LOTS OF ISSUES TO ADDRESS

PROVINCIAL ELECTION BRINGS MANY CONCERNS TO THE FOREFRONT, WRITES RICK BONNETTE

The provincial election is well underway. We are fortunate we have good candidates from all parties.

I am sure there are lots of issues to be discussed at the door.

The proposed Highway 413 is a huge issue that affects Halton Hills, as it will cut through our community.

I am sure all the candidates will have party positions on how they would like to deal with future transportation issues, as well as tackling health care, affordable housing, education, climate change and economic recovery from COVID.

At the end of the day, do your research on where the parties stand on your issues and get out and vote.

The town has a Community Improvement Program that supports eligible businesses in Halton Hills by providing grants and loans to encourage revitalization, attract additional private sector investments, fasttrack the redevelopment of underutilized properties, and support local jobs.

Acton Optical is the latest business to receive a grant from this program. A few years back, Nancy Wilkes purchased the Baptist Church in Acton, which dates back to 1877. She has done an outstanding job transforming the church into a viable business.

I love being able to support improvements to this historic building. This grant of $12,500 not only provides assistance for a local business, but it allows the town to invest in our community for long-term beautification of our downtown areas.

For further information, visit the Invest Halton Hills website at investhaltonhills.com.

We are starting to get back to pre-pandemic days, with many events that our community volunteers had to cancel now starting to return.

Speaking of volunteers, councillors and myself will honour volunteers on Thursday, June 16 to say thank you for their contributions to making Halton Hills a caring and compassionate community. This will be held at Dominion Gardens Park from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. You must preregister at volunteer@haltonhills.ca.

Recognizing our volunteers is particularly important, given the hardships people have had to endure through the past two years of the pandemic.

Rick Bonnette is the mayor of Halton Hills. Follow him on Twitter at @Rickbonnette1 and Instagram at @rick_bonnette1.