 By Gazette Staff
May 24th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
We picked this up from the Fraser Institute:
Politicians mistakenly credit their merit alone for their electoral victories, which can often become a self-serving myth. They forget that politics is a team activity.
 Most voters choose the party, leader, or broader issues, rather than the personal qualities of the candidate on the ballot. Only a small minority (about six percent) votes for the individual.
When MPs cross the floor by leaving the party they were elected under, it stems from an inflated belief in their own importance rather than genuine voter representation. This self-delusion is not only poor judgment but erodes public trust.
By changing parties without voter consent, members of Parliament (MPs) break the implicit contract with voters.
A clear solution exists: parliamentarians who leave their party should either sit as independents until the next election or trigger a by-election. This would restore voter authority and democratic legitimacy.
There is precedent for such provisions, such as New Zealand’s “waka (canoe) jumping” rules. Canadian polling shows strong support for restricting or penalizing floor crossing.
Elected officials must remember that their duty is to serve the communities that elected them, not their own personal ambition. Reaffirming mandates when changing parties would help restore trust in an era of deepening political cynicism.
By Pepper Parr
May 24th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
We have tried to keep the reports on what Councillor Kearns said to an audience to a reasonably readable size. The Wednesday evening event was the first occasion she laid out what her platform was about.
When she took to the podium, Kearns said she had a 14-page speech; I shuddered.
 The fundamentals of the Kearns platform as she campaigns to become the next Mayor of Burlington. The fundamentals of the Kearns platform to elect her as Mayor of Burlington.
“We’re ready for action” said Kearns. “I am going to be behind the pilot for on-demand transit. We need to take some pressure off the handy van that’s used for a very real purpose, and I respect that purpose. But we also have a lot of places where it’s just too far for people with whatever situation they have to get to the main transit area. I’m looking forward to this pilot on micro on-demand transit. Are we privatizing transit? No, we are not privatizing transit.
“But what I want to pilot is a service that runs from Burlington Mall, down Brant to Lake Shore, west to Mapleview, then in and through to the GO stations and then on to Burlington Centre. I’d like to see something that is reliable, predictable, and gets you to the places you want to go. I see this as a pilot, a sort of trolley bus loop.”
Kearns told her audience she was looking for things that were: Simple, Real, Tangible, Actionable. A burst of applause rippled across the room when she made that statement..
Parking in the downtown core – a mess that is getting messier. Kearns said she is “working on that right now within the Burlington Downtown Business Association. There is a report going to Council later this week that starts a process of creating an approach that will add an additional parking garage east of Brant.
Kearns told the audience that “We are a destination” which I personally find a bit of a stretch. The waterfront is a jewel, but it is getting to the point where capacity is reached on occasion.
When it came to how the city is run financially, Kearns was crystal clear. “I will be focused on saving.” When I was in the private sector I brought prices down, I streamlined processes.
“One of the things that I’ll bring forward is an operations report. I want to know exactly what’s happening in the city every single month. Some departments operate as silos where some don’t know what the other departments are doing and that is “because there’s no mechanism or venue for public-facing accountability.
 Kearns: I want to be focused on savings every minute of every day. I want to be delivering savings.
“I expect to know how many places are overdue, what projects are on, What’s late, what hasn’t been implemented every single month?
“I will ask for that. I want to be focused on savings every minute of every day. I want to be delivering savings.
“In the last budget, I brought forward two items that would result in three-quarters of a million dollars in savings. I scoured the budget and asked all the hard questions. I took out all the frills, I moved things around. I brought a sense of reality to the budget. Unfortunately, I did not have the across-the-board support I needed. I did the work. I brought a rationale that wasn’t accepted. Let me tell you why: “That’s not part of the culture right now.
“I want to get the city’s finances to the point where the culture becomes: If I don’t spend it, then I don’t get it next year. We are going to go back to each and every department and project and make sure that the funds allocated to them are being spent. We’re all making really hard choices. And so should the city.
“My policy will be increasing investment revenue. If you look at the city Barrie, they are coming in with really low taxes, because they have a more progressive tax investment policy. We are going to do that. We are going to make more money on the money that we already have. Burlington has a savings account savings account. It’s really big.
“I am going to launch a full sponsorship portfolio with engagement, because I know that each and every one of the people in Burlington love the city so much, they want to see it thrive. We just need to create the path and the tools to do that. Did you know that in Brampton, since 2019, they were able to garner over $5 million of additional revenue just from sponsorships. That takes pressure off the tax base. That creates a sense of civic pride that showcases the amazing people who are investing in Burlington and making Burlington a part of that journey.
