 By Pepper Parr
June 18th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
How best to describe the event.
 It is huge. Doesn’t represent what most people see as the Burlington they want to live in. Population growth determined by the province is going to require this kind of development.
 The first stage design is for a property that straddles Fairview with the GO service train tracks on the north. At the start of the 4:00 to 7:00 pm meeting the room was packed.
By 4:45 the audience had thinned out considerably.
 The people staffing the poster boards had residents questioning everything they saw.  Korsiak Planning Consultants had people staged at each of the posters – in place to explain what was being proposed.
None of the Alinea top people were present.
This was basically a research event – testing the waters as it were.
There was nothing interesting, exciting or innovative about the building designs. What struck most people we talked to was the massing.
People wanted to see visuals of what had been described by Stolte as a development that would consist of 28 high-density residential and mixed use commercial buildings ranging from 12 to 45 stories tall with a housing capacity upwards of 25,000 new residents.
No application has been submitted to the City as of yet, nor has this proposal come before Council for any decision. The purpose of a Pre-Application Community meeting is to give the residents in the neighbourhood the opportunity to give feedback on the proposed development before an application is submitted.
The meeting will follow and Open-House format, featuring informational stations with poster boards. Members of the developer team will be present to discuss elements of the development and gather community feedback. City staff will be in attendance, as well as myself, to observe and respond to queries regarding City process.
 He was explaining – she wasn’t buying.  She wanted more information which they didn’t seem to have. Many were stunned at the size of the development as it was being presented.
The event was managed by Korsiak Urban planners, a corporation Alinea had hired to explain the plans and gauge public reaction.
They got a reaction – my personal doubt is that there was not a single citizen in the room that liked what they saw on the poster board spread along the walls of the room.
 Former Mayor Rick Goldring  Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte – did not make an appearance. The Mayor attended, several Councillors popped in for a period of time. The Councillor who didn’t show up was Shawna Stolte representing Ward 4. She apparently had a meeting elsewhere that she chose to attend.
Interesting that former Mayor Rick Goldring made an appearance. While we were there Golding didn’t look at any of the poster boards – he chit chatted with people instead
Mayor Meed Ward had one citizen who was determined to argue with her. Watching the Mayor patiently listen to an obviously irate resident
 By Staff
June 17th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party that is the Official Opposition at Queen’s Park, spoke to the NDP General Council meeting last week amid rumours swirling of an early election.
 Marit Stiles: Ford, reading the writing on the wall, is hinting that he wants to call an early election. Hello everyone! Bonjour tout le monde!
You know, they say history is our best teacher.
So when I heard Doug Ford starting rumours of an early election, I thought… Haven’t we seen this before?
Wasn’t there another Ontario premier back in the 80s who thought – hey – why don’t we go
to the polls early?
I know that some of you know where I’m going with this…
That premier, wrapped up in scandals and knowing that things were about to get worse for him, decided to call an early election in hope of extending his term.
Ford, reading the writing on the wall, is hinting that he too wants to call an early election. I wonder why?
 Marit Stiles nips at the heals of the Premier every time she stands up in the Provincial Legislature. Could it have anything to do with… The Greenbelt…Ontario Place… The Beer Store……a pending RCMP investigation?
Imagine the arrogance of heading to the polls 2 years early…the cost of it alone. And doing it during these difficult times? How selfish.
So how did this end for that former Premier who tried to pull a fast one on the people of Ontario?
The same thing that’s going to happen to Ford if he calls an early election…
He was defeated AND replaced by an NDP government!
So Doug…
Wherever you are right now – the cottage, some back room… Here’s what I have to say to you:
If you’re going to call an election 2 years early… I’m ready to fight that election on the things that matter to the people of Ontario.
So bring it.
Because you know what…. Ontario deserves better.
The community deserves better. Families deserves better.
You deserve better!
You deserve to pay less rent.
 Marit Stiles at a site that was identified a land that would be taken out of the Greenbelt and developed – then later put back into the Greenbelt You deserve to have a family doctor. You deserve to afford groceries.
You deserve to have savings.
You deserve a premier and a government that gives a damn about you;
A premier and a government that does what it needs to do to earn your trust. You deserve a good life; one that’s within your reach.
So as the election whispers get louder and louder and louder.
I say: Bring it!
To everyone here in this room, I want you to remember these words: together we’re going to win. If you voted Liberal in recent elections, let’s talk.
If we repeat what’s happened here in recent elections, Ontario will end up with a handful of provincial Liberals again, and the same Doug Ford government. So this time, in this election, I urge you to think new — Think about teaming up with us —
And we can win a new and better government with the values of fairness and progress we all share.
To the workers, healthcare workers, education workers, tradespeople……parents, students, tenants and farmers;
Join us.
To those of you that never voted before; join us because…
Together, we’re going to win.
To those of you that are sick and tired of being sick and tired, join us because when we win, I promise you this:
 Waiting to be sworn in? We’ll make government work for you; instead of against you.
A government that helps you with your struggles; instead of adding to them.
When we win…We’ll be a government for the many – not the money.
I’m ready. We’re ready …to take on Doug Ford and kick some serious butt this election – whenever they decide to call it.
There is no word at this time if the Burlington New Democrats have chosen a candidate.
By Pepper Parr
June 17th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The Member of the Ontario Land Tribunal took exception to some of the comments made during the 17 day hearing saying in the 146 page report that: “Counsel for the Applicant did take exception to MABD (Millcroft Against Bad Development), specifically during closing submissions. Counsel pointed out MABD’s website which showed a doctored air photo or overlay of the existing Subject Lands and the proposed development which covered all areas of the Millcroft community including the existing golf course that was to be retained. Counsel submits this is a total misrepresentation of the proposed development which leads mistaken assumptions, adds to concerns, fear and anxiety which many Participants have addressed in their statements.
“Counsel submitted he emphatically encourages Resident Associations to be part of the public planning process and proceedings but there has to be a level of accountability and transparency within their associations.
 “… but when there are misrepresentations that are blatant as in this case…” “The Tribunal does not weigh lightly into this discussion, but under the evidence provided it, agrees wholeheartedly with Counsel that Resident Associations provide a valuable Public component to the planning process but when there are misrepresentations that are blatant as in this case, with the proposed development overlay on the website, this only undermines the Public confidence in the entire Tribunal administrative process and the Resident Associations themselves.
“As Counsel noted this may have caused the unnecessary fear and anxiety regarding this proposed development and adds to mistaken assumptions especially with over 6000 members of MABD as described by its Director.
