The City of Oshawa has the Ward system, with a total of 5 Wards across the City. Each Ward has two elected reps, One Regional/City Councillor and One City Councillor -which is the position I am running for re-election in Ward 1
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Ward 1 is the furthest north Ward and L shaped. It includes all of Oshawa's rural areas north of Hwy 407 to Coates Rd, the City's northern municipal boundary and the urban area between Taunton Rd E and Conlin Rd E, east of Ritson Rd N to Townline Rd N.
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Ward 1 is the furthest north Ward and L shaped. It includes all of Oshawa's rural areas north of Hwy 407 to Coates Rd, the City's northern municipal boundary and the urban area between Taunton Rd E and Conlin Rd E, east of Ritson Rd N to Townline Rd N.
To my constituents:
I feel privileged to have represented Ward 1 since 2018 and I would greatly appreciate your vote to re-elect me this October.
My record shows that I have the dedication and the courage to advocate for your concerns. Sometimes, that means taking a position that other councillors and staff prefer to downplay or ignore. Throughout my time on Council, I have informed constituents about what they need to hear, rather than serving up political spin points. I have done this because I want Oshawa to become a vibrant, transformative City, with a bright future.
If you feel the same way, I would appreciate your support in the weeks ahead.
Best regards,
Rosemary
905-718-0900 (cell)
I feel privileged to have represented Ward 1 since 2018 and I would greatly appreciate your vote to re-elect me this October.
My record shows that I have the dedication and the courage to advocate for your concerns. Sometimes, that means taking a position that other councillors and staff prefer to downplay or ignore. Throughout my time on Council, I have informed constituents about what they need to hear, rather than serving up political spin points. I have done this because I want Oshawa to become a vibrant, transformative City, with a bright future.
If you feel the same way, I would appreciate your support in the weeks ahead.
Best regards,
Rosemary
905-718-0900 (cell)
Boost Infrastructure Renewal
• Improve road rehabilitation and road maintenance
Problem #1: The schedule used to monitor and replace deteriorated surface conditions on Oshawa's Regional and local roads and maintenance is outdated. Solution #1: Implement a more effective road infrastructure evaluation program with a GIS database that can provide historical data of surface and subsurface roadway defects for monitoring across the City's road network. • Provide more timely delivery of quality parks and parkettes with suitable amenities for all ages and abilities (both new parks & redevelopment of existing parks)
Problem #2: There are existing City parks in Ward 1 beyond their 'best before date' or with inadequate amenities given nearby residential housing expansion and densification. Examples: a park, on the list for redevelopment in 2027, has rust coming off playground equipment onto children’s clothes, and spikes protruding from old railway tie landscape edging. At another park the City had difficulty replacing a slide because manufacturers are allowed to stop making parts for equipment 15 years or older. Therefore, procuring repair parts becomes challenging and expensive. A parkette with limited activities has pressures related to the opening of a new townhouse project nearby. Parents write the children have to line up and wait a long time to get their turn to play with the swings or slides. Infrastructure improvements are overdue to support area residents an accessible path of travel along Conlin Rd. to their neighbourhood park. Waiting for Conlin Rd. to be reconstructed is unacceptable An asphalt multi-use path on the south side of Conlin Rd is needed now. Solution #2: Improved park planning and a more aggressive redevelopment program must be adopted to ensure that public neighbourhood parks and parkette spaces are accessible and enjoyable, with adequate quality amenities available for area residents use. 
Problem #3: Missing trail connectivity. A number of connective trails, both multi-use paths and off-road recreational trails are not complete. One missing for a number of years is the or recreational trail long proposed for the 2 km section of the Hydro One corridor just east of Ritson between Taunton and Conlin, which has 'No Trespassing' signs!
Solution #3: Work should be expedited to connect Ward 1 trails shown on the City's 2014 Active Transportation Master Plan. 
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Increase Public Safety • Ensure more expert review is given to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) standards for all new developments.
