 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 Jake Fuss, Fraser Institute
January 24, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Examining Federal Debt in Canada by Prime Ministers Since Confederation, 2026
Canada’s 24 prime ministers have each left a legacy, and each of those legacies has an effect on all Canadians. One element critical to an analysis of each prime minister is whether he or she left the federal government more or less indebted than when first taking office.
This bulletin measures the debt legacies of all prime ministers from 1870 to 2025. We examine the percentage change in inflation-adjusted gross debt per person during the tenures of various prime ministers. By accounting for population growth and inflation, the level of debt accumulated by each prime minister can be compared through Canada’s history.
Historical context is vital to understanding the debt legacies of each prime minister. For instance, global conflicts such as World War I and World War II and multiple economic downturns contributed significantly to the substantial growth in debt per person that occurred during the tenures of Sir Robert Borden (188.1 percent) and William Lyon Mackenzie King (145.2 percent).
During economic downturns, the federal government collects less revenue and spends more as incomes decline and Canadians draw more on services such as Employment Insurance. These downturns contribute significantly to federal debt accumulation, but are out of the direct control of prime ministers.
In 2025, federal per-person debt is projected to be $56,432, which is the second-highest amount in Canadian history (surpassed only by 2021). During the first year of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s tenure, federal per-person debt is expected to increase by 4.2 percent.
 By Pepper Parr
January 24th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
How do you explain to a young child that Grandpa is not going to be visiting anymore?
Death is not something young children understand. They experience the loss, but comprehending what has happened is not easily explained.
 Esther Maloney Esther Maloney is a writer, filmmaker and educator who currently works for the National Film Board of Canada. She has taught courses at George Brown College, Humber College and at the University of Toronto, Scarborough.
She has written a wonderful little book that helps parents deal with situations where a grandparent or close family friend pass away that young children miss terribly and don’t understand why they are gone.
Maloney blends in the death of a person with the releasing of an injured bird from a cage once they have healed. The book explores the bigger questions and emotions around life and death, loss and connections.
 A child’s Father explains:”Everyone has their own beliefs about what happens after death, but you can think of it like a bird being freed from it’s cage.”
“Really? How? asked the child.
That is a tough question to answer without getting tied up in different religious ideologies.
“We human beings”, explains the Father “have two parts. One is our body, which only lasts for a little while in this world. The other part is our soul, which lasts forever. Our bodies are like cages that keep our souls connected to this world for a time. But eventually our souls are set free.”
The book is beautifully illustrated by Elaheh Bos.
Efforts are being made to have a copy of the book in every Burlington Library branch. We will let you know when it’s on the shelves.
 By Joe Gaetan
January 24th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
As epic as Mark Carney’s Davos speech was, the real story isn’t just what he said – it’s how Carney got here, and what that says about us as voters.
Let’s be honest: Carney didn’t become prime minister in a vacuum. Carney may be PM in part due to Pierre Poilievre, and the Carbon Tax. Who can forget how he relentlessly hammered away at “axing the tax”. The tax imposed on Canadians to be rebated in full (but not before or without adding the cost of administering the merry-go-round). That drumbeat like it or not may have helped reshape our and possibly the worlds political landscape.
Looking back, instead of using our energy resources to help friendly countries, we were told we should leave it in the ground. When we knew LNG is cleaner than coal, we were told there was “no business case for LNG,” while some provinces said, “not through our land.” And while EVs are part of the solution, instead of investing first in nationwide charging infrastructure, we were about to impose an EV mandate on the entire country. While there was more going on than the energy file, it serves as a proxy for, be careful what you vote for. Who we elect is just as important – if not more – than what our leaders say on the hustings or on the world stage.
 When we elect someone because we are charmed by appearance, rather than substance, we get what we deserve. When we elect someone because we are charmed by appearance, rather than substance, we get what we deserve. When we elect someone who sees the bigger picture – who understands we can be green while still ethically developing and exporting oil, gas, and SMRs – then we start firing on all cylinders.
