This weekend I had the privilege of joining a number of my council colleagues in attending this years Milton Youth Task Force Awards.
It was a great ending to Milton Youth Week which was set up to highlight the activities of our young people in our community. Hearing the stories during the awards of both those who won and others who were nominated, I found myself even more inspired in how Milton’s future will look as we continue to grow.
Later in the weekend, the Youth Task Force had organized a fun event at the Milton Sports Centre with live music, vendors and lots of activities for all. Young entrepreneurs starting up their own businesses whether it be in food, clothing, buttons or even home made stuffies or recipes for slime (its a thing for sure as my daughter LOVES making/playing with slime) setting up their tables to pitch their wares. Again, nothing but inspiring to see young people working hard to make a difference.
It brings me to things that are normally said by politicians at these types of events.
- “Our future is in great hands.”
- “We need to listen to what our youth have to say.”
- “Just looking after mine and our future.”
Looking at what this council has done working with our staff and strategic plans, I am comforted that we are listening to the youth in town. But of course we need to do better.
Speaking with one of those youth over the weekend, we talked about “youth” issues in a general sense but they told me we (as in all politicians and leaders from ALL levels of government) need to do better. I’ve always said, if you want better answers, ask better questions and I was asked. What do YOU think youth issues are?
Youth issues are not just parks and recreation ammenities … its not playgrounds and places to hang out. Youth issues are employment opportunities and economic development issues. Youth issues are environmental & sustainability issues. Youth issues are not just limited to those under the age of 18 and we need to open that discussion up more to the voices of our youth.
For too long, youth issues have been limited to items that just affect their immediate lives and the fact that they want a future in town and build a career here in town and inevitably start a business or family here in town. They need to be at the table more starting NOW and not just after they start paying taxes or looking for a home, taking that leap into opening a business, inventing new items or choosing where they go to university or college.
In the past, many of our political leaders have been misguided when it comes to looking after our future. Some think that as long as we have the lowest tax rate in the region, that we’re “looking after our youth.” In fact there’s enough evidence to prove that isn’t the case. By keeping our property taxes too low, we’ve missed out on opportunities for investment – roads, infrastructure, programming, etc.
The most recent 2016 census shows that Milton has 3 age groups that are increasing rapidly: 5 and under, 75 and up and those 15-19 years old. These are 3 individual waves of groups of people we as a town and region will be servicing in the coming years.
That is why our demands to the provincial government for getting schools built faster and to be able to reduce the ever increasing number of portables at both elementary and secondary schools is vitally important.
That is why our calls to the province and our development industry to move faster in building a variety of housing options; from single family homes/townhomes, low and mid rise condo developments, low and mid rise rental developments and getting major transit station areas more intensified for mid to high rise apartments. When I sit around the table at Halton Region and the Town of Milton to discuss growth plans and responsibly expand our urban boundaries to accommodate this increasing demand for housing and economic development, its THESE concerns that motivate me.
If these issues aren’t addressed moving forward, our young people will have no other option than to leave Milton for other areas. What does that mean? An entrepreneur will move their future business and future job opportunities outside of town. It means another step in the wrong direction in building a complete community and all we will here is “where am I going to move when I finish school?” and we won’t have the answer.
After hearing so many inspirational stories of the work ethic and passion of those young people in our community this past week at the awards and seeing right in front of my face the entrepreneurship at the youth festival, I am convinced we need to listen more. New ideas for housing…new ideas to attract business…new ideas for delivery of municipal services.
Over the last number of years, I have chaired the Milton Economic Development Advisory Committee that the town has put together to bring business owners, industry leaders, educational institutions & government officials in laying the groundwork for Milton’s plan for prosperity. As this term ends and a new one begins, one of the suggestions I’ll be bringing to the table is to expand that committee to have youth representation for much needed input.
The more we hear from our youth in putting forward ideas for Milton’s future, the more secure that future will be as we continue our journey towards being a complete community and the Place of Possibility. This way we can ensure our future is in good hands and politicians at all levels aren’t just providing lip service to “looking after our future”.
And as one of the young people I spoke with over the weekend said to me…we’re doing ok but we need to “Step it up!”
Got that right!