The Full Plan

Four pillars and twelve policies for Ward 2, built to benefit all of Ajax

The vision

Ajax has nearly doubled since 1996, from 64,430 residents to 126,666, but the commercial and industrial tax base that should have grown alongside it did not keep pace. That single gap explains more about why Ward 2 residents feel squeezed than any other fact about this town. It is the reason property taxes feel too high, the reason basic services feel stretched thin, and the reason opportunity for young people and small businesses feels harder to find than it should be in a community this size.

These four pillars are built to close that gap with a sequenced, four-year plan and an identified funding approach for each policy. Each pillar stands on its own, but together they work as a system: a stronger commercial tax base (Respect Every Dollar and Grow Ajax) funds better services and infrastructure (Fix the Basics), which protects the people who make this community worth living in (Protect Our People). Fix one part of this system and you help Ward 2. Fix all four, in the order they're built to work together, and you help every resident of Ajax.

Four key promises

  • We will make every tax dollar visible, grow the tax base that pays for it, and make sure growth is planned and paid for up front.
  • We will bring modern technology to the everyday problems residents feel the most, and guarantee they get an answer when they raise a concern.
  • We will make sure youth, seniors, and vulnerable residents are protected by a real plan.
  • We will turn Ajax's underused commercial spaces into the local jobs, businesses, and gathering places residents keep asking for.

The Councillor's Pledge

A platform is a plan. A pledge is a promise a resident can hold someone to. Here is one for each pillar, tracked publicly, every year of this term, in the Annual State of Ward 2 Report.

  • Respect Every Dollar

    I pledge to bring a public tax and budget transparency dashboard forward within my first year in office, and to report progress on growing Ajax's commercial tax base publicly at every single budget cycle, without exception.

  • Fix the Basics

    I pledge that every Ward 2 resident who reports a pothole, a snow removal issue, or a safety concern will receive a documented response within the timeframe I commit to publicly, and if that standard is ever missed, I will say so myself in the Annual State of Ward 2 Report.

  • Protect Our People

    I pledge to launch the Ward 2 Youth Opportunity Pipeline within my first eighteen months in office, and to bring a seniors' connection strategy to Council before the midpoint of this term.

  • Grow Ajax

    I pledge to convene the One Ajax Business Growth & Retention Table within my first 100 days in office, as a standing commitment from day one.

These are the first four things a resident should be able to hold this office accountable for, the moment the term begins.

What the door-knocking data shows

This platform is drawn directly from door-to-door conversations across Ward 2, cross-referenced against independent strategic research, a full competitor record review, and Jay's direct community work through GiGLife and his experience as a full-time firefighter.

Issue Share of 5,251 recorded contacts Pillar
Property taxes / affordability Respect Every Dollar
Snow removal & road maintenance Fix the Basics
Parks & public space upkeep Fix the Basics
Speeding & traffic safety Fix the Basics
Safety & crime concerns Fix the Basics / Protect Our People
Unhoused Protect Our People
Youth programs & opportunities Protect Our People
Business & economic stability Grow Ajax

Figures reflect keyword frequency across recorded canvass notes and are directional indicators of issue salience, not a formal survey. They are presented for methodological transparency, not statistical precision.

Every policy in the four pillars is traceable back to this data, to specific streets and intersections residents named (Harwood, Rossland, Williamson), or to a specific, documented gap in a competitor's record.

Respect Every Dollar

Every budget dollar came from residents' paycheques.

Respect Every Dollar at a glance →

What this pillar covers

  • Property taxes and the annual budget process
  • Transparency and accountability for how tax dollars are spent
  • Commercial and industrial tax base growth
  • Water, sewer, and utility cost pressure
  • Development approvals and responsibility
  • Affordable and attainable housing supply

Why it matters

This is the anchor pillar. Ward 2 residents asked for lower taxes. They also asked why they feel like they are paying more every year for the same (or worse) service, and who at the Town is accountable for it.

This pillar is about three things happening at once: making spending visible, growing the non-residential tax base, and making sure new development pays its own way.

This is a Town-wide fiscal discipline pillar delivered through a Ward 2 lens: every resident in Ajax benefits when the corporate tax base grows and the budget is transparent.

