affordability

The town can do more to mitigate the affordability crisis we find ourselves in. From the price of rent and healthy food to the cost of keeping our children engaged and learning, we are all feeling the squeeze.

Recreation and after-school activities are important to a healthy, happy community. We can expand the CCC's offerings and make them free for children and low-income individuals. We can expand the library's hours and services. 

We can expand the current greenhouse operations to supply fresh food year-round. The food could be used by food banks and community kitchens, or even sold to local families at cost.

The municipality can and should do more to help mitigate the rising costs of housing.

This is why I propose that the town create a housing development division within the planning department to develop co-op and rent-geared-to-income housing itself rather than relying on private developers. In doing so, the taxpayers and residents of Cobourg become the beneficiaries of new developments, rather than out-of-town developers.