The recent Chair’s Update at the Harmony Event Centre, as part of the annual TD Economic Outlook Event, served as a welcome checkpoint for stakeholders tracking Oshawa’s economic momentum. Presented by Councillor Tito-Dante Marimpietri, Chair of the City’s Economic and Development Services, the session provided a reflective look at the city’s progress, emerging challenges, and strategic priorities heading into the latter half of 2025.
Framed by a looping slide deck and delivered in a conversational style, Chair Marimpietri’s remarks covered everything from industrial development to population forecasts to international trade missions. For those in attendance, including developers, local leaders, and members of the business community, the update offered a window into how Oshawa is positioning itself as a competitive, future-facing city in a region experiencing significant transformation.
Oshawa by the Numbers
From the outset, the presentation emphasized that Oshawa’s growth is quantifiable and sustained.
- Population now exceeds 185,000, with projections aiming for 220,000 by 2031
- 75,000 jobs city-wide, including over 13,000 in healthcare
- Over $4 billion in total development since 2018
- Nearly $1.3 billion of that in non-residential, job creating investments
- 2024 building permits reached a record $902 million
The numbers (especially the jobs by sector as you will note on slide 5 of the deck embedded below) point to a meaningful change in the scale and scope of Oshawa’s economy. The Chair reflected on this transformation through the lens of both legacy and opportunity. “When we started,” he noted, “we were often trying to explain why Oshawa could compete. Now, the data does a lot of that work for us.”
Building on Our Roots, Focused on the Future
One theme that surfaced throughout the address was an economic transition that has demonstrable momentum. That was especially evident as Chair Marimpietri addressed a familiar topic: General Motors. “We make absolutely no attempt to minimize the impact of any single job that’s lost,” he said, referring to the concerns that often resurface around GM’s long-term role in the city. But he quickly pivoted to a broader view: “Oshawa is transitioning—just as GM is.”
This idea—that Oshawa’s industrial identity is evolving, not eroding—carried through the rest of the presentation. Slide content reinforced that the city’s economy is now anchored not only by automotive manufacturing, but by high-growth opportunities in sectors like:
- Educational Services
- Healthcare
- Artificial intelligence
- Cybersecurity and defence
- Augmented reality and eSports
The chair also pointed out that this diversification has become a deliberate feature of the city’s economic planning and not just a by-product of broader economic change.
How Investment Happens in Oshawa
Many attendees were pleased to learn that when Oshawa receives business interest (some of the many forms of this include site selectors, developers, or industry leaders) the response isn’t ad hoc. Chair Marimpietri emphasized that Oshawa’s ability to respond quickly to business interest is the result of close coordination across departments and with regional partners like Durham Region. Together, they’ve been working to build an environment where the answer to investor inquiries can be: “Yes—and here’s how.”
Much of that readiness is structural:
- Zero city development charges for industrial development and all downtown projects, including residential project
- A suite of Community Improvement Plan grants (brownfields, façade upgrades, code compliance, and more)
- Expedited approvals, often among the fastest in the GTA
- Pre-serviced land, coordinated through regional infrastructure planning
The result is a streamlined, “plug-and-play” experience for businesses. Or, as Marimpietri phrased it in one of his more memorable lines: “Dirt is dirt, but we have a real value proposition on top of the land.”
Where the Investments Are Happening
Several slides were dedicated to showcasing the major developments—both completed and in progress—that are reshaping Oshawa’s landscape. These include:
- Ontario Power Generation HQ: Consolidating over 2,000 new corporate jobs to a new Oshawa location.
- Trent University Durham GTA: $30M campus expansion
- GEODIS Logistics and Aosom Canada Inc.: Combined 610,000+ sq. ft. of logistics and warehouse space
- Panattoni and Broccolini: Continued acquisitions in Northwood Business Park
- HOPA Ports: $30M infrastructure investment to support industrial activity
- Costco, Martin Brower, Lactalis: Retail and logistics investments delivering hundreds of jobs
- General Motors: New assembly operations ($1.3B+), plus a $170M parts manufacturing investment and test track for autonomous vehicles
Altogether, these projects represent more than 7,000 jobs, many in sectors with long-term growth trajectories.
For a full overview, readers can explore the Chair’s slideshow here:
The External View: International Trade and Market Access
Chair Marimpietri also addressed the global picture. He spoke about a recent trade mission to Hannover Messe in Germany where Oshawa was positioned as a North American launch point for defence and tech companies seeking stability, skilled labour, and access to the U.S. market.
“We’re not turning our backs on global trade,” he explained. “We’re making the case that Oshawa is a springboard into the largest market in the world—one with predictability and infrastructure ready to go.”
A Moment for the Financial Sector
Toward the end of the session, Marimpietri spoke directly to those with connections to the finance world. He encouraged them to see Oshawa not just as a local story but as a viable node in broader investment strategies.
“The market conditions are what they are,” he acknowledged. “But the things we can control, we do control. And we do it well.”
He asked attendees to serve as informed ambassadors, helping others understand what the city is offering today and what it’s ready to offer tomorrow.
Looking Ahead
Broadly, the Chair made it clear that Oshawa’s growth is planned, not improvised. And while uncertainty persists in global markets and some legacy industries, the city’s response is defined by planning, alignment, and a consistent invitation: come build here.
There’s more work to do. Provincial housing policy is evolving. Labour force development remains a key piece. And like many communities, Oshawa is navigating regional competition. But there’s clarity of purpose—and a sense that its next wave of success is being built on solid ground.
For the full breakdown of development highlights, incentives, and strategic priorities, we encourage you to scroll through the embedded slide deck above.
The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce is proud to co-produce this annual event alongside TD and the City of Oshawa’s Business & Economic Development Services. It’s one of the many ways we work together to share critical information, spotlight local progress, and help our members stay connected to the region’s evolving business landscape.
