North Bay 2026 Candidate Answers

By 2030, I believe North Bay should be approving at least 400–500 new homes per year across the spectrum which includes purpose-built rentals, missing-middle infill, additional dwelling units, and supportive housing, with clear targets in our Official Plan and annual reporting on approvals versus completions.

The key measure I’d use: the number of people chronically homeless in North Bay, tracked through by-name lists and reported publicly at least twice a year, alongside shelter usage, housing placements, and overdose data, so we can see whether fewer people are stuck on the street and more are stably housed.

Housing targets and figures don’t always tell the full story. For example, current housing start statistics are inflated because care facility beds are being counted. Rather than picking an arbitrary target number, the City’s actual job is to fix the process. Private landowners and developers have available land, but they find municipal approvals far too cumbersome. We must overhaul our processes to expedite permits and approvals.

With construction costs exceeding $350 per square foot, building affordable social housing is out of reach for the City alone. We must partner effectively with the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board and tap into provincial and federal funding. Non-profits like Castle Arms demonstrate how leveraging land, management, and existing services can deliver results. A prime example was a halted plan to deliver 34 assisted-living units using a vacant tower at Cassellholme. It was to be akin to Marina Point or Empire Living, but for people on fixed incomes. Unfortunately, this plan was scuttled by the Cassellholme board without a clear reason. We must eliminate this kind of murky decision-making to move North Bay forward.

As for homelessness, I believe we must relocate the overnight shelter to a more suitable site that is close to public transit and co-located with integrated supports (meal services, community paramedicine, mental health and addiction and social services).