 By Pepper Parr
February 12th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Nathan Erskine Smith(Nate) is on his way to his next political adventure.
He is determined to become a significant political figure – becoming Premier of Ontario suits him just fine.
And goodness knows, Ontario desperately needs a new Premier. Doug Ford has boasted that he can and will run for a fourth term of office.
 Is Nate the man to beat Doug?
And should he manage to do that, what kind of a Premier would he become?
His political path up to this point has been bumpy.
He was Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities in former Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus cabinet.
He was Minister of Housing under the first government Mark Carney formed, but less than a year later, Nate was out.
Not much in the way of cabinet-level experience.
Nate has found a path that could get him to the point where he becomes the leader of the provincial Liberal Party.
When he held an online organizational meeting of the people who believed in him Wednesday night, he got, a surprise to him, 400 people who were ready to first make him the Liberal candidate for Scarborough West and then work to make him leader of the party and then campaign across the province to make him Premier of the province in the next provincial election.
Doug Ford is not going to make it easy for him.
Is Nathan Erskine Smith a great campaigner – not particularly.
Is he a nice guy – certainly believes he can make a difference.
 Nate Erskine Smith speaking to Burlington Liberals. Lisa Mayeski does the intro. What Ontario doesn’t know is – what kind of Ontario would he deliver?
The province is in a mess. Setting aside all the scandal that surrounds Doug Ford, and that is a stretch, there are very serious problems in every sector. The automotive sector is being decimated, health is in a shambles, education isn’t getting the financial support it needs.
Housing is not being built, workers are being laid off by the thousands and few people have any money to spend. Those who do have income that is disposable are keeping it in their bank accounts.
But the current Premier is able to sign a contract with an Austrian company to completely redesign Ontario Place and make it a carnival.
 Nathan Erskine Smith speaking in the House of Commons He killed the Science Centre.
All the public get to see is a man who comes up with one loopy idea after another. The tunnel beneath Highway 401 is something he is still spending money on; all while he awaits the delivery of an RCMP report on whether or not criminal charges can be laid on his scandals.
The Ford family created Ford Nation, which the majority of people in the province are prepared to live with.
The creation of Team Nate is the first step in creating the kind of momentum that leads to winning election campaigns.
What Ontario needs is a leader with the ideas and at least some charisma to catch the public’s attention at a time when nothing seems to be going right.
Is Nathan Erskine Smith that person?
Related news story:
Nate speaks to 400 people who are on his Team
By Pepper Parr
February 6th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
There are times when you need a scorecard to understand who is going to run for office – the why is rarely explained.
 Doly decided Ottawa was nicer than Toronto. House of Commons appealed to her. Doly Begum, who was Deputy Leader of the provincial New Democratic Party.
She had a very close working relationship with Leader of the Opposition Maris Stiles.
Begum was the member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) representing Scarborough Southwest for the Ontario New Democratic Party from 2018 to 2026, serving as a deputy leader of the Ontario NDP from 2022 to 2026, until she resigned her seat to run as a Liberal in the federal seat in that constituency.
 Bill Blair will become a High Commissioner. Doly saw a better offer and decided to run for the federal seat Scarborough West) that was going to be vacant when Bill Blair, a former Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair is made High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is the title used for what is essentially an Ambassador.
A by-election would have to be called to replace Dolly in the Scarborough West federal seat.
 Becoming Premier of Ontario appeals to Nate. Nathan Erskine Smith, (Nate) is currently the MP for Beaches East York had run for the leadership of the provincial Liberal Party. He was beaten by Bonnie Crombie. While leader of the provincial Liberals Bonnie couldn’t get herself elected and turned out to be less than what the Liberals wanted as a leader. She resigned. The provincial Liberals now needed a new leader.
Nate had run for the job before and was keen on running again; he wasn’t doing all that well as a federal Liberal.
Nate, was in the first federal Cabinet formed by Mark Carney when he was made Liberal Leader. When Carney called the federal election in 2025 and won, he dropped Nate from Cabinet.
The Nate nose was very much out of joint. He thought he had a very strong relationship with Carney.
By running for the Scarborough West provincial seat, that would make him a member of the provincial party (assuming he wins) and lining him up for another run at the provincial party leadership which would make Nate Premier of the province – should he win.
Nate isn’t the only person looking for a different arrangement of the seats in the House of Commons.
 Prime Minister Mark Carney is betting that he can pull of getting a majority government. Mark Carney is just one seat short of having a majority. A majority would mean the federal Liberals would not have to constantly worry about a federal election being called.
 Chrystia Feeeland: It is what it is. Chrystia Freeland resigned (had to) making her University Rosedale seat due for a by election.
These by-elections are expensive – but that isn’t a concern to the politicians looking for the most comfortable seat in the House of Commons or at Queen’s Park.
Am I being cynical here? I’m a journalist – we are supposed to be cynical.
And the public should rise up on its hind legs and start biting some bums.
There are likely going to be a few other by-elections. There are people Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to move out of his government and bring in people a little younger and more in tune with what he is setting out to do with the country.
With a majority government, he rids himself of Pierre Poilievre who by now should realize that his political future is stalled for at least the next seven years
 By Pepper Parr
January 30th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Emily Brown, the Conservative Party candidate in the 2025 federal election, is the candidate of record for the Burlington constituency. That qualifies her as a member of the Party and the right to attend the Conservative Party conference taking place in Calgary this weekend.
 Burlington Conservatives loved her – just not enough of them. She will be one of several thousand people deciding if Pierre Poilievre should be kept on as party leader.
Poilievre was one of the reasons Brown was unable to defeat Karina Gould, the Burlington MP. With a different leader Brown may well have taken the constituency.
