Following the success of our first Town Hall in January, Focus Burlington is excited to invite you to the second event in our Beyond the Ballot series on Thursday, February 26th. This free, public meeting will take place at the Burlington Lions Club on Martha Street, beginning at 7:00 p.m. All Burlington residents are welcome. … Continue reading Let’s Get Organized!
A community discussion on charting a new direction for our city.
2026 is already shaping up to be a pivotal year—economically, politically, and especially at the municipal level. Across the region, signs of political unrest are emerging. In Toronto and Hamilton, rising property taxes, traffic congestion, homelessness, and intensification have pushed municipal issues to the forefront of public debate. Competitive election races are beginning to take … Continue reading A community discussion on charting a new direction for our city.
OPINION – GOING GA-GA OVER FIFA
There is a short survey at the end of this post asking what you think about Burlington hosting a one-day FIFA caravan event. What is it with municipal officials and entertainment events? I’m asking myself this question again in light of a recent Inside Halton article about a proposed 1-day event in support of the … Continue reading OPINION – GOING GA-GA OVER FIFA
Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign
If you are older than sixty-five, you may remember a popular song from the 1970s called “Signs”. It was recorded by a group out of Ottawa called the Five Man Electrical Band, who experienced some popular success here in Canada and, to a lesser extent, in the U.S. The chorus to the song goes something … Continue reading Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign
Opinion – The Increasing Cost of Bad Advice
What’s the cost of bad advice? I’ve been pondering this question a lot lately. It’s November, and in Burlington that invariably means it’s budget time. Currently, inflation in Canada is running at a rate of 2%. However, that didn’t stop our municipal public servants from developing a 2026 budget that is nearly three times the rate of … Continue reading Opinion – The Increasing Cost of Bad Advice
Opinion – Insights from La Belle Province
I recently returned from vacationing in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. During my travels, there were several things I noticed that both impressed me and contrasted with my experience living in Burlington. Here are three things that really resonated during my recent trip: The Police are Everywhere A good portion of my time was spent … Continue reading Opinion – Insights from La Belle Province
OPINION – DOUG FORD: MAN OF THE PEOPLE OR PAST HIS PRIME?
Another week, and another litany of verbal ramblings and bumptious bleatings from Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The latest crisis involved a $75 million ad campaign the Ontario government launched in support of removing tariffs from Canadian imports to the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump was so enraged by this commercial, which featured former President … Continue reading OPINION – DOUG FORD: MAN OF THE PEOPLE OR PAST HIS PRIME?
Opinion – Horizon 2050 – A must-have $100,000 expense.
Introduction The city recently announced with great fanfare the launch of “Horizon 2050 – Shaping Burlington’s Future”. The purpose of this initiative was explained in the official launch announcement: “We are creating our next long-term vision and strategic plan – Horizon 2050 and we want to hear from you! Horizon 2050 will guide the choices … Continue reading Opinion – Horizon 2050 – A must-have $100,000 expense.
Opinion – Learning about The ABC’s (Agencies, Boards and Committees, that is!)
Why does the City of Burlington require 6 Committees, 9 Boards and 10 Advisory Committees to help administer its affairs?
Opinion – CUT THE FLUFF !!
$35,000 a year to provide homeowners with funds to host neighbourhood parties through something called the “Love Your Neighbourhood” initiative. A now-shuttered program for $170,000 in loans to provide homeowners with loans to install heat pumps. Thousands of dollars spent by civic officials to provide participants with food vouchers as part of the “Food for … Continue reading Opinion – CUT THE FLUFF !!