Development and Heritage Preservation
At the time of the 2022 municipal election, nobody could have predicted the legislation that would issue from Queen's Park during the four year term.
The focus of the Ford government on building more homes faster led to several initiatives, one of which was to impose on municipalities a deadline of December 31, 2026, to designate listed properties under the Heritage Act or have them lose protection from demolition and development.
Cambridge reacted by enhancing its heritage planning capacity and addressing as many as possible of the 650 properties it had listed, sometimes a dozen or more at a single council meeting. Many affected by this effort were upset that heritage regulations would increase costs of renovations and repairs.
I introduced a motion that, as a temporary measure, raised the available grant money for 2026 from $30K to $100K, and the individual grant amount from $5K to $7.5K, while directing staff to develop a more permanent means of offsetting the costs being imposed on homeowners for 2027 and beyond.
You can see the original motion here
The original motion was modified during the meeting to increase the fund from the $60K that I had proposed to $100K and to insert the increased individual grant amount from $5K to $7.5K.
Frank Miseferi Story
Ross Earnshaw helped ensure that Frank Miseferi’s name and wartime service will be remembered for generations in Cambridge.
Frank Miseferi, a Second World War air gunner from Galt, will be honoured through the naming of Miseferi Crescent, a new street that will permanently recognize his contribution. The dedication reflects Frank’s service, his connection to the community, and the determination of his family to see his story preserved.
Ross supported the effort by helping move the street-naming request through the municipal process and working with the family to help turn a meaningful idea into a lasting public tribute. His involvement helped ensure that the recognition was not simply symbolic, but part of the city’s living history - a name residents will see, use, and remember.
The story is also a reminder that local history is built through individual lives and family memories. By helping secure this street naming, Ross played a role in honouring a Cambridge veteran and strengthening the connection between today’s community and those who served before us.
Miseferi Crescent will stand as a lasting tribute to Frank Miseferi, his wartime service, and the family and community who worked to keep his legacy alive.
Asset Management and Fiscal Responsibility
Over the past several years, the City has developed an asset management plan - essentially a scorecard listing the city's assets, assessing their state of repair, and establishing a maintenance plan.
This exercise has revealed an "infrastructure gap"; that is, the monetary difference between the expenditure recommended for proper maintenance of city assets and the amount provided in the operating budget. Infrastructure is not just about concrete and steel; it is about the essential systems that enable societies and economies to function effectively and equitably.
Not only is the Cambridge "gap" a staggering figure of $169 million (2026 budget document) but it had been growing annually while city assets like buildings, bridges, streets, water mains and sewers had been deteriorating slowly. Anyone who owns a home or a car will recognize that prudent, consistent maintenance is more fiscally responsible than allowing an asset to fail prematurely, then having to replace it.
To address this growing problem, I introduced a 2024 budget motion that resulted in adoption of a 1% "infrastructure levy" in the 2024 city budget. This measure is designed to slowly reduce and eventually eliminate the "gap". It has been carried forward into the 2025 and 2026 budgets and, if re-elected, I will continue to advocate for it to appear in future city budgets.