“And you know what we’re told when we ask why this isn’t happening in Burlington now? Because it isn’t in anybody’s portfolio. I want to create a celebration net; a way to celebrate our sponsors. Let’s thank them. Bonzel does our fireworks, Rogue Sisters do music in the park. Do we have any other sponsors here that I’m missing? I know we have BDBA sponsors. I know we have that, but all of you should have your hand up, if you can. Because we are creating the right environment for you to want to invest or do something to help bring culture and recreation to our city. So we’re gonna do that.
What Kearns didn’t mention was the Burlington law firm that provided funding for the recreation centre when it initially opened in 2013. The facility was known as the Haber Community Centre. The sponsorship agreement wasn’t renewed and transitioned to the Alton Community Centre. Did anyone go after the firm to get a second-year ten-year commitment?
 Kearns talked to people before and after her presentation. .
“Let’s talk a little bit about audits. I’ve been the audit chair for the entire term.
“I can’t promise you 0% taxes, and I won’t, because that’s actually quite reckless. But I will make sure that you can get every ounce of value or every single dollar, and to prove that, we’re taking on audits at my direction to go and look into certain portfolios and see that they’re performing as they should be. You are all doing that at home. Am I getting enough groceries for what I’m spending? Am I getting enough good shows for the cable that I’m knowing, that I’m getting a streaming thing? You’re all doing that at home? Why are we not doing it at the city? “We must and we will.
We are going to control the in-house consulting that is done is out of control. The amount that we’re paying city staff, human capital is a very valuable resource, is something we have to keep in the city. We need our ts, our experts, to stay with us, to to be part of the fabric that is the city. We need them to carry down that expertise and inspire and empower the next folks that are coming up through their careers. We can’t do that when we’re constantly sending money out to consultants who, you know, take their lunch box and go home at the end of the day. We meet them in our city, so we can’t keep wasting money on consultants.
“I will be striking a budget committee and council. I’m going to keep the Pipeline to Permit committee but repurpose it to a Budget committee. The budget will be looked at every single month. What savings are coming forward? What processes have been improved? What are we doing in our investment portfolio? Where are we on our revenue projections with our new partnerships and sponsorship policy?
 Eric Stern, a citizen leading Focus Burlington, made heavy use of the numbers in that three-inch budget binder. .
“We need to have a call on our money every single minute. And we are going to do it transparently in public because we cannot continue to produce a budget once a year and surprise you with a big heavy three inch binder and then say we’ve done a workshop that’s less than an hour. We’re not doing that.
“So watch for the striking of a new budget committee.
“We are going to centralize procurement. We don’t have centralized procurement right now. Engineering goes off and does its thing. Different departments go off and do their things. That’s a huge risk to the city, that’s a liability. That’s about guaranteeing that we’re getting the best value for money. A new procurement file will be brought forward into one of the Standing Committee cycles.
“Budget impacts will be a part of every single report. Before you even scroll down in those reports, you’re gonna know what it’s going to cost you, because how can you make a decision before looking at what it will cost? “Does anybody go to the store and not look at the price tag? Of course not.
People hung around after the presentation for close to an hour.
“Engagement. Real, real workshops on the budget. No more blended foolery, no more blended rates. The city is responsible for the city’s portion, and that’s what we will be accountable for. The 5.7% decided on this was not acceptable. That is why I did not approve the budget. I didn’t approve it last year as well. Does anybody know how bad it feels when you have a big credit card that’s due, and you got all that kind of debt you have to pay? Well, the city has that too. We will begin to chip away at that. We’re spending about $10 million in operations money to service the debt that the city has. That’s $10 million not going into your community.
“Does it feel good when you have to pay interest on your credit card? Does it feel like you had to pay something, and you got nothing in return? Well, that’s exactly what debt servicing on the city’s budget feels like. Imagine what we can do with $10 million a year who weren’t paying down debt.
“We are going to talk about a management review and staffing. Staff work very hard and the work that they do each day is very, very important. We are going to do a bit of a flip – we are going to make sure that the folks doing the work are empowered and compensated to make sure we have as much management as we actually need. I want to maybe shave off a little bit of that bureaucracy that’s kind of slowing us down a little bit.
“So you’re going to see a big change there; see it as a heads up”
Wrapping up her talk Kearns said: “That’s it.”
Wow!
