"Pickering needs a Mayor who understands accountability, who has actually fought for people when it mattered, and who won't back down when things get difficult. That is the Doug I have known for years, and that is why I am proud to support him."
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July 14, 2026
To the Residents of Pickering,
I am writing to give my full endorsement to Doug Cornell in his campaign for Mayor of the City of Pickering.
I have known Doug for many years through our shared work in the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union. We worked side by side during a difficult and defining period for organized labour in this country, including the fight to protect workers' rights and jobs during the free trade negotiations. Doug served as Recording Secretary for the CAW Council Benefit Representatives, a body representing the entire GM/CAW chain of roughly 40,000 workers at the time, working under committee chairperson Dave Broadbent. I saw firsthand the discipline, attention to detail, and commitment he brought to that role.
I also witnessed Doug's advocacy work directly at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT), where he fought for injured workers and won. That work requires patience, persistence, and a genuine willingness to fight for people who often have nowhere else to turn. Doug had all three.
I also saw Doug's commitment to diversity and women's issues within the labour movement, work that doesn't always get recognized but that shapes whether an organization actually lives up to its values or just talks about them.
I later served as a Director with the Ontario Federation of Labour before retiring, and looking back over that career, Doug is one of the people I remember as actually living up to the values our movement talked about, consistently, over decades, without needing the credit.
Pickering needs a Mayor who understands accountability, who has actually fought for people when it mattered, and who won't back down when things get difficult. That is the Doug I have known for years, and that is why I am proud to support him.
Sincerely,
Colin Argyle
Retired | Former CAW Colleague | Former Director, Ontario Federation of Labour
"What struck me most was not just his competence, but his insistence on doing things the right way — transparently, with clear accountability, and with the long-term consequences in mind rather than just the immediate outcome."
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July 28, 2026
To the Residents of Pickering,
I have known Doug Cornell for 20 years, first as his legal counsel and over time as someone I have come to respect deeply as a business leader and community builder. I am writing because I believe his candidacy for Mayor of Pickering represents exactly the kind of accountability-focused leadership this city needs right now.
In my professional relationship with Doug, I observed firsthand how he approaches obligations, agreements, and decisions.
What struck me most was not just his competence, but his insistence on doing things the right way — transparently, with clear accountability, and with the long-term consequences in mind rather than just the immediate outcome. These are not common qualities. They are exactly what I would want in someone entrusted with the public finances and civic decisions of a growing city.
Navigating that responsibly requires someone who understands how debt, risk, and financial accountability work in practice, not just in principle. Doug Cornell has demonstrated that understanding over decades of running a successful business.
For these reasons, I am pleased to offer my full and unqualified endorsement of Doug Cornell for Mayor of the City of Pickering in the October 2026 municipal election. Pickering would be well served by his leadership.
Sincerely,
Albert Luk
Barrister and Solicitor