Karina Gould, of the Liberal Party, has 43,593 of 78,107 votes (55.81%).
Emily Brown, of the Conservative Party, is in second place with 31,666 votes (40.54%)
The Gazette would love to know how Brown votes in the leadership review.
 By Gazette Staff
January 30th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The following statement was issued by Corey Hogan, MP for Calgary Confederation in the House of Commons. He should have bounced it off people who could have advised him to stay silent
 Perhaps someone could teach MP Hogan how to walk back a divisive statement. “I want to welcome Canadians coming from across the country to Calgary this weekend.
“While this should be an opportunity for Conservatives to focus on the issues that matter to Calgarians and Canadians, they’ll instead be spending their time debating a woman’s right to choose, the harmful and discriminatory practice of conversion therapy, and defunding CBC/Radio-Canada.
“It’s clear Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives are doubling down on the same divisive, American-style politics Canadians rejected last spring.
“At this crucial time for our country, that’s not the serious leadership Canadians expect and deserve.”
The Gazette would suggest that this is not the time divisive comments from a Member of Parliament
“Mark Carney and our new Liberal government are relentlessly focused on delivering for Calgarians and all Canadians, by building our economy, protecting our communities and sovereignty, and empowering workers and businesses with more opportunities.”
By Pepper Parr
January 29th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
For those who may have missed what was going on at the Chamber of Commerce State of the City address given by Mayor Meed Ward last Friday, note that Meed Ward mentioned each member of Council, with Councillor Sharman getting several mentions – the exception being Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns.
Not a word about a Councillor who did more work on the budget than any other Council member. Kearns had three items that would have reduced spending by more than a million dollars; all were voted down..
 Councillor Kearns shook every hand she could find during the Chamber of Commerce event. She has brought to the attention of city residents how little has been done on revising whatever there is in terms of a long-term vision for the city.
Her focus on safe streets has been consistent.
Given what Council set out to do in 2018 when they were first elected (re-elected in 2022) there isn’t that much to show for their efforts.
Kearns, for her part was working the Convention Centre room, reaching out to anyone who would give her a moment of their time.
One of the worst-kept secrets at city hall is that Kearns is expected to file papers as a candidate for the Office of Mayor.
The outcome of the 2026 municipal election will be pivotal for the city. Should she win, Kearns will make changes that are badly needed. If she loses, she will return to the private sector, where she should do very well.
Should the Mayor lose – well, no one has any idea where she will go. There are not a lot of openings at this point.
It will be a fierce election battle – something Burlington needs at this point.
By Gazette Staff
January 29th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Federal Conservatives meet in Calgary this weekend to debate policy and to vote on a review of Pierre Poilievre’s leadership.
It has been a bumpy past year for Poilievre.
 Pierre Poilievre in Ottawa He lost his seat in Ottawa during the federal election and had to find a safe seat in Alberta. He won the seat in Alberta’s Battle River—Crowfoot seat in a byelelction, but will not be running in that seat come the next federal election. The member who gave up the seat so that Poilievre could be returned to the House as leader of the Conservative Party has said that he will be running for that seat, which means Poilievre will have to find a new constituency to run in.
An awkward situation to be in, given that there could be any day, due to the current makeup of the House of Commons. The Liberals do not have a majority.
Poilievre is facing the first leadership review the party has held in 21 years.
The Toronto Star reports that: “The percentage of delegates who vote against triggering a race to replace Poilievre will lay bare just how much of the Conservative base views Poilievre as its ticket back to the prime minister’s office.
“If the number starts with an eight, you’re absolutely safe,” said Mitch Heimpel, a former Conservative staffer and vice-president of government relations at Texture Communications.
“If it starts with a five, you’re absolutely dead.
If it starts with a seven, you’re safe, but the party is restless.
If it starts with a six, that second number matters.”
By Pepper Parr
January 25th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Focus Burlington found its footing at their Beyond the Ballot event earlier this month.
 The attendance was decent given the weather. The next step is to look for candidates to run in the six city wards and and with some luck find a candidate for the office of Mayor.
In a note to the people who participated: Eric Stern, Stephen White said: “If you have ever considered running for office or know anyone who is interested, please join us on Thursday, February 26th, at Lions Hall at 7 pm to learn more about what’s involved.
In 2018, five of the people who were elected to office were first-time candidates. Two of the Council members had retired.
Change does happen. New leadership is out there – if you think you might be part of it – show up on the 25th.
By Pepper Parr
November 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
There are at least two and a possible third person running for City Council in 2026
Yesterday we reported that a tip from a usually reliable source had Lawson Hunter running for Ward 2.
That was not correct and we have apologized to Lawson Hunter for our error.
Brad Harness, publisher of the Burlington Independent is pulling together information and building a team that includes former members of what was once known as BRAG and is now operating at Focus Burlington.
The information that made its way to the Gazette reads:
 In 2018 Brad Harness was working to organize a new provincial party, hoping to field candidates in 36 ridings for the 2018 Ontario general election. The Consensus Ontario party he said would function differently from the Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, the New Democrats and even the Green Party. They would instead identify priorities that voters want their provincial government to tackle. “It’s bottom-up representation.” said Harness Hi Eric & Steven,
This is a wonderful job you have done here. I like data, and I insist on public consultation – and councillors representing their constituents’ priorities.
I do hope city council reads this, takes it at face value (as helpful input from residents) rather than ignoring it.
This report will be very useful as I build my Ward 2 campaign and team. It certainly echoes what I have already heard from many people. Let’s meet in the next fortnight to discuss this report in detail.
Also, I want to give this space somehow (it is long) in the Independent so our readers can listen to their neighbours concerns. Often people are shy to speak out until they see others doing so.
