Brampton’s race for mayor became much more interesting
today as MPP Linda Jeffrey (OLP – Brampton-Springdale) resigned from cabinet
and the legislature and declared her candidacy. But Brampton’s problems will
not be simply solved by replacing the mayor. Much of the Council has been in
place for a decade and the mayor is only one vote. Therefore it is necessary
for voices expressing a different vision to emerge.
Before I moved to the Northwest Territories I had
ambitions to run for city council to offer an alternative vision of what my hometown
could be. Unfortunately the opportunity for my current job came up and so I
moved west (and a lot north). A recent article by Edward Keenan in The Grid where he outlined a platform for any Toronto candidate gave me the idea to
share what I had intended to present to voters in Wards 3 and 4. I apologize
for the brief descriptions, but many of these ideas have been discussed
previously in this blog.
1. Grow
Smart, Not Fast
In the course of 30 years the city of Brampton has more
than tripled in size to over 500,000 people. The rapid construction of suburban
neighbourhoods has lagged behind infrastructure upgrades and local services. Growth
is not being properly managed and instead it is treated like a gold rush. This
construction boom will result in a harsh bust if not managed properly. Proposed
zoning needs to be reconsidered for greater mixed-use, multi-purpose neighbourhoods
with greater densities. Future developments should use the principles of Smart
Growth/New Urbanism in their planning.
2. Work
Where You Live and Small Business Incubator
One of the reasons traffic is so bad in Brampton is that
there are fewer jobs than there are workers. Citizens have to commute out of
the city resulting in greater traffic congestion, a lower quality of life and
less connection to their home. Through a policy known as Economic Gardening city economic development should
invest resources in helping small businesses add small numbers of employees and
entrepreneurs begin their businesses in the city rather than focusing on big
commercial developments.
3. More
Accessible Government
The city should commit to clearer public notices. Items put in newspapers and on websites should not be cryptic and bland. Easy
to understand and accessible language with sharp graphics should be used to
invite the public to speak with their government. Open up city hall and make
the process more transparent and less intimidating. Allow questions to city
council to be submitted online.
As is clear, the mayor and council’s spending privileges
needs to be examined and more stringently curtailed. The public expects politicians
who are responsible. Spending should be made publicly available on the city
website. Public meetings should rotate on the schedule to offer citizens a
chance to see council in person.
4. More
and Diverse Housing
Brampton is great if you’re looking for a detached home,
but if you cannot afford it, or looking for something else the options are
limited. The city should legalize and regulate basement apartments to provide
an affordable option and allow families to start private businesses that reduce
the cost of their homes. A database should be set up to let renters know of
legal, regulated apartments where complaints and known issues can be filed.
5. Reform
City Elections
Ask the Ontario government to allow instant run-off
ballots to be used in all future city elections, as the Toronto City Council has asked. This encourages more candidates, more positive campaigns and ensures that
consensus candidates with mandates from the public win.
6. Human
and Mass Transit
Brampton cannot afford to cut service to Brampton Transit
or Züm. Service should continue to expand to meet the needs of
the city and offer an effective alternative to the car. The popularity of Züm,
along with transit experts, suggests that frequency of service is more
important than speed of service. Brampton Transit is a critical part of the
city and should reliably deliver high quality service. Improved transit reduces
traffic and links people to employment.
Safe, well-maintained bicycle lanes should exist along
all major corridors in Brampton offering a healthy form of human-scale transit
in the city. In addition neighbourhoods and new developments should work to
create walkable, pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods from now on.
7. Hurontario
LRT
The Hurontario LRT should be built as Metrolinx has
proposed with extensive public consultation. The Main Street-Hurontario
corridor is one of the most traffic heavy highways in the province. The LRT
will link residential to business, commercial, retail, entertainment and other
transportation nodes. This late in the process is not the time to object. As
Toronto has time and time again demonstrated indecision wastes precious time
and only results in a worse backlog and lower quality of life for citizens. A
tremendous business opportunity will exist for development along the LRT.
This is far from a perfect platform, but I think all told
this represents a set of ideas that if implemented would make my hometown of
Brampton, Ontario an even better place to live. I hope candidates in this fall's election stand up for these ideas and at least a couple of them win.
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