Ben’s Campaign Platform
Ben Durham’s Platform
for Ward 3
Fighting for a city that works for you.
Ben’s Platform is an iterative, ongoing process that will be shaped and reshaped throughout London’s 2026 election period (May to October).
Your suggestions and feedback will be of paramount importance for the evolution of this campaign, so go ahead and submit your feedback to ben@bendurham.ca! You’ll hear back from me.
Smarter Traffic, Safer Streets
Traffic is getting worse. Solutions exist, so let’s implement them ASAP!
Better City Communications
Better comms from both the City of London and Council. Before surprising votes happen.
Fiscal Responsibility
Your taxes should work for you, not against you. Let’s plug the leaks.
Homes for Everyone
Our neighbours are falling through the cracks of the system… But there are solutions.
Support This Platform
Help us turn these ideas into action with your contribution.
PILLAR 1:
Smarter Traffic, Safer Streets
Nobody likes traffic. It’s frustrating, dangerous, and costs everyone time and money. So, how can we legitimately “solve traffic” and make our streets safer for Londoners?
Smartly. Let me explain.
(*note: I will be adding quite a few more sub-items and explanations to each in the following weeks.)
1.1 Increase average traffic speed (*using street re-designs)
1.2 Bring intersection design into the future
1.3 Improve bus service
1.4 Fully connect the Active Transportation Network
1.5 Use the Mobility Master Plan as a blueprint for decision making
1.6 Bring your destinations closer to home
I’m serious about reducing traffic, that’s why my wife and I only own one car that only sees occasional use. For the rest of our trips? We typically ride our ebikes or take transit! We haven’t gone grocery shopping with our car for over three years now.
If other candidates and city councillors are serious, too, then they need to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
So, I’m committing to writing and introducing a motion that would require every city councillor (including me, if elected) to commute to City Hall using something other than a personal motor vehicle for at least 20 days per year (4 working weeks).
Other options could include walking, biking, taking transit, e-scootering, or anything else they might like to do, as long as it isn’t a personal motor vehicle (ie. car, truck) or a taxi/Uber.
Also: no free downtown parking passes for councillors. If everyone else pays, so should we.
If we’re serious about reducing traffic and supporting alternatives, the people making the decisions should lead by example.
PILLAR 2:
Better City Communications
An interesting fact that seems to get brushed aside far too often is that the City of London and its employees are essentially (read: employed) hired by Londoners to keep the city functioning (and thriving, ideally).
But what I’ve heard over the last few years is an increasing disconnect between residents and their city.
Let’s fix that.
(*note: I will be adding quite a few more sub-items and explanations to each in the following weeks.)
2.1 Enhance communications between the city and its residents
2.2 Revamp the City of London website and service portal
2.3 Create a centralized accountability dashboard for Londoners’ concerns
2.4 Release a “Ben Durham Report Card” every 6 months (*at minimum)
PILLAR 3:
Fiscal Responsibility
I’ll be honest: this one’s going to be difficult… and anyone who says otherwise is blatantly wrong. But over the course of a 4-year term, it’s possible to point us in the right direction.
The City of London needs to embrace the land that we already have and follow through with the intensification targets set out by The London Plan.
(*note: I will be adding quite a few more sub-items and explanations to each in the following weeks.)
3.1 Stop spreading London’s money too thinly
3.2 Embrace environmental standards that save money
3.3 Bring back funding for community services
3.4 Demystify city finances
3.5 Help Emergency Workers get back to their real jobs
3.6 Look over police budget early (before it’s too late to change)
PILLAR 4:
Homes for Everyone
Housing and all of its intricacies are very complicated. Our neighbours are falling through the cracks of the system. But there are solutions that we need to start implementing immediately.
(*note: I will be adding quite a few more sub-items and explanations to each in the following weeks.)