Believe Our Whitby Taxes Are Too High? It’s Our Fault.
Dear neighbour, Sometimes the truth hurts. Almost 77% of residents didn’t vote in the last municipal election in 2022. If you were one of them – then you didn’t have a say in the decision to raise your taxes by almost 20% in 4 years – almost double the rate of inflation. Council looks to the same 23% […]
Whitby Needs an Independent Auditor General
One of my top priorities is accountability and transparency. Residents deserve to know not only where their tax dollars go, but whether Town Hall is getting good value for the money it spends. Independent oversight is an important part of that. One of the first questions residents ask me about a two-year freeze on the […]
Council Tracker Update: Council Votes Down an AI Data Centre Impact Report
One of my top priorities is better communication from Town Hall. Big decisions need more than a quick headline. Residents deserve to know what was proposed, how Council voted, what it means, and what questions still need answers. At the September 21 Committee of the Whole meeting, Whitby Council debated how it should prepare for […]
Two-Year Tax Freeze: It Can be Done – Some Recent Examples
Going door to door in Ward 4, I hear the same concern again and again: property taxes are too high. Other candidates I’ve spoken with say they’re hearing the same message. Whitby’s property tax increased by 5.8% in 2023, 4.4% in 2024, 3.99% in 2025, and 3.44% in 2026. Compounded, that’s an increase of almost […]
Council Tracker Update: Whitby Gives Hotel & Conference Centre Projects 50% Break on Development Charges
One of my top priorities is better communication from Town Hall. When Council makes a decision that could affect future infrastructure spending and taxpayers, residents deserve the full picture. On August 26, Whitby Council approved a 50% discount on the Town’s portion of development charges for eligible hotel and conference centre projects. The decision passed […]
Back to School: Please Drive With Care
School starts tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8, for regular-calendar schools across Durham Region. That means more kids walking, biking, crossing streets, getting on buses, and being dropped off near our schools. This weekend, my volunteers and I went door to door on streets leading toward four Ward 4 elementary schools. With residents who wanted to take […]
Speeding on Side Streets: A Modern Approach to Tackling It
One of my priorities is safer, stronger neighbourhoods. Going door to door in Ward 4, residents often raise concerns about speeding on side streets. Parents worry about kids walking or biking. Seniors worry about crossing the road. And many residents are frustrated by drivers speeding through quiet neighbourhood streets late at night. They’re right to […]
The Full Story: Was There Really a $5 Million Overrun at the Dundas Street Shelter?
One of my top priorities is better communication on Town Hall decisions. I believe it’s a local councillor’s responsibility to give Ward 4 residents the full picture on important issues – based on facts, not headlines or rumours. Going door to door, several Ward 4 residents have asked me a fair question: did the shelter […]
Good Local Jobs Matter More Than Job Numbers
When we talk about economic growth, we often hear about the number of jobs being created. That matters. But the quality of those jobs matters just as much. A job should help someone support themselves and their family. It should offer fair pay, safe working conditions, and a real chance to build a future. Too […]
Council Tracker Update: $97,090 Educational Development Charge Refund
Better Communication from Town Hall: Here’s an Example One of my top priorities is better communication about Town Hall decisions. Ward 4 residents deserve clear, plain-English updates on important Council decisions – what happened, how Council voted, and what it means. At the August 10 Special Council meeting, Whitby Council considered an Educational Development Charges […]