MICHAEL SAMLALSINGH — Candidate for City Councillor, Ward 1, Pickering
A summary of Michael Samlalsingh’s campaign promises, platform and policies. Click any heading below to expand or collapse it.
WHO IS MICHAEL SAMLALSINGH?
- Michael Samlalsingh is running for City Councillor in Pickering’s Ward 1 in the October 26, 2026 municipal election.
- He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with an MBA. He owns and operates a local accounting firm and previously spent more than 20 years as a Director of Finance with major financial institutions, managing large operating and capital budgets.
- Born in Montreal and raised in the GTA, he graduated from Pickering High School. His family has lived in Pickering for 39 years.
- He told Frequency News that he is running partly to bring more diversity and representation to City Council.
- Campaign slogan: “Trust | Accountability | Service.”
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY & TRANSPARENT GOVERNANCE
- Conduct budget reviews to find efficiencies and reduce waste.
- Support local businesses to diversify the tax base and ease the burden on homeowners.
- Fight unfunded mandates and press for stable provincial and federal funding.
- Commit to regular, transparent public reporting on municipal finances.
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH & ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
- Support mixed-use development on the Pickering Airport lands, focused on agri-food, aerospace, technology and education.
- Protect Rouge National Urban Park farmland and green spaces.
- Push for infrastructure costs to be shared by developers and the federal and provincial governments, to ease the burden on homeowners.
- Promote planned, low-rise, senior-friendly and affordable housing growth for Ward 1.
SAFE, INCLUSIVE & CONNECTED COMMUNITY
- Increase police presence and partner with mental health and social services.
- Bring in traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures.
- Expand youth STEM and business training, plus youth recreation programs.
- Expand senior housing, mobility support and recreation programs.
THRIVING COMMUNITY & QUALITY OF LIFE
- Invest in parks, community centres and inclusive multicultural events.
- Promote local business growth for economic and social resilience.
- Advocate for expanded transit and school capacity.
- Celebrate Pickering’s cultural diversity year-round.
CITY SERVICES
- Improve city services such as snow removal by making them more efficient.
- Use growth in the tax base to deliver better service to residents.
- Make sure Pickering’s growth is managed responsibly and effectively.
HOW HE SAYS HE WOULD MAKE DECISIONS
- He says Council should weigh the “opportunity cost” of every major spending decision, because every dollar spent on one project can’t be spent on another.
- Before approving significant investments, he says Council should ask: Is this the best use of taxpayer dollars? What alternatives were considered? What are the long-term costs and risks? Will it provide lasting value for residents?
- He promises a disciplined, evidence-based approach focused on long-term value, “not just today’s headlines.”
LISTENING TO RESIDENTS
- His campaign is running an online survey asking residents about their concerns, what the city does well and what it could do better.
- He says the campaign is about making sure Ward 1 residents’ interests and tax dollars are represented effectively.
CONTACT THE CAMPAIGN
- Website: michael4pickering.ca
- Phone / WhatsApp: 416-993-6153
- Social media: Michael4Pickering on Facebook and Instagram
- Election Day: Monday, October 26, 2026.
Sources: Michael Samlalsingh campaign website and priority sheets (michael4pickering.ca), Frequency News, and the candidate’s own campaign posts. Compiled by The Szpinner, September 26, 2026. Quotes are the candidate’s own words.
