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Flood plan and backup generators will be a focus for Halton rating to provide for the new growth in the Region of Halton." Oakville Beaver Staff In 2013 the Region made the largest Halton Region's strong credit rating, low taxes investment in its history, contributing $289 and investments in infrastructure continue million to transportation infrastructure -- to attract businesses to the area and make the compared to $50 million when Carr was first elected in 2006. community a viable place to put "One of the reasons we've down roots, Chair Gary Carr said had great success in attracting at Wednesday's inaugural meeting businesses is also because of the of council. infrastructure," Carr said, showing "With our triple-A credit rating how another $177 million was and zero per cent average tax invested in 2014. increase for Regional services over In total between 2011 and the last eight years, Halton really is 2016 the Region is set to invest $2 a great place to live, work and raise billion on water, wastewater and a family and retire," said Carr, who transportation infrastructure. is entering his third consecutive Carr went on to tout their term of office. success in creating 894 affordable Speaking for just over 35 housing units since 2007. minutes to a relatively full council Milton's new Town and Regional chamber that included Regional Chair Gary Carr Councillor Mike Cluett has a staff, municipal politicians and seat on the Halton Community Halton Police Chief Stephen Tanner, Carr provided a PowerPoint overview Housing Corporation. "We need to create a balance of housing of recent accomplishments. The Chair said Halton's Development from an affordable point of view -- apartments, Financing Plan would ensure growth-related residential homes and such," he said. Oakville's Town and Regional Councillors costs are recovered by development charges. Sean O'Meara and Dave Gittings are the other "We want to be very clear, we are not going to change our financial plan and if we go ahead new faces on council. Gittings, who served as a local councillor with any new development in 2016, it will be last term, said he'd been busy meeting staff and front-ended by the developers," Carr said. "We are not going to risk our triple-A credit reviewing documents. by Michael Gregory "I'm just thrilled to be here and looking forward to the expanded role," he said. Carr also presented a draft summary of the Region's Strategic Action Plan. "The things we're going to continue to do is keep the taxes low, invest in infrastructure and keep the community safe," Carr told the Oakville Beaver after the council meeting. "We're the best in all those areas right now, but we want to continue to be the best and that's going to take a lot of hard work going forward -- the way we're going to do that is to implement our Strategic Plan." The document, which residents are encouraged to comment on, lays out proposed policies for six priorities, including a new focus area for this term, Adapting to Climate Change. A Flood Mitigation Study will be completed in 2015, and Regional staff has also proposed designating four response centres that will come equipped with generators in the event of a major power outage. "We want to be like we are in so many areas, the leaders, and so that if anything does happen in the future we're ready," Carr said. Residents can view the Strategic Action Plan and provide comments at www.halton.ca. 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