| What are the top three questions that people ask candidates at election time? |
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What have you done? |
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What do you stand for? |
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Why should I vote for you? |
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| Hi, my name is Cathy Morton. Let me answer those questions for you… |
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What have I done? |
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Since 2000, I’ve been a councillor here in East Gwillimbury.
I left my job in the financial services industry to take on this role in a full-time capacity. I’m totally committed to serving the people of East Gwillimbury. I’ve celebrated your successes and I’ve been a dedicated and sometimes spirited voice on Council for you as EG grows. I’ve been there for proud moments like the Olympic Torch run and and sad moments when we remember our fallen soldiers on Remembrance Day. |
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| As your Councillor, I have served you on every Committee of Council: |
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| Community Programs and Infrastructure – Chair |
| Corporate and Financial Services |
| Planning & Building Services – Chair |
| Emergency Services - Chair |
| Administration - Chair |
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| As your Council Liaison, I serve you on: |
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| Heritage East Gwillimbury |
| Community Safety Committee |
| Physician Recruitment & Retention Committee |
| East Gwillimbury Trails Committee |
| Brown Hill CRCC |
| East Gwillimbury Library Board |
| East Gwillimbury Chamber of Commerce |
| Accessibility Advisory Committee |
| East Gwillimbury Youth Assistance Fund Committee |
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| Representing you on Regional Committees: |
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| York Region Road Watch Committee – Vice Chair |
| Nokiidaa Trail Association – Chair |
| York Regional Police – District/Community Liaison Team |
| York Regional Arts Council – Director |
| Canadian Federation of Intercultural Friendships- Diversity Committee Director |
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| And then there's... |
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| Mount Albert Sports Day Committee – Chair |
| East Gwillimbury Historical Society |
| Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life Committee |
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| What do I stand for? |
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| There are 4 parts to my philosophy: |
| Balanced growth |
| Happy, safe and healthy residents |
| Healthy environment |
| Preserving history |
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| Balanced Growth |
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I believe in, and have supported the official plan, which has now been submitted to York Region for approval. The plan is based on balanced growth. Growth will be managed through effective phasing policies that will guide our long term urban structure. The end goal is to enhance the quality of life for the residents of East Gwillimbury by promoting a mix of uses of the area to provide opportunities to live, work and play within the Town.
Working with estimates on population growth, as a member of your Council, we have done extensive planning to ensure that the infrastructure will be in place - utilities, transportation, and retail space to support a growing population AND provide employment opportunities. Balance is essential. Your input to our public process for this official plan tells us that you believe that too. I will continue my support to ensure that balanced growth is a foundation today for our future tomorrow. |
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| Happy, safe, and healthy residents |
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I believe that a safe and barrier-free municipality when it comes to sports, parks, buildings, and trails, leads to happy residents. I believe in the power of community. The Nokiidaa Trail Association’s name is from the Ojibway word which means “walking together.” It’s the way I see us keeping healthy…by walking together. It’s a way of uniting Aurora, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury and we soon expect to add Georgina to the mix. It’s all about providing the environment to be able to do that. Working with our Trails Committee, we have approved a comprehensive trails master plan. In the future our residents will be able to move throughout the town on these trails for recreation, shopping,commuting…and to keep healthy.
Our new official plan and our Parks, Recreation & Culture Master Plan provides for parks and open spaces in order to enhance the quality of life for Town residents. The establishment of parks and recreation facilities will accommodate a variety of recreation, leisure and cultural activities. |
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| Healthy environment |
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I believe that we must preserve and celebrate nature’s beauty in our community.
Protection of our natural environment by designating the Natural Heritage System is an essential component of our overall land use structure. I believe that development and land use changes must NOT have significant negative impacts to our natural heritage system.
I believe in recycling. I believe that we can continue to increase our solid waste diversion rate by increasing that recycling. I believe in keeping East Gwillimbury a beautiful place to be live, work and play…to enjoy life. East Gwillimbury has been a leader in introducing many greening strategies and I am proud to have played a part in these initiatives. East Gwillimbury continues to lead the way with the introduction of many new programs , but we can and must continue to do more.
The protection of our most precious resource – our water – is crucial to our environment and our future. Our residents continue to consume and waste that precious resource. I support the need to create conservation policies immediately to offset the demand for water throughout our Municipality |
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| Preserving history |
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I believe in preserving our rich history. We can learn from it and we have many times. We have beautiful historical homes throughout East Gwillimbury that add a sense of time and history. Remembering our past only strengthens our future and I will continue to endorse the preservation and the uniqueness of our community identity
Protecting and promoting our heritage will assist in maintaining and enhancing the identity of East Gwillimbury. Gladys Rolling, a former Mayor, stated “It is well known that facts which are not recorded are soon forgotten. Thus, from the beginning of time, man has undertaken by one method or other to record the knowledge he has gained for the benefit of future generations. Since the past is but a reflection of the future, it is not wise to lose our historical facts; they may provide guidelines for the years ahead.” |
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| Why vote for me? |
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| I’m dedicated to serving the people of East Gwillimbury, residents and businesses alike. I grew up here and chose to stay and raise my family here because I love this community.I have done and will continue to do my best to keep this Municipality as a people focused community as we move forward. |
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| So why vote for me? I listen. I’m a woman of my word. I honour commitments. I work tirelessly for you – in fact I’m totally committed to you. I am your voice on council. My record proves it. |
