Ward 3 – Town Councillor Candidate Responses

BY HUNTER CULHANE

townhall_02_gp___gallery — Milton Town Hall

Scene & Herd recently sent emails to all candidates in the 2018 Milton municipal election running for Local Councillor and Regional Councillor positions.

Milton’s ward boundaries were recently redrawn. Milton now has four wards, down from eight in the 2014 municipal election. In the upcoming 2018 Milton municipal election, one Local Councillor and one Regional Councillor will be elected from each of the four wards.

Local Councillors are responsible for reviewing reports, making recommendations, and creating policies related to the Town of Milton. They serve on Milton’s Town Council.

Regional Councillors are responsible for reviewing reports, making recommendations, and creating policies related to Halton Region and the Town of Milton. They serve on Halton Regional Council as well as Milton’s Town Council.

Ward 3 is located in the southeast part of town. It is bordered by Derry Road to the north and Regional Road 25 (Ontario Street) to the west. Public Schools in Ward 3 include Tiger Jeet Singh, Hawthorne Village, Irma Coulson, and Craig Kielburger.

There are two incumbent councillors running in Ward 3. Rick Di Lorenzo is currently the Local Councillor for the old Ward 7, and Robert Duvall is currently the Local Councillor for the old Ward 1.

There are more youth living in Milton than ever before. This means that Milton will soon have thousands of new potential voters. As such, we asked the candidates for their answers to seven questions primarily relating to issues facing Milton youth.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order, regardless of incumbency. The candidates’ answers have not been edited in any way. The questions and answers are listed below:

Question 1: Do you believe our current town infrastructure (schools, libraries, community centres, sports centres, parks, trails, etc.) addresses the needs of Milton youth effectively?

Rick Di Lorenzo: NO RESPONSE.

Robert Duvall: We are always looking to do it better, but as a board chair on Conservation Halton we are excited to announce the Giants Rib Geopark. Giants Rib GeoPark System is an exciting new concept that Conservation Halton will be seeking community support for through 2018. Some quick points to mention:

It will hopefully lead to a collaborative approach between many stakeholders who own or have an interest in public use of the natural environment around the Niagara Escarpment running through Halton to promote cultural and natural heritage, recreational and learning experiences, and to enhance the natural environment.
The Giants Rib GeoPark System will follow a globally established model, supported by UNESCO to engage people and businesses in outstanding geological features, to create destinations for tourists and visitors, and to provide opportunities for local economic growth.
We hope it will allow a number of partners who have land, or an interest in land, on the Escarpment to engage the public in opportunities to be involved in the environment through existing, and potentially, new public spaces and parks.
It will capitalise on our position within a 1 hour drive of 8 million residents in the GTHA and within a short distance of the growing urban centres of Oakville, Milton and Burlington to provide for a consistent and coordinated approach to opportunities on the Escarpment.
Giants Rib Geopark System will be a stakeholder and community led initiative with a people-centric focus – it is about engaging communities in the escarpment.

As for libraries and sports centres we have the new Sherwood Community Centre being build which will be open in 2019. This new facility will house both a library and a Sports Centre right near the Niagara Escarpment on Steels and Scott. It will have state of the art equipment and services that we all can enjoy so keep your eyes open for this great new building!