“These Applications require balancing the private right to develop against the public interest in protecting open space and the environment. The assessment of the Applications should not be approached as an exercise to prevent development on this land, but rather to balance such proposed development within the Provincial, Regional and Local planning framework.
 “The Applicant, Region and CH have worked to try to find this balance between public and private interests in these Applications. Through updated studies and conditions required to be provided by the Applicant, the Tribunal is satisfied that balance will continue. “Ideally, the owner of golf course should not be left with vacant land they cannot use, and for which they have not received any compensation from the City. However, such lands, with natural heritage features, should only be developed in a way that respects the applicable provincial, regional and municipal policies, represents good planning and is in the public interest.
“The Applicant, Region and CH have worked to try to find this balance between public and private interests in these Applications. Through updated studies and conditions required to be provided by the Applicant, the Tribunal is satisfied that balance will continue.
“Finally, this hearing was of a non-decision by City Council and therefore, the Tribunal did not have to have regard to a Council decision as one was never made. In the course of hearing evidence, the Tribunal reached its own conclusions and decision based on the evidence provided.
“The Tribunal would describe these proceedings as professionally conducted by all Counsel and witnesses involved. Many witnesses were qualified as experts for the first time in these proceedings. During the hearing Counsel presented their evidence on behalf of their clients in a reasonable and thorough manner. The many local representatives that stood in for their Associations were also professional and courteous.
“The Tribunal is satisfied that procedural fairness was maintained for each Party and finds that through the comprehensive public and agency consultation, the Applicant has met the planning process obligations under the Act.
 “At times it appeared the City was grasping at technical straws to make suggestions and options now at the Hearing that were never brought up as a concern before, which teetered on procedural fairness concerns.” The Tribunal’s only unease was with the City raising issues or options at the Hearing rather than during consultative phases of this application.
“Evidence was heard that different Applicant witnesses were never asked about certain options such as removal of the pond or relocation of the parks or phases of development in Area E, that were not brought forward earlier or commented on. At times it appeared the City was grasping at technical straws to make suggestions and options now at the Hearing that were never brought up as a concern before, which teetered on procedural fairness concerns.”
 By Staff
June 17th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Another Burlington Green Creative Upcycling Workshop June 28th
 A Wet Felting Microfibers workshop with textile artist Emily Chudnovsky, who will guide participants through the process of retrieving materials from old clothing, plastic leftovers and natural fibers to create wet-felted designs. Create your own art piece, wall decoration or even patches for your clothes.
Friday, June 28th, 1pm – 4 pm at Burlington Art Gallery. Limited space.
Sign up now for this free hands-on workshop.
Another Creative Upcycling Workshop June 28th
 By Staff
June 17th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
This article was originally published by Policy Options
How can Canada fix the housing crisis? Across the country, rents have risen sharply and home prices have skyrocketed. The shortage of affordable accommodation is acute. It is causing generational conflict, straining the social fabric, and eroding the traditional welcoming stance Canadians have had toward immigration. The country needs to build homes now.
In this series, we explore the many facets of the crisis. (See full list of articles below.) Our authors examine philosophical questions about whether housing should be treated like a commodity or a social value, like universal health care. They tackle ground-level issues, like how citizens can stand against the NIMBY phenomenon that blocks construction in so many Canadian cities and towns. Is there a role for Ottawa to play the captain of a Team Canada strategy?
 Truly affordable units that low-income renters can actually afford. The country’s political leadership does not offer enough incentives for the construction of truly affordable units that low-income renters can actually afford. Why? To fix the crisis faced by renters who live in substandard housing or government-assisted housing, leadership at the national, provincial and municipal level is required. And governments need to move fast.
In First Nations communities, an Indigenous-to-Indigenous housing finance model could get far more homes built in communities where banks won’t go and the federal government won’t back loans. The role of immigration in housing shortages has come under the microscope. How much does it actually contribute to the problem?
A million Victory Houses were built in Toronto between 1946 and 1960 thanks to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Could the CMHC again underpin this kind of grand strategy to finance social and affordable housing?
 Are there fundamental flaws in the way the country treats the housing market? The federal government has announced a GST rebate on the construction of apartment units. Should the provinces follow with similar breaks on their provincial taxes? Quebec has decided it won’t. It plans instead to invest in public housing, co-ops and not-for-profit housing. Which approach is more effective?
This series explores the fundamental flaws in the way the country treats the housing market. It also examines the effectiveness of government action. Most importantly, it proposes potential solutions to one of Canada’s great current domestic challenges.
In this series:
Why bricks and mortar alone won’t solve the housing crisis | by Juste Rajaonson
Can building more affordable housing be compatible with local democracy? | by Mario Polèse
Yänonhchia’ would draw on First Nations’ proud history of sustainable housing | by Jean Vincent and Lance Haymond
The precedent for a federal leadership role in housing | by Alexandra Flynn
Advancing a Team Canada approach to housing | by Jacob Gorenkoff
Ottawa picked the dicey road to lower rents; Quebec is right not to follow | by Ricardo Tranjan
Let’s stop calling it a housing crisis | by Ren Thomas
Ottawa must make sure it’s truly boosting housing supply with its funding surge | by David Jones
A million new non-market homes in 10 years: That should be the goal | by Carolyn Whitzman
Adding community housing can help solve the productivity problem | by Deanna Veltri and Jacob Gorenkoff
The double housing crisis needs a potluck approach | by Alison Smith
The Liberal government’s unshakable support for private housing markets | by Ricardo Tranjan
 Originally published by Policy Options; https://irpp.org/
By Pepper Parr
June 17th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
 City Manager (also referred to as the CAO Chief Administrative Officer) Hassaan Basit Some of the changes City Manager (also referred to as the CAO Chief Administrative Officer) Hassaan Basit is introducing relates to the titles Senior Staff will use. They will be referred to as Commissioners.
It isn’t clear yet if the title of Executive Director will remain. We are following up on that.
The City is still on a hiring spree. Some taxpayers want the City to put a halt to the hiring; City Council argues that the growth that is going to take place will need a significantly different staff compliment.
The budget that the Mayor expects to have in place before the end of the year will tell what to expect in terms of what the spending is going to amount to.
Those opposed to the spending expect to play a bigger role in the creating of that budget. You might want to think of that as a bit of a pipe-dream.
The term pipe-dream dates from the 1870s, and it originally referred to the strange, hallucinatory dreams that opium smokers had.
The first instance we saw was an advertisement that is on the City website.
By Staff
June 16th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The weather held and the crowds returned as they have for 45 years.
