Outgoing Oshawa mayor gives final ‘State of the City’ address

After a dozen years in municipal politics in Oshawa, including the last eight as mayor, Dan Carter reflected on expectations, challenges, resiliency and progress in his final ‘State of the City’ address before a sold-out audience last week at the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Mayor’s Luncheon.

Carter, who is honouring promises made to his family to step away from the limelight, has faced major challenges in his time in the big chair in Oshawa, starting with the closure of the General Motors assembly plant – the lifeblood of the city for nearly a century – which was announced just days before he was sworn in.

Seventeen months later the pandemic was declared, a life-changing global crisis that lingered until his re-election in 2022, with the re-opening of the GM plant for vehicle production happening in the time between.

Next on the agenda was the national opioid crisis and rising homelessness, a long festering societal issue that exploded in the aftermath of the pandemic and especially resonated with Carter, who struggled with addiction and was homeless himself through much of his teens and 20s.

To say it has been a challenging eight years would be quite the understatement.

Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter

Carter’s remarks highlighted some of those defining moments since first being elected mayor, including the current challenges of “unprecedented” tariffs on the auto sector and other battles in dealing with a rogue president south of the border.

Carter said in his speech that his time in office has been guided by a strong belief that “words and leadership matter,” supported by partnerships, innovative solutions and a clear long‑term vision. “Today, because of this,” he said, “the great city of Oshawa is stronger, more diverse and better positioned for the future.”

He talked of the city’s progress during his tenure, including more than $5 billion in total development since 2018 and strategic investments in the Northwood Business Park, the Oshawa Executive Airport and the 407 East Innovation Corridor – investments that are ushering the next wave of economic growth.

Carter also celebrated council’s $50‑million commitment to modernize the Tribute Communities Centre and welcomed new partnerships with the Oshawa Generals, Oak View Group and Oshawa FireWolves. He cited the city’s continued investment in community priorities, including major road reconstruction projects, parks and trail improvements.

The city’s strategic investments and partnership-based approach, he said, have helped attract major employers and significant new developments to Oshawa, including:

• GM Canada – new and upgraded assembly operations and parts manufacturing investment and the GM Test Track for Autonomous and Advanced Technology Vehicles (approximately $1.5 billion since 2020)
• Trent University – Durham GTA campus expansion
• Panattoni and Broccolini – major industrial developments
• Aosom Canada, GEODIS, Martin Brower and Lactalis – logistics and warehousing
• HOPA Port of Oshawa – $30 million infrastructure expansion and upgrades to the grain terminal
• Metrolinx – investments to extend the Lakeshore East GO Train service from Oshawa to Bowmanville
• Ontario Power Generation – new corporate headquarters
• Oshawa Power – new consolidated headquarters and operations facility (currently under construction)

Carter emphasized that Oshawa remains firmly focused on the future and will continue strengthening partnerships with the private sector, post‑secondary institutions and healthcare to attract “new opportunities.”

The importance of collaboration in creating affordable housing, advancing healthcare solutions and attracting new investment and international companies to the city was also noted in his address.

Carter highlighted Oshawa’s role as an advanced manufacturing and technology hub – building on its automotive legacy while expanding into high growth sectors. This includes Oshawa’s plan for an integrated National Defence Innovation Corridor that would enable companies to leverage federal funding in cybersecurity, AI, defence tech and dual use technologies – a blueprint supported by post-secondary excellence in R&D and an integrated transportation network, including an executive airport, deep-sea port, 400-series highways, rail lines and GO transit.

“Oshawa is not defined by how it has been challenged,” he said, “but by its resiliency and what it has built, learned and is well positioned to become.”