Mayor Carter talks optimism for city
Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter says he is optimistic for the city’s future.
Carter addressed how COVID-19 has impacted the city, local businesses and the community as a whole during his State of the City talk given during a virtual event hosted by the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce.
He discussed the city’s cost containment strategy and addressed the need for support from the provincial and federal governments to further assist Oshawa’s business community, a task being led by the Mayor’s Economic Recovery Task Force, chaired by Ward 2 City Regional Councillor Tito-Dante Marimpietri.
While COVID-19 has had a significant effect on the city, province and country, the mayor highlighted that Oshawa continues to attract new investment, with nearly $400 million in building permit value in the first nine months of 2020.
COVID-19 has also inspired many Oshawa-based businesses to pivot their business plans to assist in stopping the spread, says Carter, who applauded the work of GM Canada, which recently produced its four millionth face mask after launching its Canadian Mask Making room earlier this year; Frère Du Nord for converting its operations to produce personal protective equipment; and All or Nothing Brewhouse which converted some of its operations to produce hand sanitizer for local health partners.
According to Carter, one thing is certain: looking forward, Oshawa is and will remain open for business throughout COVID-19 and beyond.
For Carter, the city’s future is bright. From attracting new business at the airport, new investment at the waterfront to continued growth of post-secondary institutions and other major development activity, Oshawa is not slowing down.
Carter also reminded attendees of the promising change and investment on the horizon in our health, transportation and economic sectors:
– A new CEO at Lakeridge Health with whom the city will continue to advocate for a new regional hospital in north Oshawa in the vicinity of Ontario Tech University and Durham College;
– Further development along Highway 407 East in Oshawa, the deep water port and the Go Train Lakeshore East Extension, making it easier to get to Oshawa, regardless of the transportation method; and,
– Extended services creating thousands of jobs within the Northwood Business Park, in addition to hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars put into the city’s retail, customer service, transportation and industry, including investments from Metrolinx, RioCan and Panattoni.
Carter finished his State of the City address by emphasizing that he is very optimistic for 2021. He reiterated that Oshawa is the right place for business, highlighting opportunities for collaboration and partnership and encouraging the Oshawa business community to continue to persevere during these difficult times.