With the CN Rail petition thing I started thinking, Milton seems really under-represented in the Halton Council. 

Milton’s population growth between 1996 and 2001:

  
Source: http://www.halton.ca/PPW/Roads/PDFs/MasterPlan_FinalReport.pdf

With this chart Milton’s share of Regional Councillors make sense.  But it’s not 2001, it’s 2009.  Lets see a forward looking estimate:

Population growth estimate until 2021:

  
Source: http://www.halton.ca/PPW/Roads/PDFs/MasterPlan_FinalReport.pdf

Explosive growth means Milton has far more infrastructure needs than rest of Halton does.  The most recent census (as of mid-summer 2008) puts Milton’s population at 72,500. 

Take a look at the growth forecast until 2021:

This table estimates that Milton will hit 82,700 by 2011.  Considering Milton had 72,500 people a year ago, I am willing to bet that Milton will have 80,000 people before 2009 is over.  Heck at this rate Milton may have closer to 100,000 people by 2011, instead of the original just over 80,000 forecast.  So if anything then population growth forecast underestimated Milton’s growth.  However, for the purpose of this post we will stick with forecasted numbers.

This table shows that in 2021 Milton will have a much larger proportion of Halton’s population, twice as many people as Halton Hills and not too far below Burlington.  Right now the Halton Regional Council has 20 people (not including the chair), only 3 of them from Milton.  If we are to hold Burlington at 7 councillors and Halton Hills at 3 (to maintain their current levels), then the Halton Council will need to re-adjust its size to 25. It will need to change Oakville’s seats to 9 (giving it two extra) and Milton’s to 6 (giving it three extra). 

Hey what do you know, that will give Milton a chance to think about full-time councillors too (something I argued against doing until Milton has more representation in the Regional Council).  Essentially Milton may be able to work with 5 full-time Councillors + a Mayor instead of 10 part-time Councillors + a Mayor. 

It’s too late to do this for the next 2010 election, but 2014 will be here before we know it.  This is something Milton should really push hard for.  Considering Oakville gets extra seats too, this should be doable. 

That is the only way to get a fair deal from the Halton Region.