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?
Opinion – Burlington’s 2026 Mayoral Race: A Voter’s Guide to Cutting Through the Rhetoric
The political landscape in Burlington has shifted. The 2026 mayoral race, has been a field of speculation, suddenly ignited by the entry of Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan. Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns announced earlier that she was running. The race is now no longer just about the incumbent; it is a battle over economic … Continue reading Opinion – Burlington’s 2026 Mayoral Race: A Voter’s Guide to Cutting Through the Rhetoric
Strong Mayor Powers – The Backstory
The Made-in-Canada Housing Crisis Ontario’s housing crisis - and the introduction of Strong Mayor Powers (SMPs) - did not emerge overnight. They are the product of decades of federal and provincial policy choices. Beginning in the 1980s, the federal government steadily reduced its role in social housing. In 1993, it ended funding for new social … Continue reading Strong Mayor Powers – The Backstory
Strong Mayor Powers – How They Actually Work
Second in a Four-Part Series Municipal governance in Ontario entered a new era under the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act.2022 A mayor now holds a suite of executive-style tools more commonly associated with corporate leadership than with council chambers. These powers include shaping and tabling the municipal budget, vetoing certain council decisions, requiring a supermajority … Continue reading Strong Mayor Powers – How They Actually Work
Strong Mayor Powers: The Institutional Verdict
Third in a Four-Part Series Introduction The first article in this series examined how strong mayor powers were introduced. The second explored how they function in practice. This instalment explores: what do Ontario’s leading municipal institutions and professional bodies actually think of them? Some of the answers are neither simple nor flattering Across academic, administrative, … Continue reading Strong Mayor Powers: The Institutional Verdict
Opinion – Strong Mayor Powers – A Burlington Case Study
The Fourth and Final Instalment of the Series It Started with the Housing Pledge: On March 21, 2023, Burlington signed the province’s housing pledge, committing to facilitate the construction of 29,000 new homes by 2031. That target would require the city to average 3,625 housing units per year over eight years. At the time, Burlington … Continue reading Opinion – Strong Mayor Powers – A Burlington Case Study
Opinion – The Taxi Industry Missed the Boat – Will Burlington Miss the Bus?
Is Burlington missing the bus on transit? Burlington is at a transit crossroads, and Joe Gaetan’s latest article suggests we might be "missing the bus" if we don't adapt. Here is a quick breakdown of why this transit trial matters for the city's future.
OPINION – FIFA Caravan – Is Process the Real Story
Joe Gaetan digs into the controversial approval of $160,000 in taxpayer funds for the FIFA Canada Caravan. Following a Freedom of Information request, new details have emerged that challenge the "last-minute urgency" narrative presented to City Council. Thank you to the 238 people who responded to Focus Burlington's survey on this issue. The results are included in the article.
Historic Agreement: Feds-Ontario Dig $ 8.8 Billion Deeper into Taxpayer Wallets
This article was originally published in the Bay Observer. It’s being sold as a “historic housing breakthrough”, in reality, it’s a textbook case of shifting the cost of growth away from those who create it - and onto every taxpayer in the country. At the centre of the announcement are Mark Carney and Doug Ford, … Continue reading Historic Agreement: Feds-Ontario Dig $ 8.8 Billion Deeper into Taxpayer Wallets