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Progress and Priorities


In 2022, Justine Mallah campaigned to focus on the housing crisis and homelessness, community safety and well-being, protecting the environment, and being responsive. Find out how she delivered on her promises and learn about her 2026-2030 priorities by expanding the sections below. 

*Important note* No one person delivers change alone. The progress made over the past term reflects the efforts of City staff, Council, community members, volunteers, businesses, and provincial and federal partners working toward common goals. Justine is proud to have played a role in helping bring people together to move these initiatives forward for the benefit of North Bay.
 

Addressing the Housing Crisis​

  • Led efforts to implement North Bay's Housing Action Plan, secure $10.6 million in federal funding for local housing initiatives to surpass provincial housing targets in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Since 2023, the City has experienced significant growth, with 635 permits issued for new homes, 200 more approvals than the previous Council Term.

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  • Championed as-of-right permissions for up to three additional dwelling units per lot, supporting attainable housing and aging in place.  

  • Led efforts that helped secure and direct millions in funding for affordable housing projects through the Housing Accelerator Fund and partnerships with DNSSAB.

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  • Championed policies to encourage smaller, more affordable homes, including support for waiving development charges on homes under 1,500 square feet.

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  • Supported the development of a 60-unit affordable housing project for Indigenous residents on Brookes Street, funded through the Housing Accelerator Fund in partnership with DNSSAB.

  • Supported affordable housing projects for seniors, including the development at 111 Cartier Street through the Housing Accelerator Fund. The project includes 60 accessible apartments for seniors with rent supplements.

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  • Supported the multigenerational Canadore Co-Habitation Project, with housing units available through DNSSAB's centralized housing waitlist, helping increase access to affordable and supportive housing for seniors and other residents.

  • Decreased red tape to help get more homes built, faster, such as supporting the introduction of CityWide portal, giving builders 24/7 online access.

  • Moved a motion to modernize the Condominium Conversion Policy to help protect North Bay’s rental housing supply and affordability. The updated policy would limit condominium conversions when rental vacancy rates are low, while still allowing conversions that support affordable homeownership or occur in market segments with sufficient rental availability.

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  • Championed the policy change to allow three additional dwelling units as-of-right, consistent with provincial best practices, enabling seniors to age in place, families to accommodate multiple generations, and homeowners to create supplemental income through rental housing.

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  • Allocated over $1 million of the Housing Accelerator Fund to support new multi-residential projects.

  • Promote smaller, more affordable, and modular homes.

  • Explore housing options for seniors, including age-friendly housing developments.

  • Encourage housing development through targeted incentives.

  • Leverage city-owned lands for housing opportunities.

  • Listen to builders, developers, tenants, landlords, homeowners, and citizens to better understand their needs.

  • Advocate to upper levels of governments for more financial support towards affordable housing projects.


Advancing Community Well-Being

  • Advanced improvements to service coordination and support for vulnerable residents through the endorsement of a Homelessness Hub feasibility study, exploring a year-round, seven-day-a-week access point to care.

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  • Advocated for a Community Connection Centre, securing capital budget consideration and engaging provincial partners to improve access to community services.

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  • Advocated for directing casino revenues toward addressing community harms, including supporting frontline service providers, addiction prevention initiatives, mental health supports, and long-term upstream solutions that address the root causes of homelessness and substance use.

  • Supported the launch of the Peer Outreach and Security Team (POST) in 2023, combining outreach and community safety services to better support residents and public spaces in downtown core. The outreach component of the program was then funded by DNSSAB in 2024; with North Bay continuing to fund the waterfront amenities security team from May-October.

  • Collaborated with agency leaders as a member of the Community Safety and Well-Being Advisory Group to coordinate efforts, align priorities, and advance collaborative solutions to some of the community's most pressing challenges.

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  • Contributed to the collaborative update of the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, ensuring local priorities, emerging issues, and community perspectives were integrated into a coordinated strategy that drives collective action.

  • Endorsed continuous work with Built for Zero through the development and active management of the Nipissing By-Name List (BNL), a coordinated initiative connecting individuals experiencing homelessness with community service providers to rapidly rehouse them and provide wrap-around supports. Recognized by the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, the BNL helps stabilize households, remove systemic barriers, and strengthen community-based responses to homelessness.

  • Supported the development of North Bay's Road Safety Strategy to help improve safety for all road users.

  • Supported the expansion of Community Safety Zones, including around Laurentian Learning Centre on McKay Avenue and near the Community Recreation Centre, to help improve safety for students, pedestrians, and families.

  • Supported investments in additional sidewalks, including those that improve access to transit stops.

  • Move forward with a permanent homeless hub.

  • Continue advocating to the province for greater involvement and distribution of needed resources to address issues related to health, addictions, and homelessness.

  • Advance Built for Zero initiatives and support the Nipissing By-Name List to inform evidence-based responses to homelessness.

