OSHAWA ROSEMARY - ROSEMARY'S BLOG

OSHAWA ROSEMARY

Oshawa Mayor's 2026 City Budget - called that as Mayor Carter accepted Strong Mayor's Powers, which include a VETO

10/9/2025

Oshawa staff will present the Mayor's 2026 City Budget at a Special Council meeting, Friday Oct. 31st at 9:30 a.m. It will be online for the public to watch via webstream.

Then 2 weeks later a Special Meeting of Council will be held at 9:30 a.m., Friday, November 14th to hear public delegations on the 2026 City Budget.

For your correspondence to be added to the meeting agenda, it must be emailed to [email protected] by 4 p.m. on Thurs. Nov 13th prior to the meeting the next day.

Requests to delegate electronically or over the phone must be sent to [email protected] by NOON on Thurs Nov 13th.

NOTE: a number of new constituents in Ward 1 are very concerned about how expensive they find Oshawa’s property taxes, especially how high the 2025 tax increase was and are worried about what the 2026 increase will be.
I have arranged a meeting tomorrow Oct 10th at 6 p.m. to review the City's budget process and try to shed some light on where their Oshawa property tax money goes. If any constituents would like to join in the discussion please call me at 905-436-5615.
Also please know there are some informative links on the City's website, such as: How the City Budget Works | City of Oshawa

Motion Passed! Re: Open Use of Controlled Substances - Seize the Drugs & Save the City!

9/29/2025

Feeling thankful, at the Oshawa monthly Council today, 10 of the 11 member Council supported the Seize the Drugs and Save the City motion (published a couple posts back)! Council agreed to an additional paragraph being added to it, which appropriately expanded the scope of the main motion concerning the rapid spread of open illicit drug use and the need to reclaim our streets, parks and public spaces before the situation is unfixable:
“that Council additionally requests that the provincial Minister of Health, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions coordinate activities and funding to increase supportive housing capacity to reduce the numbers of individuals on the streets struggling with addiction with limited opportunities to find suitable care environments.”

Monday Sept 29th Oshawa Council meeting Agenda

9/28/2025

Below is a tracking list of items on the Monday Sept 29th Oshawa Council meeting Agenda. I will be asking to speak on the following:

CNCL-25-60 which is a report by staff requesting changing the organization of the City's Advisory committees. I'm very concerned by the timing and why it was added to the Agenda with no consultation of the advisory committee members.
CO-25-47 Traffic lights at Wilson & Greenhill (it's a referral so I'm only able to speak to timing and direction);
CF-25-44 the Fees & Charges By-law Update
CF-25-47 the City's telephone greeting -I'm asking to remove after 'we kindly request that all calls remain respectful' the words that "'Aggressive Behaviour, Harassment or Coarse Language May Result in the Call Being Ended."
ED-25-95 where Staff request delegated authority for Actions for Strategy re the City’s Position for Appeals Filed Under Ontario Planning Act or Ontario Heritage Act -I do not support approving this delegated authority.
CO-24-38 I would like more information on this Closed Report re the Non-Exclusive use of Parking Spaces at Various City Parks

And I will also want to speak on the 3 Notices of Motion at the end of the meeting:
i) the new Rose Valley Community Park Parking problems
ii) addressing the open use of Illegal Controlled Substances in municipal public areas
iii) staff investigate a para pickleball pilot project

New Rose Valley Community Park Oct 4th Grand Opening and expected problem parking!

9/27/2025

This Monday's Oshawa Council meeting agenda has a Notice of Motion concerning the Opening of the new Rose Valley Park at 1095 Thornton Rd. N. next Sat. Oct. 4 and the expected traffic/parking problems with some plans for City staff to remediate the issues.

Ontario invests $36,563,673 in Durham Region connecting more to Faster Emergency Care

9/25/2025

SEIZE THE DRUGS TO SAVE OUR CITY!

9/23/2025

I believe this a well-measured first step.

Like I said before, Peterborough Police began this in June. See this update on their increasing enforcement:
https://www.peterboroughpolice.com/.../further-to-media...

Time the City of Oshawa and Region of Durham address this!

Below is my NOTICE OF MOTION on the Monday, Sept 29 Council meeting Agenda. At the June Oshawa Council meeting this Notice of Motion was voted 'Out of Order', so over the summer I met with individuals who helped with some wordsmithing. I am hopeful it will be approved on Monday, especially considering how an article published yesterday (copied at the bottom of this post) concerning Calgary Council's plan to ban open use of illicit drugs in public spaces indicates "the tide is finally turning toward an approach that balances compassion with accountability. Ending public drug use in our cities is not just bold or courageous — it is obvious".

