Response to Questions on Seniors Issues

In late September we asked EVERY candidate for Mayor of the 4 municipalities in Halton the following questions:

1. Identify what you believe are the critical issues impacting Seniors’ within Halton and your Municipality that you would address if elected. These would be issues that the Municipality and Region have the ability to impact 2. Clearly state what you would do to address those issues

Of all the candidates running for office and wanting your vote only 5 responded to our questions. Those five were Mike Krantz of Milton; Carol D’Amelio of Burlington; Gerry Marsh of Milton; Dr. Raymond Roy of Oakville and Cam Jackson of Burlington. They are listed in the order of being received. There responses are written below.

One is left to wonder if those not responding do not feel that there are any specific issues to which Seniors are concerned OR they do not feel the Senior vote is worth going after. We leave that decision as to what they consider important for getting elected up to you.

We encourage you to read the responses we did receive very carefully and weigh them as to your needs and also carefully consider what the lack of response indicates about those candidates who could not be bothered to respond.

We make up a significant portion of the voting population within the municipalities in Halton. Please consider very carefully who you vote for and who has our issues as part of their vision for your municipality. Please vote wisely and with careful deliberation but please vote.

Krantz – Milton

1. Proper health care; social activities and affordable accommadation

2. Work to improve above

Carol D’Amelio – Burlington

1. Identify what you believe are the critical issues impacting Seniors’ within Halton and your Municipality that you would address if elected. These would be issues that the Municipality and Region have the ability to impact. There’s no question that recognizing and addressing issues affecting seniors is critical to the health of our community. It’s the fastest growing segment of our population and that’s one reason I have been Council’s representative on Halton’s Elder Services Advisory Committee and Burlington’s Mayor’s Seniors’ Advisory Committee for the past four years. I can tell you that the biggest issues facing our seniors are affordable housing, community connections and transportation. We need more affordable housing in Burlington and throughout Halton Region for seniors. Many of our seniors have lived and worked here all their lives, yet some may not be able to afford to live here in their retirement years. Their ability to live in the place they call home, that is familiar, and with friends and family, is being put at risk. We can’t afford to lose their experience and wisdom in our community. Community connections are essential for social well-being throughout our lives. However, some seniors face isolation and loneliness. Many do not have the resources to participate in the activities our community has to offer or do not have the support of family members or friends. Our community was built on the freedoms that our veterans fought for in the wars, our high standard of living was based on those who contributed to our workforce for so many years…we have an obligation to reach out and provide the supports necessary to allow all our seniors a happy and healthy retirement. Transportation is another critical issue for seniors – many of whom may no longer be able to or want to drive and may be dependent on public transit for getting around. 2. Clearly state what you would do to address those issues. • Affordable Housing I am committed to speaking with each of those agencies that support affordable housing in our community. I will bring them together, listen, and identify how City Hall and the Region of Halton can best support the very valuable work that is being done to provide housing that is affordable and meets the needs of our seniors. I value the work that Habitat for Humanity does and will be working with them as well. As the Halton Community Housing Corporation Vice President, I have supported new types of housing developments such as Bonnie Place II that opened last August that offers both below market value rentals as well as current market rentals. We need to integrate different types of housing in Burlington and continue to work with developers to make it attractive for them to want to build these types of buildings. Innovative kinds of partnerships such as the Plains Road project which includes the Burlington Public Library, the Region of Halton and New Horizons Homes will see affordable and accessible housing in Aldershot and a revitalized local library branch in the neighbourhood.