Why are you here?

Since announcing my candidacy earlier this year, with the help of truly dedicated supporters, we have door-knocked the majority of our community, and much of it twice. And the journey was amazing.

In our travels we’ve not only learned what our community values, but also why people moved here from Brampton, as we did, or from Mississauga, or Etobicoke, or Woodbridge. We were all looking for something different than the place we were leaving behind. A smaller, quieter, family-friendly community – somewhere safer, greener, and more neighbourly.

Despite the fact I have lived here for 20 years, I did see some neighbourhoods of Bolton for the first time. We met a few folks who were the second generation living in their homes. We even talked to a man whose parents moved here when the population of Bolton was 800. We are fortunate to live in a town that still has, and remembers, its roots.

And while infrequently we encountered someone at a door who resented the fact that we do not have more of the “big-box store shopping, facilities, mass transit, etc” of cities like Brampton, Mississauga, and Markham, most folks gratefully accept that the scarcity of these things are a welcome trade-off for living in this wonderful place we get to call home. And that if these things were essential to our happiness we would have stayed where we were. 

Can we do better? No doubt. A small shuttle system around Bolton would improve the daily lives of our seniors, our youth and our stay-at-home moms. Our businesses, like those everywhere, need a hand making it though the recession; shop local programs that raise awareness and improve sales need to be a priority. When our local economy is strong we all benefit. And we need a primary health care facility in our community.

So what about growth? Caledon has an Official Plan, democratically arrived at, twice-endorsed, and inclusive of population forecasts for 2021 and 2031. I believe that removing the 2021 population target, leaving only the 2031 target, would cause us to face the uncontrolled growth that plagued other towns. I’m here, running as your candidate, because I believe that we need to stick to and defend this plan.

Probably the most important thing you can do tomorrow, rain or shine, is to go out and cast your vote. One that demonstrates to the world, and to your new Council in particular……..why you are here.