Whereas the possession of substances regulated under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (“CDSA”) is a criminal offence contrary to s 4(1) of the CDSA; and the open use of such substances has become flagrant in parts of the City of Oshawa and Region of Durham, reducing the quality of life for law-abiding residents;

Whereas the open-air use and availability of such substances in areas providing supports to persons attempting to recover from addiction impedes the recovery efforts of those persons and attracts drug dealers associated with greater crimes to areas where users of such substances purchase those substances;

Whereas Part V of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada Deskbook (“PPSC Deskbook”) provides that prosecutions for possession of a controlled substance contrary to s 4(1) of the CDSA will generally be reserved for the most serious manifestations of the offence;

Whereas the PPSC Deskbook provides that the most serious manifestations of the abovementioned offence justifying a criminal prosecution response include “simple possession” in areas “committed in the vicinity of places frequented by children or young persons” and “that poses a heightened risk to a community’s efforts to address consumption of controlled substances in accordance with its own community approaches”;

Whereas children and young persons frequent the municipal properties in the City of Oshawa and Region of Durham including parks, sidewalks, and other properties adjacent to such municipal properties;
Whereas the open-air and uninhibited use of drugs in areas providing supports to vulnerable persons, including persons attempting to recover from addiction and lead a life of sobriety, poses a heightened risk to the community’s efforts to address consumption of controlled substances;

Whereas open-air controlled substances offences occurring in areas of Oshawa and the Region of Durham parks, sidewalks, and other properties adjacent to such municipal properties would be considered as a most serious manifestation of the offences and be prosecuted; and,

Whereas it appears that such offences occurring in Oshawa and Region of Durham parks, sidewalks, and other properties adjacent to such municipal properties are not being prosecuted;

1. Therefore, the Council of the City of Oshawa respectfully requests that the Minister of Justice Attorney General of Canada take appropriate action to address this public concern; and,

2. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Attorney General of Ontario, the Regional Municipality of Durham and it’s member municipalities, all Region of Durham area MPs and MPPs, the Durham Regional Police Service and AMO.

https://www.pressreader.com/canada/national-post-latest-edition/20250924/281724095718433?srsltid=AfmBOopqmpo53XdaOOfWyN9isIb4RxdmAVFk1gxSc252KGcS36Pt2dQM

23 year old Oshawa man Arrested After Defrauding Others Out of $2.5 Millon

9/23/2025

On the plus side, a number of my constituents hopefully may find the loud vehicle noises from super charged Lamborghini and Porsche cars racing down their streets now subside and reduce their road safety concerns since this 23 year old Oshawa man known for driving luxury high end cars is in custody after he is alleged to have fraudulently taken over $2.5 million from victims "to finance his extravagant lifestyle".

The police indicated in the press release that this young Oshawa man's alleged scam took place between March 2023 and March 2024. It now seems to me this explains why when my constituents and I reported the high end vehicles loud muffler noise and excessive speeds on Oshawa local streets to DRPS, we were assured it was being looked into.

Male Arrested After Fraudulently Taking $2.5 Million for Investments | Durham Regional Police Service

www.drps.ca/news/posts/male-arrested-after-fraudulently-taking-25-million-for-investments/

Monday Sept 8, 2025 Standing Committee meetings Agendas

9/7/2025

Monday Sept 8, 2025 Corporate & Finance morning and Economic & Development afternoon Committee meeting Agendas Item Lists

I've highlighted Report ED-25-95 in the chart above. Below is the report in its entirety. I find it presents a disturbing move away from the elected Oshawa Council being accountable to the public. There may be arguments this new 'strategy' is more efficient and effective. But imo it overlooks those situations where the elected very much should have a say.

Sometimes delegating is fine, but when certain matters proceed to an appeal at the Ontario Land Tribunal, the function of the elected to their constituents can be diminished.