 Democracy isn’t just about showing up. If you don’t think who you vote for matters as much as what you vote for, ask yourself: where would Canada be today if, collectively – not unanimously, but meaningfully – we hadn’t given Carney a chance to show what he was made of? For some the jury is still out on that question. While others are giddy over Carney.
And now, due to floor-crossing and political volatility, we may be heading back to the polls sooner than later.
So here’s the real question for voters:
Will you only vote for the party you’ve always voted for?
Will you vote just because you like your local candidate?
Will you vote because a candidate says its 2026?
Will you vote after taking a serious look at the effect your vote has on the future of our country?
Will you vote at all?
The last year has been a wake-up call. Not just about politics – but about our voting responsibility. Because democracy isn’t just about showing up. It’s about thinking harder, digging deeper, voting smarter, and understanding that leadership choices shape everything from your tax bill to Canada’s place in the world. And just in case you think this only applies to federal elections, think again. We will soon be voting on Municipal candidates. And this is not the time to sleepwalk through it.
 By Pepper Parr
January 24th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Performing Arts Centre has yet to post anything on their web ste about what Sunday’s weather is going to do to us. Best to check with the Box Office to determine if the show is going to run before you consider attending.
If you haven’t booked a seat for this event – give it a thought – but moved quickly.
Step back into an era when “swing” reigned supreme in Burlington!
The 26-piece Toronto All-Star Big Band revives the spirit and style of the golden age of the Big Bands.
Enjoy your favourite tunes by Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman.
These were the sounds that were heard at the long gone Burlington Inn that had a stage stretching out into Lake Ontario.
Tickets are available. Click HERE for ticket office.
By Pepper Parr
January 23rd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 The War Plane Museum in Hamilton uses TipTap that allows people support the maintenance and upkeep of one of just two WWII Lancaster bombers in the world. There is a company in Burlington that is getting help from people who visit their premises to keep a vintage war plane in the Air.
That company works with the Salvation Army to bring in 15% of their donations; last year, they increased the donation level by 12%
They have expanded into the United States, where they are broadening the line of services they offer.
Tiptap, have you heard of them?
They use a small device that you tap with your credit card or debit card, should you decide you want to support the organization.
“What we have done, explained Mark Gordon, Managing Director, Sales and Retention, is give people an opportunity to support an organization or an idea with a one-time on-the-spot donation.
 Their service provided 15%of the Salvation Army donations in 2024.
There are all kinds of things people want to support but don’t want to enter into a long-term financial commitment. Tiptap fills that gap.
“It is going to take some time to educate the public on what we can do” said Jordan.
There is a transaction fee of 10 cents each time a donation is made. The Tiptap people earn 2.65%of each transaction.
By Gazette Staff
January 22, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 The City is creating a Youth Framework and needs your help.
This plan guides how the City supports, listens to, and works with young people. It makes sure youth have a real voice in shaping programs, spaces, and opportunities that matter to them.
If you are a youth, a parent or someone who works with youth, we would love your feedback on priorities for youth. Take the survey today!
Do take the survey. We are not going to comment on it for a few days. We would like to hear what young people think about it. Comments you make will not be attributed.
 By Gazette Staff
January 22, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
“Protecting the climate and protecting our democracy are inextricably linked,” veteran climate reporter and activist Bill McKibben said last week at a Covering Climate Now press briefing on climate journalism in 2026. US president Donald Trump “is in many ways operating as a political arm of the oil industry,” McKibben added, “and coming to grips with his authoritarian impulse is going to be crucial to ever getting any climate action.”
The struggle for democracy — in the streets of Minneapolis, Teheran, and beyond — is but one high-profile issue with a strong climate change connection. Internationally, Greenland, Venezuela, and Iran possess sizable amounts of oil whose burning could push Earth’s climate past catastrophic tipping points. In the US, the surging cost of electricity produced by coal and gas is shaping up as an issue in congressional elections this November that could either counter or reinforce Trump’s authoritarianism. Yet, climate change is still missing from most news coverage.
 Greenland McKibben cited Trump’s obsession with Greenland as a perfect example of a story in which climate change should be a critical aspect of the story but isn’t. While most Greenland coverage has focused on the geo-political and military implications of Trump’s aggression, McKibben said, “the actual strategic asset in play here is a two-mile-thick sheet of ice that, if it melts, will change the lives of every person on planet Earth” by raising sea levels catastrophically.
