Vaughan: Match the Innovation, Opportunity, Prosperity with the supporting infrastructure
The Issue
Vaughan is growing fast, and that growth is outrunning the infrastructure meant to support it. The City's own Housing Strategy points to rising housing costs, a shortage of purpose-built rental housing, and a long wait for community housing. At the same time, the proposed Official Plan 2025 charts land use and density to 2051, and the City's own Transportation Plan acknowledges that this growth will add pressure to roads and transit that are already stretched thin.
Residents support new housing, but growth must be matched by infrastructure, economic opportunity and transparent delivery. We call on Vaughan, York Region and Ontario to act on the following priorities:
1 — Adopt a Vaughan Prosperity and Innovation Model
Build specialized innovation clusters: Attract life sciences, biotechnology, medical devices, advanced manufacturing, AI, robotics and clean technology by partnering with universities, hospitals and investors.
Make Vaughan business-friendly: Create a one-window investment concierge, publish permit timelines and coordinate approvals across agencies.
Link growth and transportation: Align employment growth with transit, road capacity and housing. Advocate for more affordable Highway 407 access, better traffic management and stronger connections to employment centres.
Mobilize private investment: Form a partnership among businesses, financial institutions, researchers and governments. Prioritize private capital and competitive grants over speculative municipal equity.
Track prosperity and quality of life: Publish an annual scorecard covering jobs, investment, business formation, permit timelines, congestion, housing affordability and resident satisfaction.
International Models to Adapt
Israel — Innovation and life sciences: Link universities, hospitals, investors and tech firms to commercialize biotech, medical-device, AI, cybersecurity and advanced-manufacturing research.
Dubai /UAE— Global investment gateway: Coordinate investment services, streamline municipal processes and attract international expansion.
Singapore — Smart, efficient city: Combine clear service standards, workforce partnerships, coordinated planning, healthy housing and transportation, and digital services.
China — Advanced manufacturing: Build robotics, automotive, food-processing, medical-manufacturing and clean-tech clusters while modernizing existing firms.
India — Digital entrepreneurship: Grow software, AI and IT services through mentoring, incubators and global-market partnerships.
2 — Build Sustainable, Complete Communities
Expand housing choice: Accelerate ownership, rental, affordable, attainable, family-sized and seniors’ housing in appropriate locations, using healthy and sustainable design principles.
Match approvals with infrastructure: Pair every major growth approval with funded timelines for transportation, water, wastewater, parks, emergency services and community infrastructure.
Report progress publicly: Maintain a regularly updated dashboard covering housing approvals, starts and completions, infrastructure capacity, and major transportation projects.
Direct growth strategically: Prioritize complete communities and appropriate density near rapid transit and major corridors while addressing impacts on established neighbourhoods.
Coordinate across governments: Align City, Regional and Provincial funding, approvals and policy changes so housing and infrastructure are delivered together.
Vaughan residents deserve growth that works: economic growth, affordable homes, strong employment opportunities, and infrastructure and services that can meet demand. We ask you to make these commitments publicly and report measurable progress.
We, the undersigned, call on the City of Vaughan and the other responsible levels of government named above to work together and take practical, transparent, measurable action on these requests.
Initiated by Alan Shefman Former Councillor Ward 5, City of Vaughan
Initiated and supported by Deven Sandhu- Candidate for Ward 4 Councillor, City of Vaughan
Let's Build a Better Vaughan
References
City of Vaughan — Housing Strategy: The City identifies housing challenges, population growth, rising costs, limited purpose-built rental supply and a long community-housing wait list.
City of Vaughan — Official Plan: The proposed Vaughan Official Plan 2025 addresses growth, land use, density and housing supply through 2051.
City of Vaughan — Vaughan Transportation Plan: The City recognizes that growth will increase travel demand and strain the existing transportation system.
York Region — Subsidized Housing: York Region manages a centralized wait list for approximately 5,000 subsidized rental units operated by Housing York and participating providers. Official source
City of Vaughan Council — current Mayor and Ward 4 Councillor: Steven Del Duca has served as Mayor since November 2022; Vaughan's 2026 municipal election (Oct. 26, 2026) will determine the next Council.
Regional Municipality of York — Chairman and CEO: Eric Jolliffe currently serves as York Region's Chairman and CEO. Official source
Government of Ontario — Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: Rob Flack currently serves as Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Official source
Works in Progress — How China Became Rich: https://www.worksinprogress.news/p/how-china-became-rich
City of Vaughan — Economic Development: https://www.vaughan.ca/business
Ontario Municipal Act, 2001: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01m25
Dubai Economic Agenda D33
OECD Economic Surveys: Israel 2025
Singapore -building Human Capital 2020 - world bank
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The Issue
Vaughan is growing fast, and that growth is outrunning the infrastructure meant to support it. The City's own Housing Strategy points to rising housing costs, a shortage of purpose-built rental housing, and a long wait for community housing. At the same time, the proposed Official Plan 2025 charts land use and density to 2051, and the City's own Transportation Plan acknowledges that this growth will add pressure to roads and transit that are already stretched thin.