 We might know how financially successful the event was – hopefully the SoM will be able to return whatever portion of the $125,000 the city loaned them to get the show on the road as it were.
 The buzz amongst people who know what is happening at City Hall is that a really hard look has to be taken at what the SoM means to the city financially and culturally.
The tough Governance review the Performing Arts Centre was given is the medicine needed to get the SoM back to the point where Governance actually exists.
For the immediate future the folks had a great time and the birds did not fly away
 By Pepper Parr
June 16th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Every weather prediction is that we are in for a hot summer.
The City is encouraging people to stay active with free summer activities and events in Burlington
 A lazy, hazy early summer evening on the lakefront – sweet music, cold beer and the entry price is just right. The City is hosting many free events and programs for residents and visitors. There will be fun activities and events for everyone.
Concerts in the Park, presented by Access Storage
Concerts in the Park are at Central Park Bandshell, 2311 New St.
Residents can take in an evening of free music every Wednesday and Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. until the end of August.
Bring a blanket or chair and pack a picnic. For a full list of artists, visit burlington.ca/concerts.
Movies Under the Stars, presented by Access Storage
Movies Under the Stars will take place on select Thursdays in July and August at parks throughout the City. Arrive early for the best viewing spot on the grass for the night. All movies start at dusk. To view dates, locations and movies, visit burlington.ca/movies.
Free Summer Swimming, presented by Access Storage
Free summer swimming presented by Access Storage will be offered at different times and locations throughout the summer. Residents can cool off and have fun in s outdoor and indoor pools. For specific dates and times, visit burlington.ca/freeswim.
This summer Burlington outdoor pools will be walk-in only for recreational swims; no reservations needed.
Love My Neighbourhood
The Love My Neighbourhood program is designed to help residents form connections, strengthen relationships, and build support systems for Burlington neighbourhoods.
The program is an annual grant of up to $500 per neighbour, resident or street section, condominium, or apartment group in Burlington. The funding can be used to host a neighbourhood gathering or weekly activity.
Learn more at burlington.ca/neighbourhood.
 Explore, create, imagine and play in their own way Pop-Up n’ Play
Pop-Up n’ Play offers children the chance to explore, create, imagine and play in their own way in city parks. City staff will provide materials to foster unstructured play that allows children to explore and use their imaginations. They will also answer any questions on city recreation programs offered.. Parents are encouraged to watch their children play in the Pop-Up n’ Play space. For a list of dates and locations, visit burlington.ca/recreation.
June is Seniors Month
Adults aged 55+ can enjoy free activities at the Burlington Senior Centre from June 3 to 19. Interested adults can visit the front desk at the Senior Centre to register for free classes or reserve seven days ahead at burlington.ca/dropinandplay
A question that pops into my mind is: Why is Access Storage pumping so much money into sponsorships. They are sponsoring one of the two stages at Sound of Music and now all these local community events.
By Pepper Parr
June 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Learn how municipalities are making progress on the 10-year target (2022–2031) and their 2024 targets to build new homes. That building is going to change the Burlington you know today to something you can only imagine.
How many housing units have actually been built and where?
Ontario has set a goal of building at least 1.5 million homes by 2031 and has assigned the province’s 50 largest municipalities with housing targets to help meet this goal. The province is encouraging municipalities to meet their targets through the creation of the $1.2 billion Building Faster Fund, which rewards municipalities that reach at least 80% of their annual target with funding, with bonus funding for municipalities that exceed their targets. Ten per cent of the fund has been reserved for small, rural and northern municipalities that have not been assigned a housing target.
 Nothing to write home about with numbers like this. Mayor Meed Ward explains that the city does not build houses – all they do is issue building permits that allow developers to build. And right now – the developers are keeping their shovels in the workshop. This tracker relies on monthly housing starts data provided by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
 By Staff
June 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The Art Gallery of Burlington announces a new Board.
 Is this property a future development site? Chair: Natasa Veljovic
Vice Chair: Dan Lawrie
Treasurer & Secretary: John Arnold
Past Chair: Susan Busby
Continuing Directors:
Councillor Lisa Kearns
Diana Tuszynski
Garratt Wootton
 The kids are having fun. The programs available to students are superb. Newly appointed Directors:
Vickram Agarwal
Scott Cooper
Tracy King
Juliette Prouse
Gennile Thomas Smith
Photographs of the Board were not available.
Chair: Natasa Veljovic is a strategic leader with over 30 years of experience. In 2019, Natasa retired from her role as President & CEO of Woodstock General Hospital. In her tenure, Natasa brought the vision of a new hospital, and worked strategically with the Hospital Board and multiple levels of government through an eleven-year journey of building and transitioning into a state-of-the-art site. Over the past decade, Natasa served on the Woodstock Art Gallery Advisory Board and as Chair of the Fanshawe College Foundation Board.
Vice Chair: Dan Lawrie is the founder and Chairman of Lawrie Insurance Group Inc., a multi-disciplined insurance and risk management firm, that ranks in the top 5% of insurance brokerages in Canada.
Treasurer & Secretary: John Arnold has been an entrepreneur for over 50 years. He was a founder of what became one of the largest wood pressure-treating companies in Eastern Canada as well as serving as a director and senior officer of numerous mining and exploration companies in Canada and abroad.
Past Chair: Susan Busby is a retired Educator who worked as a teacher and Elementary School Principal for the Halton District School Board for 30 years. She has an undergraduate degree in History and a Masters of Education. In her retirement, she has volunteered extensively within the community. She was Chair of the Board at Nelson Youth Centres, Chair of the Board at the Halton Learning Foundation, Chair of the Board of Governors at Joseph Brant Hospital, and Chair of the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation Board.
Directors:
Vickram Agarwal – Vickram is a digital and technology entrepreneur, serving on several Advisory Boards and mentors start-ups across the EMEA region.
Scott Cooper – Scott has been practicing law for over a decade and is currently a Deputy General Counsel at Interac Corp., where he leads a team of talented lawyers supporting several Interac products and business units.
Councillor Lisa Kearns enters the second year of her first term on the board and is an elected Halton Region & City of Burlington Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Community Engagement & Partnerships. Experienced in national management positions in healthcare, manufacturing, and advertising, Lisa is known for common sense solutions that deliver powerful results throughout her career.
Tracy King held a successful career in finance and now focuses on her family and volunteering. Tracy has years of board experience having served four terms on the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation and is the chair of this year’s Revel: The Ultimate Art Bash signature fundraising event.