In Report ED-25-95, Staff recommend to City Council:

Whereas, various decisions made by municipal approval authorities such as Oshawa City Council, the City of Oshawa Committee of Adjustment, or designated City staff under the Ontario Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P.13, as amended (the “Planning Act”), can be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (the “O.L.T.”), including decisions to approve or not approve official plan amendments, zoning by-law amendments, proposed draft plans of subdivision, applications for site plan approval, minor variances and consents; and,

Whereas, various decisions made by municipal approval authorities such as Oshawa City Council under the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.18, as amended (the “Heritage Act”), can also be appealed to the O.L.T., including decisions to list or designate properties in the municipal Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest; and,

Whereas, on occasion, such decisions made under the Planning Act or the Heritage Act are the subject of appeals to the O.L.T. filed by parties objecting to the decision; and,

Whereas, current Council policy requires that the Economic and Development Services Department prepare a report to the Economic and Development Services Committee when an appeal is filed in accordance with the Planning Act or the Heritage Act against a decision of the City, and,

Whereas, as a typical component of such reports, it is staff’s general practice to include a recommendation seeking Council’s authorization to take appropriate action to support the City’s decision, including to attend the O.L.T. hearing; and,

Whereas, upon considering such reports, it is Council’s general practice to direct staff to attend the O.L.T. in support of the City’s decision in the event of an appeal under the Planning Act or the Heritage Act; and,

Whereas, in view of the foregoing general practices, it is appropriate that a standard approach be developed for the purposes of implementing a defense strategy to streamline the processing of appeals that are before the O.L.T. and to make efficient use of Council time and staff resources and to be able to respond to O.L.T. matters in a timely manner;

Therefore, be it resolved that that based on Item ED-25-95 dated September 8, 2025 concerning Proposed General Actions for a Standard Defense Strategy in Support of the City’s Position in the Event of an Appeal Filed Under the Ontario Planning Act or the Ontario Heritage Act, in the event an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (the “O.L.T.”) regarding a decision of the City is filed on a matter under the Ontario Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P.13, as amended (the “Planning Act”), or the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.18, as amended (the “Heritage Act”), the Commissioner, Economic and Development Services Department, and the City Solicitor, or their respective designates, be authorized to implement an appropriate defense strategy in support of the City’s decision generally in accordance with the following actions:

1. Continue to fulfill Council’s policy requiring the Economic and Development Services Department to report when an appeal is filed under the Planning Act or the Heritage Act against a decision of the City, by including within the appropriate Council Information Package a memorandum advising of the appeal; and

2. Advise the O.L.T. that Oshawa City Council maintains the City’s position with respect its decision regarding the matter at hand; and

3. Seek party status at the O.L.T. on behalf of the City; and

4. Take appropriate action, as deemed necessary at the discretion of the Commissioner, Economic and Development Services Department, or their designates, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to support the City’s decision, including to attend the O.L.T. hearing; and

5. Consent to an offer, if one is made, by the appellant (or the appellant’s counsel) to enter into mediation, to be mediated by the O.L.T., regarding the appellant’s appeal of the City’s decision, as a means of potentially resolving the appeal without the need for an extended hearing, should the Commissioner, Economic and Development Services Department, or their designates, in consultation with the City Solicitor, deem it appropriate to give such consent; and

6. Participate in said mediation and report back to the Economic and Development Services Committee and Council on the results of that mediation, as appropriate; and

7. Select, at the discretion of the Commissioner, Economic and Development Services Department, or their designates, an appropriate senior staff member of the Economic and Development Services Department to serve as the delegated City authority to make decisions in mediation, as required pursuant to Rule 18.7 of the O.L.T. Rules of Practice and Procedure; and

8. Engage external counsel and/or a consultant(s) if deemed necessary at the discretion of the Commissioner, Economic and Development Services Department, in consultation with the City Solicitor, or their designates, to prepare for and attend the O.L.T.-led mediation and/or hearing in support of the City’s decision, with associated costs to be accommodated through the Corporate Litigation Account; and,

9. Upon the conclusion of the O.L.T. hearing, report back to Council by including within the appropriate Information Package a copy of the O.L.T.’s decision.

47th Annual Columbus Community Church Yard Sale today till 3 pm!

9/6/2025

McLaughlin Library Temporary Closure for One week starting Monday Sept 8, 2025

9/3/2025

oshawalibrary.ca/branch-closure

Upcoming, Couple of September Maintenance Closures at Delpark Pool & Fitness Centre

8/30/2025

https://www.oshawa.ca/en/news/delpark-pool-and-fitness-centre-maintenance-closure.aspx

Greenhill Ave extension east of Harmony Rd. N. should open to public 'by late September'

8/22/2025

I know a lot of Oshawans have been asking and waiting a long time, me included, when the Greenhill Ave extension east of Harmony Rd. N. will be open.

