Ward 3 · Claremont

Claremont residents are dealing with flooding. They deserve answers, and action.

Residents near new development in Claremont have been living with water and sediment problems while responsibility gets passed back and forth. Here's what the Province has confirmed, who is responsible for what, and what I'll do about it.

See It for Yourself

Flooding in Claremont, Pickering.

What the Province Has Confirmed

An order is already in place, and the Province says controls are still inadequate.

In 2025, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks issued a Provincial Officer Order to both the developer, Claremont Developments Inc., and the City of Pickering, requiring them to put in place and maintain sediment control measures until construction is complete. That order is still in effect.

After a resident complaint, ministry staff visited the site and told both the developer and the City:

“Stormwater drainage control continues to be inadequate and better controls need to be implemented to prevent potential sediment impacts.”

Source: Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, York Durham District Office, letter dated August 31, 2026 (File 357-2026-2138).

Who Is Responsible for What

Two related problems, two different responsibilities.

Province

Sediment and Mitchell Creek

The Ministry's role is sediment control: keeping construction runoff out of Mitchell Creek. That's what its order covers.

City of Pickering

Drainage and flooding of properties

The Ministry's own letter says drainage problems affecting residents' properties fall to the City of Pickering. That makes it City Hall's job to fix.

Residents shouldn't have to become experts in which level of government handles which drop of water. When the City is named in a provincial order and is responsible for property drainage, the City needs to lead.

What I'll Do as Mayor

Make the City own its part of the fix.

Put Claremont drainage on Council's agenda and require a public staff report on what's been done, what hasn't, and when it will be fixed.

Hold developers to their obligations. Development agreements and site controls exist to protect neighbours. The City should enforce them, not wait for residents to complain.

Meet with affected residents in Claremont, with City staff in the room, so answers come directly and in person.

Invest in stormwater upgrades in flood-risk neighbourhoods, as part of my Environment commitment, and build stormwater readiness into every growth approval.

These are commitments about how the City does its job. I'm not in a position to give legal advice to individual residents; anyone considering a claim should speak with a lawyer.