There were about 250 people in the room – the rest of the city hasn’t heard this yet.
Enjoy.
Kearns put on quite a show.
Part 1 of the Lisa Kearns presentation last week.
 By Pepper Parr
May 24th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
We were into the second game of a best-of-seven series.
The Habs were playing the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, North Carolina
 The game was tied.
Jakub Dobeš was playing a great game as the Habs goalie.
You could taste the tension
 Then minutes into the overtime period, the Hurricanes slid one past Dobash.
And the game was over.
The series returns to Montreal, where the crowd will go nuts as the Canadiens skate onto the ice Monday night.
Rogers is using a This is our game advertisement. They’ve got that right.
 By Gazette Staff
May 23rd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The City is providing an update to give residents advance notice of upcoming works at the Millcroft Greens development site.
These works will be facilitated as part of a pre-servicing agreement with the City, which is in the process of being finalized with the developer. Work is expected to begin shortly after the pre-servicing agreement is finalized.
Providing this advance notice is intended to help residents understand what to expect as activity begins on site, including general timing and the nature of the work.
 Scope of work for this phase of construction
- Site preparation, including installation of erosion and sediment control measures
- Setting up equipment on site
- Removal of topsoil
- Moving of soil
- Creek works, including realignment of the creek
- Changes to the existing irrigation reservoir
- Installation of a new water main within the creek block for irrigation
- Construction of a retaining wall.
Impacts for this phase of construction & mitigation measures
- Increased construction activity on and around the site including heavy equipment and trucks.
- Mitigation measures: Traffic management measures, installation of erosion and sediment control (including mut mats and silt fencing), regular inspections, road sweeping and flushing.
- Periodic noise and vibration associated with excavation, grading and compaction work.
- Mitigation measures: The contractor is bound by the City’s Noise & Nuisance Bylaw.
- Construction times are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday through Saturday. No construction activities are permitted on Sundays or statutory holidays without prior permission from City’s Bylaw Enforcement.
- Vibration monitoring by the developer’s qualified professional will be installed prior to construction and monitored on a real-time basis throughout construction.
- Dust and mud tracking may occur, particularly during dry or wet conditions.
- Mitigation measures:
- During windy conditions, earthworks activities should be avoided;
- When necessary, a water truck will be mobilized to wet the ground;
- A mud mat will be constructed as each site access to avoid mud tracking and dust generation on the City’s roads;
- During dry periods, the site accesses will be sprayed with a dust suppressant;
- Street cleaning will be completed regularly.
- Compaction of loose soil will be completed in a timely fashion to prevent dust as much as possible; and
- Stockpiling of soil will be minimized to prevent dust as much as possible.
Timing
Work cannot begin until the pre-servicing agreement is finalized. Once finalized, the City will provide an update confirming when construction is starting. Work is currently expected to begin in May and continue through the summer months.
Future works requiring additional approvals
- Underground servicing
- Construction of private roads within the site
- Home construction
- Landscaping
Approvals
The City regularly receives inquiries from community members about what work can and cannot take place on the site, and which approvals are required. City requirements for this work include:
 By Gazette Staff
May 23rd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
There are some shows at the Performing Arts Centre you just do not want to miss.
This might be one of them
Relive the magic of two of music’s greatest icons in Billy & Elton: Hit for Hit.
 From “Piano Man” to “Rocket Man,” Bruce Tournay and the Chelsea Players deliver an unforgettable tribute concert to the timeless hits of Billy Joel and Elton John.
Sunni Genesco and Matt Hayes from Legend 102.9FM as our emcees for the evening!
All proceeds from this event support Eagles Nest.
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026
Location: Burlington Performing Arts Centre
Time: 7:30pm
Cost: $55.00
By Gazette Staff
May 23rd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Conservation Halton advises that Environment Canada is forecasting a low pressure system that will bring heavy rain across southern Ontario through Saturday and change to drizzle into Sunday morning. Locally, total rainfall amounts of 30-50 mm are currently possible. Although soil conditions are moderately dry within our jurisdiction, intense downpours may produce significant localized runoff.
 Take your umbrella with you. Widespread flooding is not anticipated, however, fast flowing water and flooding of low-lying areas, natural floodplains, and areas with poor drainage may be expected.
Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to keep a safe distance from all watercourses and structures such as bridges, culverts, and dams. Elevated water levels and fast flowing water, combined with slippery conditions along stream banks continue to make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.
Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream and weather conditions and will issue an update to this Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook message as conditions warrant.
This Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook will be in effect through Monday May 25, 2026.
By Gazette Staff
May 23rd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Meed Ward may have decided moving into campaign mode might be a good idea.
She took part in the Wellington Square United Church lunch earlier in the week. Residents report that she has not been seen at these very successful lunches before.
Her attendance was described as ” not campaigning”.
Related news story
Wither Marianne
By Gazette Staff
May 22nd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Get Ready for our Spring Zero Waste Drop Off!
On Saturday, May 23, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Burlington Centre, we’ll be collecting electronic and other waste with our R2 certified partner Tech Genius. If it plugs in, charges, or takes batteries and you can lift it – we can likely accept it!
 Some of the things that CAN be recycled In addition to typical electronic items, you can also bring us VHSs, DVDs, cassettes, CDs, disposable vaporizers, disposable gloves, coffee capsules and more! See a full list of accepted items here.
After dropping off your items outside, come inside anytime between 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM for some eco- games and activities for all ages. Our indoor location is in the old Cogeco storefront, across from Total Beauty.
In preparation for our Clothing Swap on May 30th, we are also accepting donations of new or gently used clothing and accessories (in good enough condition you would gift to a friend).
BONUS: First 50 drop-offs receive a FREE Eco-Gift – All drop-offs receive FREE Seed Packets!
We also have volunteer opportunities for this event.
By Gazette Staff
May 22nd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Touch-a-Truck event scheduled for Saturday, May 23 is cancelled due to the forecasted weather conditions. We appreciate everyone’s understanding as we prioritize the safety, comfort and overall experience of event participants.
 The event was cancelled by the city.
By Gazette Staff
May 22nd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
They had to try – NDP introduces motion to delivery grocery price relief to Ontario
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles, held a press conference in Scarborough this morning; where they introduced a bill to scrap the HST on all food and drink, and prevent grocery monopolies from using lease agreements to stifle competitive pricing.
 Marit Stiles: After eight years of Doug Ford, affordability has never been further out of reach. Stiles said: “After eight years of Doug Ford, affordability has never been further out of reach. People are hurting every time they go to pay for their groceries, trying to stretch a dollar further and further just to feed their families.
Our bill calls on Doug Ford to scrap the HST on all food and drink, and ban grocery stores from using lease agreements to prevent competitors from opening nearby, and selling products for less.
“We know it can be done. Wab Kinew’s NDP government in Manitoba has proven we can rein in these wealthy grocery giants and make life more affordable. All it takes is a Premier with the will to act.”
“The Conservatives have already voted against banning surveillance pricing. If they again vote in opposition to making groceries more affordable, they’ll have to explain that to the people of Ontario.”
Bill 113, Fair Prices and Tax-Free Groceries Act, 2026 will be debated in the Ontario Legislature next week.
The unfortunate part is that more than a majority of the people in Ontario seem prepared to live with whatever Doug Ford decides to do.
 By Pepper Parr
May 22nd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Lisa Kearns held an event to tell the community about the planks in election campaign drive to become the next Mayor of Burlington.
She got more than a respectable turnout at an event that offered free food: pizza, breaded chicken and French fries. And a cash bar.
 A few more tables could have been added, but this was a very respectable-sized audience. She told the audience what she wanted to deliver as Mayor.
Service Excellence:
“Excellence is what people expect when they come to City Hall. They expect to be served immediately. They expect to be served fully. How many of you have gone into a business, a restaurant, a service, a retailer, an event, and said, Wow, that was amazing. They anticipated what I needed. They got it done quickly and I didn’t get the runaround.
“Do you know we have people at City Hall who, when they’re on vacation, they stay out of office, contact that person, and it says, out of office, contact that person, and they said, I’d love to contact that person, I’d want to actually contact them. And you end up in a cycle that makes you want to just cry.
“Where do you stop that? We’re going to bring in all the absolute best practises. I know people don’t like that word best practises, but I’m going to be dedicated to absolute excellence.”
On getting building permits:
“There is no logical reason why our roller skating rink can’t open in an empty mall. There’s no reason I can’t get a cupcake shop back into the downtown. There’s no reason why it’s taking 18 months for a coffee shop to open, and they couldn’t even get a scaffolding permit to make a beautiful place of connection in our community. And why can’t a comic bookstore can’t even open without the city’s elected officials getting involved? We have to do a better job.
