Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter used the 2026 Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference to press provincial officials on several priorities involving health care, infrastructure, housing and economic development.
The Oshawa AMO priorities included a permanent family physician medical campus, a dedicated mental health and addictions emergency department, stronger infrastructure funding and continued support for the city’s economic growth.
Oshawa seeks permanent family medicine campus
Carter joined representatives from Queen’s University and Lakeridge Health in a meeting with Ontario Deputy Health Minister Deborah Richardson to seek provincial investment in a permanent family medicine campus in Durham Region. The proposed campus would be located at the former Oshawa Clinic property on King Street.
Supporters say a permanent site would provide a dedicated centre for family medicine education and training. The goal is to attract, train and retain more physicians and other health-care professionals while strengthening access to primary care in Oshawa and across Durham Region.
The proposal would also help secure the long-term future of the Queen’s-Lakeridge Health Family Medicine MD program. Carter used the AMO conference to advocate for provincial support needed to establish the campus and expand local medical training capacity.
Mental health and addictions care raised with province
Health care was also a major focus of a Region of Durham delegation involving Carter and other municipal leaders. During a meeting with Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones and ministry officials, the delegation advocated for a dedicated mental health and addictions emergency department at Lakeridge Health.
Local leaders say the service is needed to respond to increasing demand, improve patient outcomes and reduce pressure on existing hospital emergency departments. The proposed model is intended to ensure people experiencing mental health or addiction-related crises can receive specialized care in an appropriate setting and connect with recovery-focused supports.
The call is not new. Durham Regional Council has previously supported the development of specialized urgent and emergency mental health and addictions services at Lakeridge Health Oshawa, identifying the need for more immediate and coordinated crisis care.
Infrastructure funding another Oshawa priority
Infrastructure and housing growth were also among the Oshawa AMO priorities discussed at the conference. Carter met with Amarjot Sandhu, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure, to discuss provincial investment needed to support housing and economic development.
Oshawa has experienced continued growth, placing additional pressure on roads, municipal facilities and other infrastructure. Carter called for enhanced provincial funding for both growth-related projects and state-of-good-repair work, as well as simpler and more modern infrastructure funding programs.
Economic development also formed part of Oshawa’s advocacy. Carter highlighted the city’s Defence and Innovation Corridor and its potential to attract new defence-related investment and contracts while supporting advanced manufacturing and innovation.
The mayor said the AMO conference offered an opportunity to strengthen relationships with provincial officials while advancing priorities affecting residents throughout Oshawa and Durham Region.
Taken together, the Oshawa AMO priorities reflect the city’s effort to link population growth with investment in health care, infrastructure and economic development. Carter said Oshawa intends to continue working with other levels of government to pursue opportunities that improve services, strengthen infrastructure and support quality of life as the city grows.