Juliette Prouse is the Director of Finance and Administration in the Faculty of Social Sciences at McMaster University. She is a CPA with an undergraduate business degree and has occupied senior leadership positions in not-for-profit organizations in the child welfare and education sectors.
Gennile Thomas Smith is the founder and executive director of Halton Black Voices and leads efforts to combat anti-Black racism and create safe spaces for Black individuals in the region.
Diana Tuszynski enters the third year of her first term on the board and is the President of The Benefits Edge Insurance Services Limited, a boutique Benefits and Insurance consulting firm working with employers to maximize their benefits budget through a variety of innovative benefits solutions.
Garratt Wootton enters the third year of his first term on the board and is an entrepreneur, and business executive specializing in communication and technology enabled process automation. Garratt brings a human-centric approach to everything he does. He is quick to understand pain points and excels at finding unique human-experience-based solutions to the some of the trickiest situations.
By Pepper Parr
June 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The loss of a loved one can stretch us to a breaking point. The grieving takes time – but there are administrative tasks required by the government and the high costs associated with a funeral that have to be met.
Funeral expenses can place financial strain on families and loved ones following a death. Oakville North Burlington MP Pam Damoff spoke recently with Sarah Sunnucks at Smith’s Funeral Home about these issues and the challenges that Canadians face as they navigate this process when a loved one dies.
 Oakville North Burlington MP Pam Damoff On Wednesday Damoff seconded MP Michael Coteau’s (Don Valley East) Private Members Bill (Bill C-397) when it was introduced in the House of Commons.
This bill proposes to establish a single portal service for bereavement services called: Tell Us Once.
Rather than going to the many government websites to notify about a death as is currently required, the Bill it would create a single portal to send all notifications when a death occurs with a single entry. This is based on the successful UK model that streamlines the administrative process during times of bereavement.
This bill also proposes to eliminate the federal GST on all costs associated with funeral services in Canada to alleviate some of that burden. By removing the GST from these costs, the bill seeks to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder families from giving their loved ones a respectful farewell.
Private members’ bills are usually not passed but they do put a government on notice that there is an opportunity to make a change that will make a huge difference to people at a very tough time in their lives.
The motion putting this Bill forward
The Motion is deemed adopted, the Bill has been read the first time and printed.
It will now go to Committee.
By Pepper Parr
June 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Ward 4 resident Phil Steinberg is asking Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte for her position on the size and scope of the proposed development project that residents are slowly learning about.
Steinberg claims residents in the riding are very concerned about the size of this project and how it will negatively affect their community and lifestyle, increased traffic volume and environmental and flooding risks.
He adds that residents know development of the proposed lands is inevitable; however, adding 25,000 new residents between Appleby Line and Inverary and another 6,000 east of Appleby is ridiculous.
The proposed development with 28 towers west of Appleby, some as high as 45 storeys is definitely not in keeping with the existing surrounding neighbourhoods.
 Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte doing her best to hold the Mayor to account during a debate on the way Mayor Meed Ward was clutching her Strong Mayor powers. Stolte looks for “lower gentle density infill in our communities that provide necessary additional housing without dramatically changing the character of our neighbourhoods.”
Steinberg asks: “Can we count on you to advocate on your residents’ behalf and ensure any development of these lands are kept reasonable and in keeping with your statement above?
Stolte will stick to her position – it won’t make a pinch of difference. Council will do almost anything to get shovels in the ground.
Tansley Woods on Monday between 4:00 and 7:00 pm
By Staff
June 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Alinea Land Corporation, formerly Paletta International is hosting an in-person Pre-Application Community Meeting to discuss a proposal to redevelop three properties totalling 51 acres on the north and south side of Fairview Street, west of Appleby Line.
The proposed development consists of 28 high-density residential and mixed use commercial buildings ranging from 12 to 45 stories tall with a housing capacity upwards of 25,000 new residents.
No application has been submitted to the City as of yet, nor has this proposal come before Council for any decision. The purpose of a Pre-Application Community meeting is to give the residents in the neighbourhood the opportunity to give feedback on the proposed development before an application is submitted.
The meeting will follow and Open-House format, featuring informational stations with poster boards. Members of the developer team will be present to discuss elements of the development and gather community feedback. City staff will be in attendance to observe and respond to queries regarding City process.
The meeting will be held at Tansley Woods Community Centre, 1996 Itabashi Way, Burlington, ON L7M 4J8, on June 17th from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
 By Eric Stern
June 14th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Just say no to spending.
When it comes to the budgeting process at city hall a good analogy would be to compare the budget to a key lime pie.
Politicians dole out pieces of the pie based on their vision and community needs. Parks need a medium-sized slice, transit needs a big slice. The pie is only so big. You can increase the size of the pie by increasing taxes. In most jurisdictions, sadly not Burlington, making the pie bigger becomes a challenge. People tend not to like tax increases.
In Burlington, our elected politicians have a different approach.
Expanding the pie is easy, the city puts out confusing communications about the tax rate increase, then increases taxes by as much as they ”need”. Mayor Meed Ward has already started filling her social media releases with “information”, using the term loosely, on the 2025 budget.
“Staff are predicting a total tax increase of 5.5%, of which the City’s portion would be 4.5%”
The city finance department’s presentation to the city council on Monday, June 10th, 2024, a scant five days ago, included the numbers the mayor is quoting but also clearly stated the city budget needs to increase by 8.9%.
During the June 10 and 11 “Committee of the Whole” meeting, our council unanimously voted to accept the city’s staff recommendation of an 8.9% increase for 2025.
This council was elected in 2022. Set out below are the increases each year along with the increases as a Cumulative number.
| Time Frame |
Increase |
Cumulative Increase |
| 2022 – 2023 |
15.57% |
15.59% |
| 2023 – 2024 |
10.21% |
27.39% |
| 2024 – 2025 |
8.9% (proposed) |
38.72% |
If this increase goes through the result will be for every $100 in property taxes you paid in 2022 look forward to paying $138.72 in 2025.
Has the council adopted the motto “never say no” to additional spending? Has this council taken the position that when you need to hand out more money you simply make the pie bigger?
Two recent delegations made it very clear that there is a very unhappy public out there.
 But eventually, when you have an economy like this, they start to understand, because they’re on a fixed budget, somebody lost their job, they might be getting older, and all of a sudden, 10.21% resonates. “It’s resonating in Millcroft. Let me tell you, it’s resonating in 14 holes. It’s resonating at pickleball. I’m coming here today, and I guess I timed it right, because I had some time and the budget was on the agenda today.  The end result was that the 10.2% increase remained the same despite the cost savings motions that were passed. It was clear to me that there was absolutely no intent in trying to reduce resident’s property taxes despite the public outcry for prudence. Council operates in a vacuum. People who want something attend council meetings and delegate. Much of what our councillors see is a constant stream of people coming to meetings holding out tin cups.