Short answer: Soon, late September.

With the Conlin Rd E road reconstruction now underway, it is most frustrating that Greenhill Ave east isn't open to traffic yet...but according to City staff in the Economic & Development Department the latest detailed response is "the contractor for the project has completed construction of the road but a number of finishing works remain, such as line painting and the construction of a sidewalk on the south side of the road. In addition the contractor is working with the Region of Durham on signal coordination matters for the Greenhill Ave-Harmony Rd N. intersection that must be completed prior to opening the road extension to the public. Based on the most recent update from the contractor, the above items are expected to be completed in the next few weeks and the Greenhill Ave extension between Harmony Rd. N and Irvine Scott Dr. is anticipated to be open by late September."

The picture of the new road extension below is one I took last week of the view behind the parked bulldozer looking east from Harmony Rd. N.

TODAY Free Swim, Delpark Homes Centre 1:15-3:45 pm & FIREFIT competition 10am-6pm

8/16/2025

Registration for activeOshawa Fall 2025 Recreation Programs Opens Next Week

8/13/2025

Swimming lesson registration opens at 9 am TUESDAY, August 19.
General fall recreation program registration including arts, dance, music, sports, fitness and lessons to learn to skate open at 9 a.m. on THURSDAY, August 21.

https://register.oshawa.ca/

In-person registration is available at the
• Civic Recreation Complex
• Delpark Homes Centre
• Donevan Recreation Complex
• South Oshawa Community Centre

Bring your completed Course Registration Form for faster service when registering in person.

For those needing assistance navigating the online system, before registration opens you can attend one of the 2 activeOshawa help sessions (locations & times listed below) to learn about programs, check availability, and how to register:
at Civic Rec Complex, Fri. Aug.15th 6pm to 8pm or Delpark Homes Centre, Sat. Aug.16th 9am to noon

https://register.oshawa.ca/.../category/browse/PROGRAMREG

CONLIN RD. East, Oshawa Reconstruction Starting August 19, 2025 to November 2026!

8/9/2025

I want to thank the many people who have voiced their concerns to me and written or phoned alerts to the City for some time now about the desperate need for Conlin Rd. E infrastructure improvements.

PLEASE DON'T STOP PRESSING FOR THE NEEDED WORK TO BE EXPEDITED. Continue to send emails of your concerns to [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]

The missing lighting, sidewalks, and widening to four lanes are needed all the way from RITSON RD to TOWNLINE RD!

Note the construction on Conlin Rd E around Grandview St. N. finally starting this month from August 19th 2025 to November 2026 (see City Notice below) This is PHASE ONE A & B of the total road work project that has taken years too long to be added to the City Budget.

(Btw, the east extension of Greenhill Ave from of Harmony Rd N to Irvine Scott St. should be open soon and help lessen congestion when Conlin Rd. E is closed for the upcoming roundabout construction at Grandview St N. )

(This new section of Greenhill should have been opened much earlier and I have been trying to find out exactly when, especially as the Detour Map (also below) the City has provided for the upcoming Conlin Rd closure does not show it open!)

The current $12.9 million Conlin Rd. E. project which was finally added to the 2025 City Capital budget, in fact, amounts to less than half the total work required to complete bringing Conlin Rd E from Ritson Rd to Townline Rd up to urban standards from its current rural condition.

It is more than regrettable this was so poorly planned and is taking so long. The next Phases in the Capital Budget forecast, for the Conlin Rd E section from Ritson to Harmony Rd will be more than $20 million for construction over the period from 2027 to 2029.

Then the section of Conlin Rd E from Kurelo to Townline Rd staff have determined will be even later. It seems unreal considering the priority need.

Oshawa Mayor, Council members, senior staff and Oshawa Power President and Chair, and Region Chair and CAO have all heard me as the Ward 1 City Councillor, repeatedly voice my greatest worry of the risk of a serious accident happening Conlin Rd E.

My opinion, expressed many times at the City, has been that the new residential occupancies north of Conlin Rd east of Wilson should not have been approved before Conlin Rd. E., the main arterial road, was improved.

