NICOLE BEATTY

Residents deserve to feel safe in their homes, neighbourhoods, parks, and downtown. As a mother of two young children, this isn't just a policy position for me, it's personal. 

Cobourg doesn't exist in isolation, and neither do the challenges we face. As Mayor, I will continue to support our first responders, safer public spaces, and practical, prevention-focused approaches that keep costs manageable without compromising the service levels our community depends on.  This includes advancing the work done in the last term of Council to explore alternative policing models, reigniting discussion about investing in regional firefighter training, and, at the County level, working with the Province to advance our community paramedicine program.

I hear a lot of concerns over temporary or makeshift solutions that often only hit pause for those unhoused or in addiction. At the County level, I believe we need to work towards deeper integration of responses to homelessness, addiction, and mental health. We need to be helping people before situations escalate into emergencies.  This means moving beyond stopgap measures and adopting a sustainable plan of care.  What does this look like?  It requires us to shift towards a blueprint for health and social infrastructure focused on recovery, treatment, housing, and on-site wraparound support, using a campus-of-care model to improve service access, system coordination and actual community health and well-being outcomes.

Families are feeling the pressure of rising costs, and Town Hall needs to do its part. As Mayor, I will focus on responsible budgeting, long-term financial planning, and making sure major projects are funded properly before costs become bigger problems down the road.

I will continue pushing for better use of grants and partnerships, clearer communication around spending decisions, and stronger accountability so residents understand where their tax dollars are going and why.

You, the taxpayer, deserve to understand where your taxes go and what you’re paying for. That’s why I will initiate a service level budgeting process. This means building the budget around the specific services you rely on and the standard at which they're delivered.  The result? Understanding what it actually costs, and how we can keep tax increases low, stable, and predictable over time. Periodically, I will also push for a zero-based review of specific departments and programs to ensure every dollar is still earning its place. 

To make this work we deserve taxpayers voices around the table. I will advocate for the establishment of a permanent Resident Budget Advisory Committee, made up of residents and Council members, embedded in the annual budget process through the Council procedural by-law, and at no cost to taxpayers. This isn't a one-time task force or a consultant exercise.  It's a standing commitment to keeping residents at the table every year when decisions about their money are being made.

A strong local economy creates opportunity for everyone. You and your family deserve to feel secure here at home. Which is why it is important for Cobourg to continue growing as a place where businesses can succeed and people can build careers.

As Mayor, I will support local business, manufacturing, downtown revitalization, workforce development, and responsible job attraction that aligns with our community values and infrastructure capacity. To achieve this I will establish a Mayor’s Economic Advisory Roundtable to help us respond to future economic opportunities and labour needs.

Through this roundtable and other partnerships we will work with the Province and the County to  strengthen opportunities for youth, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, innovation, and post-secondary partnerships connected to our region’s future economy.

Cobourg is facing growing pressures from regional development, shifting population trends, and projects such as the proposed Wesleyville nuclear expansion. We need to be ready for that growth while protecting the small-town charm residents value.  

As Mayor, I will support responsible development that aligns with our infrastructure capacity and asset management priorities, ensuring growth contributes fairly to roads, water systems, parks, and community amenities.

To continue being a place where residents can call Cobourg home we will need to be innovative with evolving urban design, supporting a wider range of housing options for families, seniors, and young people.  From duplexes, accessory dwelling units, and mixed-use developments to workforce housing, starter homes, modular housing, and modern takes on attainable ownership models. Getting there means working closely with other levels of government and developers to turn good ideas into real homes.

As Cobourg grows, we also need to ensure residents have access to the services that support quality of life. That includes continuing to support physician recruitment efforts, advocating for expanded access to primary care, and working with healthcare partners and other levels of government to attract and retain the healthcare professionals our community needs. Growth should mean more homes, but it should also mean access to the doctors, services, and supports that help people thrive.

We also need to reprioritize Cobourg’s Integrated Community Sustainability Plan to help ensure our community grows in a way that is financially responsible, environmentally sustainable, and prepared for the future. That includes stewarding green spaces and water resources and supporting climate-resilient infrastructure.

Cobourg’s waterfront, parks, trails, heritage, arts and culture, festivals, and public spaces are part of what makes this town feel like home.  We have beautiful assets and spaces that make us unique, and I believe that we can build a more connected community through strong design thinking and placemaking.  We need to be good stewards of what makes us special, not let it deteriorate.

Safe parks. Family-first parks. No encampments. No illegal drug use. This is what we want for Cobourg, which is why as Mayor, I will move forward with implementing a Parks and Recreation Master Plan that truly creates parks and amenities that are safer, more active, and better used by families, youth and seniors. With a background in resource development, I will continue to pursue grants, philanthropy, and non-tax funding opportunities to help long-discussed sports and recreation projects finally move forward.

I am also hearing that residents want to a Council that will prioritize waterfront and harbour revitalization projects that improve public access, stimulate economic development and strengthen local residents’ enjoyment of the waterfront. You can expect that from me. You can also expect me to support environmental stewardship through shoreline protection, tree canopy growth, trail connectivity, and green space preservation.

Finally, I will also continue supporting festivals, arts, culture, and community events that bring people together and help keep Cobourg vibrant year-round, including introducing an Arts and Culture Ambassador Program to promote local artists, heritage, and cultural experiences.

The one thing I hear the most is residents want a Council that functions and collaborates. This is why I will delegate Strong Mayor Powers to all of Council, returning decision-making to where it belongs. Because better decisions are made through consensus building, not centralized power. 

Residents deserve a Town Hall that listens, communicates clearly, and works alongside the community. As Mayor, I will strengthen public engagement, improve communication with residents, and create more opportunities for people to help shape local decisions. Here’s how I plan to engage residents and put community voice back into Town Hall:

• Bring back citizen advisory committees as a formal part of Council's governance structure, returning expert community voices to the table on issues like the environment, parks and recreation, and community development.

• Launch the Mayor of Cobourg social media accounts and launch an Ask the Mayor webpage so inquiries and questions from residents can be published and shared openly.

• Deactivate the Mayor’s corporate credit card and commit to working exclusively within budget allocations approved by Council, including for conferences, seminars, and lobbying efforts. 

• Ensure each member of Council has opportunities to take on leadership roles to contribute their skills and perspectives in a meaningful way, building a more collaborative and accountable Council that reflects the full range of community priorities. 

• Introduce a Youth Councillor or Youth Advisor program, giving young people in Cobourg a formal seat at the table and a real role in shaping the decisions that will define their future.

• Host regular informal Coffee with a Councillor sessions with rotating members of Council

• Create a virtual Community Idea Bank to collect resident feedback and suggestions

• Organize a Citizen Pitch to the Mayor initiative

• Plan a Doors Open Cobourg event so residents can see their tax dollars in action