Priorities
The Downtown Core
Restoring Pride, Safety, and Opportunity
Downtown Oshawa was once a vibrant hub of activity and it can be again.
For generations, our downtown was a destination where people gathered to meet, shop, dine, attend events, support local businesses and enjoy all our city had to offer.
Over the years our beautiful downtown has changed. Many residents, business owners, employees, and visitors have shared with me that they no longer feel comfortable spending time downtown. Businesses are facing challenges that extend well beyond that of running a successful business.
We owe it to our community to change that. We deserve it.
A thriving downtown benefits the entire city. It attracts investment, supports local businesses, create jobs, and encourages tourism.
One of the biggest challenges facing our downtown is the concentration of social support services in a relatively small area. While these services are important and provide much needed assistance to those who use them, the current model has unintentionally created significant challenges for the surrounding community.
I believe we can do better – for everyone.
My plan is not about eliminating services. My plan is about delivering them in a smarter more effective way.
I support working with Durham Region, the Province, and Community Partners to develop a strategy that distributes services more appropriately throughout Oshawa and the Region, rather than concentrating them almost exclusively in the downtown core.
Revitalizing the downtown core requires balance and compassion. I believe those struggling with mental health issues and addiction deserve real pathways that lead to real outcomes.
That means access to treatment, appropriate supports, and opportunities that prepare them for successful reintegration into society – not simply maintaining the status quo.
Our community deserves new thinking and a new direction- one that restores safety, supports local businesses, and addresses complex social issues in a way that is both compassionate and effective.
Property Crime
Safe Neighbourhoods Strengthen Our Community
Every resident deserves to feel safe in their home, their neighbourhood, and their community. Property crime affects more than damaged or stolen belongings- it takes away a family’s sense of security and peace of mind.
People should be able to go to bed at night and sleep soundly without worrying that their vehicle will be ransacked or their garage broken into before morning. There is nothing quite like having to tell your child that their beloved bicycle has been stolen while they slept.
Ward 4 deserves a strong advocate that will listen to residents, work with community partners, and push for practical solutions that help prevent crime before it happens. I will advocate for stronger partnerships with Durham Regional Police, improved prevention strategies, better communication with residents and neighbourhood focused initiatives.
Property Crime
Safe Neighbourhoods Strengthen Our Community
Every resident deserves to feel safe in their home, their neighbourhood, and their community. Property crime affects more than damaged or stolen belongings- it takes away a family’s sense of security and peace of mind.
People should be able to go to bed at night and sleep soundly without worrying that their vehicle will be ransacked or their garage broken into before morning. There is nothing quite like having to tell your child that their beloved bicycle has been stolen while they slept.
Ward 4 deserves a strong advocate that will listen to residents, work with community partners, and push for practical solutions that help prevent crime before it happens. I will advocate for stronger partnerships with Durham Regional Police, improved prevention strategies, better communication with residents and neighbourhood focused initiatives.
Reducing property crime will require cooperation, accountability, and a willingness to consider new approaches. Residents deserve to know that their concerns are being heard and that meaningful action is being taken.
Public safety is everyone’s responsibility. While no single solution will eliminate property crime, Council has a responsibility to support initiatives that strengthen our neighbourhoods and create an environment where crime is less likely to occur.
I will ensure the concerns of Ward 4 residents remain part of the conversation when decisions affecting public safety are made.
Accountability at City Hall
Oshawa residents work hard for their money. As the cost of living continues to rise, families are making difficult financial decisions every day. I believe City Hall should be held to the same standard.
Responsible government is not about spending less for the sake of spending less its about spending wisely, looking for efficiencies, eliminating waste, and ensuring taxpayers receive the greatest possible value for every dollar collected.
Every decision made by Council should begin with a simple question: Is this expenditure necessary?
If the answer is yes, the next question should be how can we achieve this in the most cost effective way?
Taxpayer accountability means treating every property tax dollar with the same care and respect that residents use when managing their own household budgets.
The residents of Oshawa deserve nothing less.
Home ownership should be one of life’s greatest achievements- not an endless cycle of rising property taxes and financial stress. For many families, home ownership has gone from a thrilling milestone to a grueling struggle against rising property taxes. That’s not the future residents envisioned when they bought their homes. Responsible leadership means exploring every available option before asking residents to pay more.
We cannot continue solving today’s affordability challenges with yesterday’s thinking. It’s time for City Hall to start thinking differently. It’s time to find more tools in the tool box. Before asking residents to pay more, Council should be able to demonstrate that it has looked for every reasonable opportunity to reduce costs, improve efficiency, pursue outside funding, and make the best possible use of every tax dollar.