I have objected to the fact the City has directed millions to Conlin Rd West where the the Thornton Rd roundabout has been redone 3 times and the fact $10 Million+ was committed this year to the redevelopment of Stevenson Rd. from Taunton to Winchester while not giving priority to the east west arterial road for the massive residential population boom areas round Conlin Rd East and leaving it in such an unsafe situation.

CNCL-25-45 - Controlled Substances within the City of Oshawa (All Wards)

6/21/2025

The Notice of Motion CNCL-25-45 - Controlled Substances within the City of Oshawa (All Wards), on Monday’s City Council meeting Agenda is copied in full in the attachment below. I am adding 3 points here to be clear and indicate how serious I am when I say Oshawa Council needs to step up and pass this kind of motion NOW to make our police know that strong action must be taken before Oshawa’s worsening highly visible illicit drug problem becomes UNFIXABLE.

1. There is no excuse for Council to delay, refer or take a pass on doing this, considering the Edmonton Police Service and Peterborough Police Service, have begun engaging in the arrest and seizure policy to deter flagrant drug use that harms the community.

2. Oshawa Council should to be 100% behind making it clear the law will be upheld in our community and regardless of whether the Public Prosecution Service of Canada prosecutes such offences, that the Durham Regional Police Service, as a matter of policy, exercise the power to arrest persons found committing such offences, search them incident to arrest, and seize any controlled substances in their possession.

3. I reviewed the motion with a local criminal lawyer and our MP Jamil Jivani and his staff. They were supportive of the content. I also asked Oshawa Mayor Carter and the City’s Chief Administrative Officer and City Solicitor for their review and comments. The City Solicitor noted two paragraphs in the original draft relating to the City’s Municipal Law Enforcement and Corporate Security should be deleted and I removed them.

Tracking Sheet List of Items on the Monday June 23rd Council Meeting Agenda

6/20/2025

See below the list of wide-ranging reports and motions on the Agenda for the June 23, 2025 Council Meeting.

However, although there may be varying degrees of significance concerning the decisions and votes to be made at this Monday's Council Meeting, I strongly believe what Oshawa Council unequivocally needs to pass at this time is the Notice of Motion CNCL-25-45 - Controlled Substances within the City of Oshawa (All Wards) (listed almost at the end of the Agenda)

It is a motion to make community safety in Oshawa priority ONE, by combatting the prevailing defeatism on the issue of open-air illicit drug and substances abuse in the City.

We have a collective responsibility to preserve our public spaces, parks, sidewalks, store fronts, not only for us, but for our neighbours, our children and the next generation.

It is time Oshawa Council takes a stand and lets the police know that strong action must be taken before Oshawa’s worsening highly visible illicit drug problem becomes UNFIXABLE.

It is no longer excusable to hold back, delay, refer or take a pass on making it known, that, like the Edmonton Police Service and Peterborough Police Service, who have begun to engage in the arrest and seizure policy to deter flagrant drug use that harms the community, Oshawa Council expects the law to be upheld in our City, and regardless of whether the Public Prosecution Service of Canada prosecutes such offences, that the Durham Regional Police Service, as a matter of policy, exercise the power to arrest persons found committing such offences, search them incident to arrest, and seize any controlled substances in their possession.

OSHAWA POWER Annual General Meeting held this morning. Lots of positive information!

6/20/2025

A few highlights from my notes, (however we were told the power point slide deck with detailed information should soon be published on the Oshawa Power website)

The utility company's new hybrid trucks have decreased fleet emissions by 11.5% -positive considering all the vehicle idling time during work stops;
Oshawa Power has more than 100 employees, a $270 million asset base and the 2024 DIVIDEND TO THE CITY OF OSHAWA is $1.2 M
There is renewed commitment to improving communication with customers, and Oshawa Power has leased a new space in the Oshawa Centre, now open to the public, to answer questions and be more accessible;
Oshawa Power is one of the top utility providers in the province with an overall 99.9% reliability rate, its customers can feel confidence with their grid given Oshawa customer's average annual time without power is only 19 minutes)
They provided solar roofs to Civic Centre, and now doing installation at Donovan Rec Centre and next will be the Delpark Home Centre on Harmony Rd. N.
Oshawa Power plans to expand its renewable energy programs, solar and wind turbine generation (EnerFORGE, one of Oshawa Power Group of Companies is the 1st partner for Eocycle's distributed wind technology in Canada with smaller 25 KWatt turbines
Oshawa Power renewed its COR certification with the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association, and is known for its excellent safety record with almost 1.5M hours logged without any lost time injury!

