Q: Climate change is the most significant problem that we encounter, what measures can the town of Milton employ to help combat climate change?

A: To reduce the Town’s carbon footprint, a key component of mankind’s impact on global air quality and temperature, as technologies evolve to the point where they can economically and technically support large commercial applications, the Town of Milton must consider electric vehicle deployment as well as use of solar and wind power to augment current electrical use. Further, new building construction should consider greater use of recycled materials, high R content materials and environmental management and control systems that minimize power usage, where economically and technically feasible. Public transit must be encouraged as ridership builds and steps must be taken to build ridership. The Town also needs to introduce public spaces recycling in all of its facilities, whether offices, recreational facilities, parks or streets, to collect recyclable aluminum, glass, paper, plastic and organics.

Q: One use plastic is a major pollution issue, as well as a killer of wildlife, what measures can Milton employ to battle this pollution problem?

A: Today, about 50 percent of the recyclable PET plastic used by Canadians is recycled. While that is high relative to other plastics and other materials deployed in food, beverage, consumer goods and construction materials packaging, it is still unsatisfactory. Construction materials represent about 50 percent of the volume of all materials landfilled today, making them the most significant pollution issue faced by municipalities and industry. These materials have the greatest impact on wildlife and all life. However, I believe the establishment of a public spaces recycling program in Milton would greatly reduce plastics pollution as well as the challenges associated with aluminum, glass, paper and organics. In 2009, Manitoba recycled about 40 percent of its beverage containers. In 2017, that figure passed the 70 percent recycling mark through the deployment of public spaces recycling and intense public education. The Manitoba program is the most cost-effective and successful recycling program in the world and has, in the process, rekindled public enthusiasm in that province for more actively participating in its Blue Box Program. By comparison, the Ontario Blue Box Program has been stuck in idle at a less than 50 percent recycling rate for more than a decade. Ontario needs public spaces recycling. I led a successful pilot program in Sarnia in 2009, and Erin, Puslinch and Toronto in 2010 but was unsuccessful in convincing former Environment Ministers Jim Bradley and Glenn Murray of its value as a province-wide program.

Q: How can Milton transform its energy consumption from dirty energy (gas, oil and natural gas) to renewable energy?

A: As technologies evolve to the point where they can economically and technically support large commercial applications, the Town of Milton must consider electric vehicle deployment as well as use of solar and wind power to augment current electrical use. In Ontario, most of the power used for commercial and residential applications is generated by nuclear power rather than coal, gas, natural gas and oil. Further, new building construction should consider greater use of recycled materials, high R content materials and environmental management and control systems that minimize power usage, where economically and technically feasible. It’s not enough to just move from one power generation source to another. We also have to reduce our use of all power generation sources, where economically and technically feasible.

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

A: I believe the current Town of Milton matrix of athletic, recreational and social activity-based infrastructure meets the requirements of many youth. However, I am not convinced that it meets the needs of most young people in our community today. That’s why I called for a Core Services Review. It will engage Town staff and all Miltonians, including our youth, in a discussion, and later, a decision about the provision of infrastructure and services that are most commonly desired affordably and sustainably, moving forward.

Q: As a Town Councillor, what specifically will you do in your ward to make youth feel a greater sense of belonging within the fabric of Milton?

A: I would like to see the establishment of a one-stop guide on the Town’s website that lists athletic, recreational and social activity-based services for young Miltonians, volunteer and job opportunities for them in our community and assistance they can seek out when they are in need, for whatever reason. This guide would include Town services as well as youth-oriented services provided by private- and non-profit-sector organizations in the community, including the local bowling alley, cinema, swimming academy, etc. The biggest challenge we face today is poor communications between the Town and its citizens. Good communications will go a long way towards young people having a greater sense of belonging in the community as it grows and as they age, regardless of their individual needs.

Q: Most Milton youth find themselves having to travel outside of town for a satisfactory shopping experience. Given that Milton continues to have only one (small) shopping mall within its boundaries despite being a town of over 110,000 residents, do you have any plans to incorporate something ambitious (e.g., a new shopping mall that is more youth-oriented and easily accessible) into any Town Plan or study?

A: I am in agreement that Bentall-Kennedy has done a generally poor job of attracting and retaining a range of retailers, including those that appeal to young people, at Milton Mall. I was a member of Milton Council between 1991 and 2006 and was part of the Official Plan of 1997 and Retail Study discussion and decision that created a Central Business District where Milton Mall could thrive. As the community grew, Milton Mall ownership failed to take advantage of the planning opportunity it was given. As other retail nodes developed across the community, Milton Mall also failed to deploy the geographical competitive advantage it enjoys, that being in the centre of the community. However, to be fair to Bentall-Kennedy and other national retail property owners, online retailing has changed bricks-and-mortar retailing forever, with global competitors emerging like Alibaba, Amazon, eBay and Wayfair, for example. Despite my criticism of Milton Mall, if elected, I am prepared to continue to help it and all other retailers in our community become more competitive through a number of initiatives, including the establishment of a one-stop online guide on the Milton Chamber of Commerce and Milton Downtown Business Improvement Area websites to help all Miltonians, including youth, know of all of the local shopping and services choices in our community. As part of the Core Services Review I am calling for, if elected, an updated Retail Study will be requested that determines what additional retail presence is needed in our community, moving forward, including mall, big box, plaza, node or street-level options.