Attracting Industry, Expanding & Reducing the Tax Burden

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In 2025, Ontario’s agri-food sector contributed nearly $51 billion to the province’s GDP. Pickering Council should prioritise agri-business, food security, and sustainability over continued sprawl. We must adopt a “use it or lose it” approach to protecting our agricultural lands because every step toward strengthening agriculture is two steps away from unnecessary development. Pickering does not need to follow the path of other GTA municipalities — it needs leadership with long-term vision.

 

Agriculture and agri-food production are major economic drivers in Durham Region, contributing $354 million annually to Ontario’s GDP and supporting over 871,000 jobs across Ontario’s farming, processing, and food services sectors. With two-thirds of Pickering made up of Grade A agricultural land, protecting these lands is critical for long-term food security, sustainability, and economic growth. It is time for the Pickering Council to take agri-business and agricultural preservation seriously.

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​The experience in Seaton has shown that growth does not always pay for growth. Expanding into northeast Pickering and the airport lands based on a “build it, and they will come” approach risks repeating the same mistake. If projected growth and tax revenues fail to materialise, existing residents, including those on a pension or fixed income, will ultimately bear the cost through higher taxes, increased fees, reduced services, or further infrastructure delays.

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