Securing long-term prosperity through economic growth.
"More businesses mean more jobs. More jobs mean more people earning more money. More investment means more assessment growth. And more assessment growth gives us the capacity to provide better services and more opportunities — without continually asking existing taxpayers to pay more."
For too long, Peterborough has been managing decline. We’ve operated under a mindset of scarcity, treating our residents as an ATM rather than partners in prosperity. We’ve been stuck, unable to unlock our full potential, and unable to provide the level of service and care our residents deserve.
Why? A big reason is we lack employers that a city of our size requires to fuel its residents' wellbeing. We often point to the lack of employment lands as the reason for our limited growth prospects, and while it's true Peterborough desperately needs more land, it's far from the only thing holding us back.
It’s clear from hundreds of conversations with local businesses that the City doesn't have the backs of the job creators. The people and businesses who form our economic backbone face obstacles at every turn to grow their enterprises — and in turn we lose job opportunites for residents, and we lose economic prosperity for our city.
That idea of having the backs of our job creators is the core of my economic growth policies.
Our Strategic Approach
To achieve these goals, our approach will be guided by four core strategies:
- We will remove every reasonable barrier to bring good-paying jobs to Peterborough.
- We will work collaboratively with the County to attract new businesses to the area.
- We will use new assessment to invest in the services residents need.
- We will pursue public/private partnerships to make investments in new economic infrastructure.
Our Core Policies
A Multi-Purpose Sports, Entertainment & Convention Centre
This will be an anchor for economic growth, a generator of new ancillary jobs, and a catalyst for the revitalization of our downtown. And let me be clear: this is not the proposal currently before City Council.
My vision is broader and bolder. It's not simply a new home for the Peterborough Petes and an accompanying concert venue. It's a facility designed to attract people, investment, events, and businesses to our downtown throughout the year. This will require partnerships between the City, senior levels of government, and the private sector.
This development cannot — and should not — be built on the backs of local taxpayers. Any incremental cost associated with new capital borrowing must be covered by revenues generated by the facility itself. Repayment of principal should ultimately come from the assessment growth that this investment generates.
New Serviced Industrial Land
A new downtown economic generator, by itself, won't be enough. We also need new serviced industrial land if we are going to attract new businesses and create new jobs. This is not news to anyone who has followed Peterborough’s economic development challenges. What's new is my commitment to make it happen.
We aren't going to do it by being a bully. We aren't going to do it unilaterally. And we aren't going to keep trying the same formulas that have not worked in the past. I'll work with the County, our surrounding townships, and the provincial government to find innovative solutions that meet the needs of all ratepayers. Business investment and job creation pay little attention to municipal boundaries. I'm prepared to treat our municipal partners with respect, to work collaboratively, and to find solutions where everybody wins.
A Planning and Building Permit Service Guarantee
I want Peterborough to be a place where it's easier to build and create jobs. The City’s new permitting system should help major developments, but we can't forget about smaller development — often undertaken by individual homeowners and small builders.
That's why I'm proposing a new planning and building permit service guarantee. Businesses, builders, and homeowners deserve predictable timelines, clear expectations, and accountable customer service. If we want people to invest in Peterborough, we need to provide two things: Urgency and certainty.
Additional Economic Policies
- Create a city-wide Tourism Community Improvement Plan to encourage private investment in tourism infrastructure, visitor attractions, accommodations, and experiences that strengthen Peterborough’s appeal as a year-round destination.
- Implement an annual Economic Prosperity Report Card that publicly tracks the City’s economic performance using measurable indicators such as net new jobs, private sector investment, and non-residential building permits.
- Create a plan for the proposed ALTO rail station area that encourages private sector investment in high-density housing, commercial development, and the wrap-around amenities needed to support future residents and commuters.
"If you want to bring good-paying jobs to Peterborough, we have to roll out the red carpet, not the red tape."
Together, We Will.
That is how we change Peterborough’s trajectory.
That is how we build a stronger economy.
And that is how we make Peterborough one of the premier cities in Canada.