Tue, 04 Oct 2011
Mayor Rob Burton delivered his fifth annual Oakville Status Report last night, and the first of this term of Council. The speech highlighted the town’s milestones over the past year and mapped out the direction for this session of Council towards a more livable Oakville.
"Our path to a more livable and sustainable future is clearer than ever. We have the civic engagement we need for Oakville to continue to make progress on the path we set out on five years ago...That’s due in large part to the fact that we agree on what we’re doing together for Oakville," said Mayor Burton.
The Mayor pointed to the town's 2011-2014 Strategic Work Plan as a practical and ambitious document that would guide Council’s work during this term.
Council’s economic development strategy was a point of strength, with the Mayor citing the groundbreaking of Siemens’ Canadian corporate head office as a noteworthy example: “Our overall livability is working out to be our top economic development asset for attracting the new offices and jobs we want. The presence of dynamic corporations speaks to the winning economic conditions we have created for our town, and the robust fiscal health of our town.”
The Mayor pointed to Oakville’s strong and stable financial position, which is reflected in a triple-A credit rating and a fifth successive clean audit for the town, while keeping property taxes below inflation. Mayor Burton also made mention of Council’s determination to control growth; a determination that received a boost with OMB approval in May of the town’s new Official Plan, Livable Oakville.
Other Council accomplishments outlined in the status report included the development of facilities across the town, including: the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, the new Oakville Hospital, and steps to determine the best use of surplus public sites in Oakville.
Throughout his speech, Mayor Burton congratulated Council on its environmental consciousness and its foresight in planning for Oakville’s long term sustainability. The town is moving forward on an Oakville Climate Change Adaptation Plan. Energy consumption at facilities across the town continues to decline as a result of the town’s energy management plan, and action is being taken to enhance Oakville’s tree canopy and protect ash trees from the threat of the Emerald Ash Borer. The Oakville Status Report also highlighted the recent provincial government announcement to act on Oakville Council’s unanimous request to launch a pilot project within Oakville’s air shed to reduce air pollution and improve the air quality for local families.
Mayor Burton closed his status report address by thanking Members of Council, Town Staff and Oakville residents for their ongoing contribution to making Oakville thrive. "We are on the right path for Oakville. We can be confident that our creativity and imagination will move us ever closer to realizing our vision of being the most livable town in Canada."
Watch the Mayor's annual Oakville Status Report, as delivered at the October 3 Council meeting, on TownTV.
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Michael Mendel
Communications Advisor
Town of Oakville
905-845-6601, ext. 3788
mmendel@oakville.ca