Meanwhile, developments in Africa contrast sharply with the US’s U-turn on climate action, Mohamed Adow, director of the Nairobi-based NGO Power Shift Africa, said during the briefing. Africa has become “one of the world’s most important laboratories for climate solutions,” Adow said, though the speed at which change is happening is “often missed” by journalists. (This Bloomberg Green article offers an excellent exception.) “Kenya now generates 95% of our electricity from renewables,” Adow added. “Solar capacity has expanded rapidly in countries such as South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt…. Solar mini-grids in rural Nigeria, Tanzania, and Senegal are bringing reliable electricity to [rural] communities that fossil fuel-based grids have failed to reach for decades.”
In Europe, too, there are urgent climate stories to tell. The EU’s imposition of climate tariffs on January 1, 2026, for example, is an “incredibly important” development, said Guardian reporter Fiona Harvey, whose own reporting showed that, under the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), “companies selling steel, cement, and other high-carbon goods into the EU will have to prove that they comply with low-carbon regulations or face fines.” The tariff is aimed at companies that might “shift their manufacture of those high-carbon goods or services to another [country] that has more lax regulation,” Harvey said, “so you don’t actually get any carbon saving.”
Noting that editors like stories about unexpected developments, McKibben highlighted “the dramatic reduction in the price of clean energy, which is shaking up all of our assumptions.”
 With solar and wind now providing 90% of new generating capacity around the world, there’s nothing alternative about them anymore, “With solar and wind now providing 90% of new generating capacity around the world,” McKibben said, “there’s nothing alternative about them anymore, and one of the stories [journalists] need to tell is that we’re breaking into a new paradigm.”
Our job as journalists, she added, is “to show them that there are constructive ways out of the mess, as well as presenting them with the reality of the mess.”
By Gazette Staff
January 22, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
If you ever wondered why we have public libraries – read on.
There are actually groups in Burlington who don’t think library membership should be free.
 A child’s life is so much richer if they learn to love reading just for the experience.  Reading a book and listening to music at the same time – a wonderful way to spend an hour or so. 
 By Gazette Staff
January 22, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Public Library is introducing an exciting lineup of Valentine’s Day events, activities, and book displays at library branches across the city next month. From February 1 to 14, visitors will find playful programs, cozy reading inspiration, a creative bookmark contest, and more special events and activities to celebrate.
 “We’re bringing a little extra love to Burlington this February with free Valentine’s Day events and activities for all ages,” says Tammy Csajaghy, Manager of Programming & Partnerships at Burlington Public Library. “We’re especially looking forward to the Valentine’s Day edition of our open mic event for singers, writers, and musicians to share their talents and stories.”
Free Valentine’s Day events
All programs are FREE and do not require a library card to attend. Check out the library’s website for a full list of all love inspired programs and events in February.
Farah Heron Talks Romance
Critically acclaimed author Farah Heron, Just Playing House, talks about writing romantic comedies.
Tuesday, February 10, 7-8pm. Register. CENTRAL
 Have a Blind Date with a Book Love, Hate & Popcorn Teen Movie Night
Celebrate an early Valentine’s Day with friends at a screening of the cult-classic Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
Thu February 12, 6:30-8:30pm. CENTRAL
Romance the Open Mic
Singers, writers, poets, and musicians, share your talents—and speak your heart! Appreciative audience members are welcome.
Sat February 14, 1-2:30pm. Doors open at 12:30pm for sign-up. CENTRAL
The Story of Aida
Sabatino Vacca, Artistic Director of Southern Ontario Lyric Opera, talks about Verdi’s passionate opera masterpiece, Aida.
Tuesday, February 17, 7-8:30pm. Register. CENTRAL
More activities to love
 No kissing booth at this years Valentine week events. From February 1 to 14, all BPL branches will have a Blind Date with a Book display of books in bags. Each surprise book comes with a short description but no title or author. It’s like a literary blind date!
