Sharing a vision for Town of Caledon
Mayor's Report
By Marolyn Morrison

I have always been so very happy to live in Caledon because of the people. That was never more evident than during the growth number discussion over the past few months. The power of the people is amazing.

I thank every one of you for standing up and letting us know what you see for Caledon. I thank you for reconfirming that the Town of Caledon is on the right track with moderate growth over the next 14 years with adding 27,000 more people to the year 2021 and with adding 24,000 more people from 2021 to 2031.

It was made to look like the Town was stopping growth, but that just isn't true. We must look at the big picture when planning for our Town. We are a Town that consists of 700 square kilometers and we need to look at the whole Town when planning. The population number up to 2021 of 84,444 was reconfirmed by council Nov. 6 and the number that was endorsed in August 2006 of 108,000 from 2021 to 2031 was also reconfirmed as the number for the Town of Caledon.

This issue should be finished unless the province comes back to the Region with a new overall population number that the Region must address. As Councillor Beffort said at the council table, if this happens it could be a lower number, or possibility a higher number. I know that there is an OPA (Official Plan Amendment) at the Region of Peel for more population, but I would think that with the Town of Caledon council unanimously turning down such an increase in population, the Region would not wade into that one and go against the Town of Caledon council.

I have a vision for Caledon and that is a community that supports itself and its businesses. I have said this before and I will continue to say it; if you want successful businesses in Caledon then you as the consumer and resident must shop in our local businesses. You need to support your neighbours. You need to leave your dollars in their stores, not in stores outside of your community. Shop locally. Support your local retailers. If all of our residents did this we would have a very happy retail business community.

We had a meeting the other evening on our employment land needs. We were told during this meeting that 51% of the residents in Caledon work in Caledon. This is a lot higher than Brampton and Mississauga. We were all very surprised and happy to hear this good news. We were also told by the consultants that if we increased our population substantially that it would not necessarily translate into more people working in Caledon. Very interesting information.

We have a so-called white belt across the southern part of Caledon. This is land that many developers have bought into or have optioned. We have approved in our Caledon Community Work Plan that we will plan this white belt with phasing policies, during this term of office.

From what the province is now saying to us the white belt is up to a 70-year time frame for growth. If we plan this properly we can make sure that this works well for the Community of Caledon in all aspects including environmental, social and financial.

Next week I will expand upon my vision.