Job growth will be Mike’s top priority as mayor. More employment and higher-paying jobs will help address many issues affecting Peterborough, including poverty and homelessness.

This will result in the city generating more revenue to pay for much-needed infrastructure. And it will lead to a more equitable redistribution of the property tax ratio.

As mayor, Mike will work tirelessly to create more jobs in Peterborough. Working closely with the city’s Economic Development staff, he will not shy away from promoting the city. He will take the lead in meeting with all external delegations, reaching out to prospective new business owners and foster a world-class investment environment.

Mike has a plan that will roll out over the next four years:

YEAR ONE (2027)

• Rebuild Peterborough’s relationship with the County of Peterborough and Cavan-Monaghan, Otonabee South Monaghan and Selwyn townships. A better relationship will lead to a holistic approach to our shared concerns, including employment and development lands, the airport, and essential shared services. Peterborough is not an island and we need to re-establish a regional vision for economic development.

• Create the Group of Seven, a city-led Mayor’s Public Sector Council with the seven largest employers — the hospital, Trent University, Fleming College, the school boards, Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and the city itself.  These public-sector institutions have a lot in common. They have similar provincially mandated obligations to accessibility and service delivery. They all own land and have facilities that are maintained using public funds. This council would emphasize working together, sharing resources, and job creation.

• Work specifically with Trent University to bring industry to city-serviced Cleantech Commons

• Ensure the new Economic Strategic Plan includes a regional perspective as well as the importance of intensifying the use of existing space and expanding Peterborough’s boundaries to attract new industry.

YEAR TWO (2028)

• Support city staff creation of Invest in Peterborough Summit. This forum will invite key investors and potential industries to the region to connect with local businesses and discover opportunities. The city needs to play to our strengths in agri-business, aviation, warehousing and supply chain management, environmental and electrical engineering, and high tech. The goal is to foster new blue-collar, entry-level jobs. We also need to pursue next-level positions to keep workers, and their families, in the region.

• We cannot forget arts, culture and tourism. Not only do they create jobs directly, they are responsible for fostering the kind of environment new businesses find attractive for their own employees to live in. Pursue new venues for entertainment, the arts and sports, using creative and thoughtful approaches to funding. Look to the EC3, the Group of Seven, and other core stakeholders for support.

• Use statistics from renewed downtown business reporting (see Vibrant Downtowns, Vibrant Neighbourhoods) to drive new development downtown.

YEAR THREE (2029)

• Work with the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and other key players, the city’s Economic Development department to create a special program focusing on fostering small businesses.

• Encourage more youth employment, including internships to address low youth employment rate and foster workplace education.

YEAR FOUR (2030)

• Work with city staff to host a second Invest in Peterborough Summit building upon work over the past three years in Economic Development, incubating small businesses, and expanding upon new and traditional strengths.

What does success look like?

Success in growing the economy and fostering job creation means the introduction of new and interconnected programs with our public service employers.  It will feature a renewed relationship with the county that sees the city as part of a greater economic region. More industrial jobs, playing upon our existing strengths, will exist. It means more younger families, more Trent and Fleming students who are able to stay in the city. And more retirees returning to or discovering Peterborough for the first time.