With municipal nominations opening May 1st, candidates must weigh the risks of vote-splitting. In 2018’s Ward 5 race, Paul Sharman won with 33.99% of the vote, edging out his closest rival by only 6%. To unseat incumbents, challengers must realistically assess their funding and visibility, sometimes "taking one for the team" to avoid a split.
Opinion – Traffic Forum – Traffic Easing Suggestions
David Barker made these traffic-easing suggestions during the Traffic Forum held by Councillors Lisa Kearns and Paul Sharman on April 1st. At the recent Traffic Forum, I suggested these four traffic-easing actions be implemented. There is absolutely no reason why the first three should not be implemented without delay. There is minimal cost involved. Two … Continue reading Opinion – Traffic Forum – Traffic Easing Suggestions
Opinion – Is it time for On-Demand Transit in Burlington?
An ARGO transit bus was available for boarding during the recent “Burlington Community Traffic Forum”. During the event, our Ward 5 councillor announced that he will bring forward a motion to council to have Burlington conduct a pilot on-demand transit program with ARGO Transit. ARGO Buses are small, wheelchair-accessible, electric buses. Transit is the fourth-largest … Continue reading Opinion – Is it time for On-Demand Transit in Burlington?
Opinion – All Style, Little Substance
I recently attended the Transportation Open House hosted by Councillors Lisa Kearns and Paul Sharman. Normally, I welcome public meetings because they offer a chance to hear directly from officials about plans and new initiatives. But when it comes to transportation, I’m usually skeptical. Too often, these discussions focus on public transit and bike lanes, … Continue reading Opinion – All Style, Little Substance
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
Opinion – Traffic, if only the province would do something!
This article was originally published in the March edition of the Burlington Independent. Councillors Kearns and Sharman are hosting a Burlington Community Traffic Forum on April 1st at 6:30 pm at the AGB. This is an election year. Was April Fools' Day an intentional choice? The current talking points from Councillor Sharman and our mayor … Continue reading Opinion – Traffic, if only the province would do something!
Opinion – Another Day, Another Metrolinx Fiasco
There are few public agencies that have attracted as much scrutiny, criticism, and outright ridicule in recent months as Metrolinx.
Opinion – Gridlock by Design?
On March 3rd, during a Committee of the Whole meeting, staff and our council had a serious discussion about building a downtown parking garage that could be easily converted to social housing once people no longer need parking downtown. Downtown businesses, struggling to survive because people can’t park to visit their stores, have asked the … Continue reading Opinion – Gridlock by Design?
OPINION – TIME TO GET READY
The 2026 municipal election is less than eight months away. In preparation, Focus Burlington recently hosted its second Town Hall event on February 26th titled “Taking the Next Big Step: Practical Tips, Advice and Guidance on How to Run a Successful Municipal Election Campaign.” The panel featured three experienced political veterans—Brad Harness, Liz Galvin, and … Continue reading OPINION – TIME TO GET READY
Opinion: Is Council dysfunction evident?
This article was originally published in the Burlington Independent, Burlington's only print newspaper. The AI-generated picture accompanying this article was added by Focus Burlington. The latest city council meetings have been odd, unusual, and even interesting, in that not much appears to be getting done. Why is that? Perhaps because it is an election year. … Continue reading Opinion: Is Council dysfunction evident?