Problem #1: Previously Durham Region Police Services had 3 qualified staff to review municipal plans for CPTED, now there is only one. Solution #1: City of Oshawa planning department needs to require all senior planners to take the course and be accredited. • Oshawa Council needs to press and see that Durham Police Division boundaries return to municipal boundaries and not divide the City into 3 different jurisdictional enforcement areas.
Problem #2: Police coverage of Ward 1 comes from Clarington's EAST Division or Whitby CENTRAL WEST Division, not Oshawa's CENTRAL EAST Division. With the rapid growth of the north and its distance from police Divisions this is an unsatisfactory arrangement.
Solution #2: All members of Council need to work to see Durham Police Division boundaries return to municipal boundaries. 
Problem #3: Speed Kills. Oshawa is behind in employing new road safety tools.
Solution #3: Issuing tickets is the best enforcement to curtail speeding. It is a priority to keep our roads safe. The Region of Durham approved its red light camera and speed camera program on Regional Roads in 2020. It is time now for Oshawa to follow the proactive examples of many other lower tier municipalities across the province and in Durham Region, like Ajax and Pickering that have adopted the Automated Speed Enforcement AES Cameras on their local roads. The Mayor of Mississauga articulated it well this year when Mississauga accelerated the expansion of its AES program. "Speed Cameras are working and drivers are slowing down". Note: Other Durham municipalities have also installed Pedestrian Crossovers for safety in areas where there is a traffic high volume and speeding. 
Problem #4: Drivers are not properly alerted about a stop and pedestrian crossing. Solutions #4: Many Ward 1 intersections need a line painting refresh, larger stop signs and/or extra markings. High traffic local roads should be on a shorter rotation cycle for painting markings than the City's current 3-4 year quadrant cycle. |
Action on Accessibility and Affordability • Closer tracking of the Annual City Budget results and outcomes to better inform Council members and the public of what is outstanding, what has gone over budget and why delays have occurred.
Problem examples: 1. the delivery date for the Rapid Response Haz Mat Vehicle ordered for Oshawa Fire Services in 2021 is unknown 2. the expedited Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park construction costs - how much of the final costs estimated in 2021 were higher due to the rush to complete for 2022 3. the Harmony Creek trail extension was originally to be completed in 2018, but the design was not advanced until 2021, and extra funding was needed to be approved in the 2022 budget due to the delays. Solutions: Ensure service levels and asset management and maintenance plans are balanced with needed new capital projects. It is important to identify which City strategies and practices are working and which are not. Priorities need to be fair, balanced and open to the public for acceptance and support. The time for a clearer, stronger asset management plan is now, with a lead summary before the 2023 Budget to boost the local economy and support Oshawa rebounding from the Pandemic. In addition, the plan could help direct improvements and projects for the City's centennial that will generate growth and make Oshawans proud. • Advance a new incentive project for Accessibility, plus a new approval process for ramps to encroach public sidewalks and right-of-ways. Problem: Too many store fronts, and residential units in Oshawa have entrances with steps and doors that are barriers for people with disabilities. Solution: The City can increase accessibility with a new pilot project incentive program for ramps and door openers; and include a new special encroachment agreement that would permit ramps on public sidewalks and right-of-ways. 
• Ensure a license plan for the Region of Durham to lease and sublet one unit per floor in all new 10 floor+ apartment buildings is approved to help increase the Region's available inventory for accessible affordable social housing
Problem: Although over the past 5 years new development growth in Oshawa has continually smashed all records for residential construction permits, what continues to be sorely missing are units that are accessible and affordable for those individuals, seniors and people with disabilities, who require accommodation without barriers. Units especially needed are ones featuring entrances without stairs, and with power door openers, and wider bathroom doors. Solution: To increase the appallingly miniscule number of residential units available for individuals needing accessible affordable housing, the City of Oshawa could be the lead on initiating a program that would have the Region of Durham and those developer/builder owners constructing new high rise residential buildings in Oshawa enter into special lease agreements. The program would permit the Region to increase the inventory of dwellings available for those in need of accessible affordable dwelling units in Oshawa. The building owner landlords of new high rise rental buildings in Oshawa would be required to make one accessible unit per floor available to the Region of Durham to sublease at a reduced rent to individuals in need of accessible affordable housing. |