Policies are in place to make it easier to say no, for example, the Community Development Fund and its fee waiver policy.
This policy states one-time multi-year (up to 3 years) funding is available for non-profits. Another policy for charities allows them to claim back 40% of their property taxes (annually).
Some examples from 2024 delegations.
Burlington Green, a registered charity, received $62,000 for yet-to-be-defined work that Burlington Green will perform for the city. This funding has been built into the city budget and is now an annual expense.
Team Burlington, a non-profit, funded by for-profit businesses, received a 20% rent reduction. Team Burlington consists of The Burlington Chamber of Commerce, the Burlington Downtown Business Association, Tourism Burlington and the Economic Development Corporation. This rent reduction, if approved, will be built into the budget and become an annual expense. Team Burlington’s financial statements have been published in the Gazette. The limited publicly available information makes it impossible to determine where the Chamber spends its money, why the Chamber needs assistance, or why our council agreed to assist.
Is it time for the city council to stop building spending commitments into the budget and start saying no?
Recent delegations:
Doreen Sebben
Lydia Thomas
 By Pepper Parr
June 14th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Despite a bumpy financial start the Sound of Music drew good crowds on Thursday.
And it is the crowds that matter.
 Sound of Music – Off to a good start Assuming the weather holds there should be another good year.
Expect the crowd number to be ‘inflated’ – if there is to be a future for this 37 year event the reports to a dubious City Manager are going to have to be convincing if the Sound of Music is to continue,
Based on the Thursday crowds – the number look good. However, one has to ask: how many people know that the city had to come up with a $125,000 loan to cover opening costs.
 The large screen show the number of people standing in front of the grandstand. And this was a work day! The Sound of Music is touted as a free event – not really the truth. The taxpayer always ends up with the tab.
By Pranav Taneja
June 13th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Plumbing is a fundamental aspect of any building, and maintaining its integrity is crucial for the health and safety of its occupants. Hamilton Plumbers, a renowned leader in the industry, provides a wide range of services to meet diverse plumbing needs, ensuring your systems function smoothly and efficiently. The critical services provided are back-flow prevention, resolving blocked drains, and managing sewer backups. This article delves into these essential aspects, highlighting the expertise and commitment of Hamilton Plumbers.
Back-flow Prevention: Safeguarding Water Quality
One critical service offered by Hamilton Plumbers is back-flow prevention. Back-flow happens when water flows in the opposite direction, which can potentially introduce pollutants into the drinking water supply. This contamination poses significant health risks to the building’s occupants. Hamilton Plumbers employs state-of-the-art back-flow prevention devices and regular maintenance programs to ensure the water supply remains uncontaminated. Their technicians are certified and trained to install, inspect, and maintain these systems, adhering to the highest industry standards to protect public health.
Addressing Blocked Drains: Ensuring Uninterrupted Flow
 Blocking drains can get very complex. Clogged drains are a common yet potentially disruptive plumbing issue. They can result from accumulating debris, grease, or foreign objects within the pipes, leading to slow drainage or complete blockages. Hamilton Plumbers are equipped with advanced diagnostic tools such as CCTV cameras and hydro-jetting technology to accurately locate and effectively clear blockages. Their prompt response and efficient service reduce downtime and prevent additional damage to the plumbing system. By addressing blocked drains promptly, Hamilton Plumbers helps maintain the seamless operation of residential and commercial plumbing systems.
Managing Sewer Backup: Preventing Catastrophic Damage
Sewer backups are among the most severe plumbing problems, often caused by blockages, broken pipes, or excessive rainwater entering the sewer system. These incidents can cause extensive property damage and present severe health hazards due to exposure to raw sewage. Hamilton Plumbers manages and prevents sewer backups through regular maintenance, timely inspections, and implementation of robust sewer system designs. Their team is adept at diagnosing the root causes of sewer issues and providing long-term solutions that prevent recurrence, thereby safeguarding properties and ensuring peace of mind for their clients.
Emergency Plumbing Services: Quick Response for Immediate Needs
Plumbing emergencies can strike anytime, causing significant distress and potential damage. Hamilton Plumbers offers 24/7 emergency plumbing services to quickly address urgent issues. Whether it’s a burst pipe, severe leak, or sudden sewer backup, their rapid response team is always ready to mitigate the situation, minimizing damage and restoring normalcy swiftly.
Installation and Repair of Water Heaters: Guaranteeing Comfort and Efficiency
 When there is no hot water – repairing has to be immediate. A dependable water heater is crucial for everyday comfort and convenience. Hamilton Plumbers provides expert installation, maintenance, and repair services for all water heaters, including tank-less and traditional models. Their technicians ensure that water heaters operate efficiently, providing a consistent hot water supply while helping clients reduce energy costs through regular maintenance and timely repairs.
Pipe Relining and Replacement: Enhancing Longevity and Performance
Pipes can degrade over the years due to corrosion, root intrusion, or regular wear and tear. Hamilton Plumbers specializes in pipe relining and replacement services, utilizing trench-less technology to minimize property disruption. Their innovative methods restore the integrity of the plumbing system and extend its lifespan, offering a cost-effective and durable solution for homeowners and businesses alike.
Water Filtration Systems: Enhancing Health and Wellness
Ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water is of paramount importance. Hamilton Plumbers specializes in installing and maintaining cutting-edge water filtration systems that eliminate contaminants and enhance water quality. Their tailored solutions meet each client’s needs, providing peace of mind and promoting overall health and well-being by directly delivering pure, filtered water from the tap.
Comprehensive Maintenance Plans: Preventive Care for Optimal Performance
Regular maintenance plays a vital role in averting significant plumbing issues and prolonging the lifespan of plumbing systems. Hamilton Plumbers offers comprehensive maintenance plans tailored to each property’s unique requirements. These plans encompass routine inspections, preventive care, and timely interventions to tackle potential issues before they escalate. Clients can enjoy hassle-free plumbing and avoid unexpected repair costs by opting for a maintenance plan.
 Leaks – where is the water coming from and how do I stop it. Plumbers know exactly what to do. Leak Detection and Repair: Protecting Property and Saving Resources
Undetected leaks can cause substantial water wastage and property damage over time. Hamilton Plumbers uses advanced leak detection technologies, including acoustic listening devices and infrared cameras, to identify and locate leaks within the plumbing system. Their skilled technicians promptly repair leaks, preventing further damage and conserving water. This proactive approach protects property and promotes environmental sustainability by reducing water waste.
