Opinion – Do They Deserve Another Term?

2026 will usher in another municipal election. It has been eight years since the mayor and councillors were first elected.

Let’s Get Organized!

If their first term was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and measures to deal with and limit its negative consequences, surely the second has been symbolized by higher-than-anticipated budget increases. By using terms like “the impact of the increase” Burlington communicates a tax increase percentage that is lower than the actual increase. For every $1,000 you paid to Burlington in property taxes in 2022, you’ll be paying $1,449 in 2026.

When Focus Burlington was created, our mandate was to advocate for measures to contain budget increases, improve flood abatement, improve transportation systems, end Strong Mayor Powers, limit intensification and high-rise developments, improve community engagement, and support environmental sustainability. Through monitoring council meetings,  delegations and writing articles, we are meeting our mandate. There is one other facet of our role that we are deeply committed to fulfilling. Our brochure states:  “We need to be prepared.  That means identifying a few good people with the skills, expertise and motivation to lead our community forward.  These are individuals who support our policies and believe in the same principles we do”.

People Control the Process, and the Process Determines the Outcome. I am often asked what I think of the Burlington Council.  Without getting into a protracted discussion about personalities, my standard answer is:  they are a group of well-intentioned individuals with no real collective vision who subscribe to a transactional view of politics based upon placating an ever-increasing array of special interests.

What do I mean?  Essentially, they are citizens who ran for office because they wanted to make Burlington better, but with no compelling idea of what that entails. The agenda they subscribe to is one that the mayor defines, shapes and promotes.  As issues arise, they are addressed as “one-offs”.  Give a little here, give a little there, and hope that everyone goes away smiling.

What if we had candidates who subscribed and committed, in writing, to following a common set of ideals if elected?  What would a more strategic and unifying agenda look like?  Would that change the political landscape?  Would that shape the agenda and the outcome?  And, most importantly, would that lead to a process whereby ideology, and not expediency, determined how the city moves forward?

Shaping the Narrative

As one of the founders of Focus Burlington, I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I suspect we are about to find out. We will be hosting our second of two public forums to explore these issues in more depth. Our first, a public discussion forum on Tuesday, January 20^th, was titled “Beyond the Ballot” and was well attended despite the deep freeze.

The second, on Thursday, February 26^th, is entitled “Taking the Next Big Step”, and is intended as a primer for those contemplating running in the October 26^th municipal election. These meetings are free and are open to all Burlington residents. Both events will take place at the Burlington Lions Hall on Pearl Street beginning at 7:00 p.m.

A Final Thought. In 2022, only 32.9% of eligible voters turned out across Ontario. In Burlington – 27.6%. When you consider how our lives are impacted by decisions made at the municipal level, and then factor in that not even one-third of eligible voters exercised their franchise, it gives pause for reflection.  Complaining about the state of politics may be cathartic, but real change only happens when good people get engaged to materially shape the outcome.