At a glance

What is the problem?
Ajax has nearly doubled since 1996, from 64,430 residents to 126,666, without matching growth in its commercial and industrial tax base.
Why does it matter?
This was the #1 issue raised at the door, present in nearly 40% of all 5,251 recorded Ward 2 conversations. Tax is the root pressure behind almost every other complaint about service levels.
How do we pay for it?
A live budget dashboard funded from the existing IT capital budget; a commercial tax base target delivered through the existing Economic Development budget; and development scoring funded through existing application fees.
How does it benefit residents?
Residents see exactly where their money goes, they get a credible plan to slow future tax increases, and they see the cost of development decisions before those decisions are made.
Jay's pledge
I pledge to bring a public tax and budget transparency dashboard forward within my first year in office, and to report progress on growing Ajax's commercial tax base publicly at every single budget cycle, without exception.

Live Budget & Tax Transparency Dashboard

One plain-language place where residents can see what was promised, what was budgeted, where major commitments stand, and what's behind.

Advocate for a public, online accountability tool that brings key budget information, major capital projects and Council commitments into one resident-friendly place, showing planned costs, available actual spending information, timelines and status. Information would be updated on a published schedule using existing Town data wherever possible.

Why it works
Residents stop guessing. Staff get a single source and Council gets an early-warning system for cost overruns.
Addressing the concern
The concern raised about dashboards is usually cost and maintenance burden. This is resolved by building it as a lightweight layer on top of the Town's existing financial data, using information the Town already collects and reports.
Proposed funding path
Build first on information and digital tools the Town already maintains, with any additional technology or implementation costs scoped by staff before Council approval. The goal is to reuse existing systems and keep new administrative costs to a minimum. Any final cost would be subject to staff review, procurement requirements and Council's normal budget process.

Effects

Residents
Instant clarity on where their dollars go.
Services
It draws from existing systems, so the administrative load stays where it is.
Business attraction
Investors and developers get a transparent, predictable picture of Town finances, which reduces perceived risk.

What this means for you

This gives you one place to look, any time. Trust starts with being able to see for yourself.

Taking it to the next level

Extend this same dashboard framework Town-wide so every ward and department reports through one standard, positioning Ajax as the most transparent municipality in Durham Region, and giving the next Mayor a model ready to adopt on day one.

Commercial & Industrial Tax Base Growth Target

A public four-year scoreboard, updated every budget cycle, that tracks Ajax's progress against Mississauga and Markham, cities that grew their commercial assessment to share the load with homeowners.

Push Council to formally adopt a measurable, four-year target to grow Ajax's commercial and industrial assessment as a share of the total tax base, with public progress reporting at every budget cycle.

Why it works
At each budget cycle, publicly show how growth in Ajax's commercial and industrial assessment is affecting the overall tax base, and identify opportunities to use stronger non-residential growth to ease pressure on homeowners while protecting core services.
Addressing the concern
The usual objection is that attracting business takes years to show results. That's why the target is paired with the Business Growth & Retention Table in Grow Ajax.
Funding model
No new spending required to adopt the target itself. Implementation is funded through the existing Economic Development budget, redirected from general promotion toward a measurable outcome: a reallocation of money already in the budget.

Effects

Residents
A measurable strategy aimed at broadening Ajax's tax base and reducing long-term pressure on residential taxpayers.
Services
A more diverse revenue base makes service levels more resilient to residential tax fatigue.
Business attraction
A public commitment to growing the commercial base signals to investors that Ajax is competing for their business.

What this means for you

This is about lower taxes today and a lighter load every year after: as Ajax's commercial base grows, the pressure on your household eases.

Growth-Pays-For-Growth: Development Cost & Traffic Impact Scoreboard

Every major development application gets a public scorecard before shovels go in the ground: plain numbers on projected traffic, service, and infrastructure cost impact that any resident can read.

Require every significant new development approval to include a published score estimating its impact on roads, traffic, water/sewer capacity, and long-term municipal cost.

