On June 24, 2026, MPAC shared a press release titled “More Ontario homes valued under $500,000 as market eases from 2022 peak”. MPAC stands for "Municipal Property Assessment Corporation". How did Burlington Fare? The table below shows the percentage of properties assessed with a value less than $500,000. We can see that in 2016, 39% … Continue reading Opinion – The assessed value of homes for property tax purposes is coming down; will this affect the property taxes we pay?
Opinion – Are we headed for another dispute with CN Rail?
On Monday, July 6, 2026, our city council will be discussing Item 13.3 Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for 1200 King Road (DGM-28-26) This is a "Committee of the Whole" meeting where votes are recommendations. When the council votes “yes,” they're voting to recommend that council approve the specific action during a future "Regular … Continue reading Opinion – Are we headed for another dispute with CN Rail?
Opinion – The New “Corporate Welfare Bums”
For an industry that began the year in a financial funk, real estate developers should be ecstatic after some of the support measures announced by the federal government. Christmas has come early! First came the March 2026 GST rebate for first-time homebuyers, intended to spur an industry struggling with weak consumer demand. Then came the … Continue reading Opinion – The New “Corporate Welfare Bums”
Opinion – Election 2026 – Show your support!
Municipal elections will be held across Ontario on October 26, 2026. We'll be voting for a mayor, our ward councillor, and a school trustee. The most important way to support a candidate is to vote for them. In the 2022 election, of the 142,218 eligible voters in Burlington, only 39,217, or 27.6 percent, voted. Other … Continue reading Opinion – Election 2026 – Show your support!
Opinion – What Happens To All The Feedback?
Burlington recently released its new Community Engagement Charter. First released in 2013, the charter sets out how public servants, citizens and council work together to shape public policy. According to the website, the updated charter “sets clear expectations for how the city engages with residents, focusing on early communication, open dialogue and showing how feedback … Continue reading Opinion – What Happens To All The Feedback?
Opinion – A First Look at Burlington’s 2027 Budget
Take a look at the forecasted Burlington property tax increases for the next five years and consider voting in the October 26th, 2026, election. Voter turnout is always low, and people should be voting for or against these increases. Voting lets our elected representatives know whether they’re on the right track. The Burlington item on … Continue reading Opinion – A First Look at Burlington’s 2027 Budget
Opinion: Freeman Station: A Wake-Up Call Burlington Can’t Afford to Ignore
Recent developments surrounding Freeman Station should serve as a long-overdue wake-up call for the City of Burlington. For years, the station sat on lands that, while not without uncertainty, at least provided a sense of continuity. Today, with that property now in new hands, the context has fundamentally changed. Layer onto that the troubling realities … Continue reading Opinion: Freeman Station: A Wake-Up Call Burlington Can’t Afford to Ignore
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.”
Opinion – Where are the drones?
Is there more that the Halton Regional Police should be doing about car theft?