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.
What will our June 2026 tax bill look like?
On December 10th, 2025, our Halton Regional Council approved the 2026 budget. With both Burlington and Halton Region having approved budgets, we now know what our June 2026 tax bill will look like. There are four components to our tax bill. This table shows the approved increases and the decision-makers. GovernmentDecision Makers% IncreaseEducationProvince of Ontario0%Region … Continue reading What will our June 2026 tax bill look like?
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
OPINION – Waterfront Music Festival / SOM: Questions Council Should Have Asked
The Standing Committee meeting of December 1st, 2025, raised far more questions than were answered - in part because our councillors did not ask them. While some members emphasized keeping the festival free, there was little examination of whether the selected provider, MRG Live, would derive revenue from the event, and if so, whether the … Continue reading OPINION – Waterfront Music Festival / SOM: Questions Council Should Have Asked
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 – Budget 2026 – Do Burlington residents deserve transparency, accountability, and real engagement? (Part 2)
The City of Burlington posts “Council Information” packages to the city’s website. These packages are available to the public on the city’s meeting calendar. (Council and Committees Calendar - City of Burlington) The November 14th, 2025, package contains a list of questions and responses on the 2026 Budget. One of the questions was: “How does … Continue reading Opinion – Budget 2026 – Do Burlington residents deserve transparency, accountability, and real engagement? (Part 2)
Opinion – Budget 2026 – Do Burlington residents deserve transparency, accountability, and real engagement? (Part 1)
First, we’d like to thank the city for the responses to our questions. What is happening in Burlington with Salaries and Wages As one of many questions on the 2026 budget, Focus Burlington asked the city, “What is the reasoning behind the average salary increase being in the range of 5% when CPI is in … Continue reading Opinion – Budget 2026 – Do Burlington residents deserve transparency, accountability, and real engagement? (Part 1)
Opinion – Bus Shelters or Technology?
Burlington’s 2026 Budget includes $4.2 million for three new 40-foot buses, $95,000 a year, every year, for bus stop improvements and a one-time expense of $299,000 for technology improvements. The technology improvements are for buses with Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) systems. There are also major improvements planned for specialized (accessible) transit. As Burlington moves towards … Continue reading Opinion – Bus Shelters or Technology?
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