“These permits are a source of revenue. Those building permits go straight into the back pocket of the city, taking pressure off your local taxes. What we already know is that the building department has had to dig into its reserves because it’s come in under what it’s making. It’s costing more than we’re making in the buildings department. If you have a piggy bank of savings, we’ve had to take a third of those savings out to make the department whole. That is not sustainable. We need to come up with more revenue on the other side, or you need to make a change on the operating cost side. They are out of balance.
Kearns gave a good presentation and then listened to small groups. “This kind of change starts only at the top, and I promise you it will change at the top.
“Let’s talk about housing, which is a very failed conversation. I want to do away with the divisiveness between developers and the city. We’re really getting sick of getting hauled up to the tribunal all the time. I want to talk to developers in advance and say: Listen, let’s sort this out now.
 The platform Lisa Kearns is going to run on to get her elected as Mayor of the City in the October 26th election. “I have decades of negotiating experience, of getting to what’s called the best possible outcome, or the total cost of ownership. If you are blindsided by either of those two things and you didn’t achieve both of those in every introduction you do, you’re coming up short.
“What we’re going to do is figure out what everything is going to cost. We’re going to take a collaborative approach and find the amenities our community is asking for.
“I won’t be a mayor that is constantly screaming into the sky at the provincial government. I am just here to work with whoever is in office, and just get as much money as possible. I am not writing a thousand advocacy letters.
“I will not fight with them. We need to actually see things happening. This council, did a good job at advocacy, but we didn’t get things built, we didn’t deliver any more enhanced services. We kind of just went around in circles, yelling at the sky. We’re going to stop that. We’re going to work towards our traffic light synchronization and our advanced priority signals for transit.
“I’ll be looking at bringing forward a commissionaire slash by law ambassadors that are going to be helping make sure that everything is in working order here in our community. I won’t put my kids on transit or on a transit shelter waiting for the bus. If I don’t have absolute certainty that that transit shelter is going to be safe and clean and lit.”
Some of this is pretty stiff stuff. To make it work, there will have to be a major change in the culture at City Hall.
 The food was good and there was lots of it. Kearns had a lot more to say. We will cover that in a separate articles.
Kearns suggested people hang around, eat some of the food and “chat with your neighbours and get back to me with your thoughts”.
And they did.
 By Gazette Staff
May 22nd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The search for Ambassadors to represent the St. Louis’ Brand of hot dogs is proving to be a highly competitive (and deeply disturbing) process.
Forget your traditional resume; applicants’ experience has included eating hot dogs boiled, microwaved, slathered in whipped cream, and in one tragic case, blended. We’ve received everything from hot dog tattoo pics to videos of candidates straight up eating hot dogs, and our most seasoned applicant thus far boasts an incredulous 40 years of hot-dog-eating experience.
St. Louis Bar & Grill will now serve up a new staple: mouth-watering, beef and chicken hot dogs, officially coming to menus on June 2nd.
 Until May 31st, you can taste test these glorious, premium dogs, all-you-can-eat for just $14.99—or, level up to loaded AYCE dogs for just $5.00 more and choose from any of the following each round:
The Pickle Dog: A crunchy combination of crispy pickle coins and diced pickles, drizzled with St. Louis’ infamous Garlic Dill sauce—a pickle lover’s dream!
A fully-loaded dog, smothered in signature St. Louis-style chili and perfectly balanced with a kick of classic yellow mustard.
The Chili Dog: A fully-loaded dog, smothered in signature St. Louis-style chili and perfectly balanced with a kick of classic yellow mustard.
The Supreme Dog: This loaded behemoth features a decadent blanket of queso cheese, seasoned nacho beef, fresh pico de gallo, and a fiery finish of fresh jalapeño rings.
Calling on experienced hot dog lovers. A nationwide hunt for Brand AmbassaDOGs—a prestigious new “position” whose primary responsibility involves wearing a massive frankfurter suit in public.
This is a prestigious and slightly ridiculous role that involves wearing a branded hot dog costume in public in exchange for a $149.99 gift card, equivalent to ten “shifts” of All-You-Can-Eat Premium Hot Dogs.
If you have a seasoned ability to handle extreme condiments and a passion for premium wieners, this could be the career pivot you have been waiting for.
It’s looking like a slow news day – this is just about all there was early in the day.
By Gazette Staff
May 20th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
FOR LAKESHORE WEST CUSTOMERS:
On the weekends of Saturday and Sunday, May 23-24 and 30-31, Lakeshore West rail service will be temporarily modified to accommodate major track upgrades. These track closures are required to make essential improvements that will support faster, more frequent GO service as part of GO Expansion.