Residents support new housing, but growth must be matched by infrastructure, economic opportunity and transparent delivery. We call on Vaughan, York Region and Ontario to act on the following priorities:
1 — Adopt a Vaughan Prosperity and Innovation Model
Build specialized innovation clusters: Attract life sciences, biotechnology, medical devices, advanced manufacturing, AI, robotics and clean technology by partnering with universities, hospitals and investors.
Make Vaughan business-friendly: Create a one-window investment concierge, publish permit timelines and coordinate approvals across agencies.
Link growth and transportation: Align employment growth with transit, road capacity and housing. Advocate for more affordable Highway 407 access, better traffic management and stronger connections to employment centres.
Mobilize private investment: Form a partnership among businesses, financial institutions, researchers and governments. Prioritize private capital and competitive grants over speculative municipal equity.
Track prosperity and quality of life: Publish an annual scorecard covering jobs, investment, business formation, permit timelines, congestion, housing affordability and resident satisfaction.
International Models to Adapt
Israel — Innovation and life sciences: Link universities, hospitals, investors and tech firms to commercialize biotech, medical-device, AI, cybersecurity and advanced-manufacturing research.
Dubai /UAE— Global investment gateway: Coordinate investment services, streamline municipal processes and attract international expansion.
Singapore — Smart, efficient city: Combine clear service standards, workforce partnerships, coordinated planning, healthy housing and transportation, and digital services.
China — Advanced manufacturing: Build robotics, automotive, food-processing, medical-manufacturing and clean-tech clusters while modernizing existing firms.
India — Digital entrepreneurship: Grow software, AI and IT services through mentoring, incubators and global-market partnerships.
2 — Build Sustainable, Complete Communities
Expand housing choice: Accelerate ownership, rental, affordable, attainable, family-sized and seniors’ housing in appropriate locations, using healthy and sustainable design principles.
Match approvals with infrastructure: Pair every major growth approval with funded timelines for transportation, water, wastewater, parks, emergency services and community infrastructure.
Report progress publicly: Maintain a regularly updated dashboard covering housing approvals, starts and completions, infrastructure capacity, and major transportation projects.
Direct growth strategically: Prioritize complete communities and appropriate density near rapid transit and major corridors while addressing impacts on established neighbourhoods.
Coordinate across governments: Align City, Regional and Provincial funding, approvals and policy changes so housing and infrastructure are delivered together.
Vaughan residents deserve growth that works: economic growth, affordable homes, strong employment opportunities, and infrastructure and services that can meet demand. We ask you to make these commitments publicly and report measurable progress.
We, the undersigned, call on the City of Vaughan and the other responsible levels of government named above to work together and take practical, transparent, measurable action on these requests.
Initiated by Alan Shefman Former Councillor Ward 5, City of Vaughan
Initiated and supported by Deven Sandhu- Candidate for Ward 4 Councillor, City of Vaughan
Let's Build a Better Vaughan
References
City of Vaughan — Housing Strategy: The City identifies housing challenges, population growth, rising costs, limited purpose-built rental supply and a long community-housing wait list.
City of Vaughan — Official Plan: The proposed Vaughan Official Plan 2025 addresses growth, land use, density and housing supply through 2051.
City of Vaughan — Vaughan Transportation Plan: The City recognizes that growth will increase travel demand and strain the existing transportation system.
York Region — Subsidized Housing: York Region manages a centralized wait list for approximately 5,000 subsidized rental units operated by Housing York and participating providers. Official source
City of Vaughan Council — current Mayor and Ward 4 Councillor: Steven Del Duca has served as Mayor since November 2022; Vaughan's 2026 municipal election (Oct. 26, 2026) will determine the next Council.
Regional Municipality of York — Chairman and CEO: Eric Jolliffe currently serves as York Region's Chairman and CEO. Official source
Government of Ontario — Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: Rob Flack currently serves as Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Official source
Works in Progress — How China Became Rich: https://www.worksinprogress.news/p/how-china-became-rich
City of Vaughan — Economic Development: https://www.vaughan.ca/business
Ontario Municipal Act, 2001: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01m25
Dubai Economic Agenda D33
OECD Economic Surveys: Israel 2025
Singapore -building Human Capital 2020 - world bank
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Petition created on October 18, 2026