LOCAL WARD 3 ISSUES
If re-elected I will continue to actively represent Ward 3 residents and seek to help resolve local and personal issues (e.g. advocating for traffic calming measures or assisting in helping to understand County By Laws and building standards). I have a track record of quickly responding and assisting by connecting residents with the right staff in the County and providing explanations and rationale behind County decision and plans.
But (my disclaimer) my experience of the past 8 years is that I cannot guarantee that the response will always address your issue to your satisfaction. I will always give you a straight answer based on facts and direct conversations. In the last term of Council I received 1-2 calls/texts/e-mails per day – approximately 2000+ in total!
What’s coming in the coming term of Council. With the exception of the Nith Peninsula development and the yet to start Sifton development at the junction of Highway 2 and Cleaver Road, we will begin to see the beginning of the end of the build out of SW Paris from a residential perspective. The focus of residential growth will shift to St George.
At the 403/Rest Acres Road junction the Provincial Ministry of Transportation will complete 2 new roundabouts which should significantly improve traffic flows.
In the lands in the NW, SW and SE quadrants of the 403/Rest Acres Road junction we will see significant additional industrial/commercial growth.
Subject to the securing of grants from higher levels of government the Brant Sports Complex will be expanded with additional changing rooms, indoor sports courts and an indoor walking track.
Upgrades to road systems in the Ball and Washington Street area are planned for later this decade.
COUNTY WIDE ISSUES
I will also focus on a number of County wide issues in the next term of Council;
- Financial planning and due diligence
- improving community health and wellbeing
- holding developers to account (in as far as we have controls)
- timely infrastructure planning and execution
- provision of affordable housing
- the revitalisation of downtown Paris
- building of a new main branch library
- advocacy for a new Brant/Brantford hospital
Financial Planning and due diligence
A key role of Council (and Councillors) is to ensure that the municipality’s financial and administrative resources are being used as efficiently as possible. I will continue to provide oversight as part of the role of Council and lobby for new or additional spending to meet community needs if appropriate.
I will actively promote the use of the Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) in our budget deliberations and in major discretionary decision making.
Improving Community Health and Wellbeing
After 8 years on the Board of Health and 10 years on the Board of PrimaCare Community FHT I would, with Council support, switch to supporting other elements of Community Health e.g. through the Paramedics Committee and through increased focus on road safety, a perennial issue in the County across urban and rural areas.
Holding Developers to account (in as far as we have controls)
I will support and promote the proposed new Community Permit Planning System which, when introduced, will replace the existing Zoning By Law, will streamline planning applications and provide stronger controls over development in the County.
Timely Infrastructure Planning and Execution
The focus of roads infrastructure development will shift to North Paris and downtown Paris. The implementation of the Downtown Paris Master Plan is in its 2nd season with a focus on the junction of William Street and GRSN. By end 2026 renovation of GRSN downtown will be completed. Work will then move to Mechanic Street, followed by Broadway and finally William Street – this is a multi year, once in a generation project. Given the geography and historic nature of our downtown there will inevitably be some traffic disruption but County staff will, as always, do their best to mitigate impacts.
Work will commence on the expansion of sewage treatment facilities in St George and Paris. These expansions are needed to meet the growth in population and anticipated residential and commercial developments in the coming years.
I will support the redevelopment of the old town hall (Bawcutt Centre) site into an additional civic and community facility . And as we grow I will support an additional Fire Station in South Paris that will replace the existing Paris #1 station at Curtis Ave and it will complement the new North Paris Station (currently under construction).
I will support a lobby of Provincial Government for assistance in providing an additional river crossing north of Paris to ease the traffic burden on downtown but I am under no illusion that this will happen quickly or even if it is warranted or affordable – a study, originally planned for 2041, should be advanced to determine justification (or not), the cost and a plan for funding for an additional bridge (note that together with the other Paris Councillors we lobbied for this study to be conducted in this term of Council but did not get the support of the rest of a council). My view is that if the province wants us to grow more quickly then they must help us with necessary infrastructure.
Provision of Affordable Housing
Through Council, Social Services Committee and BME I will continue to push for creative solutions to growing the stock of affordable housing.
County is required to fund the construction of a further 93 affordable homes to meet its obligation against the recommendations of the 2020 Mayors (County and City) Task Force on Affordable Housing. I will continue to advocate for increased focus and meeting our obligations.
The Revitalization of Downtown Paris
In 2019 Council brought forward a Paris Downtown Master Plan (add link). The first steps in updating aging infrastructure and reconstructing downtown roads (West River Street and GRSN) have been taken and there will be a multi year program to address the remaining roads (Mechanic, William and Broadway). In 2026 Council approved an update to the Downtown Paris Master Plan.
I support the zoning change to permit construction of additional parking (through a multi level parking structure) and for mixed commercial/residential development on Broadway. I believe that unless we increase the number of people living in our downtown we will not be able to guarantee the long term sustainability of existing businesses.
Building of a new Main Branch Library
the existing Paris library serves as the main branch for the entire County Library System. It is undersized for the growth in population in Paris and the County and a larger main branch is needed. As a member of the Library Board during the latter part of this term of Council I have supported the needs assessment and the site selection exercise. I hope that a new site for a future main branch library can be announced soon and , if re-elected, I will enthusiastically support the construction.
Advocacy for a new Brant/Brantford Hospital
BGH is aging, is undersized for our current and future population, and is in need of continuing high levels of maintenance and repair.
The need for a new hospital has been recognized for some time and the Brant Community Healthcare System Board of Directors has been pursuing Provincial Government support for a number of years now. A team was appointed to identify a site for the new hospital and a preferred location is expected to be announced later this year.
Functional planning is underway and both the City and County have begun to build reserves to meet the need for the local share of the building costs and outfitting costs. My expectation is that a new hospital will not be operational until 8-10 years from now.
I will continue to support the special levy introduced in 2025 to build County reserves. And I will continue to support lobbying Provincial Government to commit to fund the new hospital.