Where I Stand
Municpal Government Responsibilities
By Kelvin Chang
Markham's local issues and concerns
#1: Building Permits & Construction
The reason both of these issues are important to the citizens of Markham because they provide equality to people with disabilities, one of the sections in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. If handicapped people cannot enter or fully access a building, it could be considered discrimination, which is one of the major issues that Canada has been striving to eliminate since the Charter was created. So in the end, adding these features to buildings is a big step towards equality and disability rights in the local community of Markham.
#2: Senior Services
Increasing the amount of public nursing homes in Markham funded by the government would be an easier way for needs of seniors to be met. Those seniors who need special service could receive more personal health care without having to pay expenses they do not have or be a burden to their families. Opening up public nursing homes would also create jobs for nurses and those who provide service. So in summary, senior citizens and their families, and hospitals in Markham would benefit greatly with an increase in public nursing homes with a variety of services.
An example of a modern nursing home
Personal check-ups with nurses
Elderly patients play BINGO
#3: Planning & Urban Design
As Markham continues to grow and evolve into a city, new residents continue to move in and settle in the city, increasing the population while the traffic will also rise. Nowadays, traffic in the city of Markham has substantially increased and it can be quite frustrating for citizens to get to work or school, especially during rush hour. One idea that is frequently brought up is to pave new roads and alternate routes. This would greatly benefit locals because less time will be wasted in unnecessary traffic and civilians will be able to get to daily locations, such as work and school much quicker and life would be much more convenient for everyone driving in Markham.