Question: Eric, is there a way to do a similar survey focus on Burlington’s publicly-funded schools (English & French, Public & Catholic) to see what people are thinking?
By Pepper Parr
September 30th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Isn’t this sweet.
 The trucking sector is said to have been one of the groups buying tickets to the last fundraiser. The lobbyists will be writing their cheques – just a cost of doing business. The Provincial Progressive Conservatives are reminding people to: “Save the date: The Premier’s big-ticket Leader’s Dinner is back on.”
DOUG FORD and the PCs scrapped the lucrative event — which brought in a record $6 million for party coffers — amid the Greenbelt scandal, but they’re bringing it back on November 19, the night before Ford’s birthday.
Perhaps the RCMP can add their forthcoming report (at least we hope so – it has been more than a year in the making) to the list of gifts that will be lavished upon Dougie.
By Pepper Parr
September 23rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
The Provincial Liberals will be holding a convention to select a new leader.
With Bonnie Crombie no longer leading the provincial Liberal party there is public interest in who the next leader will be.
A number of names have been mentioned, including Jeff Lehman, former Mayor of Barrie, who announced this week that he would not be in the race.
Lehman was a centrist who had been organizing a bid to replace Crombie, but instead, he’s focusing on his daughter’s health.
 Gould was a political junkie at the age of 14 and went on to win her first election in 2015. An astute politician, her leadership aspirations have always been part of the plan. Lehman’s exit leaves a gap in the already-crowded leadership race, which includes names like NATE ERSKINE-SMITH, YVAN BAKER, NAVDEEP BAINS, KARINA GOULD, MARCO MENDOCINO, JOSH MATLOW, ANDREW BOOZARY, ROB CERJANEC, TED HSU, STEPHANIE BOWMAN and more.
Word on the street is that some high-profile organizers wasted no time in looking for another candidate to support, while some potential contenders are hoping to scoop them up.
There has been no word from Karina Gould, who is the MP for Burlington. Once a federal Cabinet Minister and also once a leadership candidate for the federal Liberals (Mark Carney won that race), there is room for a move.
Gould has made it clear she sees leadership as part of her future. Would running for the Burlington seat in the Legislature – (defeating Natalie Pierre wouldn’t be a problem) be a first step?.
 Gould defeated Mike Wallace in 2015 and has held the seat ever since. Could she defeat Doug Ford and become the Premier?
Both would be pluses for the province.
Does Gould take the risk – serve as the Premier for two terms and then take a run for the federal Liberal leadership?
She is still a very young woman. Could she do it? Will she do it?
All we know at this point is – Gould, unlike Lehman, hasn’t said she would not.
By Pepper Parr
September 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
 Bonnie Crombie resigned the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party after garnering 57% of the vote at the Leadership Review Convention.
While Crombie served as a successful Mayor of Mississauga for ten years, she turned out to be unelectable at any other level.
To her credit, she did the right thing.
The provincial Liberals will now go through the process of naming a new leader.
There are names out there that don’t, at this point, have much in the way of a public profile.
That will change.
Had Crombie remained as Liberal Leader Ford knew he had an easy ride for the next couple of years.
That may prove to be different when there is a new Liberal leader for the province.
 By Pepper Parr
September 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Bruce Leigh is a frequent commenter on the Gazette.
He recently said the following in response to an article we published on an individual who was expressing an interest in running for office. A link to that article appears below.
You quote a potential maybe candidate as saying:-
“I do think – as I said in our meeting – that our Representative Democracy is meant to elect representatives, not leaders.”
That was the original concept of our democracy. But with the advent of party politics at federal and provincial government levels the elected representative is above all chosen because of the party’s policy platform and so must toe that line whether or not the constituents like it or not
At municipal government level the councilor is the true representative not being party affiliated. The Mayor is the elected leader.
 Kearns. “She does not take up fights on behalf of constituents if they do not align with her beliefs or more importantly to her, with her career path.” I tend to agree with your maybe potential candidate in the case of Ward 2 Councilor Lisa Kearns. She does not take up fights on behalf of constituents if they do not align with her beliefs or more importantly to her, with her career path.
How representative is Focus Burlington of the city’s 190,000 residents? How many residents are signed up as members of Focus Burlington?
Just because a few residents get together and form a group and then become noisy that does not make them representative of residents as a whole. It’s noise should be no more valuable than a single individual’s noise.
In the article underneath a photo, there’s a caption that says “Delegations don’t feel they are heard”.
That feeling is probably there because the vibe coming back from City Council is that they’re doing what they are required to do (i.e listen to residents’ delegations) and then they will do what they want to do.
 Delegates feel they have a valid argument or position and when it is not accepted they get upset and say they are not being heard. But also delegates are like most humans. They feel they have a valid argument or position and when it is not accepted they get upset and say they are not being heard. Just because you or I get up and make a delegation which is then not accepted or acted up on by Council does not necessarily mean Council did not hear us.
Wayne’s comment here exemplifies this. “Note that when citizens speak up and see little to no adjustment from City Hall, apathy sets in.” Just because you take and voice an opinion does not make it the right position nor are you necessarily representative of the majority of residents
Wayne, you have options. Stand to be elected for office, or volunteer to work for someone standing that you can support,
Sharon, you want MMW and a majority of Council replaced. Easy to say. Have you identified who you would replace them with? Are you going to stand for election?
Standing on the sidelines whining is not an option if you really want to make change happen.
If the 2026 election turnout is a repeat of the 2022 election (26%) and the majority of Councilors are re-elected it would seem to say residents are not as bothered by decisions made at City Hall as you are.