    Establish community targets and publicly report progress toward reducing homelessness.

  • Work with staff to expand the number of community partners engaged in the Community Safety and Well-being Plan, more broadly, ensuring coordination.

  • Continue bringing agencies, service providers, health partners, law enforcement, and all levels of government together to align priorities and resources through the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan.

  • Advance road safety with the implementation of additional traffic calming measures and red light cameras.


Supporting People and Families

  • Advocated to address critical staffing shortages that continue to limit access to licensed child care spaces across communities by proposing to the Province of Ontario for DNSSAB to be a pilot Child Care Learn and Stay Program for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) to strengthen workforce development and increase access to qualified educators.

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  • Supported advocacy efforts calling on the Province to unfreeze child care administration funding, helping municipalities maintain and enhance the delivery of child care services.

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  • Worked with Council to allocate $200,000 in municipal casino revenues to the Elmwood Community Hub, supporting the development of a new clinical and social services wing and expanding access to programs that strengthen families and community well-being.

  • Enhanced access to care and emergency response in remote and challenging locations across the District by supporting the implementation of the Paramedic Off-Road Response Program, which provides a dedicated capability within Paramedic Services to respond to calls where conventional ambulances may be unable to reach patients.

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  • Helped improve access to preventive and primary care services by supporting the establishment of the Clinical Access Mobile Partnership (CAMP) Program, a mobile, community-based care delivery model operated by Nipissing Paramedic Services.

  • Advocated for sustainable provincial funding for NOSM University to support the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals in North Bay and Northern Ontario, including seconding a motion calling on the province to implement solutions to ongoing physician shortages.

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  • Helped advance efforts to improve access to family doctors by supporting recruitment initiatives that will continue through March 2027, positioning North Bay to compete with other Ontario communities seeking healthcare professionals.

  • Supported several operational changes to better support Ontario Works client participation and individualized service delivery, including the launch of centralized intake, the resumption of in‑person workshops for clients facing barriers to digital access, the re‑alignment of Employment Support Worker roles to reflect varying levels of job readiness, and the resumption of community placements for clients progressing along the employment continuum.

  • Work with staff to ensure transit services are as reliable and efficient as possible.

  • Collaborate on initiatives that help the next generation thrive through a resilience-building, evidence-informed approach.

  • Continue exploring and implementing strategies to recruit physicians and strengthen collaborative healthcare practices.

  • Expand free and low-cost recreational, cultural, and wellness programming for youth, seniors, adults, and families.

  • Support age-friendly initiatives that help seniors remain active, connected, and independent in their communities.

 

Collaborating for a Vibrant North Bay

  • Supported the expansion of Arts & Culture Nights, including the addition of Tuesday programming in 2024 and 2025, and events across additional months of the year, creating more opportunities for residents to enjoy free community programming.

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  • Backed free outdoor movie nights, providing accessible, family-friendly recreation and entertainment for youth and residents of all ages.

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  • Endorsed community events and initiatives such as the Galley Hops, Winter Market, Bay Block Party, and other programs that contribute to a vibrant local culture and economy as a Board Member of Creative Industries.

  • Advanced public art initiatives that enhanced community spaces and celebrated local creativity and culture through installations and artistic enhancements at the North Bay Bypass, Champlain Park, Sunset Park, the All-Wheel Park, WFCU Place, and hydro boxes throughout the city.

  • Helped community arts groups bring creative projects and events to life through supporting Creative Industries' Micro-Grant Program.

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  • Facilitated connections between citizens, organizations, and City staff to advance projects and initiatives, such as linking organizations with the City Grants Facilitator to explore funding opportunities.

  • Championed the Downtown Waterfront Development Project and helped engage residents in shaping a plan for a more vibrant and welcoming Commons area between the North Bay Museum and the Dionne Quints Museum.

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  • Supported the Making Over Main Street initiative to enhance walkability, public spaces, and the downtown experience for business owners, residents and visitors.

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  • Championed the development of North Bay's first Tree Canopy Policy through meaningful community engagement, creating a framework to protect municipal trees, expand vegetation cover, promote native species, manage invasive species, and guide responsible tree management practices.

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  • Led Council support for the Re-Nature Project, a partnership with two local school boards that will transform outdoor spaces at 13 schools into naturalized learning and play environments while fostering environmental stewardship among youth.

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  • Worked to protect Sweetman's Garden, preserving a cherished green space that contributes to community well-being, environmental sustainability, and quality of life.

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  • Advocated for responsible growth through urban intensification rather than urban sprawl, promoting efficient infrastructure use, protecting natural areas, and focusing development within the existing urban boundary.

  • Supported improvements to the Ice Allocation Policy, building on efforts to enhance transparency, consistency, and fairness for ice user groups.

