JOHN MELOCHE — CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCILLOR
WARD 2 · PICKERING
“Practical leadership. Real opportunity. A city our kids can come home to.”
WHO I AM
- Husband of 17 years; father of three — two young boys still at home.
- Pickering resident since 2010 (Finch & Dixie area).
- Tech entrepreneur — 18+ years bootstrapping my own business, no loans, no inheritance.
- Co-founder & president of the Lynn Heights Neighbourhood Association — Pickering’s largest ratepayer association (~275 members) and Ward 2’s only neighbourhood association.
- I support the Pickering Animal Shelter and St. Paul’s on the Hill Food Bank.
- Not a career politician — an operator, a neighbour, and a father.
THE PITCH
- Pickering is at a crossroads. We’re approving homes at a record pace, but our kids still can’t afford to live here and our neighbours still commute to Toronto for a decent wage. I want practical leadership at the council table — real careers, fair-deal development, and a councillor who actually answers your email.
WHY I’M RUNNING
- Cost of living is climbing too fast — government doesn’t get a pass from that reality.
- We’re building bedrooms and highway exits, not careers.
- Long-time small businesses are pushed out by speculative redevelopment.
- Traffic congestion is a daily theft of family time.
- Ward 2 deserves a councillor who negotiates from strength, not from need.
KEY POSITIONS
- Property taxes — One councillor can’t freeze them; I’ll be a relentless steward of every dollar — scrutinize line items, push back on waste.
- Development — Not anti-development. Rezoning must be earned — growth pays for itself: full development charges, real community benefit, no displacement.
- Top issue — Jobs. Record home approvals but no careers to match — we need a real employer-attraction strategy.
- Why me — I’m already doing the job unofficially as association president — an operator, not another talker.
- On council — Civil. I hear all sides before deciding; no single issue ever owns my vote.
EIGHT REASONS TO VOTE
- Real careers in Pickering — so kids can build a life here.
- Growth that pays for itself — not higher taxes and longer commutes.
- A councillor who answers — every week, not just at election time.
- Honest about your money — every dollar treated like my own.
- Protect the places that make it home — stand up to plaza-flipping.
- Listen first, decide second — no single issue owns my vote.
- A father’s promise — your kids deserve what Pickering gave me.
- A neighbourhood-first city — hand the brushes to the people on the block.
LINES I CLOSE WITH
- Practical. Civil. Available.
- Silence from an elected official is unacceptable — I will always respond.
- We negotiate from strength, not from need.
- Treat the cost of government as part of the cost of living.
- Let’s build a Ward 2 our kids come back to.
CORE PLATFORM POSITIONS
- Real Careers & Innovation — attract tech, medical, finance & clean-energy employers; jobs must grow with housing; future-proof City Hall.
- ALTO High-Speed Rail — support the line only if Pickering gets a station — no stop, no support.
- Rezoning Earned, Not Assumed — burden on applicants; direct density to corridors, not quiet streets; council must be willing to say no.
- Fair-Deal Development — full development charges, real community benefit, affordable units; guard against displacement.
- Protect Frenchman’s Bay — preserve the waterfront from overdevelopment; buy in only with a sound, transparent plan — no nostalgic debt.
- Transparency & Taxpayer Risk — demand consultation, real numbers & an exit plan on big regional calls like the hotel purchase.
- Safe Communities — back police & first responders (incl. the drone pilot); crack down on dangerous e-scooter/e-bike riding.
- Homelessness & Mental Health — compassion with accountability; a coordinated plan; keep parks & public spaces safe and clean.
- Everyday Value — bring back weekly garbage pickup; protect trees & greenspace; help seniors stay digitally connected; scrutinize every dollar.
FIRST 100 DAYS
- Day 1 — Publish a Ward 2 contact channel; every resident gets a response.
- Day 10 — Ward 2 listening tour across the neighbourhoods.
- Day 20 — Line-by-line scrutiny of the next budget.
- Day 35 — Motion for an employer-attraction strategy with targets.
- Day 50 — Push a fair-deal development review.
- Day 70 — Convene staff, Region of Durham & Metrolinx on congestion and transit.
- Day 80 — Framework for resident-led neighbourhood associations + grants.
- Day 100 — Plain-language report card to residents.
WARD 2 & ELECTION
- Office: City Councillor, Ward 2, City of Pickering.
- Election Day: Monday, October 26, 2026 (online voting Oct 19–26).
GOOD TO KNOW
- Non-partisan municipal race; I’m a small-c conservative focused on value for money.
- Individuals may contribute up to the legal limit per candidate (currently $1,200, subject to provincial rules).
- Corporations and trade unions cannot contribute.
- Municipal donations are not eligible for federal political tax credits.
CONTACT
- Email: john@meloche4pickering.ca
- Phone: 416-477-2658
- Web: meloche4pickering.ca
- Facebook: facebook.com/john.m.meloche
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnmeloche
