The Town of Whitby has limited its 2026 property tax increase to 3.44 per cent, thanks to more than $2 million in internal savings and the creation of new revenue streams, according to Mayor Elizabeth Roy.
Across Durham Region, proposed 2026 tax increases range from 1.26 per cent to 4.68 per cent, placing Whitby in the mid-range among local municipalities.
Mayor Roy said town staff identified over $2 million in cost savings, helping reduce pressure on taxpayers while maintaining services.
“Finding internal efficiencies and creating new revenue sources helped bring Whitby’s tax increase down to 3.44 per cent,” Roy said in her year-end review.
New Revenue and Financial Relief
Among the new revenue sources was a $1.5-million, 10-year naming rights agreement for the new Fieldgate Sports Complex, along with an estimated $600,000 annually from Whitby’s new four per cent Municipal Accommodation Tax on hotel and motel stays.
In 2025, Whitby also secured $21.4 million in provincial and federal grant funding, helping fund major projects without placing additional strain on property taxes.
The mayor confirmed that Whitby’s tax rebate program for low-income seniors and homeowners with disabilities will increase to $543 in 2026.
Community Strategic Plan Progress
Roy highlighted the town’s Community Strategic Plan, endorsed by council in 2023, which includes 62 action items focused on resident priorities such as healthcare, waterfront access, green spaces, economic growth, safety and social supports.
According to the mayor, all action items are now underway or complete, with more than 83 per cent nearing completion.
Healthcare and Community Investments
Whitby continues to advocate for a new hospital, with ongoing discussions involving the province regarding a 50-acre site at Lake Ridge Road and Winchester Road.
Construction is also underway on Hospice Whitby – Roger Anderson House, a 10-bed facility that will significantly expand end-of-life care capacity in Durham Region.
Efforts to recruit family physicians through partnerships with the Oshawa Clinic Group are expected to provide up to 10,000 additional residents with access to primary care.
Economic Growth and Infrastructure
Major investments in 2025 included the opening of the Mazda Canada Parts Distribution Centre, a 279,000-square-foot facility supporting dealerships across Canada and the U.S.
Whitby Council also approved the reinvestment of $62 million in Elexicon dividends to strengthen local electricity infrastructure and support growth.
Business registrations in Whitby rose from 3,904 in 2024 to 4,009 in 2025, adding 105 new businesses.
Arts, Culture, and Community Support
The town recorded over 90,000 attendees across more than 75 events in 2025, including the inaugural Home Sweet Home Festival.
New public art installations were completed, and Whitby continued to invest in food security, affordable housing, and homelessness prevention, including donating land to Habitat for Humanity GTA for 40 affordable housing units.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Major projects scheduled for 2026 include:
- Opening of the Fieldgate Sports Complex
- Continued progress on the new Whitby hospital
- Waterfront restaurant and culinary hub 301 Rowe
- New industrial investments and automated warehouse developments
- Expansion of trails, recreation facilities, and public art
- Launch of Whitby’s first Intelligent Cities Action Plan
Proposed 2026 Durham Property Tax Increases
- Durham Region: 4.8%
- Whitby: 3.44%
- Pickering: 3.49%
- Oshawa: 3.98%
- Ajax: 1.28%
- Clarington: 3% (own portion 0.99%)
- Scugog: 4.12%
- Brock: 4.87%
- Uxbridge: 1.26%
Final approvals may still be required for some municipalities.
Photo Credits : Durham Post