Oshawa Fire Services 2024 Annual Report questions & responses

6/19/2025

On June 9th I asked a few questions at the Oshawa Safety & Facilities Committee meeting concerning the 23 page Oshawa Fire Services 2024 Annual Report, which was on the agenda as SF-25-33 https://pub-oshawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx...

It is a good report and likely following the City Council meeting on Monday June 23rd, it may be made available on-line in a flip book format, like the 2023 Fire Services Annual Report.

This week the Fire Chief and senior staff kindly provided the following responses to my questions (and the one at # 7 below asked by Councillor Lee):

Question 1: I was seeking further information on the number of fire incidents that were determined to be arson?
Response 1: There were 18 suspected arson fires for all property types (e.g. detached dwellings, vehicles, automobiles…) in 2024.

Question 2: Also as the statistics on page 16 are not in the most accessible format, could you provide the data in a chart similar to the one in the 2023 Oshawa Fire Services annual report.
Response 2: see chart of Oshawa Incident Response by Type copied below.

Question 3: I am interested in that actual number, and if possible, with this month of June being close to mid-2025, are the medical response incidents under or over mid-year last year?
Response 3:
2024 – Jan 1 – May 31: 1261 medical responses
2025 – Jan 1 – May 31: 877 medical responses
(breakdown provided in graph copied below)

Question 4: Do you have a breakdown of the medical incident stats related to drug overdoses, and by Ward?
Response 4: 2024 Suspected Overdose incident responses by Ward:
• Ward 1: 4
• Ward 2: 25
• Ward 3: 23
• Ward 4: 441
• Ward 5: 133
Total 626

Question 5: Is there going to be some kind of verifiable tracking to confirm the kind of expected improvements it should have and is so, what would be the data categories be?
Response 5: We currently track all call types through our records management system (RMS) please see the chart under response to question 3 as the chart outlines the data categories for medical responses.

Question 6: Are you aware if any lakeshore municipalities in Durham Region are compensated by the Region for their fire services medical responses?
Response 6: Not to our knowledge. Important note: during last year’s Regional budget deliberations, the Regional Council decided to download the cost of medical supplies for medical responses to the lower tier municipalities starting this current budget year 2025. In the past, supplies were ordered by the Region of Durham Paramedic Services (RDPS), and Regional Fire Services submitted order forms to RDPS for the required supplies.
Question 7: (asked by Councillor Lee) What is the average cost to residents of the city of Oshawa for fire services?
Response 7: The question is difficult to quantify, as individual residents are not the only, or necessarily the primary, source of tax, service, or penalty revenue to the city; instead, property owners and others who pay for services or penalties are also involved. The approximate average fire service costs based on the 2024 fire services capital and operating budgets combined are below.
2024:
• Average cost per resident: $204
• Average cost per property owner: $664

Question 8: What is MPDS system that is used by EMS/Paramedic Services?
Response to 8: MPDS system stands for Medical Priority Dispatch System. It’s the system used to handle emergency medical calls in a consistent and efficient way. When someone calls 911 with a medical emergency, the dispatcher follows a structured set of questions built into MPDS to figure out exactly what’s going on. This system helps the dispatcher quickly determine the severity of the situation. Based on the answers, it assigns a specific code, called a "determinant code," which tells us how serious the call is and what kind of help to send like basic life support or advanced life support. Overall, MPDS helps make sure every medical emergency is handled consistently and appropriately.

COMMUNITY SAFETY DAY Sat Jue 21st 11am to 3pm Firehall #5 Harmony/Coldstream

6/19/2025

I think many Oshawans will be interested in attending Oshawa's Community Safety Day!
If you have the time, I look forward to seeing you and hearing more about Oshawa resident’s safety concerns.
https://www.oshawa.ca/.../join-us-for-community-safety...

Community Safety Day — a free, family-friendly event focused on safety, preparedness, and community well-being.
Date: Saturday, June 21
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Fire Station 5, 1550 Harmony Rd N

Bring the whole family to meet local first responders, ask questions, explore emergency vehicles, and discover how we work together to keep Oshawa safe.

This collaborative event brings together Oshawa Fire Services, regional emergency responders, community partners, and City teams to deliver a fun and educational experience for all ages.
Event Highlights:

Live fire safety demonstrations
Emergency response vehicles on display• Community partner booths and giveaways
Career information and youth program highlights
Enjoy a free BBQ lunch, generously provided by Harvey’s! Limited quantity available.
Admission is free!