Why it works
Ontario already has mechanisms intended to make development contribute toward growth-related infrastructure. This policy adds something residents often struggle to find: a clear, plain-language picture of the infrastructure, traffic and long-term municipal implications before Council makes a major development decision.
Addressing the concern
Developers may argue this slows approvals. The response: a standardized score, built into the existing planning review process, speeds up approvals for well-planned projects by giving clear, upfront criteria.
Proposed funding path
Integrate the resident-readable summary into the existing development-review process where legally and operationally appropriate. Any additional staff or technical requirements would be validated before implementation and brought through the normal Council approval process.

Effects

Residents
The cost of growth is visible before it reaches their tax bill.
Services
Infrastructure planning gets ahead of development.
Business attraction
Responsible developers get a clear, predictable rulebook, which speeds up good projects.

What this means for you

Major growth decisions affect traffic, infrastructure and Town services. You should be able to see those impacts clearly before the decision is made.

Taking it to the next level

Publish the scoring data as an open feed so residents, journalists and advocacy groups can build their own tools on it, with the same full picture Town Hall has.

Fix the Basics

Better roads. Safer streets. Services residents can actually feel.

Fix the Basics at a glance →

What this pillar covers

  • Traffic congestion, speeding, and intersection safety
  • Snow removal, plowing, and winter maintenance
  • Road maintenance, potholes, and sidewalks
  • Street lighting, parks, and public space maintenance
  • Bylaw enforcement and neighbourhood cleanliness
  • Crime, community safety, and school transportation

Why it matters

Residents know instantly when their street is unsafe, their road is broken, their driveway is buried in snow, or their complaint to the Town disappears into silence.

This is also the pillar where modern technology can deliver measurable improvements: once built for Ward 2's worst intersections, it scales across all of Ajax.

At a glance

What is the problem?
Everyday basics (snow removal, speeding, road maintenance, and lighting) are the failures residents feel most often, and many said their complaints to the Town went unresolved.
Why does it matter?
Snow removal and road maintenance came up in nearly 1 in 5 of all 5,251 recorded conversations. This is what residents experience every single day, and it shapes whether they trust local government.
How do we pay for it?
Adaptive-signal improvements would begin with feasibility analysis, with eligible municipal, regional, provincial and federal funding opportunities identified before Council approval. The service dashboard is software built on the Town's existing GPS-equipped plow fleet; lighting upgrades are substantially offset by long-term energy savings.
How does it benefit residents?
Shorter commutes, better snow removal, a guaranteed response every time a concern is raised, and safer, better-lit streets and parks.
Jay's pledge
I pledge that every Ward 2 resident who reports a pothole, a snow removal issue, or a safety concern will receive a documented response within the timeframe I commit to publicly, and if that standard is ever missed, I will say so myself in the Annual State of Ward 2 Report.

Adaptive Traffic Signal Network

Smarter signal timing at the intersections residents struggle with most, using proven traffic-management technology where the evidence and jurisdiction support it.

Work with Durham Region on signal optimization and adaptive traffic technology on Regional roads, while evaluating Town-controlled locations for pilots where traffic data demonstrates a clear need and the technology is appropriate.

Why it works
Reduces wait times and congestion using software and sensors rather than expensive road widening. Cities that have deployed adaptive signal control commonly report double-digit percentage reductions in intersection delay.
Addressing the concern
The concern is always upfront hardware cost. This is addressed by starting with three or four priority intersections as a proposed pilot. It is subject to feasibility, staff costing, jurisdiction and Council approval. It will prove the results, then expand in stages using savings and provincial infrastructure funding.
Proposed funding path
Begin with feasibility and traffic analysis before committing to hardware. Where a pilot is justified, staff would identify project costs, available municipal funding and eligible provincial or federal infrastructure programs before Council approval. Regional intersections would require partnership with Durham Region.

Effects

Residents
Shorter commutes, less idling, less frustration at the same three intersections every day.
Services
Fewer resident complaints and less reactive signal-timing work for staff.
Business attraction
Easier access to Harwood Plaza and Durham Centre retail helps every business along the corridor.

What this means for you

You know exactly which light ruins your morning. This targets the problem with proven technology where the evidence and jurisdiction support it, because your time getting to work or getting your kids to school matters.

