Did you know that under the Provincial Government's "Places to Grow" mandate, Halton can expect to almost double it's current population from 380,000 in 2001 to a projected 780,000 in 2031!  The Region must present a growth plan to the province by June 2009 on how it plans to accomodate this.

BurlingtonGreen believes the Region's Growth Plan titled "Sustainable Halton" to be one of the most significant guiding documents, designed to shape the future of our region with irreovacable implications if not designed based on authentic sustainable principles and practices.  A critical component that appears to be missing is a Carrying Capacity Study. A carrying capacity "refers to the number of individuals who can be supported in a given area within natural resource limits, and without degrading the natural, social, cultural and economic environment for present and future generations"

As we are becoming more aware of issues that include eating locally produced foods; the crisis in fuel supplies; the climate change impacts and more.....carrying capacity becomes more meaningful and significant.

What can you do? find out more about the Region's plans for growth by visiting the Halton Region webpage on this issue. BurlingtonGreen has attended all Burlington public meetings on this and will continue to make efforts to have a voice on this issue.  We welcome your input and encourage your involvement on this very significant growth plan. We encourage you to learn more about this issue and forward your valued comments to Halton Region and to Burlington's elected officials -click here for contact listing. For a great example of local citizen input on this topic, please see the comments submitted by Roger Goulet - the Executive Director of PERL(Protecting Escarpment Rural Land) here.