Economic Development

We often hear about Economic Development as a catalyst to transferring the tax responsibilities from the homeowner to industry and about developing new job growth for the citizens.

But in Oshawa, Economic Development doesn’t appear to be working that way.

Oshawa has been waiving Development Charges (DC) fees on industrial development for a long time. Yes, it has added some new industrial facilities, but has it added to our tax base in a positive way? Have those new developments really increased job availability in Oshawa? Are they well paying jobs?

Who pays for the infrastructure for these developments, especially in areas like the new Northview Business Park that are not yet fully serviced?

The residential taxpayer pays!

With construction costs constantly rising due to inflation, tariffs and other factors, now may not be the time to discuss returning DC to industrial development.

So, what else can we do?

MTO own a large tract of ‘employment land’ along Hwy 407, and the City has been talking about getting those lands ‘released’ for future industrial projects.

Location, Location, Location!

Conveniently located between the free feeder highways 412 and 418 and along the free eastern extension of the 407, these lands could be an important building block for Oshawa’s economic development.

Future plans around the Northview Business Park, Conlin Road extension, and other development will make commercial trucking access to and from the 407 relatively easy.

But why take on the responsibility and costs associated with these lands?

Let’s solve multiple problems at little cost to the City and taxpayers.

Lobby the Provincial government to build an OnRoute along the 407, in north Oshawa, between the highway 412 and 418 feeder highways.

Make it a trucker’s paradise, with plenty of parking, professional drivers lounge with shower facilities, maybe even a hotel for those looking for a comfortable bed after many hours, days or weeks on the road and in the bunk.

Add in cross docking facilities, where loads can be broken into smaller sizes for local delivery throughout the GTA.

And to make it even more meaningful, let’s petition the Cities of Toronto and Markham for a boycott on double trailers on the roadways and highways through their jurisdictions.

You know, those big monstrosities that have the big yellow caution sign on the back, pulling double 40+ foot trailers along the corridor from Quebec City to Toronto, and sometimes beyond.

The provincial government has been waging a war on traffic congestion for a long time, so instead of a Bradford By-Pass or a tunnel under the 401, let’s provide them an opportunity to really put their money where their mouth is.

Public perception is raging strongly against truckers and the accidents they are involved in.

Mandate the 407 as a truck route, the Toronto By Pass, particularly for oversize loads. Provide companies and operators with the facilities they need for parking, trailer dropping, and driver safety features including more rest stops,

Roughly a 5 hour drive from Montreal, this facility could create a ‘turn and burn’ location where a truck could legally depart Montreal, drop at the Oshawa ONRoute, pick up another trailer and return to Montreal in one day.

An ONRoute facility like this will bring jobs.

Not only the minimum wage jobs for the fast food industry located there, but spin-off jobs in warehousing, possibly hotels, heavy duty mechanics, heavy recovery and towing, local driver services for the ‘final mile’, and maybe a truck wash facility, and so on.

And it will remove those ‘dangerous’ trucks congesting the 401 on everyone’s commute.

Trucks would avoid the stop and go throughout Toronto, reducing emissions and travel time.

The ONRoute would be built and financed by the Province, not the City.

The Province would increase the Payment in Lieu of taxes revenue of the City.

The spin off businesses would pay property taxes, possibly Municipal Accommodation Taxes, and employ residents.

This is just one example of how new faces and new ideas can change Oshawa for the better.

Jeff Davis

Candidate for Regional and City Councillor, Ward 4 Oshawa

August 4, 2026