Safer Streets. Honest Answers. A Stronger Downtown.
Dave Thompson’s plan for Ward 4 brings together public safety, responsible spending, downtown revitalization, neighbourhood services and accountability in one practical framework.
Public safety is the foundation of the whole plan. A neighbourhood people feel safe in is a neighbourhood where everything else can grow.
Dave Thompson’s three-phase neighbourhood safety plan
Dave has advocated versions of the Cops on Blocks plan in previous Ward 4 campaigns, including 2018 and 2022.
Additional Durham Police presence in areas experiencing increased crime, violent activity or persistent public-safety problems.
Once conditions improve, maintain an appropriate enforcement presence while Durham Regional Police, City services and community organizations work together on continuing neighbourhood issues.
As conditions stabilize, move back toward a normal community-policing and support model while continuing to monitor the area.
The broader approach includes coordination between police, by-law, City services, community organizations, social-service providers, businesses and institutions dealing with recurring downtown problems.
Everyone in Ward 4 deserves to feel safe — in their home, on their street, in our parks, and downtown. Public spaces belong to the whole community, and they need to remain usable for everyone.
Safety isn’t about choosing between compassion and order. We need both. People in crisis deserve support, treatment, and real pathways to stability. At the same time, residents deserve streets and parks that are clean, safe, and welcoming. Those two goals aren’t in conflict — they’re both essential parts of a healthy community.
Transparency isn’t a buzzword — it’s the minimum. Residents deserve clear answers on taxes, spending, reserve funds and accountability.
Residents deserve to know what’s being built in their neighbourhood, when it’s happening, why decisions are being made, and how much it costs. Too often, major Ward 4 projects move forward with minimal public communication and unclear timelines.
I’m proposing a Ward 4 Transparency Tracker — a public, regularly updated resource where residents can see exactly what’s happening with major projects across the ward. No spin. No buried reports. Just clear, accessible information.
One of the most common frustrations is not knowing which level of government to hold accountable. Here’s a plain-language guide to how responsibilities break down in Oshawa.
Local parks, recreation and community facilities; local roads and by-law services; community services and local planning approvals.
Durham Regional Police Service; Durham Region Transit; waste and water services; social services and housing support; regional roads.
Education and health care; provincial highways and courts; and the rules municipal and regional governments operate under, including how local taxes and fees are set.
Growth that serves the people who already live here — and a downtown that works for everyone.
Downtown Oshawa should be the heart of our community — a place where local businesses thrive, arts and culture are celebrated, and residents have access to the services they need. New development can be positive, but only when it’s matched with the infrastructure and services that make a neighbourhood livable.
New condos must come with real planning: transit access, parking that makes sense, grocery and medical services, safe public spaces, and support for the local businesses that give downtown its character.