April showers bring May flowers, but June brings something less pleasant to Burlington mailboxes: the first property tax bill of 2026. Whether you own a home, rent an apartment, or simply shop at local businesses, you are paying property taxes. They are baked into our rent, our groceries, and the price of our morning coffee. … Continue reading Opinion: Tax Clarity or Clever Math?
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Opinion – What’s $90 million between friends?
Every year, the City of Burlington releases a budget. We can expect to see the 2027 budget after the October 26, 2026, municipal elections. There is always a lot of debate about the percentage of the tax increase, but what does the increase mean in terms of total tax dollars? One of the more interesting … Continue reading Opinion – What’s $90 million between friends?
Opinion – Indwell – “Let’s open doors together.”
Burlington has a hidden homeless problem, with many people living in tents along the railway tracks. Social housing is the responsibility of Halton Region. While Halton Community Housing Corporation manages over 2,200 units, shelters are operating at 140% capacity, and the wait time for social housing is over 7 years. To help with this crisis, … Continue reading Opinion – Indwell – “Let’s open doors together.”
Regular Meeting of Council – May 26, 2026
This is a computer-generated transcript of the meeting and may contain inaccuracies. You can check the accuracy of any statement by using the timestamp information and watching the video of the meeting from the city's website. This transcript is provided as a service to the community. Hearing-impaired individuals who are unable to watch the meeting … Continue reading Regular Meeting of Council – May 26, 2026
Opinion – Where are the drones?
Is there more that the Halton Regional Police should be doing about car theft?
Opinion – What does Community Housing mean?
What does Community Housing in Halton mean? Where does the Indwell Project on Waterdown Rd fit in?
Committee of the Whole – May 12, 2026
This meeting is a continuation of the May 11, 2026 meeting. This is a computer-generated transcript of the meeting and may contain inaccuracies. You can check the accuracy of any statement by using the timestamp information and watching the video of the meeting from the city's website. This transcript is provided as a service to … Continue reading Committee of the Whole – May 12, 2026
Committee of the Whole – May 11, 2026
This is a computer-generated transcript of the meeting and may contain inaccuracies. You can check the accuracy of any statement by using the timestamp information and watching the video of the meeting from the city's website. This transcript is provided as a service to the community. Hearing-impaired individuals who are unable to watch the meeting … Continue reading Committee of the Whole – May 11, 2026
Strong Mayor Powers: The Stratford Case for Democracy
Democracy is not a spectator sport, but in Ontario, it has increasingly become a target for executive overreach. While some municipalities like Burlington have spent their energy fiddling around the edges with non-binding policies to mitigate the impact of the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, the City of Stratford has chosen a more courageous, albeit … Continue reading Strong Mayor Powers: The Stratford Case for Democracy
Opinion – Strong Mayor Powers: If Council Doesn’t Understand Them – How Can They Govern Them?
At Burlington’s upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting on May 11, Council will consider Agenda Item 8.3 - adopting “Guidelines for the Use of Strong Mayor Powers.” On its face, this looks like a responsible step toward accountability. I have submitted a letter to the City Clerk for the public record, raising concerns about the … Continue reading Opinion – Strong Mayor Powers: If Council Doesn’t Understand Them – How Can They Govern Them?