Taking it to the next level

Link the adaptive signal network to an emergency vehicle pre-emption system, so fire trucks and ambulances get automatic green lights along their route, connecting the technology directly to faster emergency response, and to Jay's own experience as a firefighter.

Real-Time Road & Snow Service Dashboard with a Response Guarantee

Residents can see, on a live map, exactly when the plow is coming to their street and get a guaranteed answer, in writing, every time they report a problem.

Push for a real-time public dashboard tracking snow plow and road maintenance routes, paired with a formal service standard guaranteeing every resident complaint about snow removal, potholes, drainage, or lighting receives a documented response within a defined timeframe.

Why it works
Multiple residents reported issues to the Town and heard nothing back. This ends that. It also gives Council and staff hard data on where service levels are falling short.
Addressing the concern
Some may worry a guarantee creates unrealistic expectations. The standard is calibrated to what staff can realistically deliver (e.g., acknowledgment within 48 hours, resolution timeline provided within 5 business days).
Proposed funding path
Build first on the winter-maintenance and service information systems Ajax already uses. Any additional software, integration or reporting costs would be scoped by staff and brought through the normal budget process before implementation.

Effects

Residents
Certainty about when the plow is coming, and every complaint tracked through to an answer.
Services
Public works gets a tool that actually reduces call volume by answering the question before residents have to ask it.
Business attraction
Reliable winter maintenance around commercial corridors keeps customers coming.

What this means for you

You'll know when the plow is coming, and you'll get a real, documented answer every time you raise a concern.

Taking it to the next level

Explore weather-informed route planning that helps crews prepare equipment and position resources before major storms. The goal is simple: use better forecasting and operational data to prepare earlier, ahead of the storm.

Ward-Wide Safety & Lighting Audit

A full map of every poorly lit street, park, and pathway in Ward 2, with a prioritized, published improvement timeline, subject to staff costing and Council approval.

Advocate for a comprehensive audit of lighting in streets, parks, and public spaces with coordinated work between Ajax bylaw, Durham Regional Police, and community organizations. Adopt a measurable Ward 2 safety action plan with regular public reporting.

Why it works
Improved lighting is consistently one of the highest-value, lowest-cost investments a municipality can make for both real and perceived safety. It reduces opportunity for crime and directly addresses residents' fear of feeling unsafe after dark.
Addressing the concern
The objection is usually 'we can't fix everything at once.' The audit solves this by ranking every identified gap by risk and publishing the fix schedule.
Proposed funding path
Start with the highest-priority lighting gaps and phase improvements through the Town's normal capital process. Energy savings from LED upgrades can help reduce operating costs over time. Any expansion would still require staff costing and Council budget approval.

Effects

Residents
Measurably safer streets and parks, especially for seniors, women, and families walking at night.
Services
Fewer bylaw and police calls tied to poorly lit hotspots over time.
Business attraction
Well-lit commercial areas see more evening foot traffic and lower insurance and liability concerns for local shops.

What this means for you

Every resident should feel safe walking their neighbourhood at night. This identifies the problem, maps the gaps, and creates a publicly tracked improvement plan for lighting concerns across Ward 2.

Taking it to the next level

Pilot motion-responsive smart lighting that brightens when people are present and dims when they're not, cutting energy costs while still lighting the way. A model any other ward or municipality could copy directly.

Protect Our People

A safer Ajax. A healthier Ajax. No one left behind.

Protect Our People at a glance →

What this pillar covers

  • Youth programs, mentorship, and career pathways
  • Seniors accessibility and staying connected
  • Unhoused residents and a balanced, compassionate response
  • Affordable housing opportunities
  • Healthcare access advocacy
  • Inclusion for newcomers, cultural communities, and faith groups

Why it matters

This is the human pillar. As a firefighter and founder of GiGLife, Jay brings direct experience serving and supporting people.

This pillar pairs that experience with structured, fundable municipal policy.