Newslink:
The people we elect
 By Pepper Parr
August 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Disruption is not something new that began around 2000. It is an elemental part of every economy – defined as significant changes in the economic environment that can lead to instability, unemployment, or shifts in industry.
 You could sell anything anywhere: The service killed the very profitable classified advertising section in just about all the daily newspapers. We are just experiencing this disruption much more frequently. When Craigslist was introduced, it resulted in the end of classified advertising in newspapers which eventually led to the end of thousands of daily newspapers and the introduction of online newspapers; the Gazette was the first to appear in Burlington.
Uber meant almost the end of traditional taxi service. There are dozens of other examples.
Some levels of society don’t lend themselves to any disruption all that easily.
Public education is one example. Teacher unions have a huge impact on the kind of changes that get made. One of the positive things that came out of the 2020 pandemic was that teachers were forced to use digital applications to teach students virtually when classrooms were closed. There are those that think we no longer need teachers; that computer applications can do it all. Maybe. The need to have one-on-one interactions and teachers at the head of a classroom answering questions is going to be hard to do away with.
But what about the municipal sector? Is there room for major disruption?
The difficulty at the municipal level is not so much the unions but the grip that the municipal mindset and culture, that is deeply ingrained, has on what gets done. And things don’t happen all that quickly in the municipal sector. Add to all that the organizational structure with elected people at the very top. Burlington has a very small city council given the size of the city. The current council has been in for two terms and the residents could end up with the same seven; less than 30% of the voters bother to show up.
Where can disruption take place?
Some municipalities use a Reference Panels and Citizens’ Assemblies approach to making decisions. A firm is brought in to create a panel that is representative of the makeup of the community with balance including gender, income, education age. Issues are put before this panel jury and they come up with a recommendation that a city council is expected to adhere to or give really good reasons for not following the recommendation.
The Halton Regional government has used MASSlb very effectively. Burlington chose not to use any outside help and instead chose to use the IAP2 model. And look where that got us.
 It was the Promise to the Public section that grates on the minds of many people. There will be more on this. Let’s see how the Gazette readership responds.
By Pepper Parr
August 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Engagement can be a double-edged sword.
 It got to be a little too much for this delegation – she had to take her cane off the table and use to to lean on while she shifted herself from foot to foot. Delegations are made to stand before Council like surfs with their hats in their hands. We need to upgrade our manners. A relatively small group presses the city for better engagement; the city gets frustrated when there is a very small response to the surveys they put out.
There is a small group of people who want more in the way of engagement with the city; they want their concerns addressed.
The majority, however don’t really care. They will howl when something that has a direct impact on them goes kaflooey.
Burlington struggles to get a 30% turnout at elections.
There is a form of malaise in the air. There are a lot of people who aren’t sure of which ward they live in; what little they know about their ward councillor comes from the photo ops.
 A classic Kearns photo op. And in Burlington – photo ops are basically the prime political currency.
They are easy and they deliver the message: “I am out there representing you.”
That sort of works – but it isn’t healthy and sooner or later it comes back to bite you in the bum.
Council members aren’t really engaged – the public really doesn’t want to dance with them.
And so we trudge along.
We are going to follow up on this – look at what other communities do and why it can be made to work.
There was an occasion at the Performing Arts Centre where the Mayor of Burlington and the Mayor of Oakville debated (it was more of a discussion that was poorly facilitated)
What surprised many was hearing Mayor Burton tell the audience that Oakville had more than a dozen very active community organizations. That was eye popping.
 By Pepper Parr
May 29th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
This is nothing to brag about.
 Burlington Residents’ Action Group (BRAG) is in the process of dissolving the not-for-profit corporation.
For some reason, the people of Burlington do not appear able to create a community organization that manages to bring about changes.
Oakville has more than a dozen community organizations that Mayor Burton brags about, even though they are frequently a pebble in his shoe.
ECoB Engaged Citizens of Burlington was created to try and hold the Goldring Council to account.
What they managed to do was hold all candidate meetings in all six wards, which resulted in five new members for a seven-member council.
 And then ECoB fell apart – they weren’t able to get to the point where there was strong representation at the ward level.
The BRAG situation seems to be due to philosophical differences -it had a very small four-member board that didn’t meet as much as it perhaps should have.
Some in leadership roles were not prepared to have to cope with some of the limitations that go with corporate titles.
The President of BRAG personally paid for the incorporation. Donations to BRAG were returned to the donors.
We understand that at a contentious Board meeting, two members of the Board were opposed to the dissolution of the corporation – they were apparently told that if they could not vote for a dissolution, then they would have to take over the board. The two chose not to take on that task.
A new organization has been formed by the two members who decided that a dissolution was the only solution. We are advised that the BRAG membership has yet to be advised of these changes.
The biggest issue is reported to be the creation of a policy document that was never created. Members wanted the organization to determine what they were setting out to do.
BRAG tended to focus on taxation matters and holding the civic administration fiscally accountable. We have not used the names of the people involved other than those who released statements. The fear is that this would become a he said she said back and forth.
Bad enough that the city is losing the one community organization that it had. In a statement given to the Gazette earlier today we are told:
“Community groups come and go. People volunteer their time for a cause that interests them. Sometimes, personalities get in the way; some members of the group are passionate about the group going in one direction, while other members may have different ideas. Burlington is certainly large enough to support many community groups.
“The folks at BRAG have arrived at a difficult decision and have decided to dissolve the organization.
 Stephen White  Eric Stern “Eric Stern and Stephen White have chosen to start a new group to carry on some of the work that BRAG was doing. The new group is named Focus Burlington. There are many steps to forming a community group, and Focus Burlington is working through those steps.
“The website is up and running at www.focusburlington.ca
“A not-for-profit corporation is being set up.
