This is shaping up to be quite the election 40 candidates have registered for 8 ward seats, 2 regional council seats, and Mayor's chair. And I find myself in the interesting position of having met them all. All are passionate, and believe in Milton, and believe they can make difference.
The general issues I see cropping up are: hospital expansion, growth, and the whole notion of an "new milton, old milton." idea. The hospital expansion comes down to money of course. Some believe it's about pledging- $60 million over 30 years in order to show the province we're serious. Others believe in fundraising, and that a tax increase should be the last option. I've said before in other entries, a good thing to keep in mind is that nothing can be done about the hospital, without provincial consent... something that isn't gauranteed.
Growth I think will always be an issue here. Town Council has just approved Boyne development, the size of which will see Milton double. The new council will have to grapple with concerns dealing with building infrastrucutre, and financing it. Council will also have to deal with the continuing consequences of too much growth too soon, and finish catching the infrastructure up with the rest of subdivisions.
I know the terms of "new milton" and "old milton" are ways of geographically designating the town; ways to describe where we live, and where we work. But are they more? Could they be used to do divide people. And speaking of "old"- the matter of St. Paul's is still on the front burner. But it's doing the job getting people talking about what we kind of Milton we want. What kind of identity do we want? Do we want to keep the gorgeous downtown full of life, and restaurants along Main St? Or do we want to become another Mississauga?
There are a lot of issues for the upcoming council to decide. But before they make their decisions, we need to do our research, and vote.
