Local residents invited to form Halton's first Citizens' Reference Panel

Residents across the Region should watch their mail this week for a brown and green envelope containing a very special invitation. Halton Region is holding a Civic Lottery to find 36 local residents to form the first Halton Region Citizens’ Reference Panel. Any eligible resident who receives an invitation can enter their name for a chance to sit on the Panel.

The members of the Halton Region Citizens’ Reference Panel will help determine which issues, services and programs matter most to the people who live and work in Halton. Their insights, along with input from the broader community, will help the recently elected Regional Council develop a new strategic work plan and set out priorities for the next four-year term.

“At Halton, we have been innovative leaders in implementing new initiatives and tools, such as the webcasting of our Committee and Council meetings, and with the new strategic work plan we are taking it one step further,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “Our first Citizens’ Reference Panel is an exciting opportunity for residents to tell Regional Council what’s important to them as we move forward to ensure that Halton remains a great place to live, work, raise a family, and retire.”

A Civic Lottery uses random selection to bring together groups of citizens, balanced for age, gender and geographical location, to represent their community. This week 10,000 letters will be delivered to randomly selected households in the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville. Eligible candidates who receive the invitation can put their name forward for the Civic Lottery. The invitation can also be transferred to other members of the household. The 36 Panellists will be drawn from among the respondents on December 16.

The Panel will meet for four Saturdays on January 8, 15, 29 and February 5, 2011. Together, the Panellists will learn about the trends and pressures facing Halton Region as well as the services and programs the Regional government provides. They will also take part in a Public Roundtable Meeting on January 29, open to all members of the public. Finally, working with expert facilitators, the Panellists will develop a series of informed recommendations to present to Regional Council.

The deadline for eligible candidates to enter the Civic Lottery is December 6, 2010. To learn more about the Halton Region Citizens’ Reference Panel, visit www.halton.ca/citizenspanel

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