Building relationships important for Milton’s rookie Ward 3 councillor

Milton Ward 3 Town Councillor Adil Khalqi has wanted to be an elected official since he was 10 years old.

And the dream became a reality last November when the residents of Milton chose him to represent them.

“I was 10 years old when I started volunteering for a local Toronto councillor,” said Khalqi. “My family moved to Milton two years later, in 2012, but it always stuck with me.

“I love the job, building relationships with the community and colleagues, which is something I do a lot in my other job.”

The ‘other job’ is being a full time officer with the Brantford Police Service.

“Spending time in the community, going door-to-door to listen to residents, is very important to me. I use their voice to help guide me.”

Khalqi also isn’t shy about asking his colleagues for help and guidance as well.

“I’m not afraid to ask for help. I’m all about engagement.”

The biggest issue facing Khalqi and the rest of Milton Town Council is growth.

“We’re in the middle of revising the Official Plan, which will guide our growth and decision making process through to 2051. Everything we do that is approved by council has to be in line with the plan.”

Khalqi pointed out that although municipal politics doesn’t always get the headlines, the majority of tax dollars, and decisions that affect people’s lives most intimately, are made at the local level.

Khalqi’s ward is primarily in the southeast of Milton, comprising both a lot of new residential building as well as vast amounts of rural farmland. He said he has some very wide-ranging views on some topics that he has to try to reconcile.

“Most of the future residential growth in Milton is going to be in wards 3 and 4. And right now the concerns of a new home owner in a residential area can be quite different than the concerns of a farmer.

“People who live in this area understand growth is inevitable and we want to make sure we get it right.”

Even within the community of farmers, there can be differences of opinion.

“Some farmers being approached to sell their land, and are interested, while some want to keep it rural.”