Housing
Will I be able to afford to live here?
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Martin Ross
Candidate for Mayor
In their own words
martinross4mayor.ca — Martin Ross’s campaign website, opens in a new tab
Where they stand
Every candidate in this race is shown against the same 16 issues, in the same order, whether or not we’ve found something for each one. Why we do it this way.
Taxes & spending
What happens to my tax bill, and where does the money go?
This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.
Ross would freeze council pay from his own office, publish the mayor's budget quarterly, and post contracts in plain language.
- Would freeze council pay, starting with his own office.
- Would publish the mayor's office budget online, line by line, updated every quarter.
- Would post every major city contract in plain language before council votes on it.
“When I am Mayor of Markham, I will freeze council pay — starting with my own office.”
(several paragraphs)
Source: The Platform — Martin Ross for Mayor
Confidence:High
Ross campaigns on three pillars — resident safety, taxes and City Hall accountability — casting himself as a defender of taxpayers.
- Campaigning on three pillars: resident safety, taxes, and City Hall accountability.
- Casts himself as a defender of taxpayers against a City Hall he says prioritizes winning over helping families.
“Martin Ross is a candidate for mayor of Markham, Ontario, in the 2026 municipal election, campaigning on three pillars: resident safety, taxes, and City Hall accountability.”
(a few sentences)
Source: Martin Ross sponsored campaign message in the Hello Markham election issue · October 15, 2026
Confidence:High
Emergency services
When I call for help, will it come fast enough?
This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.
Ross would demand quarterly street-by-street crime stats at York Region Council, plus lighting and cameras on city-controlled sites.
- Would use Markham's seat at York Regional Council to demand a public quarterly accounting of crime numbers, street by street.
- Would push for more lighting and cameras in parking lots, plazas and transit stops the city controls, without waiting on others' budgets.
- Would make Markham's bylaw and community safety resources visible and responsive rather than buried in a phone tree.
“When I am Mayor of Markham, I will personally use Markham's seat at York Regional Council — the table where policing decisions actually get made — to demand a public, quarterly accounting of crime numbers, street by street.”
(several paragraphs)
Source: The Platform — Martin Ross for Mayor
Confidence:High
Ross pairs protection with compassion on safety.
- On safety, pairs protection with compassion.
- Cites persuading a robber to return stolen goods at a Markham Shoppers Drug Mart, then buying the man dog food.
“On safety, he pairs protection with compassion, a quality on display when he persuaded a robber to return stolen goods at a Markham Shoppers Drug Mart — then bought the man dog food.”
(a few sentences)
Source: Martin Ross sponsored campaign message in the Hello Markham election issue · October 15, 2026
Confidence:High
Transit
Can I get where I need to go without driving?
Not reviewed yet. Know something?
Government
Will decisions be made in the open, and will anyone answer for them?
This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.
Ross pledges never to use the mayor's override powers against a council majority without a full public explanation of the case.
- Pledges never to use mayoral strong-power override against a majority of elected council without explaining the extraordinary case in public, in full.
- Would make basic file and property information free to access online.
- Would set a public standard for how fast City Hall answers resident requests and publish how often it misses that standard.
“Ontario gave mayors special override powers. I pledge never to use them against a majority of your elected council — and to explain any extraordinary case in public, in full.”
(several paragraphs)
Source: The Platform — Martin Ross for Mayor
Confidence:High
Ross promises a City Hall that serves residents instead of fighting them.
- Core promise: a City Hall that serves residents instead of fighting them – 'with safeguards so municipal power is never turned against residents'.
- Campaign slogan: 'New Voice. New Markham. Vote Martin Ross for Mayor'.
“His core promise is a City Hall that serves residents instead of fighting them — with safeguards so municipal power is never turned against residents.”
(a few sentences)
Source: Martin Ross sponsored campaign message in the Hello Markham election issue · October 15, 2026
Confidence:High
Roads & infrastructure
Will the things I use every day actually get fixed?
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Economy
Will our main streets and local jobs thrive?