On both weekends, regular Lakeshore West train service will run between Niagara Falls and Aldershot GO.
GO replacement buses will operate, making stops at West Harbour, Aldershot, Burlington, Oakville and Clarkson GO stations, then to Bramalea GO, where customers can connect to eastbound trains on the Kitchener line to Union Station.
- On Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, there will be no GO Transit service at Appleby, Bronte, Port Credit, Long Branch, Mimico, or Exhibition GO. There will be no GO train service between Aldershot GO and Union Station.
- On Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, there will be no GO Transit service at Appleby, Bronte, Port Credit, or Long Branch GO. Special GO trains will run between Mimico GO and Union Station on a 15-minute schedule.
On Friday, May 22, there will also be some late-night service adjustments.
Regular service will resume on Monday, May 25 and Monday, June 1.
More information about Lakeshore West service adjustments and alternate route options is available HERE.
 By Gazette Staff
May 22, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Central Park is a shared community space that supports organized sport, informal recreation and general park enjoyment.
 A game can last as much as half a day. It is very intense, the rivalries are deeply held. The City is reviewing how the park is currently being used, including the cricket pitch area, permitting practices and non-permitted play, to better understand opportunities to support a safe, functional and balanced experience for all park users. The Public Information Centre will provide an opportunity to share information and discuss next steps.
To help residents, park users, and cricket players understand the upcoming changes, the City will be hosting an information session with participation of staff from Recreation, Community and Culture, Engineering Service’s and Bylaw Compliance.
Join us for an information session to learn more about the park construction scheduled for this summer, how sports, including cricket, are permitted in Central Park, and future enforcement considerations.
 City View Park was created to accommodate the Pan Am Games and had plastic turf, which was eventually moved. The City Parks, Recreation and Culture appeared to be a little behind the growth that was taking place and the demand for sports facilities. Plans are in place for a pitch in Sherwood Forest Park. A lot of people are asking why there can’t be a facility at City View Park in the west end of the city.
Residents will have an opportunity to ask questions and talk directly with City staff about the project.
- Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m.
 Given the changes in the demography in Burlington, there are going to be more people who want to play cricket. The clubs have a serious program teaching the sport to their younger members. Attend in Person
Location: Burlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New St.
Attend Online
Join virtual via zoom
- Phone in -1 833 958 1164 Canada Toll Free
- Webinar ID: 857 6963 9981
- Passcode: 871
 By Pepper Parr
May 21st, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
The race in Ward 2 is expected to tighten up shortly. A candidate who was planning to announce put things on hold when Gary Carr filed his nomination papers. Carr has yet to do very much in the way of campaigning. He did chair the Regional Council meeting on Wednesday.
 Marianne Meed Ward with the Save the Waterfront Committee that became her election campaign team. Ward 2 was where Marianne Meed Ward planted her flag. She had run in Ward 1 against Rick Craven and lost. The family moved into the downtown core where Marianne was first elected as a Council member n 2010. She made the waterfront her main issue and went on to become a very effective member of Council. The best Council member I’ve observed in this city.
 Marianne Meed Ward taught Council what transparency and accountable were about as a citizen. She went on to become a ward Councillor in 2010. She made the words transparency and accountability very real and improved the performance of the Rick Goldring council. She was unyielding even though Councillors Sharman, Craven and Lancaster went to considerable lengths to slow Meed Ward down. The only person who gave Meed Ward any room was John Taylor of Ward 3.
In 2018, Meed Ward was elected Mayor, and there were a lot of very high hopes. Some of the expectations were not very realistic, and Marianne didn’t do all that much to tamp them down.
 Mayor Meed Ward with CAO Tim Commisso at a City Council meeting. Finding a City Manager she could work and grow with provided to be a challenge she was unable to overcome. She dumped James Ridge the day after she was sworn in. Brought in Tim Commisso and lost him when negative remarks she had about his performance got back to him. Weeks after being given a significant salary increase he advised the Mayor that he would not be renewing his contract.
 Haasaam Basit being introduced to the public as the new City CAO. Commisso was followed by Haasaam Basit who made all kinds of administrative changes, but when a better opportunity presented itself, he left the city after six months of service. “Bitter sweet” were Meed Ward’s words.
The urgent need for a replacement resulted in a good planner being drafted to fill the CAO position until the next Council was elected. Curt Benson is a good planner and a decent human being. He has yet to put his mark on the administration of the city. He sits next to the City Solicitor during Council meetings – there is a good reason for that seating arrangement.
