MILLENNIUM TRAIL
I supported the construction of the Millennium Trail, as opened in 2001, and was instrumental in securing the donation of several thousand dollars (from the Canada Postal International Hockey Tournament) towards its construction.  I have also repeatedly supported the construction of another canal-side trail between Morrison Street and Whirlpool Road.  For a number of reasons, however, I did not support extending the Millennium Trail south of McLeod along the power canal, or north of Lundy’s Lane to Royal Manor Drive, or squeezing a trail into the very narrow area alongside the power canal between Dorchester and Drummond Road. 

There were many who called for trails running the entire length of the Hydro Canal, albeit interrupted by the 420 and other major roadways.  There were, however, also many people who had different ideas than trail enthusiasts on what Council’s spending priorities should be.  This latter group was comprised in large part of citizens who did not live anywhere near the proposed trail routes and thus had no direct stake in maintaining the security of their homes and privacy of their backyards.  I was contacted equally by people on both sides of this issue, so this was one of those issues where I had to let my common sense and integrity be my guide.

My decision was thus based on what I believed to be the most sensible thing to do, and on taking the direction I saw as being the best, overall, for the community.  My decision took into account fiscal, environmental and logistical concerns, but was based also on reasons of integrity and wishing to obtain the most optimal of the possible alternatives. 

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