“The BRAG website will shut down on June 6th, 2025.
“BRAG accomplished many things, the most important of which was to let the people who work at City Hall, staff and council, know that some residents care about how the city shares information and where our tax dollars go. Burlington’s capital and operating budgets represent half a billion dollars, a huge amount of money, and taxpayers have every right to ask for value for their money.
“Focus Burlington has four main focus areas: Budgets, Development, Safety and Traffic.
“We expect city staff to present their 2026 Financial Needs and Multi-Year forecast in the near future, giving us a glimpse of the 2026 budget. The Focus Burlington budget team / formerly the BRAG budget team, is getting ready for a deep dive into the 2026 City of Burlington Budget.
“Stay tuned.”
Lynn Crosby speaking for what is left of BRAG said:
 Lynn Crosby “We at BRAG are writing to announce to you, our valued supporters, that it has been decided that BRAG will be winding down our operations. Our BRAG website will shut down on June 6, 2025.
“We have accomplished a lot in just over one year, and our dedication to holding elected officials to account; informing the public of what is happening at city hall; demanding true citizen engagement; speaking out for transparency, fiscal prudence and democratic principles, has not wavered. Some of us think that there may be other ways in which we can effect change, some want to take a breather from city politics, particularly in light of what is happening in the larger world around us in these unprecedented and worrying times.
“The next municipal election is in late October 2026 – which means the campaigning begins in less than one year. We believe that Burlington needs new faces around the council table and we each will continue to work towards advocating for change, in whatever ways we are able.
“We would like to thank each and every one of you for supporting BRAG. We had a large number of residents working hard behind the scenes with us: providing advice, doing research, studying those massive budget documents line by line, watching council meetings, and helping to spread awareness to other residents. We wish you all the best, and I’m sure our paths will cross again as we continue to work towards better things for Burlington as we approach the election, despite feeling the same election fatigue as you probably do!.”
How will it work out? BRAG certainly sent a strong signal to City Council. How much of their message actually got through is something that will become evident when Council gets into the debate on the 2026 budget.
This is going to be seen as the ‘election budget’; will it make a difference?
 By Pepper Parr
May 14th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The back patting is over – now they get down to work.
Prime Minister Carney pulls his Cabinet together today, hands out the marching orders so they can deliver on the promises.
Here is the team:
Add to the above the ten Secretaries of State who have limited, but nevertheless important roles.
This is very much a Carney government – his fingerprints are on every page. He has made it very clear that he will do everything he can to change the direction the Canadian economy will take and deal with the American president as best he can – as best anyone can.
Here is Mark Carney’s new 28-person cabinet – focused on revamping Canada’s relationship with the U.S., reducing the cost of living and addressing public safety:
Shafqat Ali (Brampton—Chinguacousy Park), President of the Treasury Board
Rebecca Alty (Northwest Territories), Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Anita Anand (Oakville East), Minister of Foreign Affairs
Gary Anandasangaree (Scarborough–Guildwood–Rouge Park), Minister of Public Safety
François-Philippe Champagne (Saint-Maurice—Champlain), Minister of Finance and National Revenue
Rebecca Chartrand (Churchill–Keewatinook Aski), Minister of Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Julie Dabrusin (Toronto—Danforth), Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Sean Fraser (Central Nova), Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Chrystia Freeland (University–Rosedale), Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
Steven Guilbeault (Laurier—Sainte-Marie), Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages)
Mandy Gull-Masty (Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou), Minister of Indigenous Services
Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay—Superior North), Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Tim Hodgson (Markham–Thornhill), Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Mélanie Joly (Ahuntsic-Cartierville), Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Dominic LeBlanc (Beauséjour), President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy
Joël Lightbound (Louis-Hébert), Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement
Heath MacDonald (Malpeque), Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Steven MacKinnon (Gatineau), Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
David McGuinty (Ottawa South), Minister of National Defence
Jill McKnight (Delta), Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Lena Metlege Diab (Halifax West), Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Marjorie Michel (Papineau), Minister of Health
Eleanor Olszewski (Edmonton Centre), Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada
Gregor Robertson (Vancouver Fraserview–South Burnaby), Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible Pacific Economic Development Canada
Maninder Sidhu (Brampton East), Minister of International Trade
Evan Solomon (Toronto Centre), Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Joanne Thompson (St. John’s East), Minister of Fisheries
Rechie Valdez (Mississauga—Streetsville), Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)
 By David Rodier.
May 10th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
I was hoping to manage the Liberal media bus again for the 2025 Carney election campaign. It’s really a sweet gig if you don’t mind the odd moments of terror. You get to see Canada in all its beautiful glory, meet old friends, make new friends – and get a front-row seat to history. There are also a lot of laughs along the way.
I also welcomed a change of pace from my duties as a public affairs consultant as we prepared our clients last year for what seemed like an inevitable Pierre Poilievre coronation. We analyzed his National Post Memo to corporate Canada: Fire your lobbyist with the intensity of Talmudic scholars studying ancient scrolls. With the Liberals languishing in the polls as late as January, it was a dispiriting task.
I served as Justin Trudeau’s media bus “wagon master” in 2015 and shared those duties in 2019 with the indomitable Terry Guillon. I wrote about the experience and my moment of terror in my 2019 chronicle Confessions of a campaign wagon master.
But I would not see the open road in the April 28 election. With fewer media organizations hopping on the bus, it was decided that Guillon would work alone. I was grounded. Instead, I would support the tour and communications teams as an adviser at Liberal campaign headquarters. I was told I would be an adult in the room. They said our team was good but very young and my experience would be helpful, especially to keep people calm when things went bad.