Kids can also jump into the fun with a drop-in Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt and colouring activities at library branches from February 1 to 14.
Burlington Public Library belongs to everyone in the community, providing open and equitable access to information, digital & print collections and resources, public computers, and a vast array of programs and services. Six full-service branches and a rural lending location offer welcoming spaces where visitors can explore, discover, reflect, learn, improve, create, and connect with others.
Valentine’s Day at BPL web page
By Gazette Staff
January 22, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 ROMA – Rural Ontario Mayors Association met in Toronto last Sunday. The organization was created to give municipalities with populations of under 100,000 an opportunity to meet with senior civil servants and Cabinet Ministers.
 Bentivegna represents part of Burlington’s rural north. Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna represents a significant number of rural residents – having him at the annual ROMA event made sense.
Why, a person who reached out to the Gazette asked, was Burlington Mayor Meed Ward attending this event? She gets to do her thing at the OBMA Ontario Big Mayors Association.
 Mayor Meed Ward was in Japan representing the City. Registration for ROMA events is $1000 – add in the cost of the hotel for the three-day event – and you’re looking at close to $3000 each for Bentivegna and Meed Ward.
Why was the Mayor a delegate? Our reader suggested it “was another chance to get in front of a microphone and talk about the Ontario Big City Mayors Association.”
There doesn’t appear to be any limit on how much the Mayor can spend going to events.
 By Della Armstrong
January 22, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The province’s online gambling sector continues to expand, yet the incentives available to players look far more restrained than those seen in unregulated environments. For residents in Burlington and Halton, this raises a straightforward question: how do operators compete in a system that limits the very promotional tools commonly associated with online gaming? The answer lies in a regulatory approach that treats incentives as tightly controlled consumer features rather than headline-driven marketing tactics. Competition persists, but it moves within boundaries designed to protect players and maintain clarity.
A Regulatory Framework That Sets Strict Conditions for Promotional Activity
 The governance model built by iGaming Ontario shapes every offer presented to players. The governance model built by iGaming Ontario (iGO) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) shapes every offer presented to players. AGCO establishes standards around communication, fairness, data handling, auditing, and conduct, while iGO manages the operational relationships with private platforms and monitors whether operators meet their contractual and reporting obligations. Together, they create a system in which promotional activity cannot exist without measurable safeguards, including mandatory disclosure requirements, internal controls testing, and continuous oversight of how incentives are deployed. This structure is not merely administrative. It directly affects what players in Burlington encounter on licensed sites, influencing everything from the size of promotional rewards to how clearly terms must be communicated. The result is an environment where operators must balance commercial goals with regulatory expectations, creating a competitive landscape that prioritizes predictability and consumer protection.
Why Public Advertising of Inducements Is Restricted
Provincial rules prohibit operators from using mass-market inducements. That means no billboard ads promising sign-up gifts and no broadcast campaigns highlighting promotional rewards. Instead, offers appear only after a player registers and chooses to receive information. This shift reduces pressure on the general public and moves promotions into a context where users can review terms before participating.
What Types of Incentives Are Permitted
 Incentives should enhance the experience for those who already intend to participate, not act as triggers for impulsive sign-ups. New players may encounter welcome offers, and existing users may receive occasional account-based rewards. These are structured as optional features inside a player dashboard, not as broad advertisements. The intention is clear: Incentives should enhance the experience for those who already intend to participate, not act as triggers for impulsive sign-ups. For example, players who choose to explore regulated options can review available offers directly through licensed operators. If you are looking to get your bonus at BetMGM.ca, you would still need to register and opt in before viewing any details, in line with provincial rules.
Why Regulated Offers Tend To Appear More Modest
Prominent headline figures are familiar on offshore sites, but they often come with complicated conditions that are difficult for the average user to interpret. In the regulated market, operators must present terms clearly and avoid exaggerated claims, which effectively limits the scale and style of promotional values. Transparency rules also require operators to demonstrate that incentives do not mislead players about likely outcomes or financial commitments, further narrowing the range of offers they can deploy.