A small group of people who were heavily involved in the 2018 election began to turn on Meed Ward. COVID didn’t help, tax increases were what people really objected to. The introduction of Strong Mayor Powers and the housing shortage that seemed to come out of nowhere – they all added up to varying levels of disappointment.
Council meetings had become unpleasant experiences for people who were delegating. There were occasions when some of the women delegating broke down in tears. Clamping down on any form of clapping or booing did not work. when Lisa Kearns pointed out to both the City Clerk and the Mayor that there was nothing on the Procedural Bylaw that forbade clapping, the genie was out of the bottle.
 Mayor Meed Ward chairing a Council meeting virtually while at a graduation ceremony for her daughter. The Council meeting that included that 14-minute rant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcVTnWIi8O8 was not the best day in her career.
It is difficult to tell if Meed Ward was unaware of the shift or if she really didn’t know what to do. Many said she was both aware and didn’t care. Marianne was going to be Marianne.
So here we are in the early stages of the October 26 municipal election.
 Marianne and her husband Pete in front of the Survivor Bell at Joseph Brant Hospital. And Marianne has yet to file nomination papers. In 2018 she and her husband Pete were at City Hall early in the day. She signed papers while Pete took pictures. And the Gazette took pictures of the two of them
The divisiveness of this Council began to become more obvious.
Lisa Kearns began to take stronger positions and found herself telling people, “We can do better than this”
Has Meed Ward begun to realize that Kearns just might be able to defeat her as the sitting Mayor?
Losing is something Meed Ward would find difficult to manage emotionally.
Has the time come for Meed Ward to decide that this is the time to get out when you are at the top? To say ‘I have devoted 16 years to this city, my husband’s health is stable, but the cancer returning scare is always there, so I am not going to seek re-election. The public can decide who should replace me’.
What next for Marianne? Probably not in the world of politics – provincial or federal.
By Gazette Staff
May 21st, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Getting the full story out. Before we get into it, here’s a brief Journalism 101 lesson in story selection.
Not news: man successfully fights traffic ticket for failing to stop at a red light.
Picked up from the Toronto Star
News: it took him 18 years in court.
By Curtis Nikola
May 21st, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
You likely already know that your phone collects information. What’s less obvious is how many different systems contribute to that collection, generating small pieces of information that get combined into a detailed profile.
 These call phones are collecting information. To make meaningful changes, you need to understand where tracking happens and decide what you want to allow. Here are three important parts of your digital footprint you should consider focusing on.
- Switch to privacy-respecting apps
Many default apps on Android devices are designed to integrate with larger data ecosystems. This integration often means your browsing habits, search queries and usage patterns feed into a broader profile.
You can reduce that exposure by choosing alternatives that limit data collection by design. For example, private browsers like Firefox or Brave block many third-party trackers automatically. Likewise, switching to DuckDuckGo means your searches aren’t tied to a persistent identity.
This change gives you clearer boundaries. When you open a link or search for a topic, you reduce the number of companies that can observe that action.
- Use a VPN to limit network visibility
Your internet provider and local network can see the domains you connect to, even if the content itself is encrypted. This visibility can reveal patterns, such as which news sites you visit or when you access certain services.
Using a VPN can reduce that exposure. You can simply download a free VPN for Android or iOS, which will route your connection through a secure server that limits how much detail your network provider sees about your activity.
Bear in mind that this step has limits. VPNs don’t prevent tracking tied to logged-in accounts. They do, however, give you more control over what your network can observe, especially when you’re outside your home connection.
- Restrict background data and activity
Many apps continue to send and receive information even when you’re not actively using them. This background activity often includes analytics, location updates and usage reports.
 You can reduce this by disabling background data and activity for non-essential apps in your phone settings. For example, a simple game or utility app rarely needs constant network access. When you restrict it, you prevent ongoing information transfers that serve little purpose for you.
This step reduces passive data collection. It also helps you identify which apps truly need connectivity and which ones benefit more from limiting access.
Final thoughts…
You build control over your privacy by understanding how different systems interact and by making deliberate choices about each one. By implementing these changes, you can reduce the number of entities that can observe your behaviour. This will let you use your phone with more independence and with a clearer sense of what information you share and what you keep to yourself.