At a glance

What is the problem?
Vulnerable residents and seniors managing isolation and cost pressure, youth without a clear pathway forward, and people experiencing homelessness are too often met with sympathy but no structured plan.
Why does it matter?
This is where trust in leadership is won or lost. Residents want to know their councillor protects everyone in the community, including the people who are hardest to hear from.
How do we pay for it?
Delivered mainly through partnerships, nonprofit and volunteer networks, existing recreation and community services budgets, and Regional advocacy, keeping direct municipal cost low and outcomes high.
How does it benefit residents?
Real mentorship and career pathways for youth, independence and connection for seniors, and public spaces that are safer and more compassionate for everyone.
Jay's pledge
I pledge to launch the Ward 2 Youth Opportunity Pipeline within my first eighteen months in office, and to bring a seniors' connection strategy to Council before the midpoint of this term.

Ward 2 Youth Opportunity & Mentorship Pipeline

A direct pipeline connecting Ward 2 students to trades apprenticeships, entrepreneurship mentors, and emergency-services career pathways. Built on the same model that has already reached 12,000+ young people through GiGLife.

Build a structured mentorship pipeline connecting Ward 2 youth to local trades experts, business owners, entrepreneurs, firefighters and emergency-services professionals, informed directly by youth and family input.

Why it works
Shifts “youth need more programs” from a vague request into a measurable initiative, with a delivery-partner network already in place.
Addressing the concern
Youth programs are often criticized as feel-good but unmeasurable. This is addressed by tracking concrete outcomes: mentorship placements, apprenticeship connections, and program completion rates reported annually alongside the budget.
Proposed funding path
Build the program primarily through partnerships with local employers, non-profits, schools, trades and community organizations. Any municipal contribution would be scoped based on program design, partner capacity and measurable outcomes, and would require Council approval through the normal budget process.

Effects

Residents
A real answer for parents worried about their kids' options.
Services
Reduced pressure on youth-related bylaw and safety calls over time.
Business attraction
A stronger local talent pipeline is itself an attraction tool for employers.

What this means for you

If you're a parent wondering what's out there for your kids beyond a screen, this gives them a mentor, a path, and a reason to build their future right here in Ajax.

Taking it to the next level

Launch an annual Ward 2 Youth Summit where young people pitch ideas directly to Council, backed by a small youth-led micro-grant fund that makes youth co-authors of policy.

Seniors Connection & Independence Strategy

A volunteer-powered ride, check-in, and digital-literacy network that helps seniors age in place with dignity, in the community they built.

Advocate for practical senior supports: digital literacy help, volunteer ride partnerships, safety check-ins, and clearer, more accessible communication about Town services.

Why it works
Seniors are among the most tax-pressured residents in Ward 2 and often the most isolated. This directly answers both concerns, cost pressure and social and physical isolation, with a program.
Addressing the concern
The concern with senior programming is reach: will the people who need it most know it exists? This is solved by delivering it through existing trusted channels: faith communities, seniors' centres, and community organizations already serving this population.
Proposed funding path
Build first through existing Town, Regional, non-profit, volunteer and community networks. Any additional municipal coordination resources would be identified after staff and partner consultation and brought through the normal budget process.

Effects

Residents
Seniors stay independent, connected, and safe longer.
Services
Reduces isolation-driven strain on emergency and social services.
Business attraction
A visibly age-friendly community strengthens Ajax's reputation for families considering multi-generational households.

What this means for you

If you're caring for an aging parent, or you are that parent, this is built so growing older in Ajax means staying connected and independent.

Taking it to the next level

Pair this program with the youth pipeline into a single intergenerational exchange: seniors mentoring young entrepreneurs, youth helping seniors with digital literacy, doubling the impact of one investment across two pillars.

Unhoused & Community Safety Partnership

Give Ajax a stronger, consistent and publicly accountable voice in Regional homelessness planning, while improving coordination on the local tools Ajax controls.

Where Ajax can act
By-law enforcement, public-space standards, lighting and local coordination.
Where Ajax must advocate
Homelessness services, supportive housing and Regional service delivery.

I will push for regular, documented Ajax participation in Regional homelessness discussions and publicly report what Ajax asked for, what Durham committed to, and what happens next.