Residents are welcome to make cash donations in support of Camp Bucko – a camp for young burn survivors in Ontario.

Found the picture today of Patel & Khurram with the 13 bags of litter we collected May 9th

6/19/2025

Of course I meant to post this last month right after we finished, but missed where I'd stored the picture of Patel and Khurrum and the 13 bags of garbage we picked up from the east side of Grandview St, south of Esterbrook along the top edge of the trail. We had not met before, but it sure was nice to get acquainted and hear their ideas for reducing litter. One was to permit the blue recycling BAGS to reduce plastics and cans blowing from the the current hard plastic bins.

39 Athol St. W. presentation at the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting

6/18/2025

At the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee (OAAC) monthly meeting last evening there was a presentation and review of the high rise project for 39 Athol Street West. by Central Clear View Developments. Total Number of Suites is 204 and 31 of them will be constructed accessible (15% of the total suites) The total number of parking spaces is 127 with 5 accessible.

Here is the link to the 21 page report on this project, which is located on the site of the former Cowan House, beside St. George's Church on Centre St. S. (across the road from Oshawa City Hall) https://pub-oshawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx...

And at the bottom of this post is the rendering showing the 4 above grade parking levels, and one below grade parking level.

It was good to hear all the developer's attention to including many accessibility feature upgrades...such as:
"Accessible features of Guest/Suite Notification System (i.e. audio, visual, Braille): There will be audio and visual systems in place from the main door and the individual suites to notify residents if they have a guest present. This will be in place for both residents and guests with hearing or vision disabilities.

Ease of access/egress: (dimensions, curb ramps, path of travel) Hallway will be 1600mm and there will be space beside doors in the path of travel as per OBC requirements.

Access to commercial areas (street access; within building access; power door operators): Level entrance to building will be provided from sidewalk with power door operators.

Power doors will be installed on the commercial unit and lobby entrance doors, and all common amenity areas.

The common area in level 1 includes residential lobbies with a lounge for residents, pet wash, and retail area. An accessible washroom is provided at level 1 for residents.

The level 2 common area is a gym with an accessible washroom being provided for residents. All level 2 common amenity areas to be equipped with PDO’s. . Accessible equipment to be considered, with accessible path of travel maintained. Colour contrasting finishes to be selected in accordance with OADS standards. Directional signage to be provided throughout following OADS standards.

The level 6 common area includes a kids play room and business center. A accessible washroom is provided at this level for residents.
The level 18 common area includes an entertainment room and party room. Two washrooms are provided for residents with one being universal. The universal washroom will be fully equipped with emergency call system and adult change table.

An outdoor amenity terrace will be accessible with barrier free access and doors equipped with PDO. Directional signage to be provided throughout following OADS standards. All outdoor amenity spaces to be provided with an accessible path (step-free access and/or threshold cover ramps to be provided). "

Ontario's Safer Municipalities Act, 2025

6/10/2025

The Ontario Safer Municipalities Act, 2025 https://www.ola.org/.../bills/parliament-44/session-1/bill-6 received Royal Assent last week and the very next day, June 6, 2025 check out the great move Peterborough Police made passing it's "Safer Public Spaces - Update on Increasing Enforcement" initiative: "Beginning June 9, 2025, Peterborough Police Officers will be directed to move to a next level... approach to community safety and open-air illicit drug use. "Officers will be directed to arrest anyone found using illicit substances in public spaces, and any illicit drugs will be seized for destruction, or submitted for analysis and evidence to support any charges laid." https://www.peterboroughpolice.com/.../further-to-media...
Durham Region Police must pass a similar plan to increase enforcement on outdoor illegal drug uses as I wrote in a post I published here June 1st, prompted by one long-time downtown Oshawa's recent email calling for critical action before Oshawa's drug and crime problem becomes unmanageable and unfixable. Note the 2023 heat map showing suspected Opioid Overdose Calls in Oshawa below:

Bill 17 "The Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025" about to become law

6/5/2025

The 'single family home' in Ontario was essentially 'phased out' when in Nov 2022 the Province passed Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act. T

he Act granted 'as of right' 3 additional residential units on any residential parcel of land with municipal water & sewer. This change to add more houses, resulting in an overhaul of neighbourhoods (previously in many areas considered and described as 'planned communities') continues with another legislation where the Third Reading vote carried on division yesterday June 3, 2025. This is Bill 17, likely soon to receive Royal Assent, and seems to be a phasing out the opportunity for members of the public to voice objections to 'minor variances' at the Committee of Adjustment.