Bathroom and Kitchen Renovations: Enhancing Aesthetics and Functionality
Renovating key areas such as bathrooms and kitchens can significantly improve a home’s appearance and functionality. Hamilton Plumbers offers specialized plumbing services for renovations, ensuring all plumbing installations are executed flawlessly. From installing new fixtures and faucets to reconfiguring plumbing layouts, their expertise ensures that renovation projects are completed to the highest standards. Hamilton Plumbers helps create modern, efficient, and beautiful living spaces by working closely with clients and contractors.
Conclusion
Hamilton Plumbers is dedicated to providing top-tier plumbing services, ensuring the safety, reliability, and efficiency of plumbing systems across Hamilton. Their expertise in back-flow prevention, addressing blocked drains, and managing sewer backups underscores their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. By leveraging advanced technologies and adhering to industry best practices, Hamilton Plumbers continues to be a trusted partner in maintaining the integrity and functionality of plumbing systems in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Hamilton Plumbers is the top choice for reliable and professional plumbing services.
By Pepper Parr
June 13th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
We keep an eye on the jobs available for journalists to get a sense how healthy the media sector is – not all that healthy actually. We did come across this one:
Sr. Manager Communications & Public Relations
Chartwell 3 – Mississauga, ON
Strong knowledge of journalism and public relations best practices, and comfort in engaging with journalists. Manage crisis and issues communications in support.
 Eviction notices were issued in March, giving over 200 residents just three months to find new homes. Some residents are over 100 years old and have lived at Heritage Glen for over 20 years. What struck me was the job opportunity and its relation to the following statement that was released by the Opposition party at Queen’s Park related to the eviction of residents of Heritage Glen Retirement Home in Mississauga who were given eviction notices recently; they were issued by Chartwell Care:
MPP Lise Vaugeois NDP Critic for Seniors, and MPP Chris Glover released the following statement after meeting with family members and residents to address the recent eviction notices.
“Seniors are on fixed incomes and need safe, affordable places to live, but when the bulk of seniors’ housing exists to make profits for investors, a real estate trust, like Chartwell, can sell their homes out from under them. The government’s failure to intervene in this mass displacement of seniors is unacceptable.”
Eviction notices were issued in March, giving over 200 residents just three months to find new homes. Some residents are over 100 years old and have lived at Heritage Glen for over 20 years.
What gauls the MPP’s is the knowledge that Chartwell has received $75 million in taxpayer subsidies since 2006 and is now evicting 200 seniors, including a 103-year-old,” Their actions are a clear indictment of any government that hands over the care of our seniors to private, for-profit corporations.
 Harris’ government reduced the public role in long-term care, relaxing regulations and lessening public oversight. Twenty-five years ago, Mike Harris and his Progressive Conservative party ousted Rae’s NDP government in Ontario, starting the so-called “Common Sense Revolution.”
Pledging to tackle Ontario’s deficit, the Harris government pushed tax reductions and slashed public spending on health care, education and social services. The government closed hospitals and eliminated the jobs of thousands of nurses, infamously comparing them to obsolete hula hoop makers.
How Ontario cared for seniors did not escape the cuts. Harris’ government reduced the public role in long-term care, relaxing regulations and lessening public oversight. This wasn’t the start of privatization, but it certainly opened the doors much wider.
Under the Harris government, the growing corporate business of caring for seniors flourished and corporate players such as Sienna Senior Living, Revera, Extendicare and Chartwell expanded their reach, providing seniors with independent living, assisted living and long-term care housing – for a price.
Flash forward 25 years, as successive Conservative and Liberal governments continue this privatization trend.
Let’s look at one seniors’ housing company in particular.
Chartwell Homes describes itself as an “open-ended real estate trust which indirectly owns and operates a complete range of seniors housing communities, from independent supportive living through assisted living to long term care. It is the largest operator in the Canadian seniors living sector with over 200 quality retirement communities in four provinces, including properties under development.”
The company operates homes in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec and employs more than 15,000 people, most of them women.
 Mike Harris: According to the Toronto Star, he was paid $229,500 one year. And the chair of Chartwell’s Board of Directors? It’s none other than former Ontario premier Mike Harris. The rest of Chartwell’s corporate directors come from big banks, real estate, tax, audit and investment corporations. It’s a full list of corporate heavy weights without a single health care or seniors’ representative.
Harris has profited a lot from his part time boardroom-based job with Chartwell. According to the Toronto Star, he was paid $229,500 one year.
The Star also reports that “Harris had more than $7 million in Chartwell holdings at the end of 2019 (its last fiscal year) – including $4.29 million in ‘deferred trust units’ (akin to shares) that reflect his accumulated compensation over the years (deferred until retirement).” According to the article Chartwell’s communications department and a forensic chartered accountant verified these numbers.
Unifor, a union that represents workers at Chartwell, launched a campaign last year calling for better pay for caregivers in Chartwell’s homes. “Chartwell pays many of their staff minimum wage,” Unifor’s website states. “In fact, most of their employees do not receive a living wage. To make matters worse, Chartwell has proposed all minimum wage employees have their wages frozen until 2020. These workers provide care and compassion to residents, work that is so important that the Ontario Labour Relations Board has consistently denied them the right to strike, putting them under the same legislation as other essential service providers, such as hospital workers.”
Katha Fortier, a Unifor spokesperson, said it’s ludicrous the former premier would make more than $200,000 for his part-time job in Chartwell’s corporate boardroom while front line workers in homes are paid “abysmal, poverty wages.”
The inability to make a living wage in a home requires many personal support workers to take jobs in multiple seniors’ homes. This, and a lack of personal protective equipment, have been cited as key contributors to the deadly spread of COVID-19.
Ford pledges to hold profiteers accountable
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he plans to hold private companies that continued to draw profits while seniors in their long-term care homes lay sick and dying accountable. It’s not clear if that includes Mike Harris. Premier Ford said he was unaware of Harris’ connection to Chartwell.
Premier Ford is facing criticism from families, unions, seniors’ advocates and other concerned groups. Not only was his government told about the crisis in long-term care before COVID-19 came to Canada and didn’t act on it, the government also contributed to the crisis by significantly reducing inspections of long-term care homes, the majority of which are owned by private operators, including Chartwell.
Groups are also accusing the premier of ignoring the lessons we have learned about the risks and dangers of privatization.
