A Summary of My Platform

Chris Oram for Sarnia City Council

It’s time to move forward.

Fiscal Renewal and Growth

Sarnia’s pursuit of zero debt has come at a cost: neglected infrastructure, depleted reserves, and stalled growth. It hasn’t eliminated debt, it has only deferred a much larger bill. It’s time for a smarter, strategic approach, one that invests responsibly and positions our city for the future:

• Expanded work to catch up on the long-standing infrastructure deficit

• Adopt strategic borrowing, as growing cities like London and Strathroy‑Caradoc do, to spread infrastructure costs fairly over the life of each project ensuring future taxpayers share in the cost of what they benefit from.

• Recognize that the only alternative to strategic debt is steep tax hikes, which burden residents and stall progress.

• Lobby upper levels of government for more infrastructure grants.

• Rebuild reserves that have been diverted to soften tax increases.

• Develop a long‑term financial plan that supports sustainable development.

• Strengthen coordination with arms‑length entities like the Police Services Board to prevent overwhelming proposals such as ballooning budgets or unrealistic capital projects.

• Conduct a comprehensive review of every department budget to identify cost‑saving opportunities while maintaining effective service delivery.

Economic Development

• Make servicing potential industrial and commercial sites a top priority to attract new business and jobs.

• Foster an entrepreneur‑friendly environment downtown with incentives and infrastructure that encourage local innovation.

• Pursue a major anchor tenant or attraction in the downtown area to promote people traffic and revitalize the core.

• Streamline red tape and bureaucracy related to new investment.

  
  

Housing and Community Planning

• Integrate supportive housing into zoning bylaws with clear standards for neighborhood compatibility.

• Balance compassion with practicality, ensuring developments strengthen, not strain, existing communities.

• Recognize that industrial and commercial growth must advance in tandem with new home development to sustain a balanced, thriving city.

• Promote infill development to create affordable housing options and make better use of existing infrastructure.

• Explore more affordable housing options in new developments.

• Coordination with the County of Lambton to continue addressing the issue of affordable housing.

Emergency Services

• Ensure the Sarnia Fire Department and Sarnia Police Service continue to deliver reliable, effective public safety services.

• Maintain strong, sustainable funding for emergency services with an emphasis on efficiency and value for taxpayers.

• Review practical, cost‑effective alternatives to the previously proposed $100‑million‑plus police station, and pursue only solutions that meet operational needs without over-burdening the city’s finances.

• Keep the police station downtown, where it remains accessible and visible to the community.

• Require the Police Services Board to implement a transparent, ongoing performance‑review process for the Police Chief and Deputy Chief.

  
  

Vision for Sarnia

A city that invests wisely, plans boldly, and grows responsibly. A council that listens, acts, and leads with integrity and foresight. A community ready to move beyond the status quo toward a vibrant, sustainable future.

Chris Oram