The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce is calling on candidates in the 2026 municipal election to commit to practical action that will strengthen Thunder Bay as a place to live, work, invest and grow.
Today, the Chamber released City of Opportunity,an election platform based on insights from its 2026 Member Survey. The platform focuses on three priorities: getting things done, creating safe and vibrant communities, and fostering competitive growth.
“Thunder Bay has the people, the natural advantages, the industries and the ambition to be one of Canada’s most competitive and livable mid-sized cities,” said Charla Robinson, President of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce. “Our challenge is not a lack of plans or opportunities – it is turning those plans into action. The next Council has an opportunity to build confidence by delivering measurable results.”
At the centre of the City of Opportunity platform is a call for the next Council to make the Smart Growth Action Plan the roadmap for growth and prioritize its implementation.
The Chamber is asking candidates to support:
- stronger accountability
- reducing the infrastructure gap,
- responsible financial stewardship,
- implementation of the Community Safety and Well-being Plan,
- enhanced community livability,
- improved development processes,
- stronger Indigenous economic partnerships,
- a “Choose TBay First” approach to municipal procurement (where permitted), and
- increased investment readiness.
The Chamber will invite all municipal election candidates to review the platform and complete a Candidate Survey indicating their support for its nine proposed commitments. Candidate responses will be shared publicly to help voters understand where candidates stand on priorities identified by the business community.
Read the City of Opportunity platform: tbchamber.ca/cityofopportunity