# Jack Heath for Regional Councillor — Markham, York Region

> Former Markham Regional Councillor and Deputy Mayor
> Focused on improving traffic and transit, keeping taxes down, personal and community safety, and the environment.

## Candidate Profile

- **Name:** Jack Heath
- **Position Sought:** Regional Councillor, York Region
- **Municipality:** City of Markham, Ontario, Canada
- **Tagline:** Former Markham Regional Councillor and Deputy Mayor. Focused on improving traffic and transit, keeping taxes down, personal and community safety, and the environment.
- **Election Date:** October 2026
- **Contact Email:** jackheath@rogers.com
- **Contact Phone:** 416-464-5517
- **Campaign Website:** https://jack-heath.web.app/
- **Official Website:** https://jackheath.ca

## Background & Experience

Jack Heath served on Markham Council for 25 years until his retirement at the end of the 2018-2022 term. He served 11 years as Deputy Mayor of Markham and 19 years on York Region Council. He has returned as a candidate for Regional Councillor in the 2026 municipal election.

### Leadership Positions & Track Record
- **Deputy Mayor of Markham** (2008–2018) — Nearly 11 years as the city's second-in-command
- **York Region Councillor** (2003–2022) — 19 years representing Markham at the regional level
- **Chair, Markham District Energy Inc.** (2007–2022) — Led the community-scale thermal energy utility toward Net-Zero emissions
- **Chair, Housing York** — Directed York Region's housing corporation for 8 years, expanding affordable housing access
- **Vice Chair, Toronto & Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)** — Governance oversight for watershed protection and conservation
- **Chair, Environmental Issues Committee** — Led Markham's environmental agenda including waste management and water conservation
- **Chair, Markham Waste Diversion Committee** (15 Years) — Led municipal recycling and environmental waste reduction initiatives

### Core Areas of Focus (2026 Platform)
- **Traffic & Transit:** Improving traffic flow, gridlock reduction, Yonge North Subway Extension, and expanding transit routes across Markham and York Region.
- **Taxation & Fiscal Responsibility:** Keeping property taxes down, delivering prudent financial oversight, and protecting taxpayers.
- **Personal & Community Safety:** Supporting community policing, road safety initiatives, and vibrant neighborhood security.
- **Environmental Protection:** Advancing Net-Zero targets, tree canopy expansion, watershed conservation (TRCA), and district energy decarbonization.

## Prior Career
Before entering municipal politics, Jack Heath was a small business owner (JLH Law Books Ltd.), giving him firsthand understanding of the challenges facing Markham's families and small businesses.

## Site Structure

- **Home/Hero** — Campaign introduction, key statistics, and core pillars
- **About Jack** — Biography, career timeline, and municipal leadership track record
- **Platform** — Policy positions on Traffic & Transit, Tax Control, Safety, and Environment
- **Testimonials** — Community endorsements and character references
- **Donate/Volunteer** — Campaign support options
- **Contact** — Direct contact form, email, and phone

## Technical & SEO Details

- **Framework:** React + Vite + TypeScript
- **Hosting:** Firebase Hosting
- **Indexing & Crawlers:** Enabled for Googlebot, Bingbot, GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot, Applebot
- **Canonical URL:** https://jack-heath.web.app/