 What became evident very early in the campaign was the Mark Carney was enjoying himself. I can do that, I said. Prime Minister Mark Carney was my fourth Liberal PM. I had certainly seen the good and bad over a lifetime as a campaign hand. When needed, I can project a semblance of calm while dying inside.
I joined the campaign a few days before the election was called and was never once required to be an adult in the room. I was so impressed by the talent coalesced around the Carney campaign. They were young for sure, but smart, focused and team-oriented. Carney had to build a campaign team on the fly while wrapping up the party’s leadership race and naming a new cabinet. What would normally have required months of preparation was undertaken in a matter of days. It was like hopping on a jet as it was rolling down the runway.
Technology and campaigns
The 2025 campaign made me reflect on the incredible changes I have seen over the last 30 years as the world and politics have gone from analog to digital. Technology – once a nice-to-have – is now the campaign’s brain and central nervous system.
In 1990, as a Jean Chrétien leadership campaign staffer, I had a primitive database and dot-matrix printer that I had to buy myself. With these tools, we tried to identify and reach Liberal youth by telephone, mailings, school kiosks and word of mouth. For the leadership convention, I was given a foot-long Motorola cell phone that had little reception or battery life.
Today’s computers are thousands of times more powerful and have fundamentally transformed how we manage campaigns. Smartphones connect us to voters and allow us to engage them directly and constantly in ways unimaginable a few decades ago.
Computer power was once used mainly for basic polling data, with our messaging limited to broadcast and printed forms. Campaigns now also use ads and other content on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Google and YouTube to target voters with tailored messages. We can track engagement and adjust strategies instantly. The effectiveness is immediately measurable.
Modern campaigns require a digital-savvy workforce. The teams are much larger, more specialized and younger.
The notion of time is also different now. Campaigns fly on 36- to 48-hour horizons compared to week-long plans in the olden days. That broader media cycle also includes mini-cycles like the Buttongate kerfuffle or candidate immolations that come and go in mere hours.
 A rally that would once have taken several days to organize is now put together in an astonishing 24 hours. Our campaign was a sophisticated on-time delivery system. A rally that would once have taken several days to organize is now put together in an astonishing 24 hours. Today, we invite party members with a quick email blast rather than working the volunteer phone banks for days in the hope of drawing people out. Today, we can precisely calculate from the RSVPs how many people will fill the room.
The campaign pivot
The first half of the campaign was about pivots. Carney suspended his campaign to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs with credible policy, reassuring language and compelling campaign visuals. Many people moved a lot of parts to make it all align over a series of long stressful nights. Poilievre’s campaign did not make the same pivot, continuing to focus for days on the same domestic issues.
A campaign needs leadership with awareness and courage to pull off these pivots. At the same time, it’s not always clear how to balance old and new messages. The leader must know when to pick the right spot. It’s also risky when the normal planning of media events and the vetting of people and venues are compressed.
Our campaign frequently changed plans. After a lull for the debates, the final 10 days were a sprint to locations where polling data was promising. A leader’s visit can add one or two percentage points of support in that location if the visit is done well.
 A high-tech piece of equipment known as a white board featuring cutting-edge dry- erase markers and dollar-store sticky notes. It was here that campaign pivots would be plotted out. Deep in the bowels of the Ottawa campaign headquarters, our office managed the tour team board – a high-tech piece of equipment known as a white board featuring cutting-edge dry- erase markers and dollar-store sticky notes. It was here that campaign pivots would be plotted out.
The board was not meant to be shared because everyone was supposed to focus on delivering for the next day. But I would occasionally, surreptitiously, share images of the board with anyone who used flattery on me. Often, halfway through a pivot plan, further changes would come. More than once, I was accused of “jinxing the board” with my photos. Cake or doughnuts were often the only remedy for the shaming that ensued.
To pull a policy pivot in an area such as support for the steel industry or auto sector, our teams in communications, digital, tour and voter outreach came together to do a week’s work in 24 hours. Policy people worked collaboratively and virtually on a draft. The tour located, vetted and set up new announcement locations. The campaign linked up with local candidates and media, repositioned the campaign airplane and buses and found hotels for dozens of people.
Communications and policy people crafted messages for the media and digital content, and wrote speaking points. Senior leadership had to get the policy approved by the candidate and help prepare for the media availability. All products had to be in French and English.
The policy was then disseminated to Canadians through a multi-channel strategy. It started with the leader’s announcement and media availability live-streamed across social media and to the networks via the media pool. The campaign undertook a media blitz with press releases and infographics that could be shared on social media alongside short videos.
Email and text messaging were used to directly engage supporters while MPs were briefed so they could promote the policy through townhalls and local events. Paid ads, third-party supporters and rapid-response fact-checking helped reinforce messaging and counter criticism. A well co-ordinated rollout ensured maximum reach, strengthened the narrative and hopefully built sustained momentum.
U.S. Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth recently made Signal chats famous, but our campaigns have used them since 2019 for less confidential plans for everything from communications within teams to channels dedicated to daily activities. I was on the policy platform launch chat and I observed with wonder as my smarter colleagues doggedly shaped our platform and compared the fine details to those of other parties.
Digital and traditional media
Digital content is a core campaign pillar today. The 2015 election was famously the “selfie” campaign. We had one videographer on the road, streaming events from a fixed position. In 2019, we added a second handheld camera.
In 2025, a dedicated team followed the leader producing sophisticated Instagram feeds and shareables showing Carney in action. Our digital campaign was successful at introducing Carney to Canadians as a relatable, warm person. The Mike Myers spot and the Nardwuar vs. Carney video were huge digital hits.
