My Platform

Rob’s Platform: More Livable

We have what it takes to achieve our dreams for our community to grow more livable.

We have a $604-million combined capital and operating Town budget.

These strategic sets of promises add up to my plan to ensure we grow more livable in the four-year term ahead.

Finances

Our strong finances make all that we want possible.

If re-elected, I will:

  • Grow more Town Dividend Income to increase financial strength

And I will continue to:

  • Keep our lead as #1 in finances
  • Get clean annual independent audits
  • Keep tax increases below inflation
    • This term CPI is 13.3% but taxes grew just 6.7%
  • Keep taxes lower than our neighbors
  • Keep our AAA Halton credit rating
  • Keep our open/public budget process

Economic Development

A livable community helps build a vibrant economy, and vice versa.

If re-elected, I will:

  • Beautify Kerr and Bronte mainstreet districts
  • Add more parking to the Bronte, Kerr and Downtown Oakville mainstreet districts
  • Complete the Towne Square rebuild

And I will continue to:

  • Stay on best place to invest list
  • Meet or beat our target of new jobs/year
  • Support the Ford plant’s future
  • Grow our high tech health district
  • Keep downtown revival strong

Parks & Recreation

Facilities for active lifestyles are vital for healthy lives, families and communities.

If re-elected, I will:

  • Build a new central library and theatre
  • Open our 7th community centre in 2024
  • Build a new Palermo library
  • Create a 2000-acre eco-park
  • Create a park on Parkhill reservoir
  • Create parks for the Riverstone and Winston West areas
  • Complete Memorial Park
  • Add more pickleball courts

And I will continue to:

  • Add trees, trails, parks, and facilities to keep up with growth
  • Maintain our GTA-leading traditional parkland standard of 2.2 hectares of parks per 1000 residents
  • Renew older parks
  • Add more outdoor rinks
  • Grow the waterfront trail

Traffic & Mobility

I’m on the road around town constantly as mayor. So getting quickly, easily, and safely from A to B is a priority for me.

If re-elected, I will:

  • Work to regionalize transit for more service
  • Complete William Halton Parkway
  • Improve seniors’ windrow service

And I will continue to:

  • Improve traffic flow everywhere
  • Make our roads GTA’s smoothest
  • Add smart traffic tech
  • Widen arterial roads
  • Roll out speed controls and traffic calming
  • Add more bike lanes

Climate & Environment

Our environmental programs have us ahead of the curve on dealing with the climate emergency.

If re-elected, I will:

  • Complete our shift to electric transit
  • Increase municipal energy saving
  • Fund energy retrofits for homes

And I will continue to:

  • Beat our 2030 climate targets
  • Stay on the path to 40% tree canopy
  • Save regional farmland from sprawl
  • Advocate to grow the Greenbelt
  • Protect our Town and regional Natural Heritage Systems
  • Make Town buildings LEED (energy efficient)

Participation & Communication

Democracy thrives on the constant nurturing that happens with regular, two-way communication between leaders and all residents.

If re-elected, I will continue to:

  • Keep public consultation strong
  • Hold monthly public roundtables
  • Keep Staff reflecting community
  • Advocate for Truth and Reconciliation
  • Conduct open by default Council meetings
  • Publish Mayor and Council nightly e-news

Community Development

We preserve our hometown feeling by caring for old and young, embracing heritage and innovation, and developing neighbourhoods with heart.

If re-elected, I will:

  • Complete Wyecroft bridge
  • Complete Burloak Rail underpass
  • Complete Kerr Rail underpass
  • Add a public waterside pub to each harbour
  • Convert the old boarded-up OTHS to seniors housing
  • Get water services to Hindu temple
  • Fix traffic flow at Al Falal mosque
  • Right-size parking standards
  • Increase vacant homes tax

And I will continue to:  

  • Speed up new school sites
  • Protect Glen Abbey and all heritage sites
  • Keep Oakville Canada’s most livable town
  • Keep Halton Canada’s safest region

Provincially-led Planning & Development

We all want our children to have a chance for home ownership. This means we need more homes. The Province has set minimum targets for Oakville. Our plan – based on wide public consultation – focuses growth around transit hubs and routes.

If re-elected, I will:

  • Focus growth on main transit areas
  • Make GO station areas more livable
  • Refresh Uptown Core plan
  • Complete Neyagawa/407 hub plan
  • Complete Palermo area plan
  • Get province to restore Town regulation of noise
  • Update Official Plan by July 2023 (the provincial deadline)
  • Update Zoning Bylaw by 2024 (the provincial deadline)

And I will continue to:

  • Win legal appeals against our plan
  • Meet new housing targets
  • Meet home price targets
  • Add 100 housing units/year of public housing
  • Fight amalgamation