Pickering Mayoral Candidate · October 26, 2026
Infrastructure built
with you.
Not around you.
Pickering is growing faster than almost anywhere in Ontario. The next Mayor's job is to make sure that growth serves residents — with real roads, real recreation facilities, and real accountability, not powers used to skip the conversation.
Why now
Pickering is at a turning point.
Several forces are converging at once. How the next Council manages them will shape this city for a generation.
70,000 new residents
The Seaton community is under construction at scale. Roads, schools, and recreation facilities need to be built in step with housing — not years behind it.
A downtown being reimagined
Major redevelopment is underway around Pickering Town Centre. Done right, it becomes a genuine urban heart for this city.
Extraordinary powers, real questions
Strong Mayor powers have been used 83 times since 2023 — including to direct three consecutive city budgets. Residents deserve to know how those powers are used on their behalf.
The platform
Five commitments to Pickering.
A practical plan for the infrastructure this city needs — and the accountability residents deserve while it's built.
Roads & Transit
Accelerate resurfacing. Complete Seaton's arterial network. Fight for expanded GO Train service.
Seaton Completion
Deliver the $266M Recreation Complex & Library on budget — families shouldn't wait years for promised facilities.
City Centre Transformation
A walkable, transit-connected downtown with quality development and real public space.
Fiscal Responsibility
Hold tax increases at or below inflation. Maximize grants. Spend with rigour and transparency.
Environmental Infrastructure
Flood protection, the Waterfront Trail, and climate resilience built into every major project.
Democratic Accountability
Every major decision through a full council vote and public process — never around it.
The record
A Mayor answers to Pickering. Not to developers. Not to Queen's Park. To you.
In 2022, Mayor Ashe indicated he would not need Strong Mayor powers, preferring collaborative decisions. The documented record since 2023 tells a different story — three budgets directed from one office, and a major land-use plan pushed through a forced Special Meeting.