 Soundcheck for Down with Webster, the band that played at the Liberal victory party at TD Place Arena in Ottawa. DAVID RODIER Traditional media made a bit of a comeback in 2025. Carney got worldwide attention with the video where he said the longstanding U.S.-Canada relationship is over. The media bus provided value to the Liberal campaign, giving us at least a dozen media travellers each week. As Get Fact’s Kevin Newman put it on LinkedIn: “Having experienced national political reporters around makes them advocate for airtime, and the media bosses want to see value for their investment in covering it.”
A consequential campaign
In his stump speeches, Carney called the 2025 election one of the most consequential of our lives. And it was. Over the past few years, Canada, like other Western democracies, has experienced a deepening crisis in trust in our major institutions.
The 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer categorized Canada as “moderately polarized.” By 2025, it indicated a profound shift toward a grievance-based society marked by economic fears and a pervasive belief that systems are unfair. I feel relief that through Carney the political middle held.
Liberal voters saw the prime minister as an expert who spoke thoughtfully and was someone who acknowledged that things were hard, showing them the trade-offs and making an appeal for unity.
Carney was also propelled by an energetic and unified campaign team through two debates and at least 98 events. They were young, ethnically diverse, idealistic, progressive and came from across Canada. The digital whiz kids were supported by a bench of battle-hardened veterans who worked together to make it all happen. It was really a great mix.
While Trudeau departed under less-than-ideal circumstances in January, he did inspire many people to get engaged and join the Liberal cause in 2015. He left Carney with a legacy of MPs and talented staff who helped deliver the 2025 election victory.
Liberal MP Steven MacKinnon, who once worked for former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna, recounts a line Brian Mulroney once told his boss: Just when you think the Liberal Party is dead, it gets up and kicks your ass.
And just when you go into a campaign to be an adult in the room, you walk away in awe of the next wave of Liberal campaign staffers and grateful to have been a part of it.
 David Rodier is a lawyer with over 30 years of experience advising senior leaders from the federal government, national nongovernmental organizations and business worlds. He is managing director, corporate communications, at . He has served in senior campaign roles for prime ministers Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin, Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney.
By Pepper Parr
May 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
One has to step back and think about how much has been done in the very short period of time .
From the date on which he won the election and became Prime Minister to the day he met with US President Donald Trump – ten days.
In that time, he set out what his government planned to do – this was AFTER being elected – these weren’t election promises –
In his first media event since being elected Prime Minister, Mark Carney:
“On Monday, Canadians elected a new government to stand up to President Trump and to build a strong economy. Canadians also sent a clear message that their cost of living must come down, and their communities need to be safe. As prime minister, I’ve heard these messages loud and clear, and I will act on them with focus and determination. The
“Canadians made their voices heard with a voter turnout rate that hasn’t been seen in the last 30 years. Nearly 20 million Canadians voted, and even more of them voted in early voting than ever before.
“The engagement of Canadians at rallies, on social media and around the dinner table was very high, and while different visions were put forth by various contenders, we disagreed agreeably, and the leader of every party quickly and graciously accepted the results. At a time when democracies around the world are under threat, Canadians can be proud that ours remain strong, as I’ve been clear since day one of my leadership campaign in January.
 I’m in government to do big things “I’m in politics to do big things. I will work relentlessly to fulfill that trust, as I stressed on election night, I am committed to working with others, governing as a team in cabinet and caucus, and working constructively across parties in Parliament, working in real partnership with provinces, territories and indigenous peoples, and bringing together labor, business and civil society to advance the nation building investments that will transform our economy.
“This will be an incredibly exciting time as we take control of our economic destiny to create a new Canadian economy that works for everyone. We will begin to set out that new path for Canada with a new cabinet to be sworn in on the week of the 12th of May and the recall of parliament on May 26.
 The last time a monarch opened Parliament in Canada was 1977, when Queen Elizabeth II delivered the speech from the throne with Prince Philip as part of her Silver Jubilee tour. “We will have the privilege of welcoming His Majesty King Charles III, who will deliver Canada’s Speech from the Throne on May 27. This is an historic honor which matches the weight of our times.
“I’ve stressed repeatedly, that our old relationship with the United States, based on steadily increasing integration, is over. The questions now are how our nations will cooperate in the future, and where we in Canada will move on.
“Earlier this week, I had a very constructive call with President Trump, and we agreed to meet next. Our focus will be on both immediate trade pressures and the broader future economic and security relationship between our two sovereign nations.
“My government will fight to get the best deal for Canada. We will take all the time necessary, but not more in order to do so. In parallel, we will strengthen our relationships with reliable trading partners and allies. Canada has what the world needs, and we uphold the values the world respects.
“We will remove federal barriers to internal trade to help unleash the full potential with provinces, territories, indigenous groups, to identify projects that are in the national interest, projects that will connect Canada, deepen our ties with the world and grow our economy for generations.
 Prime Minister Mark Carney: That means bringing down costs for Canadians and helping them get ahead. So we will put more money in Canadians pockets with a middle class tax cut that will take effect by Canada Day. “We’ll make the Canadian government a catalyst for these projects, not an impediment, and we’ll always be guided by our conviction that our economy is only strong when it serves everyone.
“That means bringing down costs for Canadians and helping them get ahead. So we will put more money in Canadians pockets with a middle class tax cut that will take effect by Canada Day, saving two income families up to $825 a year, we will protect the programs that saves families thousands of dollars a year – that includes PharmaCare and $10 a day daycare. The dental care plan is serving 8 million Canadians, saving the average family over $800 per visit.
“To lower costs for first time homebuyers, we will cut GST on new homes at or under $1 million allowing them to save up to $50,000 and we will lower the GST on homes between a million and a million and a half. These tax measures will provide immediate relief, but they won’t be sufficient to make housing affordable again.
