Summary:

• The Issue: East Gwillimbury sends 42% of our local property taxes to York Region, but we don't receive the same standard of services as southern municipalities.

• My Actions: As your Ward 2 Councillor, I will demand a fair return on our tax dollars by expediting critical regional road projects (Doane Rd, Leslie St, Hwy 404 interchange) and securing a stronger, more visible police and paramedic presence.

• Fixing Our Transit: I will fight to fix our broken transit routing so residents have direct, scheduled YRT access to the East Gwillimbury GO Station and expanded local routes covering Sharon, Queensville, and Mount Albert.
  
  

Currently, 42% of East Gwillimbury’s local property taxes go directly to York Region, yet our community is consistently treated as an afterthought. Every municipality across York Region deserves the exact same standard of service, whether they are in the south or the north. I will hold the Region accountable, fight to bring your tax dollars home, and demand that our tax dollars are fairly reinvested into our neighborhoods—from upgrading regional roads and utilities to ensuring a visible police presence, enhanced paramedic services, and modern public transit. As your Councillor, I will champion initiatives such as:

• Expediting Regional Capital Road Projects: I will push for the immediate advancement of the capital roads program for critical infrastructure within our communities. This specifically means prioritizing Doane Road, Leslie Street, Queensville Sideroad, and the Highway 404 and Doane Road interchange projects to guarantee safe, efficient traffic flow and critical regional road access before the new Southlake hospital facility is built. I have a proven track record of fighting for these upgrades: as a resident, I recently led a community petition that secured York Region's written commitment to initiate the design of the Leslie Street and Doane Road intersection improvements in 2027. I will bring that same results-driven advocacy to Council.

• Equitable Police Presence: We must demand a highly visible, proactive York Regional Police presence in Sharon, Queensville, and surrounding neighborhoods to ensure our community safety matches the standards of larger southern municipalities.

• Rapid Paramedic Response: We must secure enhanced, rapid-response paramedic services that keep pace with our expanding population, ensuring life-saving care is always minutes away.
  
  

Public Transit Improvements: Bringing Modern Transit Up to Demand

A major pillar of regional equity is a public transit network that actually serves our daily commuters, especially with the imminent need for transit integration at the future hospital site. Currently, East Gwillimbury's transit network falls significantly behind the demands of our growing community. For example, York Region Transit (YRT) routes are currently designed to bypass the East Gwillimbury GO Station. To access the station by bus, residents are forced to travel south to Newmarket, transfer to another bus, and head back north. This unacceptable and discouraging routing turns a simple 30-minute trip into an exhausting 90- to 120-minute commute.

Furthermore, while limited on-request transit may suit rural areas, it cannot bridge the gap for the rapidly growing communities in East Gwillimbury. We cannot rely indefinitely on on-demand ride-sharing to get to school, work, or our GO Station. We require permanent, scheduled transit infrastructure. We deserve enhanced public transit that is accessible, affordable, and reliable for all our residents to ensure access to work, education, healthcare, shopping, and social and recreational opportunities.

I believe it is Council's duty to advocate for residents and explore every option to improve public services. I have advocated for these changes over the past two years with York Region Transit as a resident, and I will continue to fight to bring the following minimum YRT service standards to our Town:

• Direct GO Station Access: Connect us directly to the East Gwillimbury GO Station through a new route or by modifying Route 50.

• Expanding Local Routes: Expand the existing local route within Holland Landing to cover the Sharon and Queensville communities, connecting us directly to our municipal facilities, the Queensville Park and Ride, and the East Gwillimbury GO Station, or establish a new local route entirely. I will also advocate for Mount Albert residents to ensure their community is integrated into the transit network and no longer feels isolated.

I will take this challenge to the Regional level to ensure our infrastructure truly supports and encourages both our residential and commercial growth while finally keeping pace with our expanding Town.

What are your expectations for York Region services—such as roads, police, paramedics, and public transit—in our community? Let me know your priorities.

Please share this post and discuss it with your neighbors to help build strong community advocacy. In East Gwillimbury, you elect two Ward 2 Councillors, giving you the power to shape our community's future. Make Shahab Aryan your absolute first choice to bring independent, engineered leadership to Town Council.