City of Pickering Ward 2 councillor candidate John Meloche has promised that, if elected, he will donate the net base councillor salary he receives during his first 12 months in office to eligible charities and not-for-profit organizations serving Pickering residents.
The commitment will exclude per diems, benefits, expense reimbursements, mileage and other compensation.
Meloche says no charity or not-for-profit will be selected, shortlisted, considered or promised funding before the October 26 election. No selection committee will be recruited or appointed before voters have made their decision.
If elected, Meloche says the process will begin only after the official election result. Eligibility requirements will be published, organizations will be invited to apply through an open process, and an independent committee will evaluate applications using predetermined criteria.
Full Accountability
Meloche said he will not sit on the committee or personally select recipients.
Every successful organization, donation amount and payment will subsequently be publicly reported, along with a final reconciliation showing the eligible net base salary received and the amount distributed.
“Pickering has given my family a place to call home, and I want to give something meaningful back,” said Meloche. “I am not running for city council because I am looking for another paycheque. I am running because I care deeply about the decisions being made today and what those decisions will mean for the people who call Pickering home tomorrow.”
Meloche has lived in Pickering with his family since 2010. He is a husband, father, technology entrepreneur and neighbourhood-association president who has spent more than 18 years building and operating his own business.