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Environment
Is the candidate protecting the nature we live in?
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Healthcare
Will there be a doctor and a hospital when we need one?
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Growth & development
How fast should we grow, and who decides what gets built where?
Ross backs pro-resident development: infrastructure first, open approvals, and the same rules for every resident and developer.
- Supports pro-resident development — infrastructure first, approvals in the open, same rules for everyone.
- Would require the same enforcement standard for every resident and every developer, with no quiet exceptions.
- Would publish a public log of variances, exemptions and special permissions granted by the city, and who asked for them.
Show their words & sourceHide (several paragraphs)
“I'm pro-resident development — infrastructure first, approvals in the open, same rules for everyone at the counter.”
Confidence:High
Social & community services
Who looks after the most vulnerable residents?
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Active transportation
Can I walk and bike safely around town?
This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.
Ross's three term commitments: fast-track top ATMP projects, a Safe School Zones initiative, and winter maintenance standards.
- In the Markham Cycles questionnaire's commitment question, Ross lists three term actions: fast-tracking top five-year ATMP priority projects, a Safe School Zones initiative with traffic calming around high-density school areas, and dedicated winter maintenance of bike lanes and trails.
“1. Accelerate ATMP Priority Projects: Fast-track the top 5–year priority projects in the Active Transportation Master Plan, focusing on major missing links. 2. Launch a Safe School Zones Initiative: Deliver infrastructure upgrades and traffic calming around high-density school areas across all wards. 3. Establish Dedicated Operations Standards: Allocate funding to clear bike lanes and multi-use trails alongside major road plow routes during winter months.”
(several paragraphs)
Source: Martin Ross — Mayor candidate (Markham Cycles questionnaire) · October 8, 2026
Confidence:High
Ross would make active transportation a standard component of every road rebuild, development and transit link.
- In the Markham Cycles questionnaire, Ross commits his administration to fully support and accelerate the Active Transportation Master Plan, treating active transportation as a standard component of every major road rebuild, new development and transit link.
“My administration will fully support and accelerate the implementation of Markham's Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP). We will treat active transportation infrastructure not as an optional add-on, but as a standard component of every major road rebuild, new development, and transit link.”
(a few sentences)
Source: Martin Ross — Mayor candidate (Markham Cycles questionnaire) · October 8, 2026
Confidence:High
Ross would shift from painted bike lanes to physically separated cycle tracks on major roads.
- In the Markham Cycles questionnaire's cycling-network question, Ross commits to shifting from painted lines to physically separated cycle tracks, protected bike lanes and multi-use paths on major arterial and collector roads, prioritized to close network gaps.
“Protected & Physical Separation: Shift from simple painted lines to physically separated cycle tracks, protected bike lanes, and multi-use paths on major arterial and collector roads to protect riders of all ages and abilities. Closing Network Gaps: Prioritize missing links that connect residential neighbourhoods to GO Transit stations, Viva bus lines, local schools, community centres, and commercial hubs like Downtown Markham and Unionville.”
(several paragraphs)
Source: Martin Ross — Mayor candidate (Markham Cycles questionnaire) · October 8, 2026
Confidence:High
Arts & culture
Does the candidate value what makes this place feel alive?
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Data centres
Should energy-hungry data centres be welcomed here?
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Water & waste
Is our drinking water safe and our waste handled?
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Bylaw enforcement
Are the rules fair, and are they actually enforced?
Ross would make Markham's bylaw and community safety resources visible and responsive instead of buried in a phone tree.
- Would make Markham's own bylaw and community safety resources visible and responsive.
- Wants those resources staffed and reachable, not buried in layers of phone transfers.
Show their words & sourceHide (several paragraphs)
“When I am Mayor of Markham, I will make sure Markham's own bylaw and community safety resources are visible and responsive, not buried in a phone tree.”
Confidence:High
Think we got something wrong?
Candidates and members of the public can both report a correction. Every one is logged and answered, and corrections about a candidate’s own positions get priority.