Setting the Record Straight, Part 2

I am not a politician. This isn’t polished or sugar coated. It’s real.

I am a resident of Oshawa concerned with the current administration and our ever-worsening financial position.

I believe that I have knowledge and experience that can help the citizens of Oshawa and the City as a whole.

I believe in ‘civic duty’, public service, and democratic governance.

I also believe this election is one of the most important opportunities for the City of Oshawa to finally move forward.

Our mayor is retiring. 3 incumbent Councillors are vying to take over his seat, and they have substantial competition as well.

This election, we will change at least 3 of the incumbent Councillors, and hopefully even more!

WE have an opportunity to change the course of the City of Oshawa, by changing the names, faces, and philosophies that sit around the decision-making table in Council chambers.

Rumours and Lies?

I received an email through my election website that was both informative and disturbing.

“Had someone say they are friends with Sanders and Kerr and they are telling unifor and arts people all to ensure they don't vote for you because you are the beer guy and you only had volunteer roles and warehouse work”

Let’s set the record straight!

Yes, I like Craft Beer!

My spouse owns the Durham Craft Beer Festival and we have worked hard to bring it back to Oshawa since purchasing it post pandemic. We have hosted three festivals since that time, one at the Biltmore Theatre downtown, and two at Children’s Arena. These are public events that bring people together to sample Ontario Craft Beers, with an emphasis on local Durham producers as well as bringing in other Ontario Craft Brewers that might not be familiar with local Craft drinkers.

We rent City facilities (Children’s Arena) or private venues, purchase necessary City licenses and permits, operate within the AGCO requirements, and add to the entertainment and events in our downtown.

Neither Sanders nor Kerr have ever attended or supported our efforts to add to the downtown vitality.

Unlike Sanders and Kerr, we don’t just show up for free events and photo opportunities or events that are only supported by taxpayer dollars.

Our first event at Children’s Arena created some interesting moments.

When we asked the City’s Events Staff if we could use the Muskoka Chairs that were turned over to the City when the BIA was disbanded, staff had absolutely NO CLUE what we were talking about!

I provided them with City report references that showed there were two sea containers in storage at the Farewell yard. Someone went and opened the containers and found about 60 plastic Muskoka chairs that they didn’t know they owned. (I wonder what other treasures they found?)

Now those chairs are used at many City events and are available for rent through the Events department, creating revenue for the City and adding some colorful seating at many City events.

We provided free space for Oshawa based organizations that also use Children’s Arena to help promote those organizations and the use of the Children’s Arena as an event space. We invited Oshawa Advisory Committees to also have FREE information booths, but the most we could get was a City of Oshawa Special Events booth.

We participated in the City’s Business License review and worked with staff to amend the processes to make event planning easier for everyone.

I am not surprised that former Councillor Sanders and incumbent Kerr are attempting to misalign with special interest groups to sway support in the election. I am however saddened at the level of misinformation and outright lies being presented. But that’s politics!!

So, grab a coffee or great local Craft beer, and read on!

Here’s a brief background of my history and experience that makes me better suited to represent the residents of Ward 4:

My formal post secondary education was completing 3.5 years towards a 4 year Bachelor of Business Administration degree at an accredited Canadian University.

I suffered a debilitating workplace injury during the summer of my second year of university and lost one semester in recovery.

But I had a full time job offer at the end of my fourth academic year, and returned to Ontario to work.

I had a successful career in the transportation industry, starting as a motorcoach tour planner before transferring to the company’s school bus division as a branch manager.

I moved on to Canada’s second largest school bus operator as Operations Manager. Two transfers later, I was a branch manager in charge of over 100 school buses and 150 employees.

BOTH companies were contract operators of transit services in Durham Region prior to amalgamation.

I have worked and negotiated with unionized employees with the CBRT&GW and Teamster unions as well as incorporated Employee Associations.

I received amazing corporate support and additional training to allow me to have developed and managed multi million-dollar budgets, worked in highly government regulated sectors, and excelled in these roles.

I moved eight times in my first five years back in Ontario, all career advancements that also have broadened me with great life experiences from across Ontario municipalities.

My second employer initiated an HR program involving an Industrial Psychologist to improve their management hiring skills. During my interview with that Psychologist, I found that I was the catalyst of the program as they were trying to understand why I had advanced so quickly and beyond many longer-term management employees. He also warned me, off the record, that I would have personality issues with my boss, and he wasn’t wrong!

