Whitchurch-Stouffville mayoral race: NEW LEADERSHIP COMING

NRU
July 23, 2014
Leah Wong

Whitchurch-Stouff ville mayor Wayne Emerson is the only mayor in York Region to announce he will not be seeking reelection this fall. Emerson has his eyes on the regional chair’s job, as Bill Fisch is retiring later this year.

Emerson’s departure makes way for new leadership in the town and candidates are lining up to replace him. Currently there are five registered mayoralty candidates, all with a range of ideas and past experience. In the running are farmer and business owner Justin Altmann, Ward 2 councillor Phil Bannon, Ward 5 councillor Richard Bartley, Tyndale University College & Seminary acting dean Arnold Neufeldt-Fast and realtor Willie Reodica.

The incoming council will be responsible for managing the influx of growth coming to the town. According to the 2011 census Whitchurch-Stouff ville is the third fastest growing community in Canada, with a population growth of 54.3 per cent over five years. Its population is expected to reach 60,600 in 2031, up from around 37,600 in 2011.

“This is a time like no other in Stouffville where we need very, very strong leadership,” Bannon told NRU. “We need someone with experience and business experience and the knowledge of the town to step into [the mayor’s] shoes.”

Bannon has served on council since 2003 and Bartley since 2006. Both candidates said their experience as councillors would help them if elected mayor. With the two councillors running for mayor, and two others stepping down, it looks like the majority of Whitchurch-Stouff ville councillors will be new come November.

The candidates without council experience are looking to convince voters that the town needs to take a new direction to manage its growth.

“There’s need for creative, fresh thinking in our town,” Neufeldt-Fast told NRU.

One of Neufeldt-Fast’s ideas is to curb urban sprawl and maintain the compact feel of the town by increasing density in the town.

“I think the era of sprawl has come to an end,” said Neufeldt-Fast. “We can’t afford to do that. The land is not endless and we’ve realized we’re in an era of climate extremes.”

When Bartley was elected eight years ago he said Whitchurch-Stouff ville was growing in all directions. While the town has gotten better control of its development, he said more can still be done. Neufeldt-Fast agrees more could be done, as he feels the current council has been guided by an urban sprawl vision. He said a new vision is needed.

“I’m convinced Stouff ville, the way that it has grown to this point has the real possibility to be Ontario’s most walkable, bikeable small town,” said Neufeldt-Fast. “We are late at this growth, and we’re still relatively compact.”

One of the ways of achieving this will be to ensure that when roads are being widened bike lanes are added. Making biking feel safer could get more people out on their bikes, including seniors who no longer have their licenses, said Neufeldt-Fast.

Ensuring the needs of the town’s seniors are met is another issue for many of the candidates.

“Our seniors have invested into this community for a long time,” Altmann told NRU. “We don’t have a proper or adequate seniors’ centre that represents [this] demographic.”

But, seniors aren’t the only age group that needs more.

“Most of our young adult population has to leave the town for [entertainment],” said Altmann. “We’d like to invite more activity, more amenities into town for the young, the old and the adults.”

Bannon said many of the town’s new residents want to see more programming targeted at children.

“We have to invest in infrastructure, parks, recreational facilities, schools and making sure we’re providing the basics for people so they can stay in town,” said Bannon.

This includes generating more employment opportunities so people can work in town, and providing amenities and services so they will also play in town. The town also needs to create transit linkages so people can get around town without a car.

“I’d like to see [improved] transit and more connectivity,” said Bannon. “We’ve got downtown transit but we don’t have transit that goes out into the outer areas and deals with rural communities.”

As Whitchurch-Stouff ville is on the Oak Ridges Moraine one of the issues facing council will be the province’s 2015 review of the Greenbelt Plan. One of Premier Kathleen Wynne’s election promises was to expand the Greenbelt, something the province is sure to be consulting municipalities about during the review.

In Whitchurch-Stouff ville there are mixed feelings about the Greenbelt.

“I want to make sure that [council] understands the severity of the Greenbelt and the importance of what it offers to the rest of the community,” said Altmann. During the review of the Greenbelt he said it’s important to make sure the town is not developing on prime agricultural lands or environmentally sensitive areas.

Protecting the Greenbelt is about finding the fi ne line between development and environmental protection says Altmann.

“Agriculture is important to me. There are limited lands like this land. It’s the best land you can get in Canada,” he said.

Reodica said some of the Greenbelt lands are restricted to the detriment of the property owners, who are unable to develop on their land. He said the designation of land is confusing and would like to introduce new by-laws to clarify the current zoning.

Bartley agrees the province needs to review the Greenbelt Act. While currently he’s not in favour of increasing the boundaries, he said he will need to hear what the experts have to say before he forms his final opinion.

“We have to preserve our green spaces as much as we can,” said Bartley. “Once these farmer’s fields are gone, they’re gone.”