My Priorities

Walk down King Street any evening and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Residents don’t feel safe. Business owners are frustrated. And the city’s response has been reports and committees — not action.

I’m not interested in writing another report that gathers dust. Downtown Oshawa needs more visible policing. Foot patrols. Officers who know the neighbourhood. A real presence that makes people feel safe walking to their cars, waiting for the bus, or just being downtown after dark.

This isn’t about being tough on crime — it’s about being present for the community. When people see police walking the streets, talking to business owners, knowing the regulars, that’s when things change. That’s community policing, and Ward 4 deserves it.

• ✓ Increased foot patrols in the downtown core
• ✓ Community policing model — officers who know the neighbourhood
• ✓ Real response times, not just reported response times
• ✓ Partnerships with local businesses on safety initiatives

I’m not anti-development. Oshawa is growing, and that can be a good thing. But growth needs to serve the people who already live here — not just the developers who profit from it.

The Ritson Road and Richmond Street developments are a perfect example of what goes wrong. These proposals were pushed through without proper consideration for traffic, infrastructure, and the impact on existing residents. The people who live in those neighbourhoods were an afterthought — and that’s not acceptable.

Smart development means consulting with residents before decisions are made. It means infrastructure first — roads, transit, schools, parks — and then development. It means asking “how does this help the people who already live here?” before approving anything.

• ✓ Oppose Ritson/Richmond developments that hurt existing residents
• ✓ Require infrastructure planning before development approval
• ✓ Mandatory community consultation — not checkbox sessions
• ✓ Protect neighbourhood character while allowing thoughtful growth

Here’s a fact that should concern every resident: Oshawa does not have a comprehensive fire master plan. For a city of this size, with this much growth happening, that’s not just an oversight — it’s a real risk to public safety.

A fire master plan is a strategic document that ensures the city’s fire services are properly resourced, located, and equipped to handle current and future needs. It looks at response times, station placement, equipment needs, staffing levels, and future growth areas.

Without it, decisions about fire protection are reactive instead of proactive. That means gaps in coverage that residents don’t even know about until something goes wrong. This is basic emergency preparedness. Every major city in Ontario has one. Oshawa needs to get this done.

• ✓ Advocate for a comprehensive fire master plan for Oshawa
• ✓ Review response times across Ward 4 and the city
• ✓ Ensure fire station placement keeps up with growth
• ✓ Transparent reporting on fire service readiness