Right now, the Ford government is forging ahead with Bill 175, Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act 2020. The Act will result in the handover of almost all government oversight of home care and care provided in retirement residences by personal support workers (PSWs) to private companies. It will do nothing to address the critical shortage of PSWs or improve their working conditions.
 The Ontario Health Coalition has been calling for a halt to the Bill, saying it will impact more than 730,000 Ontarians who use home care services and many thousands more who require community care services. The coalition says the new legislation would allow the Ontario government to make changes without Legislature approval, dismantle all remaining public governance and control of home care and hand it off to provider companies, including for-profit companies, and expand privatization not only of home care, but also potentially of parts of hospital and long-term care.
It’s time, said theOntario Health Coalition, that we take the words “private” and “profit” out of how we care for our seniors.
 By Staff
June 12th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton District School Board students will take part in the 37th annual Special Athletics Track Meet on Friday, June 14, 2024, at Garth Webb Secondary School (2820 Westoak Trails Blvd, Oakville
The track meet for athletes with physical and developmental challenges will take place from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m.
 It’s the effort that counts. More than 530 athletes are expected to participate in-person, a significant increase from the original 12 athletes who participated when the event began in 1987. Coaches, school staff and home school peers, friends, family members and volunteers provide support and encouragement for the athletes.
The Special Athletics events include 100 metre races, basketball, T-ball, soccer, bowling, obstacle courses, bean bag toss and additional sensory stations.
This event provides athletes with special needs with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and celebrate their successes with fellow students, friends and family. The Optimist Clubs of Halton Hills, Milton, Oakville and Burlington will be donating and serving hot dogs, hamburgers and cold drinks at the meet. Students from Emily Carr PS will be volunteers.
 By Pepper Parr
June 12, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
UPDATED There was an error in the first version of this article. We went with the information we were given by one of the Parties to the hearing. story. The community was not held responsible for the costs of the develop who made the application. A copy of the decision was not available to us at the time this story was published.
The Millcroft community got a hard kick in the wrong place today.
The Ontario Land Tribunal found for Argo development saying the application to add 90 homes to golf course lands saying, in a 146 page decision, “that it is good land use planning with conditions.”
The OLT Member included a significant number of pages of conditions to the decision.
More to follow.
By Pepper Parr
June 11th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
For the first time in my 12 years of covering city council meetings I watched a council listen intently to a delegation and then interact with the delegation on what the community needed in the way of community engagement – which isn’t what the public has been getting so far.
Doreen Sebben is from Millcroft, so she knows who Angelo is, adding that she has not worked with him , for over the 25 years that I’ve been living in Millcroft. So I’m from Millcroft. This Saturday is my 25th anniversary of living here
“I come from the private sector. I spent 26 years at IBM; I’ve been an entrepreneur, I’ve been a consultant.”
After telling Council who she is and what she does Sebben gets into what she wants to talk about.
“We have almost a half a billion dollar budget. We have almost 200,000 people. And you have about, I don’t know what the latest count of employees is, but let’s call it 1500 so this is a big business.
“I’m semi retired now. I did a little bit of digging. I wanted to understand some of the numbers. I was very happy to see the fact that there’s a rigorous budget process, there’s dates, there’s times, there’s approval process, there’s community engagement.
 I just pay my tax every year. I don’t ask questions. I found your budget. It was 700 plus pages. “I didn’t engage. Shame on me. I just pay my tax every year. I don’t ask questions. But now that I’m semi-retired, I’m looking at my budget, my personal budget, a little bit more carefully. I’m delighted about the community engagement. I’m delighted about the fact that there’s a budget, there’s a team, lots of people, working on it.
“I found your budget. It was 700 plus pages.
“I love to work with numbers, and it took me a long time to digest about 50% of that huge document.
“It’s not resident or community consumable, it’s very detailed, so there’s an element of trust that you’re doing a great job, because there’s lots of detail. But when I asked myself, so how’s the city doing? How are we doing? I looked at the budget, and then I was happy to find that there’s this online budget open data site.
“ I found it Friday, spent half of my day digging into stuff, and then I realized there’s a disconnect on the numbers. I saw a 350 operating budget in this big document, and then I saw 240 4 million on this really nice, clean site, but not a lot of detail. So the average resident will not figure out that the rest of the budget, in addition to property taxes, is made up of the senior grants, is made up of external, internal commercial revenues.
“I bridged the numbers. It took me a while, but I did it. The average person will not sit down to do what I did on Friday afternoon. Okay? I have a simple ask. It’s really, really simple, and it doesn’t matter if you’re in private or public sector, make sure you tell your community, your residents, who are your shareholders? How we’re doing.
“So I like the budget process, but I don’t see financial metrics anywhere. Year to date, budget variants, KPIs, like just some simple stuff. We call that a scorecard, right? So if there’s a task force that may, you know, be an outcome of this session. I would be on it from a community perspective. I have limited time now because I’m paying pickle ball a couple times a week, but I would put time into this because I want to leave a legacy for the next generation, just like you do.
“I’m asking for a financial update. I’m not even calling it budget.
“Forget the budget. That’s just one element of finance. So I went digging through all your agendas. Okay? My husband thought I was nuts.
“Yesterday, I went through the agendas from January to May, and only saw budget in April. In fact, it was April, whatever it was April, something where you said, we’re preparing for the 2025 budget. I also saw something on March 4 that talked about the December financial statements.
You moved some money from retained earnings to wherever, and there was some development stuff. And I said, okay, so they talk about it, but they don’t talk about it every month. They don’t give the community a barometer, a pulse, of how we’re doing.
“That’s why nobody’s engaged. People don’t understand. But eventually, when you have an economy like this, they start to understand, because they’re on a fixed budget, somebody lost their job, they might be getting older, and all of a sudden, 10.21% resonates.
“It’s resonating in Millcroft. Let me tell you, it’s resonating in 14 holes. It’s resonating at pickleball. I’m coming here today, and I guess I timed it right, because I had some time and the budget was on the agenda today.
“My ask is, is that we have a regular cadence. You have a scorecard. I mean, this e3 is awesome, but it’s going to take a while starting with a simple scorecard, where somebody comes to tell the community how we’re doing and make it available. Succinct. I don’t want 700 pages. I want a summary, so I’m optimistic that somebody’s listening at City Hall, because there is a website.
“It’s just probably not finished yet. So if they need some input, we could help with that, because I’ll tell you what I want to see, but I’m sure a lot of people want to see something else, but it wouldn’t come when it comes to taking money out of your pocket, when you take 10.21% out of my pocket, out of your pocket, out of everybody’s pocket.