These restrictions contribute to more modest promotions, yet they also produce incentives that are easier to evaluate and compare. For Burlington residents who approach online gaming cautiously, smaller but clearer rewards may reduce misunderstandings about risk, especially among those who engage only occasionally and may not be familiar with industry terminology. In practical terms, this approach reinforces the province’s broader consumer-protection mandate. It encourages operators to compete on service quality, product design, and user experience rather than on attention-grabbing figures.
Wagering Conditions Explained in Plain Language
Requirements that determine how many times funds must be played before withdrawal can be confusing. Under provincial rules, these conditions must be presented in plain language and cannot be buried in long terms and conditions. This helps players compare offers based on practical effort rather than surface-level appeal.
The Role of Responsible Gambling Tools
Protective measures such as spending limits, time-management tools, activity summaries, and the My PlayBreak self-exclusion program are mandatory across all licensed platforms. These features are not optional add-ons; they are core components that influence how promotions are designed. Any incentive must coexist with guardrails intended to support healthier play.
 If a disagreement arises, players can escalate concerns through the operator and, if necessary, through AGCO’s oversight processes. Clear Disclosures Provide Predictability
Every offer must outline eligibility, duration, wagering rules, withdrawal conditions, and any game limitations. These requirements promote transparency across the market, giving players in Burlington and Halton consistent information regardless of which operator they choose.
Structured Dispute Pathways Build Trust
If a disagreement arises, players can escalate concerns through the operator and, if necessary, through AGCO’s oversight processes. This level of formal accountability is absent in unregulated environments, thereby contributing to a safer digital marketplace for residents.
Local Implications for Burlington and Halton
For many in the region, the discussion goes beyond entertainment. It reflects broader expectations around consumer rights, public policy, and regulatory accountability. Incentives still play a role in competition, but they do so under rules designed to protect users, clarify terms, and minimize misleading practices.
Competitive Ontario iGaming Markets Draw Players
Promotional activity in the province’s online gaming market operates within a framework that prioritizes transparency and responsible participation. While operators compete for attention, they do so under conditions that limit inducements and require clear terms. For players in Burlington and Halton, this creates an environment where incentives are available but moderated, offering choice without sacrificing protection.
 By Ray Rivers
January 22nd, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
“Elections are for later. Vote Conservative, vote Liberal – that choice will come. Put down your partisan swords today and take a moment and listen to this speech and what is being framed. These times are not like any other.” (Hon. James Moore, former minister under Mr. Harper)
It’s not that difficult to imagine: Trump is Putin, America is Russia and Canada is Ukraine. That was the message that our PM delivered at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos this week. Mr. Carney’s address to the world body has been labelled as the most consequential, most important and the best in a long time. But of course not everyone will agree. Certainly Mr. Trump doesn’t.
The speech is attached to this column. But what is more important than the speech is how Canadians are reacting to the new reality of Canada’s relationship with the US. We, with only a few exceptions, have stood four square with our southern neighbour on most issues since the end of the second great war. But then the USA had never in modern times sought to invade and assimilate another nation as it threatens Greenland.…and Canada.
 “It is unacceptable for the U.S. to seize the territory of a sovereign country, including by threatening tariffs on other NATO countries.” For that truism he was savaged by the trolls on X, many of whom identified as Canadian and as fellow conservatives – slamming him for sounding too much like a Liberal. Opposition Leader Poilievre addressing the Greenland issue on X stated the simple fact of international law. “It is unacceptable for the U.S. to seize the territory of a sovereign country, including by threatening tariffs on other NATO countries.” For that truism he was savaged by the trolls on X, many of whom identified as Canadian and as fellow conservatives – slamming him for sounding too much like a Liberal.
Perhaps that was what prompted Mr. Moore’s message. The bigger danger is not that we speak plainly to our American friends, but that we fail to stick up for each other and the country. The danger is that we lose the game because we can’t agree on who should be the captain. Partisanship is ripe in Canadian politics, as we can see from the comments section of just about any newspaper. Moore’s plea is to move on – to get on board with the bigger picture and leave petty politics aside for another day.
