An Oshawa mayoral debate put homelessness and downtown safety at the centre of the city’s election campaign as six candidates presented different approaches to housing, public drug use, taxes and business activity.
About 150 people attended the October 8 event at the BOND|ST Event Centre. The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce organized the debate, which included Derek Giberson, Jeremy Large, Jim Lee, Tito-Dante Marimpietri, Henry Onwuachu and Dave Westlake.
Three other certified mayoral candidates did not take part. Incumbent Mayor Dan Carter is not seeking another term, leaving the office open in the October 26 election.
Candidates offered different homelessness plans
Giberson said the city should work with organizations already serving people who are unhoused, establish needs and set measurable targets rather than repeatedly moving people between locations.
Lee proposed an action committee involving residents, businesses, emergency services and other governments, with transitional housing as part of the response. Marimpietri rejected another committee and called for action using resources already available through Durham Region.
Westlake proposed declaring a downtown state of emergency and creating a mayor-led task force. Large proposed two South Oshawa facilities, one for chronic homelessness and another for people at risk of losing housing. Onwuachu promised tougher action against open drug use but did not identify which city-controlled funding or services he would change.
Durham Region manages the local housing and homelessness service system, while Oshawa can work with the region and community organizations. A regional August report counted nearly 2,000 people actively experiencing homelessness across Durham, including 948 whose most frequent location was Oshawa.
Taxes and city spending divided the field
Westlake promised property-tax reductions during each of the next four years and said council should focus on essential services. Lee questioned whether annual reductions could be delivered while funding infrastructure and services.
Giberson called for more public involvement and transparency around major projects. Marimpietri emphasized attracting industry and pursuing funding from other governments, while Onwuachu said he would look for spending reductions.
Large proposed seeking a $100-million interest-free federal loan for residential solar panels. The financing has not been secured, and the projected savings would affect household electricity bills rather than property taxes.
Downtown revival ideas ranged from streets to parking
Giberson proposed converting downtown one-way streets to two-way traffic. Large suggested making parts of the core pedestrian-only, while Westlake called for a review of free parking and other measures intended to draw customers.
The completed debate is a substantive follow-up to the previously announced event because it records the candidates’ policy positions. The earlier All About Durham preview remains the source for livestream and attendance details.
Online voting opens at 10 a.m. October 13 and closes at 8 p.m. on election day. Voters should use the City of Oshawa website for official candidate and voting information.
The Oshawa mayoral debate showed broad agreement that downtown conditions require action, but substantial differences over whether the response should focus on new housing, committees, enforcement, emergency measures or relocated services.
