Election Priorities for 2026 to 2030
Manage Change. Protect Port Hope.
Change is coming to Port Hope, and our responsibility is to manage it thoughtfully so growth does not come at the expense of our community’s character, culture or sense of place. We need to plan for complete communities, with the right infrastructure, services, amenities, parks and natural protections, rather than simply adding more houses.
That means looking beyond individual developments and considering the bigger picture: traffic and roads, water and wastewater capacity, stormwater, parking, pedestrian and cycling connections, public safety, parks and green space. New neighbourhoods should be connected to the community around them and contribute to a safe, healthy and livable Port Hope.
Growth is something we need to lead, not simply react to. Sensible planning means making thoughtful use of infill and existing infrastructure while protecting the natural and historic qualities that make Port Hope special. We can welcome appropriate growth while still being careful about where and how it happens.
Build a Fairer Tax Base
Port Hope cannot continue shifting more of the tax burden onto residential property owners, especially seniors and long‑time residents who have already contributed so much to our community. People are right to be concerned when their property taxes keep rising while most new development remains residential.
As Port Hope grows, our tax base must grow with it. That means actively attracting appropriate commercial and light‑industrial investment, creating good local jobs, supporting existing businesses, and bringing in new assessment that helps pay for the services and infrastructure our expanding community depends on.
Residential growth alone cannot be the solution.
We also need to make better use of appropriate infill and existing infrastructure, while ensuring new development pays its fair share of the costs it creates. A growing Port Hope should mean a broader, more sustainable tax base, not simply higher taxes for the people who already live here.
Good Government & Resident Support
Residents deserve reliable services and confidence that their tax dollars are being used responsibly. That means a municipality that listens, responds, and explains its decisions clearly. Timely customer service should always be a priority.
When people raise concerns or ask questions, they should receive timely, meaningful answers. If something cannot be done, residents should understand why and what alternatives exist.
Council also has a duty to ensure municipal resources are used effectively. That includes checking whether we have the right expertise in-house, whether responsibilities are clear, and whether consultants are providing the value we truly need.
Heritage, Tourism & Local Business
Port Hope has something rare: a strong identity, a remarkable heritage district, a beautiful waterfront and a community with a real sense of place. We must protect those strengths and be ambitious about what they can help us build.
Across Ontario, communities succeed when they try bold ideas and rethink familiar spaces. Port Hope should be willing to do the same.
Tourism brings new money into our economy. We should give visitors reasons to stop, explore, eat, shop, stay and return, supporting local businesses and creating jobs.
Our heritage buildings and district are not barriers to growth; they are part of our brand. Protecting that character while keeping downtown vibrant and economically sustainable is essential.
The waterfront deserves the same long-term vision. With a Master Plan in place, we should set clear principles for future decisions, balancing access, recreation, natural habitat and views of Lake Ontario.
Protecting Port Hope doesn’t mean standing still. It means valuing what makes us unique while being bold enough to imagine what comes next.
Meaningful Conversations About PHAI
Continued advocacy for transparency and open dialogue about PHAI remains essential, both for understanding community impacts and for supporting affected urban property owners. More conversations and decisions regarding the Community Advisory Committee are needed, including clarity about its role, mandate and how community concerns will be brought forward.
I believe residents deserve to understand what is being proposed, what the potential impacts are, and how their concerns are being considered before important decisions are made. Learning more directly from urban property owners and understanding their experiences is one of the reasons I am running in this ward. I want to ensure their voices are heard and their concerns remain part of the conversation.
Other Priorities
Traffic & Transportation
We need a better way to bring together the ongoing concerns around speeding, traffic safety, parking, pedestrians, crosswalks, cycling, ride share, transit, accessibility, enforcement and rural transportation. I believe we can do better than addressing these issues one complaint at a time. If elected, I will advocate for a Traffic & Transportation Working Group with diverse representation at the table.
Housing
We need to continue finding practical ways to increase housing options for people at different stages of life. We have opened the door to additional residential units (ARUs) and approved more apartment developments. I will continue exploring opportunities for appropriate housing while ensuring new development fits within our community.
Inclusive & Accessible Community
I will continue working to make Port Hope a community where everyone feels welcome, included and able to participate. We have advanced accessibility and inclusion initiatives, including the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy brought forward by Council, and I will continue to support accessibility, celebrate our diversity and remove barriers to participation.
Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability
We need to continue looking ahead and making thoughtful choices about how we grow and develop in a changing climate. I will support practical green development strategies that protect our natural environment, improve resilience and help Port Hope both mitigate and adapt to climate change.