign the Vaughan Accord, a one-page document he introduced at the start of the last term that commits council to behaving ethically, providing transparent government and promoting a positive image of the city, among other things.

Nevertheless, Shefman vowed that you’ll still be able to count on city council to provide lots of excitement.

“Without a doubt, I can guarantee to you that this term will not be boring. Vaughan council is never boring,” he said.