Why it works
Residents consistently linked homelessness to safety and community pride concerns. This policy attacks both fronts: it escalates the issue to the level of government that actually funds the solution, while ensuring public spaces remain clean and safe.
Addressing the concern
Residents want shared public spaces kept to a standard, and vulnerable people treated with dignity. This policy commits to both: maintaining standards for shared public spaces while connecting individuals to services.
Proposed funding path
Advocacy itself requires no new standalone program. Any additional local coordination, outreach partnership or service changes would be identified transparently and brought through the appropriate Town or Regional budget process.

Effects

Residents
Their concerns are formally escalated to the level of government that funds the solution.
Services
Bylaw and outreach work from one shared plan.
Business attraction
Cleaner, better-coordinated public spaces support commercial areas like Harwood Plaza and the waterfront.

What this means for you

Residents deserve safe, clean and welcoming public spaces. People experiencing homelessness deserve meaningful connections to support. Good local government should work toward both.

Taking it to the next level

Work with Durham Region, housing providers, nonprofits and employers to identify opportunities that connect housing stability with employment, mental-health, addiction and other appropriate supports, while keeping residents informed about what each level of government is responsible for delivering.

Grow Ajax

Ajax should be where people work, build, shop and belong.

Grow Ajax at a glance →

What this pillar covers

  • Small business support and retention
  • Commercial revitalization: Harwood Plaza, Durham Centre, Pickering Village
  • The Ajax Waterfront and the Casino site
  • Youth employment and local hiring
  • Job-rich development beyond warehousing
  • Community events, culture, and civic pride

Why it matters

This is the economic engine behind Respect Every Dollar: growing Ajax's commercial and industrial assessment broadens the tax base, supports local employment and can help ease long-term pressure on residential taxpayers.

It is also the pillar that answers what residents keep asking for: an Ajax that grows better as it grows bigger.

This connects directly to affordability: a stronger local economy means more jobs, commercial tax revenue, and community pride, benefiting every part of Ajax.

At a glance

What is the problem?
Ajax's commercial and cultural core (Harwood Plaza, Durham Centre, the waterfront, and the Casino site) remains underused, and small businesses face real barriers to opening and expanding.
Why does it matter?
This pillar is the growth engine that funds tax relief in Respect Every Dollar and gives young people a reason to build their future in Ajax.
How do we pay for it?
Start with existing economic-development tools, partnerships and Community Improvement Plan opportunities where applicable. Any new incentive program or municipal expenditure would be costed, evaluated and brought to Council for approval.
How does it benefit residents?
More local jobs, reasons to shop and spend time in Ajax, and lower long-term tax pressure for every resident.
Jay's pledge
I pledge to convene the One Ajax Business Growth & Retention Table within my first 100 days in office, as a standing commitment from day one.

Ajax Business Growth & Retention Table

A standing table that asks businesses directly why they chose Pickering, Whitby, or Oshawa over Ajax, and then removes the barriers, sector by sector.

Create a recurring working table with local business owners, the Ajax Pickering Board of Trade, Durham Region Economic Development, Town staff, entrepreneurs, and investors to identify real barriers and real opportunities.

Why it works
Economic development moves from a passive 'open for business' sign to an active, ongoing conversation that directly feeds the commercial tax base growth target in Respect Every Dollar.
Addressing the concern
Business roundtables can become talk without outcomes. This is addressed by requiring the table to report specific, trackable actions each quarter, tied to the same public dashboard from Respect Every Dollar.
Proposed funding path
Use existing economic-development and partner capacity wherever possible. Any additional staff or program resources identified through implementation would be disclosed and considered through the normal budget process. Staff time is still a resource.

Effects

Residents
More local jobs and a stronger commercial base mean slower future tax growth.
Services
Designed to use existing staff and partner capacity, with any additional resource needs disclosed through the budget process.
Business attraction
A direct, standing channel for businesses to raise concerns and get answers.

What this means for you

If you've ever wondered why your favourite shop closed, or what it would take to bring a new one here, this is the standing table built to ask that question and act on the answer.

Taking it to the next level

Publish an annual Ajax Business Report Card ranking barriers removed and prospects landed, turning economic development into a measurable public leaderboard.

