Welcome to my website...

As your Local and Regional Councillor for Richmond Hill, I want us to keep in touch and exchange our views. This site is designed to provide you with up-to-date information, news and events about the Town of Richmond Hill and the Region of York. I am committed to keep you informed through organizing public meetings on issues, writing newsletters, producing the York Region Review Show on Aurora Cable 10 and up-dating this website. I would also be pleased to attend your community meetings and events, if notified.

I invite you to browse through my web site and to submit your comments, questions and opinions through my contact page. Together we can make Richmond Hill and York Region a better place to live, work and play.

Vito’s Opinion:

Waste ManagementBack to top

  • Waste management in Ontario is in crisis–-putting garbage in landfill sites is a non-sustainable short-term band-aid solution at the expense of future generations.
  • I support increasing blue box and organic recycling programs beyond the Provincial 65% target.
  • Industry must become a more active partner in waste management, with programs that decrease packaging, reuse or recycle materials, and pay for their proportionate share of the waste produced.
  • Proposed disposal methods of Non-Recyclable Waste should be subject to a full environmental review to ensure the process is ‘environmentally safe.

Environmental ChallengesBack to top

  • Urban development can threaten the quality of our environment and, in turn, the quality of life in our community.
  • York Region faces many environmental challenges, such as increased air pollution, damage to environmentally sensitive lands, and pollution of our lakes, rivers and ground water.
  • York Region must provide leadership and guidance for the local municipalities. I support a comprehensive approach involving community partners, volunteers and public agencies to reduce the threats to our ‘environment’ and consider options such as: developing a more efficient and convenient public transit system that will attract more riders; developing alternate forms of transportation such as bicycle and pedestrian trails; converting municipal vehicles to alternate fuels such as bio-diesel and hybrid vehicles; acquiring and protecting environmentally sensitive lands; and enacting and enforcing tough laws against polluters.
  • I support developing and distributing public education programs that promote environmental protection.

Sustainable ResourcesBack to top

  • Promote and develop a sustainable infrastructure with renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and thermal energy production.
  • Businesses can adopt environmentally friendly practices, reduce the quantity of packing materials, switch to recyclable containers and share the cost of waste management through the “Stewardship Program”.
  • Businesses can reduce their operating and manufacturing costs by adopting a ‘green policy’ that encourages:
    • Switching to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind or thermal power
    • Retrofit or construct sustainable commercial buildings with “LEED” Architectural standards that are energy efficient, provide a safe and healthier environment, and lower maintenance costs.

Traffic CongestionBack to top

  • Strive to reduce traffic congestion with improved transportation and transit services with the objective to lower the cost of shipping goods and services, and move more people more efficiently to their destinations.
  • I support a three-phase comprehensive approach to reduce traffic congestion:
    • Phase 1: Expansion of public transit systems that connect employment centres, retail districts and residential areas and the development of ‘high occupancy vehicle’ (HOV) lanes on arterial roads and provide safe options for alternative modes of transportation, such as bicycles and motor scooters. The development of a comprehensive network of roads is also an important component in planning sustainable communities.
    • Phase 2: Protection of employments lands and the implementation of strategic land-use plans to attract businesses that provide jobs for residents within the community.
    • Phase 3: Expansion of GO Train with all-day, two-way service, including the extension of the Richmond Hill GO Train line north to Bloomington Rd. and Highway 404. Support the extension of the Yonge Subway north from Finch Avenue to Highway 7 in Richmond Hill and the implementation of an east-west light rapid transit system along Highway 407.

New Official PlanBack to top

  • Richmond Hill must replace the outdated 1982 Official Plan with a new Official Plan that consolidates all existing uses, protects environmental areas, preserves neighborhoods and buildings of historic value, and directs the development of the community along transit corridors.
  • Coordinate the Town’s official plan with the neighboring municipalities and the Region of York to ensure that there is consistency, compatibility and transition in the development or protection of neighborhoods.

PolicingBack to top

  • In this rapidly growing community more police presence is needed to help crack down on crime, speeding, home invasions, vandalism and other offences.
  • We need residents to participate and share the responsibility of law enforcement in their neighborhoods by reporting through programs such as Neighborhood Watch and Road Watch.
  • Develop community educational programs on protection and safety.

Property TaxesBack to top

  • Rising property taxes are a major concern especially for those on fixed incomes like seniors, single parents and the disabled. I will promote policies to help people on fixed income stay in their homes.
  • Tender projects and services to the lowest qualified bidder.
  • Lobby the province to reverse the GTA Pooling saving York Region about $90-million per year from going to Toronto.
  • Lobby the Province to take back or provide municipalities with proper funding for services that were downloaded such as social services, ambulance and social housing.
  • Zero-based budgeting approach where departments must prioritize projects for approval and restrict spending to budget limits.
  • Contract out services, e.g. waste pick-up and snow removal.

Protecting employment landsBack to top

  • Promote a new Official Plan that identifies employment lands and has clear, defensible land use zoning policies.
  • Coordinate the Town’s official plan with neighboring municipalities and the Region of York Official Plan.
  • Promote an economic planning development office to promote the community and attract businesses to Richmond Hill.
  • Encourage policies that encourage mixed uses (e.g. retail on ground and residential above) to promote new employment opportunities.
  • Protect employment lands from being rezoned to other uses and promote employment opportunities (e.g. Tourism) so that residents can work within the community and reduce commuting distances.

MulticulturalismBack to top

  • Link with Federal and Provincial government to provide jobs and training programs.
  • Celebrate diversity through community-wide events.
  • Promote production of ethnic performances in community facilities such as community centres or parks.
  • Create public awareness of cultural events through the media.
  • Support multi-cultural education programs.
  • Recruit police officers from ethnic communities.
  • Support the production and distribution of publications and programs in ethnic languages.
  • Support the development and promotion of partnership programs between ethnic groups and York Region Police.

Privacy Policy
Legal Disclaimer