“We have to address failures in the housing market head on, unleashing the power of public private cooperation at a scale not seen in generations. We will slash development charges in half for all multi unit housing. That’s about $40,000 off the cost of a two bedroom apartment in Toronto, and we will create an entirely new Canadian housing industry in modular and pre fabricated housing using Canadian technology, Canadian skilled workers and Canadian lumber.
 Housing starts have been weak, particularly in Ontario, where the province has yet to meet any of the housing starts it set. “We will build houses faster at lower costs, with a smaller environmental footprint in construction and greater efficiency once families move in. To kick start these efforts, we will create a new entity, Build Canada Homes and provide $25 billion in financing to private developers who will construct two times as many homes each year and create a new construction industry.
“We will focus on keeping Canada secure as a sovereign nation and Canadians safe in their communities. We’ll build a stronger Canadian Armed Forces to protect Canadians, defend our sovereignty and support our allies.
“We will strengthen our border security with 1000 more CBSA officers, as well as scores of drones and scanners to fight the traffic of guns and drugs. We’ll strengthen Canadian law enforcement by hiring 1000 more RCMP officers and giving law enforcement more tools to fight crime. We will toughen the Criminal Code and bail laws for those threatening the safety of Canadians, including making bail harder to get those charged with stealing cars, with home invasion, human trafficking and smuggling.
“We will return our immigration to sustainable levels by capping the total number of temporary workers and international students at less than 5% of Canada’s population by the end of 2027; it’s a sharp drop from the recent high of 7.3%. This will help ease strains on housing, on public infrastructure and social services. At the same time, we will work to attract the best talent in the world to build our economy. Canada has what everyone wants.
 Canada has a very diverse population, seen from coast to coast to coast. Few nations have what we have, especially our neighbour to the south. “We’re a confident nation that celebrates our diversity, that believes in and practices free speech, that respects the rule of law, that has a vibrant democracy. We value innovators and builders. We trust science. We protect our immense natural heritage. For Canadians abroad thinking about returning to build their lives in our nation, there’s never been a better time to come home.
“We will be guided by fiscal a new fiscal discipline. The government’s operating budget has been growing by an unsustainable 9% every year. We will bring that down to 2%, less than half the average nominal growth rate of the economy.
“We will not cut any transfers to provinces, territories or individuals. Instead, we will balance our operating budget over the next three years by cutting waste, capping the public service, ending duplicative programs, and deploying technology to boost public sector productivity.
“We will use scarce taxpayer dollars to catalyze massive private investment. By working together, we can give ourselves far more than the Americans can ever take away.”
With that, Mark Carney ended his first media event as Prime Minister. He proved to have a sense of humour, and while his French is not yet what he wants it to be, he nevertheless used it frequently.
Realize that in setting out what he planned to do, Carney was setting a new agenda – and now he wanted to get on with it.
The day after the media event, Mark Carney flew to Washington and met with President Trump.
By Pepper Parr
May 8th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Council is being asked to approve the final option on ward boundaries, or a modified version thereof, that will be adopted on May 20th.
Options were set out in a detailed report prepared by Ward & Associates Economists Ltd., the consultants hired by the city to do a required Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review.
The City Clerk will bring forward a by-law reflecting the approved ward boundary option to the May 20, 2025 meeting of Council.
Getting to this point was a long process with little in the way of significant public engagement – the public was invited and events were held in every word – few showed up.
The online survey didn’t fare much better. A total of 216 people responded to the survey, a level of participation the consultants described as “fairly high”.
people responding to some or all questions;
 Burlington’s city Council differs in a number of ways from the other three municipalities in the Region.
The makeup of the other Town Council is set out below. A municipality can describe itself as a Town or a City.
Interesting that Halton Hills, a municipality with a population of about one-third that of Burlington, has 11 members while Burlington has just seven.
The ward size and population in 2021 is set out below.
 With these fundamentals and the following questions put before them Council will debate and make a recommendation that will go to Council.
Next Steps
Before the Consultant Team can develop ward configurations for 2026 and beyond Council is being asked to consider two key questions:
1. Should all City Councillors also serve on Regional Council?
2. If Regional Councillors do not have to be local Councillors, should Regional Councillors still be elected by ward?
A flow chart outlines the different configurations of council based on the questions presented below:
The delegation that was in Holland commemorating the Liberation of that country in the closing months of WWII will be returning to Canada in the next day or so. One has to wonder if they will have more of an appreciation of just what a democracy is, and if that will impact the decision they make. Or will they forget the sacrifices and focus on their self interest?
The ward set up and the services the city provides Councillors to do their jobs exceeds, by a considerable measure, what other municipalities provide.
By Pepper Parr
May 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
With the federal election out of the way – the political crowd will turn their attention to the next municipal election, October of 2026
The Gazette ran a readership survey recently – we sat on the results while the leadership mess at the federal level got resolved.
One of the questions we asked was:
 Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns has said she would run for Mayor in 2026 52% of the respondents said None of the above
 Could Ward 1 Councillor Galbraith be a contender for the office of Mayor in 2026? 27% of the respondents said Lisa Kearns was their choice
15% of the respondents said Kelvin Galbraith was their choice
Councillors Nisan and Stolte were named by 1 person each.
Some of the comments were pretty direct:
None of the above, I’d like a change
I know little about Kearns and Stolte.Paul has had lots of practice and has gotten Bateman and Skyway Arena for Ward 5 but I feel he is in bed with Developers.The other 3 are lightweight and look after their own careers rather than citizens.
Want the mayor to have previous council experience
Feel like we need new leadership and it also seems like it should come externally
Lisa was my councillor until a recent move. She was available and open to hearing about issues.
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