Halton Election: Campaign Talking Points

NRU
May 14, 2014
By Leah Wong

With candidates slowly starting to register for the municipal elections in Halton Region, the main election issues are starting to surface. Topping the list is concern for the management of growth in the region and reducing the levels of congestion.

“The growth of Milton and the region as a whole is a very big issue,” said Milton Ward 1, 6, 7, 8 regional councillor candidate Kristin Collver. “The balance between suburban development, agriculture and natural areas needs to be right, with the proper consideration for all.”

Though the demands of rural and urban development differ, candidates are talking about how increased growth will affect constituents in all areas.

“We have two sides of the coin, one that respects our beautiful environment and one that sees the need for economic growth and change to build a bustling suburb,” said Burlington Ward 4 local councillor candidate Alexandra Kubrak. She stresses the importance of protecting the region’s green spaces while continuing to stimulate the economy.

Hamilton-Halton Homebuilders’ Association executive officer Mathieu Langelier said the municipalities that have run out of greenfields to build on are now faced with the challenges of how best to build up and manage new density. The association is concerned with development charges in the region, which Langelier says are among the highest in the province.

To keep up with the rate of growth, improving transportation infrastructure in the region is also important. Burlington for Accessible Transit chair Doug Brown said that transportation needs to be a higher priority both in Burlington and Halton Region. In Burlington, in particular, he says that expansion paired with cuts have resulted in poor service across much of the city. Money for transportation is going towards roads, and he thinks it should be spread between other modes of transportation including cycling and walking.

Congestion is high on the list of election issues for most candidates. Milton Ward 2 local councillor candidate Jennifer Smith says that on top of looking at improving GO Transit service, creating a greater diversity of jobs could change the need for so many people to commute.

“Most of our new business development has been in warehouses and logistics, whereas most of our new residents are office workers and professionals who have to travel to Toronto or Mississauga to work,” says Smith. “We need to start attracting the types of businesses that will let all of us work closer to home if we choose.”

Candidates are also concerned that residential development has outpaced commercial development and suggest that municipal councils haven’t been effective in planning for growth.

Moving forward, maintaining the historical integrity of the communities is also important to residents. This will be increasingly important as developers look to build onto existing developments.

Voter turnout may be a major factor in this election, especially in wards with a small population base. Wards in Halton Region range from around 5,600 people in Milton’s Ward 3 to more than 46,000 in Oakville’s Ward 4. Burlington Ward 5 councillor Paul Sharman says in the past when the mayoral race hasn’t been contested voter turnout has been much lower, and voters that are happy with the current council may be less inclined to vote. With Halton mayors facing minimal opposition, this could be an issue for many councillors in this election.