There is still “unfinished business” Newmarket Ward 7 Councillor Christina Bisanz would like to see through with another term in office.
Notably, Bisanz said there is the residential development on the former Glenway golf course lands she would like to oversee, one of the issues she first ran on in 2014. The Woodlands Hills housing development is also something she wants to see through.
“Making sure that they have strong representation to council, to the planning staff and engineering staff,” she said. “I feel like I’ve got the experience and knowledge of the issues and the histories, but also the vision for the future, to represent the residents of Ward 7.”
The two-term councillor has put her name forward to run in this year’s fall municipal election. After getting acclaimed in 2018, Bisanz is set to run against an opponent, Nadia Hansen.
“There’s pros and cons,” Bisanz said of running opposed versus acclaimed, suggesting that there is a benefit to being able to focus on the big issues “without also having to be involved in campaigning."
“However, from a democracy standpoint, I think it’s important to enable residents to have a choice, which they exercise through their vote … Running for office is very hard work, but being in office is harder work.”
Traffic safety, affordable housing and aging in place are all issues about which Bisanz said she is passionate. She highlighted motions she has brought forward to push for cameras on school bus stop arms and said she wants to push the development community for more housing for seniors.
“We got a very fast-growing senior population in Newmarket and in York Region, and a lot of the older adults would prefer to stay in the community where they have friends, where they have social contacts,” she said.
After years of work, council provided zoning approval for the massive residential development on the Glenway lands this year. Bisanz said she was involved in ensuring residents have been engaged and provided input but said there is still work to be done on the site plan and the development construction.
“I will ensure residents do have a voice, and that voice is being heard as the development takes shape,” she said.
Although there are no choices or decisions Bisanz said she regrets, she did say there are some tough calls over the last term of council that may stand to get revisited. She named the private tree-cutting bylaw as one of them, though she added that she is a “strong advocate” of the need to protect trees.
The councillor said she believes she has demonstrated effectiveness over the past two terms.
“The experience I’ve gained will be vital in helping to move us forward as a town,” she said. “People can count on me to represent them well, to be reflective of the needs of not only our local community and local neighbourhood, but our town as a whole.”
