One of the things I learned from more than a decade of following Thunder Bay City Council closely is that being a good councillor isn't simply about voting yes or no. Sometimes the most important thing a councillor can do is ask one simple question: Why? Why is this project a priority? Why does it cost this much? Why are we doing it now? What has changed since the original plan was approved? Were residents consulted? What are the long-term operating costs? And most importantl

Homelessness is one of the most difficult and human challenges facing our community. Behind every statistic is a person, and I believe we need to approach this issue with compassion, empathy and an understanding that there is no simple solution. The three levels of government all play a critical role in addressing homelessness. No one level of government can do it alone, and I do not believe we can simply fund our way out of homelessness at the municipal level. Finding meanin

During election campaigns, you’re going to hear, and see, plenty of promises about taxes, roads, spending, development and fixing problems at City Hall. In the “friendly” space that is social media, I’ve even been called out for not making enough promises or laying out specific plans for everything. Why haven’t I? Because there’s something worth remembering when you’re doing your research and deciding who to vote for: A councillor is one vote around the Council table. The may

Homelessness has been getting a lot of attention in this election, and it should. We see the tents, the addiction, mental-health struggles and poverty on our streets. We also hear from residents who are frustrated and worried about what is happening in their own neighbourhoods. But we need to be careful about pretending there is a simple answer. This isn’t just a Thunder Bay problem. Communities across Ontario and Canada are struggling with the same thing, and no mayor or cou

At a candidates’ panel last week, I brought up the future of neighbourhood parkettes, including Thornloe in Northwood. My answer was pretty simple: “If anybody wants to talk about Thornloe and it not being a parkette, sign me up. Parkettes are off the table. Find infill opportunities first. Leave the parks alone.” That is exactly where I stand. Thunder Bay needs housing and we need to make it easier to build it, but I reject the idea that established neighbourhood green spac

In 2018, 5,357 votes were cast for Northwood Ward councillor, In 2022, that number fell to 4,677 votes — 680 fewer votes, a decline of 12.7%. I think Northwood can do better in 2026. The decisions made at City Hall affect our neighbourhood and our city every day including decisions on our roads and infrastructure, drainage, development, parks, traffic, public safety, taxes and how our tax dollars are spent. Who represents Northwood at that table matters. But there's another r

I can tell you a lot about Northwood because, for most of my life, Northwood has been home. I grew up on Edward Street and went to St. Vincent's School. I was an active member of St. Dominic's Church, where my father was one of hundreds of volunteers who helped build the church from the ground up. I was there when it opened in 1982. As a kid, Northwood was my world. I rode my bike along Redwood Avenue and up Ironwood Crescent. My brother and I took a canoe up and down the McI

There are a lot of promises for change and plans to make a difference, but you should know it takes more than one vote, and one person. Election campaigns are full of promises. We hear candidates talk about lowering taxes, fixing roads, attracting new businesses, addressing homelessness and changing the way City Hall operates. Those are important issues, but I think voters should ask a simple question when they hear those promises: does one councillor actually have the author

Let's talk traffic diets. James Street is one of the main arteries through Northwood, connecting our neighbourhood to Arthur Street, Edward Street, Victoria Avenue and the growing Golf Links Road corridor. Before the City makes a decision that could permanently reduce its traffic capacity, I think we need to ask an important question: Why are we considering reducing James Street based on a transportation plan conceived years before the Golf Links Road and Harbour Expressway

I’m running to represent Northwood Ward because I believe a ward councillor’s first responsibility is clear: know the neighbourhood, understand the issues and make sure the people who live there have a strong voice at City Hall. There are major city-wide issues facing Thunder Bay. We have an infrastructure gap that has grown over many years. We need better answers on homelessness, community safety and crime. We need economic growth, more housing and a stronger tax base. We ne

Thunder Bay’s next council will face some of the biggest decisions the city has made in years. John Ongaro believes meeting those challenges will require more than different voices around the council table , it will require a better culture of collaboration, clearer decision-making and a willingness to put personalities aside. After years of closely following council, he explains why raising the standard inside council chambers is essential to moving Thunder Bay forward. For

More than three decades behind the microphone taught me the value of listening, asking difficult questions and having honest conversations. From covering major breaking news to spending countless Monday nights following City Council, my career in radio shaped how I see Thunder Bay, its challenges and the responsibility we all share for its future. My connection to Thunder Bay municipal politics did not begin with a campaign. It began behind a microphone, listening, asking que

Thunder Bay needs economic growth. That may sound obvious, but I think we need to have a much more serious conversation about what growth means to the future of our city and, just as importantly, what role City Hall should play in making it happen. We spend a lot of time talking about the cost of municipal government. We should. Residents are feeling the impact of property taxes, inflation and the increasing cost of almost everything. At the same time, the City is facing sign

For more than a decade on City Council Round Up, I talked about how Thunder Bay spends your money. I supported investments when I thought they made sense, questioned them when the numbers didn't add up, and occasionally wondered out loud what Council was thinking. After watching years of budgets, capital plans and major project debates, my position really isn't complicated: City Hall has to do a better job distinguishing between what we need and what we want. Fiscal responsib

There is a number everyone running for City Council should probably get familiar with. $30.6 million. Let's call it $32 million. That's approximately how much Thunder Bay is short every year when it comes to properly funding the renewal of the infrastructure we already own. Not new stuff. The stuff we already have. Roads. Bridges. Water systems. Sewers. Sidewalks. Buildings and the other infrastructure taxpayers have already paid to build and now expect the City to maintain.

I have spent a lot of years talking about City Hall. Sometimes I agreed with what Council was doing. Sometimes I didn't. And sometimes, after reading the reports and looking at the numbers, the only reasonable question was: Why? That hasn't changed. What has changed is that instead of talking about those decisions from behind a microphone, I am asking the people of Northwood for the opportunity to have a seat at the table when those decisions are made. So, what is my vision f

After years of talking about municipal decisions from the outside, I have decided to put my name forward to represent Northwood. I know there is a difference between commenting on a decision and being responsible for making one. Council members have to consider competing priorities, financial realities, professional advice and the long term consequences of their decisions. That is exactly why the quality of the questions being asked around the Council table matters. I will br