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  • Advanced plans for an accessible, zero-carbon community recreation centre, informed by the recommendations of the Multi-Use Recreational Facility (MURF) Study and feedback from local user groups, to meet North Bay's future recreation needs through sustainable and energy-efficient design.

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  • Enhanced recreational infrastructure, including improvements to pickleball facilities such as court surfacing and fencing.

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  • Followed up on a community-led proposal for an Olympic-sized decking system on Trout Lake to support recreation, aquatic programming, tourism, and training.

  • Supported the development of the Kiwanis All-Wheel Park, creating new opportunities for skateboarding, BMX, scootering, and other wheel sports.

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  • Supported the new Rotary Playground, expanding accessible and inclusive play opportunities for children and families.

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  • Advanced pilot off-leash dog park locations based on a resident-led idea, creating more opportunities for residents and their pets to enjoy outdoor spaces while maximizing existing infrastructure by utilizing outdoor rinks during the off-season.

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  • Supported upgrades to neighbourhood parks, including improvements at Feronia Park and Veronica Park.

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  • Expanded recreational amenities in local parks by adding new pickleball and basketball courts, including improvements at Greenhill, Kinette, Bourke, Circle Lake, Graniteville, and West Ferris Lions parks.

  • Supported local industry and businesses within the Growth Community Improvement Plan (GCIP) area through involvement on the GCIP Committee, helping advance infill development, economic rehabilitation and revitalization, business expansion, job creation, and private-sector investment.

  • Seek grant and funding opportunities to build the amenities featured in the Downtown Waterfront Master Plan.

  • Move forward with the Climate Adaptation Master Plan to guide flood mitigation and infrastructure investment, aimed at reducing long-term risks and protecting public safety and property.

  • Continue to advocate for municipal composting options

  • Collaborate with community partners to develop and implement North Bay's Cultural Plan and strengthen the city's arts, culture, and heritage sectors.

  • Increase public art, murals, and creative spaces that bring vibrancy to neighbourhoods and gathering places.


Building a Community Where Everyone Belongs

  • Voted to remove permanent address requirements for library cards, expanding access to knowledge and services for vulnerable residents.

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  • Helped more families access educational resources without financial barriers by supporting the elimination of late fees on children's library materials.

  • Collaborated on the Truth and Reconciliation Ad Hoc Committee to advance cultural awareness training across the organization and embed Truth and Reconciliation principles into organizational practices, such as the development and implementation of a land acknowledgement.

  • Strongly supported the permanent location of the Franco-Ontarian flag at City Hall, symbolizing that the Francophone community is a permanent and valued part of North Bay's identity, recognizing the flag's local connection through its co-creator, North Bay resident Michel Dupuis, and acknowledging the significant contributions of Franco-Ontarians to the City's history, culture, and development.

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  • Promoted support for Franco-Ontarian cultural events and collaborative partnerships.

  • ​Supported the establishment of the Rural Advisory Committee, creating an advisory link between rural residents and Council to ensure rural interests and concerns are represented in municipal planning and decision-making.

  • Better understand community needs to inform decision-making by gathering data and engaging residents, particularly those with lived experience and those facing systemic barriers.

  • Collaborate with community partners to build a more inclusive North Bay.

  • Advocate for new municipal buildings and services to exceed AODA standards.

  • Promote anti-racism and trauma-informed practices in municipal work.


Staying Connected to the Community

  • Responded to thousands of emails and inquiries, working diligently to ensure residents who reached out to me felt heard, informed, and represented.

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  • Maintained an active social media presence to connect with residents, celebrate community achievements, promote local events and initiatives, and remain accessible and responsive to public questions and concerns.

  • Attended hundreds of community events, including fundraisers, festivals, flag raisings, cultural celebrations, volunteer recognition events, and community programs, maintaining a strong presence throughout the community. Scroll through Justine Mallah's Instagram and Facebook pages to see her in action.

  • Maintained a strong attendance record at Council, committee, and board meetings, missing meetings only due to illness, childbirth, conflicting board meeting schedules, and work or family obligations (such as medical appointments). To learn more about the Boards and Committees Councillor Mallah was involved in, click here. For her attendance records, click here.

  • Continue to be available, present, and responsive to residents and the community.


Additional Priorities

The accomplishments above focus primarily on Justine's leadership within Community Services. However, she understands that creating a vibrant, livable city also depends on maintaining core infrastructure, delivering reliable services, and planning for future growth. Looking ahead, she will continue working to advance the following priorities:

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  • Ensuring residents have access to safe, reliable drinking water.

  • Upgrading aging infrastructure and advocating for provincial and federal funding to help reduce costs for local taxpayers.

  • Modernizing City Hall through improved customer service, streamlined processes, and a more user-friendly City website.

  • Advancing asset management planning to ensure roads, facilities, water systems, and other municipal assets are maintained responsibly for the future.

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