James Leduc, incumbent
What do you see as the key issue(s) facing BWG at this time? Do you have a solution in mind?
“The main issue in BWG this election is traffic, whether it be bad behaviour behind the wheel or congestion. I would like to begin with a master plan for our road network, with quick solutions that can be done in the very near term. I understand that the (Highway) 404-400 (Connecting) Link will help, but that is still a ways off so we have to find home-grown solutions now – using right-in-right-out only restriction in some situations, building an alternative route in and out of BWG in conjunction with East Gwillimbury and maybe King Township. This could be done through a master plan study.”
Are there any other issues or concerns you want to highlight?
“Other concerns are dealing with Simcoe County to have them deliver better services for BWG, and have them establish a larger presence in our community. I would also like to deal with the affordable housing crisis that this community is having to deal with. I want to look at our own issues such as fire department and police services – we need to make improvements to both operations, which would include a new fire hall and also more of a neighbourhood police presence. I think police (on-foot) and bike patrols would help on many levels, for traffic calming and minor crime prevention.”
What inspired you to run in this election?
“Just my passion for giving back to my community. I have always been involved in my community, whether it was coaching in sports or working with service clubs. I still think I have a lot to offer this community, with my past experience in working with business owners and residents alike. There is still more to do to build an even better Bradford West Gwillimbury.”
Iftikhar Ahmad, candidate
What do you see as the key issue(s) facing BWG at this time?
“Bradford is facing many issues – rising taxes, gridlock, and a lack of Bradford jobs for Bradford residents, among them – but those are all symptoms of the larger problem: Bradford’s ability to keep up with its growth on social, economic and developmental levels. Bradford’s population has grown and changed monumentally. We need a town council that does a better job of reflecting the attitudes of all of the people of Bradford as we continue to grow diversify and embrace technology.”
Do you have a solution in mind?
“There is no single solution to the issue of dealing with our growth but there are attitudes that can be applied to better embrace it. We need to be more flexible, be more fluid and do a better job of listening to the people of Bradford who are experiencing new problems as the town evolves. I pledge to improve the town council’s performance in that regard, through electronic listening, regulations improving the business environment to help create jobs here, and by establishing ward councils that will ensure broader and better representation.”
Are there any other issues or concerns you want to highlight?
“There are other changes that must be made. We need to freeze taxes because the people of Bradford are paying more than enough. We need to resolve gridlock and parking issues… We need a municipal services audit to ensure our tax dollars are being spent at peak efficiency.”
What inspired you to run in this election?
“I was inspired by friends in the community, who collected signatures for my nomination before I accepted it. I’ve spent time helping to build part of the Bradford community, and those friends felt my experience would benefit the town. Once nominated, I realized how much I owed Bradford. After spending time in other places, this is the first true home I’ve had. Bradford is home to my family and my business, and while I love the people, I see ways in which the town could be better. I want to help it achieve that.”
