Community

1. Halton Catholic School Board
   The Halton Catholic District School Board provides quality Catholic education to almost 28,500 students at 37 elementary and 7 secondary schools in the communities of Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville. Instruction is offered from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 and through the Continuing Education Services and Adult Learning Centre campuses in Oakville and Burlington to students and adults of all ages.

2. Halton District School Board
   Public education has been one of the major cornerstones of a prosperous and democratic Canada. Its essential and critical role must continue through commitment to our Mission and Guiding Principles. 

3. Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (French Catholic School Board)
   Du Sacré-Cœur French Catholic elementary school (École élémentaire catholique du Sacré-Coeur) is the only all-French Catholic school in your community offering high-quality education in French. Over 200 students ranging from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 attend our school, which is part of the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir School Board. Our mission is to offer students high-quality education in a French Catholic environment where respect of the individual, sense of belonging to the Franco-Ontarian community, promotion of excellence and equity are visible and essential values for students to reach their full potential.

The Georgetown Hospital serves Halton Hills and the surrounding areas. We have doctors in our community who are pleased to accept new patients.

The Georgetown Hospital Foundation's mission is to raise funds to enhance the healthcare services provided by the Georgetown Hospital for the people of Halton Hills. We solicit, administer, invest and protect donations given for improvements to hospital services and facilities.

The Halton Region Physician Recruitment Initiative lists physicians in Halton Region who are accepting new patients.

1. What is broadband internet?
   Broadband internet refers to internet access that is always connected and faster than traditional dial-up. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), which is responsible for coordinating the provision of high-speed broadband internet in Canada, has a target to bring download speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of at least 10 Mbps to 90 percent of homes and businesses in Canada by the end of 2021.

2. Who is responsible for providing broadband internet?
   The CRTC is responsible for coordinating the provision of high-speed broadband internet in Canada and has declared broadband internet a basic telecommunications service. However, it is Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) who are responsible for building, owning and operating broadband infrastructure and services.
   

3. What is the main challenge associated with bringing broadband internet to rural areas?

   Many rural areas across Canada, including Halton Hills, struggle to access high-speed broadband internet. A lot of Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) do not have existing infrastructure in rural areas to provide sufficient connectivity, and the cost of providing this service makes developing an effective business case a challenge. The gap in broadband infrastructure in rural areas is primarily due to the lack of dwelling density necessary to make a viable business case. As a result, TSPs have typically focused their infrastructure investments on more dense and larger urban markets where their return on investment is higher.

4. What are the Provincial and Federal governments doing to improve rural broadband?The Federal and Provincial governments have established a number of critically important support programs, such as Improving Connectivity for Ontario (ICON) and the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF), to help TSPs make business cases for expanding their broadband infrastructure and services to rural areas. Several applications have been submitted for funding through government broadband programs for local projects. The Town and Halton Region have provided joint letters of support for these applications.

5. What is the Town of Halton Hills and Halton Region doing to improve rural broadband?
   The Town’s approach to advancing rural broadband in Halton Hills has been to collaborate with the local Halton municipalities on ICON and UBF funding applications, with Halton Region taking the lead. This has entailed close coordination with Regional staff to advance region-wide applications for rural broadband funding.

   Halton Region continues to advocate to the Provincial and Federal governments for improved broadband access in rural Halton. The Region is also leading a targeted advocacy strategy, focusing on accelerating the speed with which TSPs connect and improve broadband service to residences, farms and businesses in rural Halton.

   The Town has also connected with Halton Hills’ local TSPs to encourage them to apply to relevant government funding programs. Moving forward, Town staff will continue to coordinate with Halton Region to advance rural broadband initiatives. Key actions for the Town include:

   • Assigning a Town staff lead to monitor and champion broadband at the local level;

   • Encouraging local TSPs to apply for rural broadband projects in Halton Hills;

   • Providing letters of support and ongoing support, as needed, for broadband funding applications from TSPs;

   • Launching a new webpage for broadband updates and resources on the Town’s website and InvestHaltonHills.com;

   • Keeping aware of municipal best practices in broadband and their potential applicability to Halton Hills/Halton Region;

   • Coordinating with the Region to encourage and advance funding applications from TSPs;

   • Coordinating with Halton Region to prepare Community Expressions of Interest required by broadband funding programs;

   • Supporting Halton Region in taking action to fill broadband service gaps; and

   • Providing the Council with status updates.

6. How does rural broadband connect with the Town’s priorities and strategies?

   Access to high-speed broadband has become an important factor when considering quality of life. Advancing access to rural broadband in Halton Hills connects with the goals and objectives identified in the Town’s five-year Economic Development and Tourism Strategy (2021-2026). It also aligns with the Council’s Strategic Plan, specifically the values of:

   • Fostering 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.

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

   • Fostering 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

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

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

7. What options are currently available for improved internet service in rural areas?
   

   WiFi to Go – offered by the Halton Hills Public Library:

   This program allows any Halton Hills Public Library cardholder who is 18 or older to borrow an internet hotspot. The portable internet hotspot devices provide free, unlimited data over a 3G or 4G/LTE network. They have the ability to connect up to 15 devices with a battery life of up to 8 hours. There are currently 28 internet hotspot devices available to borrow from the library for a two-week loan period.

   To learn more about how to borrow an internet hotspot from the Halton Hills Public Library, please visit the WiFi to Go page.

   Purchase an internet hotspot device

   Several patrons of the Library’s WiFi to Go program have been so pleased with the stability of using the hotspot in lieu of their home internet service that they have purchased their own internet hotspot devices.

8. I am a Telecom Service Provider, who do I contact with an inquiry about available support in Halton Hills?

   Telecom service providers can contact:

Some residents of Halton Hills may experience noise issues related to air traffic out of Toronto Pearson Airport. Here's some information to assist you with Aircraft noise management.

The Town of Halton Hills has no authority on aircraft noise; we regret that we don't have the capability to respond to noise complaints. In our area, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), in cooperation with Nav Canada, handles aircraft noise management. 

The GTAA has placed a noise monitor at Eaton Street Park. You can view information from the monitor through the GTAA's  WebTrak.  This is an online tool that provides near-real-time and historical flight data. 

The GTAA and Nav Canada are currently carrying out a public consultation seeking feedback on ideas to reduce noise impacts. Information is available on the GTAA website at The Six Ideas.

A virtual consultation was held on November 23, 202 for NAV CANADA, in collaboration with the GTAA, is hosting a virtual consultation on a new airspace proposal.  Learn more or register for the virtual consultation event at 5 p.m. on November 23.

The GTAA holds regular community meetings where the public can discuss and ask questions about noise-related issues at Toronto Pearson. Information is available on the Understanding airport operations and noise page on the GTAA website.

For updates on aircraft operations, environmental initiatives and community events, you can sign up for the GTAA’s monthly e-newsletter, Checking In.

If you wish to make a complaint or comment about aircraft noise, you may do so here:
- GTAA online complaints form
- GTAA Noise Management Office at 416-247-7682