Brian Johns
As Canada’s fastest-growing residential municipality, we have been leading the charge to address the housing crisis. That being said, the rapid pace of housing starts has brought about a need for us to catch our breath and take a step back to consider the bigger picture. While it's great to see new homes being built, we need to ensure that we're taking a holistic approach to development and considering the impact on our communities and infrastructure. In this blog, I'll explore why it's important to allow the province to support our school boards with funding to get schools built, expand our infrastructure (specifically wastewater capacity), and build out our tax base with industrial and commercial services to support high quality, high paying jobs locally.
Let's start with schools. As more families move into new developments, it's important that we have the necessary infrastructure in place to support them. This includes schools, which are essential for the education and well-being of our children. However, building new schools requires funding, and this can be a challenge for school boards that are already struggling to meet their existing obligations. By having the province to provide proper funding support for school construction, we can ensure that our children have access to high-quality education and that our communities are equipped to support their needs.
Next, let's talk about infrastructure. One area that often gets overlooked in the rush to build new homes is wastewater capacity. As our communities grow, so too does our need for wastewater treatment. Failure to expand capacity can lead to environmental problems and can hinder economic growth by limiting development opportunities. By prioritizing the expansion of wastewater capacity, we can ensure that our communities are well-equipped to handle growth and that we're able to protect our environment for future generations.
Finally, let's consider the need to build out our tax base with industrial and commercial services. One of the challenges that many communities face is a heavy reliance on residential property taxes. This can put a significant burden on homeowners, who are often the only ones shouldering the cost of community services and infrastructure. By attracting industrial and commercial development, we can build out our tax base and ease the burden on residents. This, in turn, can support the creation of high-quality, high-paying jobs locally, which can benefit our entire community.
While the rapid pace of housing starts may be exciting, it's important that we take a step back and consider the bigger picture. By prioritizing the support of our school boards with funding for schools, expanding our infrastructure (specifically wastewater capacity), and building out our tax base with industrial and commercial services, we can ensure that our communities are well-equipped to handle growth and support high-quality, high-paying jobs locally. By taking a holistic approach to development, we can create communities that are not only thriving today but will continue to thrive for generations to come.
