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Naqvi has a 24-point plan if elected Halton Region's chair by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 5 | Thursday, October 23, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville's Syed Ali Naqvi has a 24-point plan for Halton if elected Halton Region chair. The Oct. 27 municipal election will see Naqvi face off against incumbent Gary Carr, fellow Oakville resident John Paulic and Greg Woodruff of Burlington. One of the issues in Naqvi's plan is unfettered growth, which isn't "happening in balance with people's aspirations and our needs," he said. Naqvi argues many politicians lack future insight and foresight planning and they continue to "harp about what they've done in the past." "Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring is doing an excellent job, but other than that, I've yet to see a futuristic document about where municipalities are going to be in 25 years, 50 years, 100 years. There's simply been no planning on that respect," said Naqvi. He said there's also a problem with gridlock, noting numerous "bottlenecks" across Halton -- Hwy. 401 through Milton, Hwy. 403, the QEW and Regional Road 25 (Bronte Road). "If we can't do it now, we cannot do it 50 years from now. Just imagine what will happen to us. There has been no united effort to resolve this," said Naqvi. "We need funds from everywhere. No one is leading it. "Everybody has to have a meeting with an agenda and to see what the common goal is. All of these common goals need to be done before these meetings are held. It has not been done." He also wants to improve the connection of public transit across Halton. He said Oakville Transit's Sheridan College route should extend to Milton to bring students to the Trafalgar Campus. "Burlington Transit needs to Syed Naqvi be linked to ours. The GO Train in Milton needs to be much better, people are complaining about that. They don't have the same services to the GO station as we have in Oakville. It's non-uniform across the board, things are not happening," said Naqvi. "If I have to go from Oakville to Acton, I have to go via Union Station in Toronto." With 26 years of experience working in senior public management positions in Canada and abroad -- and his volunteer work -- Naqvi said he knows the issues for voters and "how these different cogs in the same wheels work." "I have always worked for the government. I know the urban issues, I know the rural issues and I know the agricultural issues. Things are not hidden from me," said Naqvi, who currently works with Canada's Department of National Defence (DND). "At the end of the day, they (government) have to serve us -- the taxpayer. We need to know what they're going to do for us in the future." Naqvi noted he also has a strategy in place to address the steady rate of tax growth and wants to reduce the costs of regional government. "They say, `We haven't raised taxes,' (but) how much money are we now putting into just getting the same services that we were getting so many years ago?" asked Naqvi. The Oakville resident also wants to link public trails with walking and bike paths across the region "as much as financially feasible," he said, noting he signed the active living petition. 905-844-2949 Peter Messenger, Owner A1 Air Conditioning & Heating The world's leading manufacturer of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. new family practice clinic no appointmentS needed! INJURED? I Can Help! YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY UNLESS I GET YOU MONEY My team of experienced lawyers can help you with: · Car accidents · Slip and Falls · Disability Claims (Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, CPP) · Wrongful Dismissal OFFICES IN OAKVILLE AND TORONTO For a free consultation call: Oakville: 905.842.2022 or Toronto: 416.351.9222 email: sspadafora@slspc.ca Dr. G. S. Dhillon, MD, BHSc, CCFP Accepting New Patients & Walk-ins Open for patients from: New state of the art medical office building with on site: Sept. 15th, 2014 · X-Ray, ultrasound & diagnostic imaging, blood work lab & pharmacy · Located within 1.2 kms from new Oakville Hospital · Minutes from 407/QEW *** Free Parking for Patients *** Palermo Professional Centre Suite 260, 2nd floor 2525 Old Bronte Rd, (Dundas & Old Bronte), Oakville Dr. G. S. Dhillon Bronte Rd. 289-837-1116 www.drgsdhillon.com Dundas St. (Hwy. 5) Sam Spadafora Old Bronte Upper Middle Rd. Injury and Employment Law