 By Gazette Staff
May 21st, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
A Gazette reader sent us the following:
Last Friday evening, May 15, my grandson was walking along Brant Street across from the No Frills Plaza at around 9:30 PM. There was a group of about 20 male teenagers surrounding a Tesla that was waiting for the red light to change.
They opened the car door and were attempting to pull the man out of the car.
 Halton Regional Police delegating to city Council on how they were policing the city. My grandson called me to tell me what was happening. I told him to get away from there as soon as possible and to call 911. I don’t know if he called because he was concerned that they would come after him if they knew he had called.
He went home, got his car and circled the area. These same teenagers were riding all around the streets on bicycles and later he saw police cars as well.
He could not believe that this was happening in Burlington.
I have to admit that I had not expected this type of behaviour in downtown Burlington (Ward 2)
Once there was a police station in Burlington. Perhaps it is time to have a permanent police station in this area again. With all the new construction and increase in residents this should be considered.
 By John Porthouse
May 20th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Since announcing his candidacy for Mayor on May 1, 2026, Rory Nisan’s Instagram content (@rorynisan.ca) has pivoted from his role as Ward 3 Councillor to a city-wide mayoral platform. After a review of Nisan’s recent Instagram postings his platform is built on three central pillars:
1. Affordability and the “Burlington Dream”
 “I am going to partner with residents to fulfill the promise that Burlington is for everyone.” In his launch and follow-up videos, Nisan emphasizes that the “promise” of Burlington is becoming unaffordable for many.
- Targeting Costs: He explicitly mentions residents struggling with rising rent and food prices.
- Focus on Demographic Groups: His videos advocate for a city where seniors and working families can afford to stay and “get ahead” rather than being priced out.
- Mission Statement: He repeatedly uses the phrase, “I am going to partner with residents to fulfill the promise that Burlington is for everyone.”
2. Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Discipline
Nisan frames himself as a candidate who offers a more “disciplined and practical” approach to city spending.
- Immediate Action Plan: If elected, his first few weeks will be dedicated to passing a fiscally responsible budget. He states this budget will “set the tone for the next four years.”
- Taxpayer Respect: He emphasizes “respecting taxpayers” by avoiding unnecessary spending and ensuring that city reserves are not “raided” at the expense of core community infrastructure, such as parks and firehouses.
3. Quality of Life and Community Partnership
- Empowering Residents: He advocates for a “new approach to decision-making” that prioritizes direct collaboration with residents.
- Community Preservation: While drawing on his background as Ward 3 Councillor, he highlights the need to protect local amenities (splash pads, community centers, and green spaces) as essential components of Burlington’s quality of life.
 By Pepper Parr
May 20th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s on!
The parade that was the start of the now-defunct Sound of Music event will take place on June 20th at 10:00 am.
 That will mark the opening of the Lakeshore Music & Arts Festival, a free, two-day outdoor celebration taking place June 20–21, 2026, at Burlington’s Spencer Smith Park.
Set along the city’s waterfront, the festival will come alive as a vibrant, multi-stage experience featuring nationally celebrated Canadian artists, emerging performers, local artisans, an extensive selection of food trucks, and engaging family-friendly programming. Lakeshore is poised to become one of Ontario’s premier outdoor music and cultural events for years to come.
Local bands, including the Burlington Teen Tour Band and Burlington Junior Redcoats, Top Hat Marching Orchestra, Halton Region Police Service Board Pipes and Drum Band, Crash Rhythm will be featured, along with entries from community organizations.
The parade route will begin near Central Arena on Caroline Street at Drury Lane and continue to Brant Street, ending at Baldwin Street.
 Burlington Teen Tour Band The Burlington Teen Tour Band Boosters will be collecting non-perishable food items and donations for the Burlington Food Bank along the route.
Organized by MRG Live, the festival runs June 20–21, 2026, and will feature more than 30 local and Canadian artists, highlighted by headlining performances from Walk Off the Earth, The Trews, Katie Tupper and The Dirty Nil across a dynamic weekend of live music and arts programming.
The festival is free to attend, with optional paid VIP experiences available.
Having a summer music festival began to look a little iffy when city staff came to the conclusion that the Sound of Music team was not going to be able to hold the event. Most members of Council wanted something to take place and set aside a large sum of money for whoever would put on a festival. MRG Live came out of nowhere with a proposal city staff were stunned with. They moved mountains to make it happen.
Now the public gets to see what MRG is capable of doing. They decided to start with a two-day event (they have a multi-year contract with the city) and decide if they can grow it to become what the Sound of Music used to be.
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