My Plan For Housing, Growth, & Affordability

For more than three decades, I have been involved in shaping Vaughan's growth.

I have seen Vaughan evolve from a suburban community into one of Canada's most dynamic cities. Growth has created jobs, attracted investment and strengthened our economy, but it has also created challenges including housing affordability, traffic congestion, infrastructure capacity and pressure on established neighbourhoods.

The challenge before us is not whether Vaughan should grow. The challenge is how we grow.

I believe growth must be responsible, infrastructure must keep pace with development, and housing must remain attainable for young families, seniors and future generations.

We need more housing, but we need the right housing, in the right places, supported by the right roads, transit, parks, schools and community services.

Growth should improve our communities, not overwhelm them.

I have done this before. Over the past term of Council, I did not just talk about managing growth responsibly. I helped advance Vaughan Official Plan 2025, reduce development charges, secure hundreds of millions of dollars for housing-supportive infrastructure, and invest in the roads, parks and community facilities needed to support growth. Now I want to ensure infrastructure keeps pace with development, neighbourhoods are protected, and housing becomes more attainable for families, seniors and future generations.

What Has Been Achieved Over The Last Four Years

• Adopted the new Vaughan Official Plan through policy development, technical work and extensive public consultation, preparing a long-term framework addressing housing, employment, transportation, complete communities and environmental protection. Vaughan Official Plan 2025 update vaughan.ca, vaughan.ca
• Reduced the City’s low-rise residential development charge from $94,466 to $50,193 in 2024, helping lower the cost of constructing new homes. Making housing more affordable for families vaughan.ca
• Reduced development charges to zero for qualifying residential projects during the approved period, with Council ratifying the policy in April 2026 to accelerate housing construction. Vaughan reduces development charges to zero vaughan.ca
• Secured up to $697.2 million in federal and provincial funding for housing-enabling infrastructure, in recognition of Vaughan’s commitment to reduce or eliminate development charges for qualifying residential projects. Ontario and Canada making homes more affordable in Vaughan and Government of Canada housing-infrastructure announcement news.ontario.ca, canada.ca
• Advanced major transportation projects needed to support Vaughan’s growth, including completing the Kirby Road Extension and Canada Drive Bridge and moving the Bass Pro Mills Drive Extension into construction. Kirby Road Extension now open, Canada Drive Bridge now open and Bass Pro Mills Drive Extension groundbreaking vaughan.ca, vaughan.ca, vaughan.ca
• Continued developing the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre as a complete, transit-supportive and pedestrian-friendly community, while securing Council approval of the VMC Transportation Master Plan to guide mobility and connectivity through 2051. Developing the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre vaughan.ca
• Strengthened Vaughan’s position as a leading centre for economic growth and investment. In 2025, Vaughan was named one of Canada’s Best Locations for economic growth and investment by Site Selection Magazine. At that time, Vaughan was home to more than 19,700 businesses and more than 220,000 jobs. Vaughan recognized as one of Canada’s Best Locations vaughan.ca

My 6-Point Housing & Responsible Growth Plan

The Next Four Years

1Infrastructure First Guarantee

Residents are tired of roads, parks, schools and transit arriving years after development approvals.

I will champion an Infrastructure First Guarantee requiring major development applications to identify:

• Traffic impacts,
• Road improvements,
• Transit capacity,
• Parkland requirements,
• Community facilities, and,
• Water and wastewater capacity.

ALL before approvals proceed.

No more approving growth and figuring out the infrastructure later. G

Goal Growth should improve our communities, not overwhelm them. I will ensure infrastructure keeps pace with growth.

2Build More Housing People Can Actually Afford

Housing affordability has become one of the greatest challenges facing young families, first-time homebuyers, seniors and renters.

I will support housing policies that encourage:

• More townhouses and family-sized housing;
• Purpose-built rental housing;
• More attainable ownership opportunities;
• Missing-middle housing;
• Seniors housing and downsizing options;
• Housing for young families and first-time homebuyer opportunities; and,
• Diverse housing types that meet Vaughan's changing needs.

Housing affordability requires both increased supply and smarter planning. Too many young families cannot afford Vaughan. Too many seniors cannot find suitable housing within the community they helped build.

Goal Housing options for every generation.

3Protect Established Neighbourhoods

Growth must respect existing communities. Growth should improve communities, not overwhelm them.

I will support planning policies that:

• Protect stable residential neighbourhoods;
• Ensure better transitions between new development and existing homes;
• Preserve neighbourhood character;
• Improve urban design standards;
• Protect local parks and community amenities; and,
• Require meaningful consultation with residents.

Residents deserve a voice in shaping the future of their communities.

Goal Responsible growth that respects existing neighbourhoods and is responsive to community input.

4Fix the Development Approval Process

Housing cannot become more attainable if projects are trapped in bureaucracy and red tape.

Where developments are supported by residents, I will work to:

• Streamline approval timelines;
• Reduce unnecessary delays;
• Improve coordination between agencies;
• Increase transparency in the development review process; and,
• Provide predictable timelines for applicants and residents.

Goal Faster approvals for supported development. Better outcomes. More accountability.

5Hold Developers Accountable

Approvals should come with responsibilities. When major developments are approved, residents should see tangible local improvements.

I will work to ensure new developments contribute toward:

• New parks;
• Recreation facilities;
• Streetscape improvements;
• Public art;
• Community amenities; and,
• Local infrastructure improvements.

Residents should be able to see the benefits of growth in their own neighbourhoods.

I will advocate for stronger tracking and reporting to ensure developers deliver on commitments relating to:

• Roads and traffic improvements;
• Parks and public amenities;
• Community benefits;
• Streetscape improvements;
• Infrastructure obligations; and,
• Development agreement commitments.

We must ensure growth directly improves local communities. Residents deserve confidence that commitments made during the planning process are actually delivered.

Goal Accountability and transparency in development.

6Build Complete Communities

We cannot simply build housing units. We must build communities.

I will continue supporting complete communities that include:

• Parks and recreation facilities;
• Schools;
• Transit access;
• Community centres;
• Local shops and services;
• Walkable neighbourhoods; and,
• Employment opportunities.

People should be able to live, work, shop and enjoy recreational opportunities close to home.

Goal Create communities where people want to live, not just places to house people.

My Commitment

Vaughan must continue to grow, but we must grow responsibly.

Over the last four years, we advanced the Official Plan, reduced development charges, secured hundreds of millions of dollars for housing-supportive infrastructure, invested in roads and community facilities, and worked to make housing more attainable for future generations.

Over the next four years, I will continue fighting for a balanced approach that delivers more housing, protects neighbourhoods, ensures infrastructure keeps pace with growth and preserves the exceptional quality of life that makes Vaughan such a desirable place to live.

Build Homes. Protect Neighbourhoods. Grow Responsibly.