Platform

As a resident running for Ward 3 Councillor in Georgetown, I would be looking to work with town council to make our community safer, and enhancing our town with opportunities for community engagement and responsible/sustainable growth.

These days, "affordable housing" is the topic around dinner table conversations of many in Halton Hills. I would like to complement and enhance council's efforts in engaging with, and to look towards helping those in our community. As such, it would be a good idea to bring to the table two avenues to address this need: (1) Introduce plans for easing property taxes geared towards home-ownership, and (2) An affordable co-op housing plan for seniors, to give peace of mind in retirement, while allowing for self-ownership and equity building. I believe both of these avenues can help afford people the much needed opportunities to grow in our wonderful township.

For a safer community, I would look to work with our town and its services to help make our residential areas safer. To that end, I would work to assist in streamlining the town's efforts in re-zoning our residential streets to have 40 kmh speed limits. In that regard, I would strive to motion council to adopt a "good neighbour policy" for our local trucking companies, and to help truck drivers control their speeds in our neighbourhoods, while, at the same time, showing respect in what they do for our community. We want to reassure people that we all live in this town together, and that I'm sure we all want safer roads to raise our families, to go walking, running and cycling on, and I think this would be a positive step in the right direction.

Platform Highlights

  • Maintain low taxes
  • Establish senior Co-op Housing ownership
  • Introduce post-secondary bridging programs toward trade schools, to direct our youth to good paying jobs
  • Enhancing entertainment events for families and youth
  • Keeping residential roads safe
  • Promoting local businesses to ensure stability and prosperity
  • Open to working with local farmers to secure a more stable food supply for our community
  • Establish an emergency response plan consisting of volunteers and neighborhoods, to allow prompt effective communication, and to check-in on residents’ well-being, (i.e., ice storm, prolonged power outage, or extreme weather events, etc.).


    • Fostering our Town's Resources

    Establish senior Co-op Housing ownership - Allow seniors to capitalize on their home's equity and unlock the potential for reasonably low cost ownership, while having liquid equity available to afford more enjoyment in their golden years.

    As an example below of what we can achieve together with co-op living:


    Introduce post-secondary bridging programs toward trade schools: As we hear a lot in current days, "Trades are in demand!" As the provincial governement has stated, by the year 2025, 1-in-5 new jobs created will be in the Skilled Trades (https://www.ontario.ca/page/plan-students-catch-up). Though we have a fantastic technical school at GDHS, and facilities at CTK; however, we currently lack the ability to afford all of this town's youth to explore their full potential in the Trades. What I would like to propose is a joint venture between our town, its schools and nearby Trade Schools to offer an advantage for our youth to branch out and experience the Trade vocation that is right for them - prior to them fully committing in their chosen direction. This will allow a more fulfilling and enriching career choice moving forward into the future.

    Establish an emergency response plan: To offer support and to tackle any unforseen difficulties in our community - in the event of ice storms, prolonged power outage, extreme weather events, food shortages, and whatnot - consisting of volunteers and neighborhoods, to allow prompt effective communication, and to check-in on residents’ well-being. In recent years, there have been a number of unusual events that have presented unwanted challenges. This effort would serve to aliviate those challenges to a safe degree though information dissemination and community involvement.

    Georgetown’s residents’ voice is of the utmost importance, and that is the main focus behind our community. Georgetown has a quality 'small town' feeling, and, as such, preserving our small town values is essential to maintaining our identity: for our neighbours, our children, and our senior citizens who have grown with this town. As your Ward 3 Councillor, I will compliment, enhance, and deliver a strong voice to council on your behalf. Together we can preseve the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

    I look forward to the opportunity to work for you, and for a safer and more engaging community.

    Vote Waldo Paquete for one of your Ward 3 Councillors, and together we will move forward.