5| O akville B eaver | T hursday,O ctober 11,2018 insidehalton.com For a Free consultation call oakville: 905.842.2022 ToronTo: 416.644.3999 Denied Disabled Benefits? I canhelp. My teamof experienced lawyers can help youwith: •Disability Claims Short-TermDisability, long-TermDisability, CPPShort-TermDisability, long-TermDisability, CPP •Car accidents •Slip and Falls •Wrongful Dismissal Injured? injurY and emploYment law I don't get paid unless I getYoumoneY. oFFiCeS in oakville and ToronTo eMail: sspadafora@slspc.ca Mayoral candidate Julia Han- na has put forward a vision that the Glen Abbey Golf Course could become the Central Park of Oakville. Hanna asked Oakville resi- dents to consider the possibility in a press release issued Oct. 1. She emphasized that in her vision the entire park is pre- served as public green space as opposed to a private golf course. "We've been told that the legal route is the only route and I don't believe that is true. We haven't had a discussion as a community about all the options that could be available for preserving all of Glen Abbey's greenspaces," said Hanna. "I've talked to a lot of people and a lot of them have never been there because it is a private golf course. The response I'm getting is they would love to see it open for everyone."for everyone."f The Town of Oakville has been locked in a legal battle with Glen Abbey owner ClubLink ev- er since Oakville council reject- ed the organization's proposal to build 3,222 residential units at the site, including nine apart- ment buildings between nine and 12 storeys. The company also wants to build 69,000 square feet of com- mercial/retail space and 107,000 square feet of office space at the site. ClubLink officials have point- ed out 50.11 hectares (54 per cent of the total site) would be made up of publicly accessible green space. Oakville council has argued the development proposal is not in keeping with the area's zoning or Oakville's Official Plan. Hanna said there is a dire need in Oakville for natural green space where members of the community can gather, en- gage and enjoy. "Just visualize what this could be as the Central Park of Oakville where you would have community events, art events, winter and summer events," said Hanna. She noted that if elected she would open consultation and di- alogue to look into this possibil- ity and work in collaboration with others on this front. "There are all sorts of possi- bilities. We just need to explore them," said Hanna. "If the only option is the legal one, that really does limit our options. We are not saying "stop that." We're just saying we need to have visionary ideas that have real possibilities." It is unclear what if any im- pact town council's unanimous Dec. 20, 2017 vote to designate Glen Abbey Golf Course a prop- erty of cultural heritage value or interest under the Ontario Heri- tage Act would have on Hanna's vision. Hanna's rivals in the mayoral race slammed her idea. Mayoral candidate John McLaughlin took to Twitter and wrote that Hanna's position "seems silly." "If the courts decide in favour of the owners of Glen Abbey then you can't save a thing no matter what you believe," he wrote. McLaughlin argued no candi- date can promise to save Glen Abbey as the matter is before the courts, which will ultimately de- cide the fate of the golf course. He labelled any such promis- es as pandering for votes. Oakville's incumbent mayor- al candidate Rob Burton ques- tioned when Hanna would re- veal how she would buy and pay for the property so it could befor the property so it could bef turned into a park. He further asked how she would undesignate Glen Abbey MAYORAL CANDIDATE CHAMPIONS VISION OF GLEN ABBEY AS OAKVILLE CENTRAL PARK Glen Abbey Golf Course Metroland file photo DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com MUNICIPAL ELECTION JULIA HANNA SAYS IT IS AN OPTION WORTH INVESTIGATING See MAYORAL, page 34 THE ISSUE: THE FUTURE OF GLEN ABBEY LOCAL IMPACT: GOLF COURSE COULD BE USED AS PUBLIC GREEN SPACE, PROPOSES CANDIDATE Free Light BuLBs For LiFe* We are the region's Best Lighting store - Latest Lighting designs at excLusive pricing! EntirE storE on salE Plus take an Extra 20% off* INSTALLATION SALE! WE GIVE MONEY BACK TO PAY FOR YOUR INSTALLATION* Shop online www.conceptlighting.ca CONCEPT LIGHTING MiSSiSSauga 5980 McLaughLin Rd. #3 905.712.4548 Heartland Centre - next to loblaws Burlington 1515 n. SeRvice Road 905.331.7444 between GuelpH line & brant street oakville 243 SpeeRS Rd. 905.849.lite(5483) *See StoRe foR detaiLS