Halton Hills Strategic Plan

Vision, mission and values

Vision

Small town living at its best is:

• characterized by spectacular countryside, natural heritage, cultural heritage and small town feel;
• enriched by a unique blend of urban and rural interconnected communities and neighbourhoods; and
• supported by prosperous employment areas

Mission

To plan for a vibrant urban and rural community, the Town of Halton Hills will deliver a broad range of public service while providing leadership on issues of concern in line with our stated values.

Values

• Foster a Healthy Community - To maintain and enhance a healthy community that provides a clean environment and a range of economic and social opportunities to ensure a superior quality of life in our community.

• Preserve, Protect and Enhance our Environment - To preserve, protect and enhance our natural environment for the health benefits and enjoyment it provides to present and future generations.

• Protect and Enhance our Agriculture - To protect and enhance the viability of our agricultural land base and agricultural industry.

• Foster a Prosperous Economy - To maintain and enhance the economic vitality of the Town through the provision of a wide range of opportunities for economic development.

• Preserve, Protect and Promote our Distinctive History - To preserve the historical urban and rural character of Halton Hills through the conservation and promotion of our built heritage, cultural heritage landscapes and archaeological resources.

• Preserve, Protect and Enhance our Countryside - To protect and enhance the open space character of our countryside.

• Achieve Sustainable Growth - To ensure that growth is managed so as to ensure a balanced, sustainable, well planned community infrastructure and services to meets the needs of its residents and businesses.

• Provide Responsive, Effective Municipal Government - To provide strong leadership in the effective and efficient delivery of municipal services

Priorities and focus areas

Shaping growth

• Halton Hills harnesses its future population and employment growth to provide new opportunities for residents, workers, businesses, and visitors.

• Halton Hills works to ensure housing is accessible to all its residents at any age or stage in life.

• Halton Hills grows in a way that embodies its values of social, economic, fiscal, and environmental sustainability. Staff engage with other levels of government to see that population growth in Halton Hills remains moderate.

The following focus areas support the shaping growth priority:

• Residential Greenfield Growth

• Intensification

• Downtown Revitalization

• Employment Lands

• Affordable Housing

• Water and Wastewater infrastructure

Sustainable Development goal alignment:

• Goal 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

• Goal 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

• Goal 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

• Goal 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Transportation

People and goods move freely through Halton Hills on well-maintained transportation infrastructure. Getting around is safe for residents of all ages through a combination of traffic calming and active transport priority routes and trails. The municipality has a transit plan that is suitable for moving its residents and workers to where they want to go. Halton Hills advocates for greater regional connectivity for its residents and businesses.

The following focus areas support the transportation priority:

• Trucks

• Bike Lanes

• Traffic Safety

• Transit

Sustainable Development goal alignment:

• Goal 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

• Goal 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Climate change and environment

The residents and businesses of Halton Hills are responsible members of the global community, and are leaders in the fight against climate change, with a goal to be a Net-Zero Carbon Community by 2030. Halton Hills communities prepare for changes we know are coming while reducing our carbon footprint. The municipality makes its landscape more climate resilient and beautiful through a lush tree canopy and public open space.

The following focus areas support the climate change and environment priority:

• Action on Climate Change

• Resilient Infrastructure

• Low Carbon Transition

• Tree Canopy

Sustainable Development goal alignment:

• Goal 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

• Goal 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

• Goal 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

• Goal 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

• Goal 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Fiscal and corporate management

Halton Hills is a well-run municipality that maintains spending within its means and keeps tax increases low and predictable. The municipality maintains services and service levels that support the quality of life of its residents and a hospitable environment for businesses.

The following focus areas support the fiscal and corporate management priority:

• Stick with Fiscal Plan

• Maintain Services

• Capital Assets and Liabilities Management

• Communications

Sustainable Development goal alignment:

• Goal 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Local autonomy and advocacy

Halton Hills is a leader within the Region of Halton and the Greater Golden Horseshoe. It is an example for other small, rapidly growing rural municipalities in Ontario. The municipality advocates for what it needs from other orders of government, and ensures its regional municipal partners act in its interests. Halton Hills works collaboratively with other agencies, governments, and public bodies to deliver what residents and businesses need to thrive.

The following focus areas support the local autonomy and advocacy priority:

• Provincial

• Federal

Sustainable Development goal alignment:

• Goal 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

• Goal 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Ensure a vibrant agricultural community

As one of the most beautiful rural communities in Ontario, Halton Hills understands the value of it of its agricultural land base. The municipality protects the land base and system of infrastructure that supports its agricultural community. The community is supported in looking for ways of celebrating its rural character and drawing visitors from across the continent to enjoy its landscape and produce.

The following focus areas support the vibrant and agricultural community priority:

• Protect Agricultural Land

• Promote Agritourism

Sustainable Development goal alignment:

• Goal 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Youth and seniors initiatives

Young people and seniors are active members of the Halton Hills communities, and contribute to its daily life in multiple ways. The municipality engages with youth and seniors in ways that are sensitive to their habits and interests to ensure their voices are heard when decisions are being made. The youth and senior population of Halton Hills is supported by a variety of services and facilities tailored to their needs.

The following focus areas support the youth and seniors initiatives priority:

• Engagement

• Services and Facilities

Sustainable Development goal alignment: 

• Goal 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere

• Goal 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

• Goal 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

• Goal 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

The above priorities and focus areas align with the Sustainable Development Goals, developed by the United Nations to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. 

Reports

Strategic Plan - Progress at a glance

• 2022
  • Council's Strategic Plan Status Update: REPORT NO. ADMIN-2022-0038
• 2021
  • Council's Strategic Plan Status Update: REPORT NO. ADMIN-2021-0035