The 3 Wards

More than once has the issue of eliminating the electoral wards come up and mayoralty candidate John Levi wants to bring this issue forward again. There are three types of residents in Mississippi Mills;

• Urban - these residents generally live in the Almonte and are on Town services, water and sewer for example.
• Villages, Hamlets and Clusters - these residents live in neighbourhoods like Pakenham, Clayton for example and share some form of commonality even if it's just a community center, but no Town services. Generally these residents are retired, semi retired or commute to work.
• Rural - these residents typically have acreage, work the land in some form or another and when the going gets tough they generally look to each other first before they look to the Town.

These distinct types of residents are outlined in the Community Official Plan as being an important characteristic that is Mississippi Mills, therefore each should be represented at the Council table. Also because the Municipal offices are not centrally located, it is therefore highly unlikely that many in Pakenham will run for council as it is just too far away.

Position - Let me be perfectly clear, I will never be in favour of eliminating the ward system and I'd like the mayority candidates to explain to me how they can justify the ellimination of the wards system while the Almonte Water & Sewer subcommittee still exists.