Caledon Countryside Alliance - Municipal Election Watch 2006

Municipal Election Watch - 2006

Replies to questions from the regional and area council candidates for Ward 3 & 4 listed in alphabetical order by last name:

Q1: The Town of Caledon recently approved population projections to grow to 108,000 by 2031. The recent growth strategy issued by the Provincial Government puts 27,000 acres of south Caledon into the unprotected “White Belt” and available for future growth. What is your plan for Caledon’s growth strategy? Do you envision Caledon of the future as a town or a city?

"Caledon needs to phase growth in order to ensure the planned evolution of our town. The preservation of our green space and sense of community are absolutely key to Caledon’s future.

Caledon will always be a Town comprised of 3 urban nodes - Bolton, Caledon East and Mayfield West as well as the rural hamlets and protected natural features such as the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Niagara Escarpment."

"My vision of Caledon is still as a town, not a city. In the future I feel Caledon is to get stronger on selective commercial and industrial growth, relieving the tax burden on Caledon's residents."

"It is important to focus on the notion that Caledon is a community of communities and its growth policies should reflect that. It is vital that Caledon remain in control of its future and not become the victim of the continuous city expansion of Peel or lose its planning control to Provincial agencies like the OMB"

"To accomplish this goal Caledon must accept a measure of continuous moderate growth and rigidly control the type of growth most suitable to its area and people."

"A community of communities” means recognising that we do indeed have different areas and different people and needs. We have to be careful not to believe or pretend that a “one size fits all” policy will work or is even desirable."

"I think the current plan that emphasises the tri-nodal approach to urbanization should continue to be the policy of the town. Caledon’s rural and small settlement policies that emphasise environmental and cultural issues over growth should continue."

"This is really decided by John Gerretsen (and the Provincial “fiberals”). Too bad Caledon will likely have to stand and watch others plan growth."