Seven Pickering mayoral hopefuls spar over taxes, development and strong-mayor powers

More than 200 residents filled the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex on Wednesday night for a mayoral all-candidates forum organized by the Fairport Beach Neighbourhood Association, less than three weeks before the Oct. 26 municipal election.

Seven candidates took part: incumbent Mayor Kevin Ashe, Doug Cornell, Janice Frampton, Zargham Rasool, city councillor Lisa Robinson, Andrea Wood and Shaun Rickard. Residents submitted questions in advance, and the moderator put a selection of them to the candidates before a post-forum meet-and-greet.

Property taxes were among the night's biggest flashpoints. Rickard and Robinson both promised to freeze the city's portion of property taxes in their first budgets. Cornell questioned whether a zero per cent increase was achievable given the financial pressures facing municipalities. Ashe argued the city needs to attract more commercial and industrial businesses to ease the burden on homeowners, noting that 81 per cent of city revenue comes from residential taxpayers and only 19 per cent from commercial and industrial. Wood said the city must manage its finances while protecting and even expanding services such as transit, parks and fire protection. The city's portion of the property tax levy is rising 3.49 per cent in 2026.

Candidates were also pressed on how they would use the strong mayor powers granted by the provincial government, which give mayors added authority over budgets, senior staff and certain bylaws tied to provincial priorities. Wood said she believes in working democratically with council and would probably never use the powers. Ashe said his record showed he had used the budget authority but had never vetoed bylaws or reassigned staff. Cornell said he does not support strong mayor powers and wants decisions made democratically. Rasool said any authority must be used responsibly and with consultation. Rickard said he would use the budget powers to freeze the city's share of taxes while keeping council involved. Robinson said she has opposed the powers since first being elected, but would use them initially to make changes to three positions at city hall, then pledge not to use them again and ask the province to reconsider the legislation.

Development and farmland drew sharp disagreement. Candidates discussed northeast Pickering, rural land the city plans to develop into a residential community that could eventually house about 72,000 people — a proposal opposed by environmental groups and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation over farmland, flooding, wildlife and consultation concerns. They also discussed about 9,300 acres of federally owned land in north Pickering, set aside more than 50 years ago for a second airport that was never built; after Ottawa ended the airport plan in 2025, groups have called for the land to be protected rather than developed. Ashe defended balancing land protection with opportunities for housing, employment and economic development. Frampton argued farmland must be protected and that, in her words, 'growth must pay for growth.' Robinson said the city should finish building out Seaton before opening more farmland, protect the Carruthers Creek headwaters and make sure roads, water, sewers, transit and parks keep pace. Rickard called for pausing northeast Pickering development until environmental and traffic studies are complete. Rasool said farmers deserve support and a greater role in decisions affecting their livelihoods.

On housing, Ashe defended the city's condominium record, saying one condo has been built and three are under construction during his four years as mayor. Frampton said 103 condominiums were on the books, while Robinson said 100 were at various planning stages — figures the forum's reporting outlet noted were not independently verified. Wood argued the city needs more rental housing and planning for density, with infrastructure able to support it. Robinson cited the city's 2025 asset management plan as identifying an annual infrastructure funding shortfall of about $32.8 million, also not independently verified at the forum, and called for repairing existing roads, bridges and stormwater systems first.

The atmosphere was charged at times. Although candidates were asked not to name one another, exchanges between Ashe and Robinson grew heated at several points, reflecting their longer history of clashes at council. Cheers and applause came from different sections of the hall as the evening showed residents' divided views of the city's direction.

Residents who attended said they came to judge for themselves. Ravi Iyer, who has lived in Pickering since 2009, said hearing candidates explain their own positions beats relying on second-hand reports, and he left feeling prepared to vote. Pia, another attendee, treated the evening as an inquiry session into what each candidate stands for, though she wished there had been more time for youth employment, safety and schools. Lisa Appelbohm, a 25-year Pickering resident, said she wants the city to remain safe and connected and welcomed the chance to engage with candidates and neighbours after the formal session.

Watch the full recording of the forum on YouTube (about 1 hour 53 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvoT84YQvqU

Read Wesal TV's full report from the forum: https://wesaltv.com/2026/10/08/pickering-mayoral-candidates-clash-over-taxes-development-and-strong-mayor-powers/

What's next: Pickering votes Oct. 26. Online voting runs Oct. 19 to 26, and paper ballots will be available on election day. Note that ward boundaries have changed — voters should confirm their ward before voting.