Mayor to participate in Montreal event calling for end to Buy America Act

HALTON HILLS, ON – Mayor Rick Bonnette, a leading and long-time opponent to Buy America Act, has been invited to participate in a media event in Montreal to further press for the end of this discriminatory practice.

Two news conferences will be held on January 20, the first in Montreal in the morning, and a second one in Quebec City. The event is being organized by the Partners of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (PICCA) and started as a Quebec initiative. Mayor Bonnette was invited to participate by Hellen Christodoulou of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, which is co-ordinating PICCA, who wrote, “You are considered a trendsetter by taking a stand on local procurement and I admire your vision.”

One of the key goals of PICCA is to: “actively defend on behalf of the Canadian steel industry, free and fair trade, for an open and competitive market in the procurement practices at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.”

Mayor Bonnette will be joined at the news conference by Halton Hills Regional Councillor Clark Somerville. In his role as second vice-president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Mr. Somerville has also been an advocate for ending the “Buy American” legislation. The Town’s Economic Development Officer, Doug Penrice, will also be attending.

“This Buy America Act continues to cost Canada important and vital jobs. We will not stop speaking out against this legislation until we see this practice end,” added Mayor Bonnette.

It’s now the law in Ontario to install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms

It’s now the law in Ontario to install carbon monoxide (CO)
alarms in your home if you have a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage. “If your home has a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, you must have a working CO alarm outside all sleeping areas of the home,” said Halton Hills Fire Dept. Fire Chief Brent Marshall. “For added protection, install a carbon monoxide alarm on every storey of the home according to manufacturer’s instructions.” Fuel-burning
appliances can include furnaces, hot water heaters, gas or wood fireplaces, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators, barbecues, stoves and vehicles.

Single-family homeowners and owners of residential buildings that contain no more than six suites have until April 15, 2015 to comply with the law. Owners of residential buildings with more than six suites have until October 15, 2015 to comply.  The law will be enforced by the Halton Hills Fire Department. Failure to comply with the CO alarm requirements could result in a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals or $100,000 for corporations. The Ontario Fire Code was amended October 15, 2014 to require CO alarms after the provincial government passed Bill 77 – the Hawkins Gignac Act, in December 2013. Bill 77 is named after OPP Constable Laurie Hawkins, who died, along with her husband
and two children, in her Woodstock, ON home from CO poisoning in 2008.

The Ontario Fire Code also requires that in condo and apartment buildings with a service room, CO alarms must be installed in the service room and outside all sleeping areas of all homes above, below, and beside the service room. In condo or apartment buildings that have a garage, CO alarms must be installed outside all sleeping areas of
all homes above, below, and beside the garage.

“In Ontario, more than 80% of injuries and deaths from CO occur in the home,” said Mayor Rick Bonnette. “The Chief and I want to make sure everyone in Halton Hills is safe from CO. Install CO alarms, and do everything you can to prevent CO in your home in the first place.”

Town wins environmental award

On October 22nd, at the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce 2014 Business Achievement Awards, the Town received the Environmental Excellence Award.  This award recognizes environmental conservation, green procurement, and protection of natural heritage and community work that nurtures an ethic of social responsibility.

Speaking about the Environmental Achievement Award Mayor Rick Bonnette said:  “Over the past years the Town’s policies, plans, projects and participation in environmental programs has and will continue to improve the environmental health of our community. We follow the PAREE Principle. This means actions that are practical, affordable, reasonable, educational and enforceable. I am very proud of the Town being recognized with this Award.”

The Award celebrates the Town’s contributions to environmental leadership within its corporate operations as well as within the broader community. For example, Town Council has recently approved flexible Green Development Standards to maximize the positive attributes of new development. The Town also incorporates conservation and other environmental measures into its own facilities and infrastructure projects. A few of the projects that were highlighted at the Award ceremony included the Edith Street eco-friendly parking lot in downtown Georgetown which uses permeable paving stones, and the electric vehicle charging stations at Mold-Masters SportsPlex. In addition, the Town is a partner in the implementation of the Community Sustainability Strategy that includes an overall vision for the community while considering the four ‘pillars’ of sustainability: prosperous economy, cultural vibrancy, healthy environment and social wellbeing.
More information about the Town’s leadership in sustainability is available at: www.haltonhills.ca

Mayor contacts Greater Toronto Airports Authority to review low flying planes

Mayor Rick Bonnette has called on the federal government and authorities at Pearson Airport to look into residents’ concerns regarding overhead plane noise.

“Many residents have contacted me personally to see what I can do about the low flying aircraft noise over Georgetown,” said Mayor Bonnette.  “I have followed up on these concerns on their behalf. Since airports are federally regulated, I have written to the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transportation as well as the Honourable Michael Chong, MP for Wellington-Halton Hills, of our residents’ concerns.  In addition, I have written to Aleem Kanji, Manager of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) asking them to look further into this on behalf of Georgetown residents.”

