The election for our next mayor and council is underway. Many people are concerned about the change to the Municipal Levy box on our tax bill. Burlington’s city council controls that box, and it’s increased by more than 44% over our current council's four-year term. What else has increased is debt, from $74 million in 2022 to $151.5 million in June 2026, a 104% increase. Faced with concerns from residents, the leading candidates for mayor are now claiming to be “Fiscally Responsible”. Who should we believe?
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Opinion: Ribbon Cuttings vs. Real Oversight?
Being Burlington's mayor comes with significant responsibilities, a $493-million budget to oversee, and a six-figure salary funded by taxpayers. But what does the job require day to day, and where does social media posting end and executive oversight begin? Let’s start with a job description. The Ontario Municipal Act (OMA) sets out the rules as … Continue reading Opinion: Ribbon Cuttings vs. Real Oversight?
Opinion: Campaign funding investigation: Burlington and Halton – Part II
In Part 1, Stephen White reviewed who contributed to the winning candidates' 2022 campaigns. https://www.focusburlington.ca/campaigndonations2022/ After an election, every candidate must file a list of contributors. This information is public, and this post includes references to the source websites. There are 30 candidates running in the 2026 election, six of these candidates also ran in … Continue reading Opinion: Campaign funding investigation: Burlington and Halton – Part II
Opinion: Are influence, power, and wealth constant bedfellows?
I looked at two properties in Burlington to understand how zoning changes affect property values. One property is zoned commercial and the other residential. I’ve also heard from two candidates running in different wards that Alinea, a major Burlington landowner, emailed them asking them to remove their campaign signs from the city’s road allowance next … Continue reading Opinion: Are influence, power, and wealth constant bedfellows?
Opinion: Are influence, power, and wealth constant bedfellows?
I looked at two properties in Burlington to understand how zoning changes affect property values. One property is zoned commercial and the other residential. I’ve also heard from two candidates running in different wards that Alinea, a major Burlington landowner, emailed them asking them to remove their campaign signs from the city’s road allowance next … Continue reading Opinion: Are influence, power, and wealth constant bedfellows?
Opinion – Campaign Platforms. Are they worth the paper they’re printed on?
A member of the Burlington community shared this black-and-white scan of a 2018 campaign flyer with us. We've listed the 5 platform planks; fill out the scorecard at the end to rate how things have worked out.
Opinion – City Budgets & Strong Mayor Powers
Do our mayoral candidates understand how to prepare the city budget under the Strong Mayor Powers Legislation? Joe Gaetan explores what we've heard from the candidates ...
We asked about Accountability and Transparency. What did the candidates say?
Our Question: Many residents are concerned about the rising cost of living, including property taxes. How would you balance keeping taxes affordable while maintaining the services and infrastructure residents expect? What would guide your decisions? Here’s what candidates had to say […]
Opinion: Burlington election campaign contributions (2022). Who and how much.
Money. Ask any aspiring municipal candidate what the biggest obstacle to running is, and the answer will likely be campaign financing. Running a competitive campaign costs money—for advertising, literature, promotional materials, and much more. While the candidate who raises the most money does not necessarily win, mounting a credible campaign almost always requires substantial financial … Continue reading Opinion: Burlington election campaign contributions (2022). Who and how much.
We asked about managing the City’s Finances. What did the candidates say?
Our Question: Many residents are concerned about the rising cost of living, including property taxes. How would you balance keeping taxes affordable while maintaining the services and infrastructure residents expect? What would guide your decisions? Here’s what candidates had to say […]