 Prime Minister Carney at Davos: ‘If we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu’ Carney makes no bones about how the world has changed; about how the old rules no longer apply; and how the institutions created to ensure prosperity, peace and order are being ignored by the big and powerful nations. We should not expect to live by the old rules again so must navigate for ourselves without them.
Carney calls for middle nations to cooperate more with each other, points out how years-long benign efforts at integrating economies has led to economic and military subservience. And he points out how that has to change if we are to survive in this new brave world. We are all needed to work towards achieving that goal. There really is no choice if you love your country.
Click HERE to read the speech
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Poilievre’s X Post Canada Joins EU SAFE – Is Canada Next – Planning Against the Unthinkable –
Best Speech – Moore –
By Lou Frapporti
January 22, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
One of the greatest blessings in my life is the opportunity to meet so many incredible people working everyday, in myriad ways, to make their communities better.
 Kings Road Primary School students will open for the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra performing at the Aldershot High School on February 12th.  A wonderful example of that is in the collaboration of two remarkable women, Kim Varian, the indomitable Executive Director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, and Kristy Henders, the inspirational principal of Kings Road Primary School. For those that aren’t aware, Kings Road is an island of inclusion in Aldershot bringing together a wide range of children from diverse backgrounds; a mixture of children whose families have lived in Burlington for generations with the children of newcomers to Canada. All learning in a modest little school with inspiring educators like Kristy. My periodic visits to King Road Primary School on behalf of Alinea Land Corporation‘s philanthropic work always leaves me inspired. I am privileged to call both Kim and Kristy friends.
Which is why I’m delighted to bring this collaboration to the attention of those who live in Burlington. On February 12, the HPO will perform at Aldershot High School auditorium to raise money in support of local elementary schools, particularly King’s Road’s STEAM initiative and the Halton Learning Foundation, helping to provide enhanced learning opportunities for local students.
The event is open to the public and I invite all in my network in the area to attend to support these children and in appreciation for the wonderful work of the HPO.
And to the many wonderful business leaders in the City of Burlington: while endowed with remarkable educators doing incredible work, King’s Road Primary School is under-resourced. Please consider supporting this event through a donation – even if you are unable to attend – or otherwise supporting Kings Road as part of your charitable programming.
 By Gazette Staff
January 21st, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Rescheduled Date: An Evening with MPPs Natalie Pierre & Peter Bethlenfalvy
Please join us for our An Evening with MPPs Natalie Pierre and Peter Bethlenfalvy.
This very special event will take place on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 6:00pm.
 They don’t tell you where the event is taking place. They want to be sure that pesky journalists don’t show up asking questions. Send them your credit card number, and you will get a seat at the table. Your credit card will be hit for $500.
Those people who do business with the provincial government will pony up that $500
 By Gazette Staff
January 21st, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board (HDSB) invites parents/guardians, students, staff and community members to share feedback as part of the budget development process for the 2026-2027 school year. Input can be provided through an online survey until Feb. 1 at 4 p.m.
The HDSB values its partnership with families, staff and the broader community and recognizes that meaningful input supports informed planning and responsible decision-making focused on student learning and well-being.
 Many would feel more comfortable if reading, writing and mathematics were included in this graphic. The HDSB is navigating financial pressures compounded by declining student enrolment. Demographic factors, including aging neighbourhoods and slower growth in some areas of Halton, have contributed to these changes. As enrolment is a key factor in how resources are allocated, fluctuations in enrolment affect available resources, while the cost of delivering high-quality education continues to rise.
To support transparency and understanding of the budget process, the HDSB hosted a budget information session on Jan. 19 where questions from staff, families and the community were addressed. A recording of the session, along with frequently asked questions (FAQs) and additional resources, is available on the Budget Input webpage of the HDSB website (hdsb.ca). Staff, families and community members are encouraged to review these materials and complete the online survey to help identify priorities and inform decision-making for the year ahead.
The budget development process aligns the allocation of resources with provincial expectations and the priorities set by the Board of Trustees in the HDSB’s 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan, while remaining fiscally responsible.
Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board said: “We value the engagement and perspectives of our students, staff, families and community members throughout the budget development process,” says “Your feedback is essential in identifying priorities and understanding potential impacts as we make informed, fiscally responsible, transparent and evidence-based decisions about how resources are allocated to support student learning and well-being. Our commitment remains unchanged – students are at the heart of everything we do.”
HDSB 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan
The 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan sets direction and prioritizes the collective actions of all students, staff, families and community members. This plan ensures our efforts as an organization are aligned and coordinated to support more than 65,000 students, 11,000 staff and the broader HDSB community. The six commitments identified in this four-year plan intersect and overlap to ensure that we take a cohesive approach to fulfilling its objectives.
Background resources
Budget and Financial Information
Budget Input Webpage
2026-2027 School Year Budget Development – Public Information Session
2026-2027 School Year Budget Development Feedback Survey
-30-
By Joe Gaetan
January 21st, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
If you were willing to brave minus-10-degree weather on January 20 to attend the Focus Burlington event, you would have found a packed room – not with optimism, but with frustration.
Residents spoke passionately about not being heard when they delegate at Council. They spoke about a budget driven largely by staffing costs while many live on fixed incomes. They spoke about property taxes rising roughly 44% in four years. They spoke about wages and benefits for municipal employees outpacing those in the private sector. The grievances were real, measured, and deeply felt.
What you did not hear, however, were answers.
 Five member panel answered questions put to them by Stephen White. Not from the expert panel. Not in the form of solutions, timelines, or suggestions for change.
Panel members Alan Harrington, Brad Harness, Eric Stern, Mark Carr and Pepper Parr answered questions and responded to audience concerns.
No one explained how strong mayor powers – now embedded in Burlington’s governance – will result in anything other than more of the same if the same mayor is re-elected in 2026. No one addressed the issue or return of daytime Council meetings, a basic open government tenet and issue for residents who want to observe or participate.
There was no discussion of how reserve funds are increasingly repurposed for major events, such as the FIFA Caravan, while residents are forced to submit Freedom of Information requests just to see the letter of intent – a document that other cities, such as Chatham, provide freely and transparently.
There was no meaningful reflection on whether Burlington’s council structure still serves the community, despite the recent ward boundary review resulting in only minor adjustments – effectively locking in the status quo for years to come.
And critically, there was no acknowledgement of how the City will ensure we never again experience a situation like the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) bid – a process marked by confusion, delay, and a troubling lack of clarity around governance and accountability.
There was also no reckoning with the growing trend of pre-announcing events – such as the Sound of Music festival or the FIFA Caravan – long before the final decisions has been made. That practice undermines trust, raises false expectations, and begs a simple question: what happened to engagement?
What happened to respect – when Councillors scroll on their phones instead of listening to delegations?
What happened to transparency – when budget increases are framed in ways that minimize their apparent impact?
 What happened to open government – when it takes months just to consider reviewing an RFP process that clearly failed public confidence?
The Focus Burlington event revealed something more important than any single budget line: a widening gap between City Hall and the people it serves. Residents are not merely upset about money. They are upset about process, access, accountability, and being treated as an inconvenience rather than partners in governance.
Listening is not the same as hearing. And hearing is not the same as acting.
Until Council – and the Mayor – are prepared to move beyond carefully curated responses and into genuine reform, Burlington will continue to host rooms full of frustrated residents, and panels full of explanations that go nowhere.
Democracy does not fail all at once. It erodes quietly – incrementally. The voices in the room on January 20 were not angry – they were warning us.
The question is whether anyone in power is prepared to listen.
If you are interested in changing things by running for office, the next Focus Burlington event to be held in February is just for you.
Joe Gaetan is a frequent contributor to the Gazette. He attended the first Focus Burlington meeting
By Gazette Staff
January 21st, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a very cold night.
 Despite the weather, a small group showed up for the first public event Focus Burlington put on. Using the theme: Beyond the Ballot Stephen White took the audience through a series of questions put to a four-member panel. The questions are set out below.
The two-hour event didn’t manage to get to all 10; questions from the audience were varied and, for the most part, very much to the point.
 I wasn’t a huge audience but it was respectful enough, and they had a lot to say. They were looking for answers to issues that just couldn’t be answered.
