HaltonHillsToday is profiling every candidate in the upcoming municipal election. Up next - candidates running in Ward 2 (rural Halton Hills, Glen Williams and Norval).
Farmer and Ward 2 candidate Geoff Maltby says he will fight for residents to receive proper public transportation, more housing for seniors and well water protection if elected. While he acknowledges that the Town has policies on these subjects, he wants the Town to ensure rural residents are not forgotten.
Being a farmer, water is a high priority on his mind. He sits on the multi-jurisdictional Water Source Protection Committee as an agricultural representative. He's calling for a well water policy that informs and protects private well owners.
"What our town currently says right now (to rural residents) is, 'it's your well, you get your own kit, get your own test, and you take care of it yourself,'" he said.
He noted he would like to see an information pamphlet developed for everyone who owns a well in town, which will help inform those who might not know where to get well water testing done.
Seniors are next on the list for Maltby, who's calling for the fast-tracking of a plan that would create more housing for the aged and lower-income seniors.
"Mobility compromised seniors are at a real loss,” he said, adding more needs to be done to build facilities that allow ease of movement and access for seniors. "Even for people with walkers, trying to get up a step can be very difficult."
Maltby feels that public transit also needs to be prioritized, not just for seniors, but residents in general. He pointed to the benefits of the recently-opened Milton Transit route along Steeles Avenue in Halton Hills, but he wishes there was also a route that more directly benefits local residents.
“It only benefits Milton and Peel. There's no benefit other than to the employment lands,” he asserted.
He proposes to create a bus route that departs from the Toronto Premium Outlets and goes to Georgetown, Acton and back. A possible partnership with Milton could be in the mix as well.
“It would benefit everybody. [Let’s use] the employment lands as the hub for this whole idea, which is the only way you can pay for it.”
Maltby, the owner of Cody’s Cows, has previously run for municipal office. As well as the Source Water Protection Committee, he also spares his time for the Halton Region Federation of Agriculture, along with the Town of Halton Hills Rural Policy and Zoning Committee.