Main Street & Waterfront Revitalization Plan

A focused revitalization plan to finally answer the question Ajax residents keep asking: what happens to the Casino site, and why does the waterfront still feel half-finished?

Push for a focused revitalization strategy for Harwood Plaza, Durham Centre, Pickering Village, and the Ajax Waterfront, alongside a serious conversation about repurposing the Casino site for community and economic benefit.

Why it works
Residents said directly they want restaurants and economic activity on the waterfront and stronger anchor tenants in Pickering Village. This gives them a plan.
Addressing the concern
Large-scale revitalization plans often stall on funding. This is addressed by structuring it around Community Improvement Plan (CIP) incentive tools the Town already has authority to use, plus provincial and federal infrastructure and tourism-development grant streams.
Proposed funding path
Use Community Improvement Plan tools where legally available and appropriate, alongside eligible regional, provincial, federal and private-sector partnerships. Any Ajax incentive would have clearly defined eligibility, limits and Council-approved funding before launch.

Effects

Residents
Local energy, restaurants, and destinations close to home.
Services
Safer, better-maintained public commercial spaces.
Business attraction
Incentives and a clear anchor-tenant strategy make Ajax's commercial corridors genuinely competitive.

What this means for you

A good night out should be right here in Ajax. This is the plan to bring that energy home, to the streets you already live near.

Taking it to the next level

Reframe the Casino site conversation around a signature public gathering space or innovation hub that becomes a visible symbol of the 'new Ajax': the single most visible legacy project of the term.

Small Business Concierge & Youth-to-Career Partnership

New small businesses get a named staff contact and a fast-track permit process, while local students get direct entry-level job and co-op pathways into the businesses this plan helps open.

Create a streamlined, fast-track permitting and support process for small businesses opening or expanding in Ward 2, paired with a youth-to-career partnership connecting local employers, schools, and trades to entry-level jobs, mentorship, and co-op placements.

Why it works
Small business owners consistently cite permitting delays and bureaucratic friction as a top barrier to opening or expanding. Solving that is often more valuable to a small business than a grant. Pairing it with a youth hiring pipeline links this pillar directly back to the youth strategy in Protect Our People.
Addressing the concern
Fast-tracking can raise concerns about cutting corners on review. This process speeds up sequencing and communication (a single point of contact and defined timelines) while keeping every safety, zoning, and building code standard intact.
Funding model
Implemented through internal process redesign within existing planning and bylaw departments: an efficiency gain within existing budgets. The youth partnership piece shares infrastructure with the mentorship pipeline in Protect Our People, so one program serves both.

Effects

Residents
More local shops open faster, and more visible signs of a thriving Main Street.
Services
Fewer stalled applications clogging the planning queue.
Business attraction
The goal is to make Ajax one of the easiest Durham municipalities in which to open and grow a small business.

What this means for you

If you've ever dreamed of opening your own shop in Ajax, this is built so the paperwork keeps pace with your plans.

Taking it to the next level

Explore a One-Stop Business Launch Day where entrepreneurs can connect with relevant Town departments and partners in one place, understand the approvals they require, identify outstanding steps and leave with a clear roadmap and named point of contact.

The Ajax Growth Flywheel

This plan is designed so progress in one area strengthens the others.

  1. Respect Every Dollar

    Better information and accountability help Council make stronger financial decisions.

  2. Fix the Basics

    Reliable services and infrastructure make Ajax a better place to live and invest.

  3. Protect Our People

    Stronger pathways for youth, seniors and vulnerable residents strengthen the community and local workforce.

  4. Grow Ajax

    More business investment, jobs and commercial assessment broaden the tax base and can help ease long-term pressure on homeowners.

Back to Respect Every Dollar

A stronger tax base gives Council more options to maintain services while managing affordability.

Each pillar stands on its own, and together they are designed to reinforce one another.

The Accountability Framework

A platform is only as strong as the mechanism that holds it accountable after election day. This is what turns a good platform into a governing one.

  • The Annual State of Ward 2 Report

    A public, plain-language report delivered every year of the term, measuring progress against every policy in this plan by name: a scorecard. If a policy is behind schedule, it says so, and says why.

