What does Community Housing in Halton mean? Where does the Indwell Project on Waterdown Rd fit in?
Strong Mayor Powers: The Stratford Case for Democracy
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 – 5 Key Candidate Questions
5 questions to consider asking candidates in the upcoming municipal election.
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
Opinion – Too many cooks and not enough parking.
Do we need a Cadillac parking garage downtown? One ready to be converted to social housing once we don't drive cars? This is not a glitch in the matrix; just another city council meeting.
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.
Opinion – Taking One For The Team
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, 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!