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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday October 15, 2003 - A 5 Region to hold Grits to promises Councillors, chair want Liberals to address issues affecting Halton By JASON MISNER SPECIA L T O TH E BEAVER The Liberal party has yet to assume power of Ontario, but Halton politicians have ready a grocery list of election promises and issues they want checked off as soon as possible. The Grits captured an over whelming 72 of 103 Ontario seats in the Oct. 2 provincial election. Among them were Kevin Flynn, a regional councillor who won the MPP seat for Oakville and Ted McMeekin, who regained his seat for the riding that includes Aldershot and parts of Hamilton. There is hope, then, in Halton that having two Liberal MPPs in the region means election promis es will be fulfilled and concerns heard. Milton Mayor Gord Krantz said he wants to see transit in Milton and elsewhere greatly improved, and that will require provincial funding. There is limit ed bus service in Milton, a rapid ly-growing municipality. At one time the Province used to pay 75 per cent of the cost of buying a bus, but it no longer pays for any bus purchases. In their election platform, the Liberals promised to send two cents of the provincial tax portion collected on gasoline to munici palities for transit. Krantz said that will prove crucial in building a proper transit or a roads system to move people around. "(The Province) needs to help provide the infrastructure, whether it be for buses or expan sion of roads," he said. Halton Chair Joyce Savoline said there is a host of issues she wants addressed, the top priority being to improve the relationship between municipalities and the Province. ul know what it's like to be dictated to by a senior level of government. My inclination is to work with people and other levels of government." · MPP-elect Kevin Flynn "I think that local and regional governments have a large part to play in a healthy, prosperous and vibrant Ontario," she said, noting the Province should consult with municipalities before it plans to do things like download services. Regionally, Savoline said a full environmental assessment of the controversial mid-peninsula highway - to run from the Niagara Escarpment in north Burlington to Fort Erie - must be undertaken. Also, she looks forward to see if the new government enacts an Ontario-wide smoking ban. A Halton-wide smoking bylaw was voted down this spring. A full review of the mid-pen and a province-wide smoking bylaw were planks in the Liberal election platform, and Flynn said he will work to see they are brought to fruition. These will be only be a few of the issues and challenges he expects to face as Halton's newest MPP. To meet them. Flynn said he wants create a "new spirit of co operation." "I know what it's like to be dictated to by a senior level of government," said Flynn, noting his 18 years of serving in local politics. "My inclination is to work with people and other lev els of government." Oakville Mayor Ann Mulvale said she is putting a lot of stock in Flynn's background as a munici pal politician and the struggles experienced in dealing with the Province. "We want them to remember the pressures they experienced as members of local councils," she said. Mulvale said she wants the Liberal government to review the Ontario Municipal Board to see if it's still serving its function. It makes decisions on development in the province. Jiff, sfaff; s h n j f - The W a lk-In . The home is the heart of life. An ever chang ing story of ourselves, our family, our friends. A welcome retreat where we protect, nurture and sustain all that is needed and loved. Let California Closets share 25 years' experi ence with you to create the finest custom storage solutions for all the areas of your home. Live the way you dream. Call today for a complimentary consultation in your home. Carr's comments may have played role at polls By Jason Misner SPECIA L T O THE BEAVER Critical comments by outgo ing MPP Gary Carr, rural affinity and heavy charity work seem to have played crucial roles in decid ing Halton Region's provincial politicians. In an interview with the Milton Canadian Champion (The Beaver's sister newspaper) Henry Jacek. a political scientist with McMaster University, thinks Liberal Kevin Flynn was helped in winning the Oakville riding by comments Carr made toward his government earlier this year. He had served the riding since 1990 but didn't seek re-election. Carr blasted the Tory govern ment for presenting its budget at a Brampton auto parts manufactur ing plant rather than in the Legislature. As Speaker of th^ House. Carr launched an investi gation to see if the budget release was illegal, and it wasn't. "I think ittmade people quite unhappy with the government" Jacek said of the impact of Carr's comments. "There's a lot of respect for his views." The Ernie Eves-led Tory party only captured 24 seats in the O ct 2 election -- a drop of nearly half of the seats it secured in 1999 when it won the election. But it was successful in keep ing seats in Halton. thanks to Ted Chudleigh and in Burlington MPP Cam Jackson, a position he has steadfastly held since 1985. Jacek said Halton is a unique riding because of its mixture of affluent, urban and rural parts. The riding's rural nature and the fact Chudleigh's an incumbent likely played a key role in staving off a Liberal victory. Jacek said. He said the Tory platform defends the agricultural interests. For example, the Tories in 1995 passed legislation that prohibits farm workers from being able to join unions. 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