Coming To Terms: Focusing York election issues

NRU
April 2, 2014
By Sarah Ratchford

Regional chair Bill Fisch is calling it quits, and only four of the region’s mayors have registered to run for their jobs again. New faces around the regional council table are inevitable.

East Gwillimbury mayor Virginia Hackson, Newmarket mayor Tony Van Bynen, Aurora mayor Geoff rey Dawe, and King mayor Steve Pellegrini are all in the running to get their jobs back.

Georgina mayor Robert Grossi’s office says the mayor plans to run again, but hasn’t yet registered, and Vaughan mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua says, if he decides to run again, he will announce in September.

While some mayors have not yet declared their intentions, Fisch’s departure presents the potential for a significant turnover in leadership, and the development industry, auto advocacy group and a prominent environmental group know where they want new leaders to turn their attention.

Topping the list is transit, streamlining the development approval process, managing intensification and preserving green space.

BILD York Chapter chair Michael Pozzebon says the building and development industry is looking forward to opportunities that will be afforded by the region’s growth. But he says changes need to be made in order to make that work cohesively.

“We must work collaboratively and with integrity to streamline the development approval process and eliminate red tape. This will assist in reducing the unnecessary delays which result in higher prices of new homes for homebuyers,” he tells NRU via email.

He said housing affordability is important, but to create communities in which people can afford to purchase, municipalities and the industry need to work together on implementing provincial policy, “while enhancing transparency and accountability.”

Transparency and accountability are also top of mind for Canadian Automobile Association South Central Ontario government relations specialist Caroline Grech.

“Accountability and transparency always seem to be an issue, no matter which municipality you go to. Especially with big ticket projects,” she tells NRU.

“People want to know how their taxes are being spent.”

She says with the continued growth and intensification of York Region communities, mayoral candidates will have to find a way to keep the public informed on how their money is being spent for large-scale developments and projects. “Sometimes residents are so busy between commuting and having families, they oft en don’t see [developments in largescale projects] until they’re at council.”

Grech goes on to address the elephant in the room. Transit is the overarching issue among GTA communities. Grech says ensuring that communities have all-day GO Transit service is important, as well as access to rapid transit and an interconnected transit network.

As transit infrastructure and other developments are constructed, though, Grech says it will be important to balance those with the protection of green space.

“People want to ensure that green space and the quality of life is preserved while the municipalities grow.”

Save The Oak Ridges Moraine Coalition senior campaigner Debbie Gordon agrees. She says she’d like York leaders to publically support the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Greenbelt Plan.

“We really, truly believe the region has got to be a place to work, play and live,” she tells NRU. She says in order for that to happen, the environment has to have as much value for candidates as the economy. She said she’d like to see mayors refuse to accept contributions from developers or contractors. Gordon stressed that her organization is not against development, but says it’s a conflict that could ultimately harm the environment at the expense of the built environment.