When I left the corporate world and its stresses (I had developed a serious ulcer), I moved into a construction job to pay the bills. As a labourer working with many trades, my skills soon transferred me to position as a Superintendent’s Assistant. Upon the completion of a major project in Durham Region, I set up my own small business with 4 part time employees completing office cleaning, maintenance and landscaping services. I sold the business to an employee and am please to know it is still active.

I worked as a private Health and Safety Consultant under contract to an emerging and now international heavy equipment manufacturer, creating a complete Health and Safety program and representing them before the courts on earlier regulatory failings and Ministry orders.

I moved out of the Durham Region and returned to landscaping where I moved from a landscaping maintenance position to driving dump truck, equipment float, landscape product delivery, and eventually into a sales/office role for retail and wholesale landscape supplies. Seasonal work that was rewarding in its own rights.

During the off season, I applied for a job in a warehouse environment for the Christmas rush period and was hired full time afterward. I suffered a recurrence of my injury from 30 years prior in university, and was eventually pensioned off as ‘disabled’.

I returned to Oshawa in the spring of 2013.

I got interested in the dysfunction of City Hall after reading about the City attempting to sue a resident who had brought over 1000 motorcycle riders to our downtown and the following month a story about the Auditor General and concerns over the project to overspend on property for the development of the Consolidated Works Depot at 199 Wentworth St.

And thus started my volunteerism and activism to return Accountability and Transparency to the City of Oshawa municipal governance. For over a decade I worked with a small group of citizens trying to uncover the truth behind the Wentworth Street debacle, filing Freedom of Information requests, appeals, and reconsideration requests of the City’s process of document hide and seek.

Our purpose was not to change the decision or construction of the Consolidated Works Depot that proceeded through the will of Council, but to uncover the broken processes that led us to overspending on the property, closing the office of the Auditor General -our only source of oversight in Oshawa spending, and to ensure this type of systemic and financial abuse didn’t continue or repeat.

Unfortunately, Sanders was on the Council of the day that approved the project and closed the office of the Auditor General, and Kerr is on the current Council that has basically repeated the process with the unbudgeted $50M renovation of the TCC.

Not much wonder they don’t want me to get elected!

During my decade plus of watching City Hall follies, I have researched, studied, and analysed Council decision making and City policy.

My knowledge of City policy, by-laws, complaints procedures, and general operations has encouraged many residents and businesses to reach out to me on several occasions for assistance. From permitting ‘red tape’, incentive programs, licensing issues, to MLELS enforcement, I have volunteered my expertise and helped progress issues into solutions.

I originated the concept of street buskers during COVID.

I helped open the Biltmore Theatre during the pandemic with a robust procedure to meet Regional Health requirements.

I sat on a City panel to consider a revitalization plan for the Arts Resource Center (which the Consultant’s final report has never been returned to Council or the public).

I have worked with homeless advocacy groups, fundraising, and permitting issues.

I have assisted with permits and construction of streetside patios in our downtown.

I have questioned City Hall and Council through numerous correspondence submissions and delegations to Committee and Council.

I have never sought accolades or acknowledgement for my participation.

Even without being paid, I have been extremely active as a Council Watcher (as John Henry once called us), reading agendas, reports and meeting minutes. I have publicly critiqued (not always synonymous with criticized) the actions of the Council and City for nearly 13 years, while we only hear from Sanders and Kerr at election time.

I guess that is the volunteerism they are concerned about!

I am prepared to serve the constituents of Ward 4 as your next Regional and City Councillor.

My life experiences make me more empathetic to the ‘average’ Oshawa citizen.

I have couch surfed.

I faced opioid addiction when I was 18 years old – AND I BEAT IT!

I have lived paycheque to paycheque.

I have been underemployed and struggled with affordability.

I have seen success stories from other municipalities, and even lived in them.

I believe Oshawa has more potential than any city I have lived in, we just lack the political will.

I bring a fresh perspective, not controlled by an interest group, but with the best outcomes of our City and citizens at heart.

I want to hear from you and represent your views.

I am not here to pound my chest and seek accolades, or to steal your ideas.

I will promote Oshawa, Ward 4, our downtown residents and businesses, and gladly support your good ideas.

On this McLaughlin Day, think of the innovation and progress of our forefathers.

Believe in a better Oshawa for all. Vote for the change you deserve and that will work for you.

Jeff Davis

Candidate for Regional and City Councillor, Ward 4 Oshawa.

August 3, 2026 (original facebook posting date)