A Regional Councillor has publicly criticized Regional Chair and CEO, citing “lack of leadership” over a move that may significantly impact the property tax burden on residents next year.
The issue was over the Durham Regional Police Services (DRPS) Service and Financing Strategy (2026-2036), which projects a $1.1 billion in capital expenditure alone over the next 10 years, to be financed, in part, through increased property taxes.
With the upcoming municipal election and the potential governance changes for the region, region staff recommended on May 12 that the DRPS strategy be received for information with the new council providing direction on future annual property tax increases for DRPS.
Read John Henry’s Response Tomorrow
In a social media post entitled ‘John Henry sends potential 10 per cent Durham property tax hike to 2027 regional budget’, Councillor Brian Nicholson of Ward 5 Oshawa and Durham Council, said instead of taking a firm position against this massive tax hike, John Henry moved a motion at the Durham Region Finance and Administration Committee to have this considered in the 2027 Regional Council Budget.
“Of course, this is to a budget process where he will no longer be regional chair. Another example of his lack of leadership,” said Nicholson.
The 10 per cent impact on 2027 property taxes has not been confirmed. In 2026, the police budget was the largest component of the region’s property tax increase of 4.8 per cent (initially a 6.6 per cent rise guideline was issued). The region’s tax hikes have consistently been among the highest across all Durham municipalities (see below).
Nicholson said Henry’s motion at the Finance and Administration Committee was supported by a 4-2 vote (two other members were absent and [one] did not vote).
Regional Chair To Be Appointed
“This means that only six members out of 29 members of regional council had a vote on this matter. It is actions like this that precipitated the province to step in to eliminate John Henry as the Chair of Durham Region. It appears John Henry is only in favour of democracy when it impacts his paycheque and not so much when it impacts your tax bill,” said Nicholson.
“John Henry is seeking to keep his unblemished record of supporting every tax increase even when he is no longer in office,” he stated.
Table Report At Full Council
Nicholson said he had requested that the report go to the full council so all elected regional councillors could speak and vote on the proposal.
“But John Henry and three others decided to stop that from happening. In short, those who you elected to speak on your behalf were not allowed to do so. So much for defending democracy, Mr. Henry,” said Nicholson while thanking councillors Kevin Ashe (Pickering) and Marilyn Crawford (Ajax) for opposing John Henry’s motion to keep the 10 per cent tax hike on the table for 2027.
“This action should also send shivers up the spines of Oshawa taxpayers, as it appears that the person most responsible for Oshawa having the highest tax rate in Durham wants to continue his reckless legacy. Oshawa taxpayers cannot afford John Henry’s tax-them-until-they-bleed legacy,” said the councillor.
Durham Region Property Tax Increases
- 2026: 4.8% (against an announced cap of 3.5%)
- 2025: 7.4% (against an announced cap of 4.9%)
- 2024: 7.5%
- 2023: 5.2%
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