Mr. Chong’s office is also following up with the GTAA and has learned that the flights in question are departing from runway 05 at Pearson Airport.  The Mayor has asked that a review of the flight patterns and volume of planes flying in the area be reviewed to ensure that all time flight restrictions are being observed.

If you are noticing low flying aircraft, please contact the GTAA Noise Complaint Department at 416-247-7682 or federal MP, Michael Chong.


About the Town of Halton Hills
The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of approximately 60,000, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the Halton Hills Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets – Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval – and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto.  The Town is the 2013 recipient of the National Municipal Environmental Award from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators and is ranked as one of the top small communities in Canada by a national magazine.

For further information contact:
Rick Bonnette, Mayor
Council
905-873-2601, ext. 2341
Email: mayor@haltonhills.ca

Mayor meets with two Ministries at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference

Last week, Mayor Rick Bonnette met with the Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca, to discuss the GTA West Transportation Corridor Study and the impact on those residences that live in the study area.

“This study negatively impacts a large number of residents, posing considerable uncertainty, especially in consideration of the length of time envisioned for this Study.  Five years is the anticipated time it will take the Study Team to complete their findings.  This is unacceptable to the residents of Georgetown who live in the Study area,” stated Mayor Bonnette.

Mayor Bonnette has requested that the Ministry significantly reduce the area being studied so that those residents can live without this uncertainty.  In addition, he asked the Ministry to provide ongoing public information sessions for these residents affected by the Study.

Mayor Bonnette also met with Eleanor McMahon, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry to discuss the application that has been filed by James Dick Construction Ltd to establish a quarry in the Township of Guelph-Eramosa.  The proposed site is located on Highway 7, approximately 2.5 kilometres from the Town of Halton Hills.

“The critical issue for the Town of Halton Hills is the increased traffic congestion, particularly through the community of Acton.  The Town wants the Ministry to be aware of and consider our concerns as well as other important environmental and social impacts in their on-going review of this application,” said Mayor Bonnette.

This application, which was only deemed complete by the Guelph-Eramosa Township in December 2012, raises a number of complex technical issues which must be considered before a final decision is rendered.

MEXX Job Fair in Halton Hills - September 5, 2013 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm

HALTON HILLS, ON – Mexx a leading international clothing retailer will soon be operating in Halton Hills at Toronto Premium Outlets™ located in the Halton Hills Premier Gateway. Mexx will be joining other high end fashion retailers at the new retail centre which has been attracting record crowds since opening August 1, 2013. MEXX will be holding a job fair at the Gellert Community Centre September 5, 2013 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. Job applicants are encouraged to bring resumes as representatives from Mexx will be hiring for numerous positions for the new store as well as other locations in Halton.
 The Gellert Centre is located at 10241 Eighth Line (8th Line and 10 Sideroad) Halton Hills 905-877-4244 approximately 10km north of Steeles Ave. (site of Toronto Premium Outlets™). For directions please call 905-877-4244. “I would encourage all Halton Hills residents who are looking for work to attend the job fair and join the over 800 people who are now employed by the many stores at the Toronto Premium Outlets™” said Mayor Rick Bonnette.
For further information please call the Economic Development Office at 905-873-2601 x2345.

Town opens newest green space - Ainley Trail Park

HALTON HILLS, ON – The newest Glen Williams park was officially opened today, as Mayor Rick Bonnette and local councillors gathered to celebrate the completion of Ainley Trail Park. Located in the Meadows In the Glen neighbourhood off Barraclough Boulevard, the local park contains a playground with swings, glider track and play panels, a hard surface basketball court, shaded seating areas with low masonry walls and pathway connections to the nearby Credit Valley footpath. Construction commenced last November and was completed last month at a total cost of $177,000. “I’m glad to see the work of local contractors and suppliers like Gerry Inglis Stone Mason and Sheridans Nurseries involved in our park projects,” said Mayor Bonnette. “Their contribution is part of what makes these local parks work and will be enjoyed by residents for years to come.” Cambium Landscaping and Playpower Inc. are two of the other firms who contributed to the park development led by Mark Taylor, Landscape Architect for the Town. “I’m pleased with the leadership the Town has shown in the design and construction of this newest park space.” Terry Alyman, the Town’s Director of Recreation and Parks, noted that the strength of this park development was the public consultation that was undertaken. “We used a combination of open house and on-line surveys to engage the public in the park design. We are confident that the neighbourhood will be pleased with the outcome. We hope that the park appears informal and relaxed and complements the character of the area.” The 0.26ha site backs on to an open space area of existing trees and includes naturalized areas to enhance the character of the site and manage storm water runoff. Future works for the subdivision in 2014 include a stairway connection to Glen Williams Park that will complete the neighbourhood trail link. About the Town of Halton Hills The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of 58,000, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the 401-407 Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets – Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval – and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto. The Town is the 2013 recipient of the National Municipal Environmental Award from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators and is ranked as one of the Top 5 small communities in Canada by a national magazine. - 30 - For further information contact: Warren Harris Manager of Parks and Open Space Recreation and Parks 905-873-2601, ext. 2274 Email: warrenh@haltonhills.ca