Interesting, the maniac south of us wasn’t mentioned once.
The audience wasn’t very happy with the performance coming from the City Council.
Budget issues and what the audience thought their city council wasn’t doing for them dominated.
Alan Harrington spoke of the need to get people involved, saying there wasn’t much hope for a change with the current Council.
Brad Harness, publisher of the Burlington Independent, acquitted himself rather well. While he has yet to formally announce, he will run for the Ward 2 seat that Lisa Kerns is expected to vacate to take a run at becoming the Mayor of the City. No formal announcement yet.
Mark Carr, a former member of City Council (Ward 6 when it was a 17 member Council saw merit in what was being done at Regional Council. He didn’t get much in the way of agreement on that point.
Pepper Parr, publisher of the Burlington Gazette told the audience that the biggest problem the city has is “assessment”; new homes are not being built which means the tax revenue stream can’t keep up with the amount of money the city is spending.
It is that issue, the amount the city is spending and the tax increases that follow that broughtFocus Burlington into being.
 Left to right: Alan Harrington, Brad Harness, Eric Stern, a Focus co-founder, Mark Carr and Pepper Parr A chartered accountant in the audience said he was stunned when he learned that the budget book is more than 600 pages long.
Another resident said she was finding Burlington too expensive to live in and expected to have to move at some point..
The one issue that pervaded almost everything was the lack of meaningful engagement. No one spoke about how well things were going at City Council . There wasn’t any praise for even one of them.
1: When you look back on the past four years of the Burlington City Council, what story does their record tell? If you had to assess their overall effectiveness—not intentions, but outcomes—how would you evaluate their performance and why?
2: What decision or initiative best represents the strongest leadership shown by the current mayor and council over the past four years—and what lasting impact will it have on Burlington?
3: Where do you believe the mayor and council fell short of public expectations, and what lessons should future councils take from that shortcoming?
4: What do you think has been the most significant or impactful decision, action or moment in the life of this mayor and council during the past four years?
5: Looking ahead to the next four-year term, what are the most critical challenges facing Burlington—and how prepared is the next mayor and council to address them realistically?
6: Public scrutiny of municipal spending continues to Based on what you’ve observed, where are the greatest opportunities for smarter spending, cost control, or service redesign—without compromising quality?
7: How do you expect provincial policies and decisions under the Ford government to shape—or constrain—the priorities and autonomy of Burlington’s next mayor and council?”
8: As you assess Burlington’s political landscape, where do you see the greatest potential for change—whether through new voices, tighter races, or shifting voter priorities?
9: Municipal voter turnout remains a challenge across How well do you think Burlington engages its residents in civic life—and what concrete steps could meaningfully increase participation and trust?”
10: For someone in the audience contemplating running for municipal office, what advice would you give them in preparing their policy platform or organizing their campaign?
By Gazette Staff
January 20th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 There are people who can’t get enough of Trivia contests or get to a karaoke event where they can sing their hearts out.
Each to his own
The Compassion Society has scheduled a Trivia event that will take place at the Legion Hall on February xx.
There will be 25 tables of eight people with impressive prizes for the winners
 Providing a $50 gift card for the first place winners. 1st place $50 gift card for Squire’s Gastro Pub for each member of the winning table
3rd place $10 gift card for Crème de la Crème for each member of the third place winners.
 Providing a $10 gift card for third place winners. We are waiting for confirmation of the organization behind the second place winners.
By Gazette Staff
January 20th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
On one of the coldest days of the year, Ontario Parks announces they are now receiving applications for summer j0bs.
Build your skills, make new friends and gain valuable work experience while working in some of Ontario’s most beautiful locations.
 Job opening at Provincial parks across the province. Applications are now open for summer positions at parks across the province including:
gate attendants
maintenance workers
Discovery rangers
View all opportunities on the Ontario Parks hiring map and learn how to apply on the Ontario Parks website at: OntarioParks.ca/careers
Every summer, Ontario Parks hires 1,600 students. By applying early, students will give themselves the best opportunity to secure their preferred job.
|
|