  • Quarterly Resident Office Hours

    Standing, publicized quarterly office hours, held on rotation in different Ward 2 neighbourhoods.

  • The Ward 2 KPI Dashboard

    The transparency dashboard from Respect Every Dollar gets a second tab: Council commitment tracking. Every promise in this platform becomes a tracked line item with a status.

  • A Standing Rule: Every Policy Comes With a Funding Source

    Every policy in this platform identifies a proposed funding approach or implementation path, with any municipal expenditure subject to appropriate staff review and Council approval. This is a discipline Jay is committing to for any future motion brought to Council: every proposal comes with an identified funding source attached.

Ward 2 needs one plan that connects a stronger local economy to better services and to the protection of our families and seniors, and a councillor who shows up. That is what these four pillars are built to do.

It's a plan for Ward 2, and for the kind of Ajax every ward deserves.

— Jay Hayles, Candidate for Ward 2 Councillor, Ajax

Built from what residents told us matters.

Four Pillars. Twelve Policies. One Connected Plan.

Glossary

CIP Community Improvement Plan
A municipal planning tool that can support improvements, redevelopment and investment in designated areas through programs such as grants, loans or other incentives where legally authorized.
DRPS Durham Regional Police Service
The police service responsible for policing across Durham Region, including Ajax.
GPS Global Positioning System
Satellite-based technology used to identify and track locations, including municipal vehicles and equipment where equipped.
IT Information Technology
The systems, software, data and technology infrastructure used by the Town to operate services and communicate information.
KPI Key Performance Indicator
A measurable result used to track whether a program, service or commitment is achieving its intended outcome. In this plan, KPIs help residents see whether promised results are actually being delivered.
LED Light-Emitting Diode
Energy-efficient lighting technology commonly used in streetlights and public facilities because of its efficiency and long operating life.
OLG Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
The provincial Crown agency responsible for Ontario's lottery and gaming system.
Town Town of Ajax
The lower-tier municipal government responsible for local services and decisions that fall within the Town's jurisdiction.
Region Regional Municipality of Durham (Durham Region)
The upper-tier municipal government responsible for regional services including policing, paramedic services, social services, water and wastewater, and other Regional functions.
Assessment / Assessment Growth
The value of properties used as part of the municipal property-tax system. Growth in commercial and industrial assessment can help broaden the municipal tax base.
Capital Project
A major long-term municipal investment, such as roads, facilities, infrastructure or significant equipment, rather than routine day-to-day operating expenses.
Commercial & Industrial Tax Base
The portion of the municipal property-tax base generated by commercial and industrial properties. Growing this part of the tax base can help diversify municipal revenues.
Council Approval
Formal authorization by Ajax Town Council where required. When this plan says an initiative is subject to Council approval, it means a councillor cannot implement or spend municipal funds on it alone.
Feasibility Analysis
A review used to determine whether a proposed project is practical, affordable, appropriate and achievable before proceeding.
Growth-Pays-For-Growth
The principle that new development should contribute appropriately toward the infrastructure and municipal costs associated with growth, within the tools and authorities available to municipalities.
Municipal Jurisdiction
The legal authority a municipality has to make decisions or deliver services. Some issues affecting Ajax are controlled by the Town, while others fall under Durham Region, school boards, the Province of Ontario or the federal government.
Pilot Project
A smaller-scale trial used to test whether an idea works before considering broader implementation.
Proposed Funding Approach / Funding Path
The potential method identified for paying for or implementing a policy. It does not mean funding has already been secured or approved. Municipal spending remains subject to appropriate staff review, budgeting and Council approval.
Regional Road
A road under the jurisdiction of Durham Region rather than the Town of Ajax. Changes to Regional roads generally require Regional involvement or approval.
Service Standard
A defined expectation for how a municipal service should respond or perform, such as acknowledging a resident concern within a specified period.
Staff Costing
The process of having municipal staff determine the expected financial and operational cost of implementing a proposal before a spending decision is made.
Ward 2
One of Ajax's municipal electoral wards. This plan focuses on Ward 2 while identifying opportunities that may also provide benefits across Ajax where appropriate.

Questions about any of it?

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