The Province refers to it as a 'streamlining' and a framework to 'Protect Ontario' as outlined in the proposed new changes to the Planning Act Schedules 3 & 7, Bill 17, "The Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025".

The Truth That Needs To Be Acted On to End Downtown Oshawa's Spiraling Decline

6/1/2025

One downtown Oshawa resident knows the problems extremely well from his experiences living for many years on Simcoe St. South. His recent email (copied below) describes in detail the decline he has been witnessing this spring, with a viewpoint that hits home — If critical action is not taken immediately, the situation is about to become frightening, “unmanageable and unfixable”.

In my opinion, his email is a clear call for what Oshawa leaders and citizens need to face up to: renewed action “with unrelenting pressure” this Spring to ensure a safer downtown. If in 2018 the Region of Durham could pass a by-law to restrict smoking in designated public spaces in all of its 8 municipalities, surely a way can be found to accomplish banning the public use of illegal drugs in Oshawa parks, downtown streets, empty lots and on downtown business properties.

Here is his May 29, 2025 email to me, in full:

Hello Rosemary, hope you and yours are all well. I've held back a bit from bothering you with too many updates about life on Simcoe south, hoping that by delaying, the situation would become clearer and my observations would be fair and not overly emotional.

After the shootings on John St. and the increase in violence, vandalism and crime in general, the mayor came out with strong words that this couldn't go on, that people shouldn't be afraid to step outside their door, to be able to live more normally, without feeling threats of danger.

It didn't take long to see a marked change in the monitoring and actions of the authorities. The results, although far from perfect, were at least tangible and gave us some hope that this time things might improve substantially.

But as before, that approach seems to have run its course and seems no longer to be the game plan. Not sure what the new plan is, but I see way less intervention by all authorities and it has brought back the same old issues. In spades! It looks like we've given up almost completely. On any given night now there are 30 or more drug users setting up camp on the block south of John. They’re already staking out their places by late afternoon. Most are still there at 9 or 10 the next morning, on my front steps and other private properties.

But it's even worse than that. Over the past week or two I've seen a massive influx of new individuals coming onto the scene. Trust me, they are not from Oshawa. They appear to be more threatening, dangerous, seriously drugged out and pretty much unafraid of any repercussions. Probably because there aren't any. The drug scene is rampant, without fear and wide open. the strewn garbage can't be called littering, it's much, much worse. And of course we all need to relieve ourselves. When you've got hundreds of people living on the sidewalks and no toilets, you can imagine the disgusting and uncivilized results.

It's still only May and it sickens me to think of what is yet to come. The City, the Region, the police, everyone, cannot ease up. It's obvious that
doing so leads to serious problems pretty much immediately. These people are expert at reading the situation and taking it over for their benefit. WE CAN'T LET UP. If we do, things will become unmanageable and unfixable.

I'm sure you've seen videos on YouTube of what's happening in Vancouver and many other cities. Frightening. I can't accept that happening here, given the resources and manpower and money and expertise to deal with this. Check out what the William's Lake, BC council is doing. I know it's an unpleasant part of everyone's job but that's just how it is. It must be done.

My one strong recommendation is to apply constant unrelenting pressure, make them pack up their pathetic gear several times a day and especially at night. Move. Move! Rousting works, as was most evident immediately after the mayor's press conference, but lasted only for a couple weeks. there must be some places for them to go but not on the sidewalks of Simcoe, the gateway heading into our sad downtown. this alone has probably contributed 80% to the tragedy happening to the downtown businesses. The vacancies! As 1000's of cars pass by (with doors locked) and see this, how many stop or would return for shopping or restaurant or whatever?

This large volume of passing traffic has been programmed over the years to avoid going downtown, only to pass through because of ab and sub normal and even depraved things they see. And they tell everyone they know. And then go on social media. so you can put benches, planters, pretty lights, banners, fancy bike racks and bike lanes no one uses and build parkettes downtown, that's good, but until Simcoe South is cleared up NOW, of this dysfunctional group, I don't see any hope for our downtown's future. As Simcoe south goes so goes the downtown. Not rocket science. Also, if the drug scene keeps being ignored, kiss the downtown goodbye.