“In an economy like this, people start to disengage. People start to wonder, why am I here? I am asking Council, and I’m glad to hear that Lydia asked the same thing. She obviously has a lot more detail. She’s probably way ahead of me, but I love the data, and I’ll sink my teeth into it. But for now, I’m asking for one thing to add financial update on the agenda. Why now? Because the 10.21 is resonating.
“You guys need to re-establish credibility and trust with the community. There’s going to be an election in a couple years. You have some time to rebuild that trust.”
“We need to keep a regular pulse on almost half a billion dollar business. We’re your shareholders. You are as well. You live here, you pay taxes. So I just think that’s a reasonable ask. It’s a fiscal responsibility of every leader to establish a regular pulse of their business, whether it’s private or public or not for profit.
“And so that way, you know, if we need some more money or we have to move some money, you can see some of those things a little bit earlier. We’re not going to eliminate all surprises, but let me tell you, when you’re proactive, you could be reactive as well, but I think we can actually do a better job of staying connected as partners.
“The benefits of having financial update on every community of the whole and community of Council is there’s a pulse, there’s a cadence. People will pay attention, but don’t give them a $700 a 700 page document. Give them something net that they can consume, that they can understand, because then it gives you an opportunity to rebuild that partnership between Council and the community, because we’re all here for a reason.
“Some of the noise that I’m listening to, I’m actually annoyed. That’s why I’m here today, because this is a simple ask. It’s proactive versus reactive, which makes us all more productive and enhances the transparency and accountability of Council.
“In summary, I’m not asking for five things. I’m not asking for three things. I think I’m asking one of the things that Lydia asked for is a regular cadence for the community that’s succinct, that’s consumable, that we can take action on and that we can partner on. It’s not you versus us, it’s all of us working together.”
In terms of letting Council know where they are failing it doesn’t get much better than this.
 Kearns: “What are some of those metrics that you would want to see …” Counsellor Lisa Kearns said she was really interested in “the way in your that you’re approaching this. What would be viewed as a scorecard or a summary deck or sort of a snapshot. This is very much a private sector thing where you would get that quarterly or monthly from all the different departments that would roll up into a scorecard.
But just use that word for simplicity, what are some of those metrics that you would want to see on that I heard about, sort of how the how the investments are doing, where we are, variance, reports, things like that. What else would be digestible to the community?
Doreen: “So, being accountable, so if we’ve approved a budget to your point, the variance the year to date, on operating and capital, right? They don’t need a full financial statement. You just need a pulse. But I think it’s for council and the community to decide what that scorecard is. I mean, I could work with somebody. That’s not a problem.
“I’ve done many scorecards, and in some organizations, it’s like a weekly thing, right? So monthly is the roll up of your financial team and this team and budget. And so there’s people that are doing this work anyway, but they’re not putting it together in a summary format, and it doesn’t need to be like one page, right year over year, right, variance and then your key performance indicators.”
 “What kinds of things would you like to see on a monthly basis…” Councillor Bentivegna: I guess I’m going to see you soon. I like your some of the wording you put on your slides, and I like the word proactive versus reactive, and that’s sometimes more difficult to identify.
“What kinds of things would you like to see on a monthly basis, other than just, you know, budget is the category, and not necessarily monthly, but whenever, quarterly or whatever, what would you like to see specifically.
Doreen: “On a regular basis, you want to see KPIs. You want to see here’s where our financial spending for XYZ is. What’s some of the information that would make it easier for residents to understand a little bit more?”
Bentivegna: “I really like the way you talk about a community that moves a safe community.
Doreen: “So if you look at those pillars of your business, those are your lines of business. So there should be a level of you know what’s going on in each of those, but that’s kind of the summary, right? I look at a scorecard in quadrants, right? So we talk about the money.
“The group needs to decide how much we tell them. But telling too much in 700 pages is too much like nobody will look at it. That’s, you know, that’s why I went looking for more. So operating budget, the things I just mentioned by Lisa Kearns, but I would also put a community element. What are we doing in the community? And you can think of the third and fourth quad, so that it’s not just about the money, it’s about the city and the people.”
Bentivegna: “My second question is, you mentioned engagement and council Kearns touched on as well. Would you like to see more of a citizen engagement? Or would you like to see it more a committee of the whole discussion each month, each every two months, whatever it is, how would you like to see that proceed?”
Doreen: “I’m of the mind that we have to crawl, walk, run, so I’m not going to give you the answer, but it’s a partnership, so it has to include the community, and it has to include Council. And I’ll, I’ll give you an analogy, right? So we talk about diversity inclusion, and so every organization is focusing on Diversity and Inclusion, and so they stick it on the org chart on the side, just like they did security five years ago. Now, security is part of the organization. The CEO is responsible, right? There’s credibility. If you bring things down and you don’t have a plan, you should lose your job, right?
I think the only way to do that is keep everybody accountable on the money, because at the end of the day, the residents know the buck stops with them.” “In the sense of diversity, inclusion, it’s just like the financial partnership. It should be part of the whole so I don’t I’m always worried about committees and teams and all of that, but it has to be all of us. It can’t just be Council, and it can’t be Council appointed people, because I’ll tell you, I found the audit committee, right, and I looked at it, and it’s great.
“And I looked up these people, they’re Chartered Accountants. Not everybody in Burlington is a chartered accountant, so we need to make it simple and easy to digest. I don’t know if I answered your question then some, but you know, this is a work in process. I’ve just come here for the first time in a long time, so I met some of you during the MAD (Millcroft Against Development) scenario, but we can work together. I have confidence, but I will tell you, the community doesn’t have as much confidence as I do. There’s a lot of naysayers out there. There’s a lot of skepticism. People aren’t listening. So this community engagement is bigger than you think, and it’s bigger than I thought it was.
“I know a lot of people. We do a lot of things together. I would like to do something positive for the community that impacts the whole and I think the only way to do that is keep everybody accountable on the money, because at the end of the day, the residents know the buck stops with them.”
 “I’m sure we can try and commit to getting some of the information.” Councillor, Galbraith: “ I too, am from the private sector and I like to see monthly updates, but it’s usually, typically revenue expenses, like an income statement, and that’s what we want to see.
“But it’s a little bit different here, we do receive quarterly updates from our finance staff, but you have triggered some questions, and I will certainly ask them in public. So if you’re around or listening, I’ll try and get you some of those answers as to what that detail is, exactly what you want to know.
“What exactly would you like to see we get, you know, our our revenue, our biggest portion is from our taxpayer. So we get updates on how much of that is collected. You know, we get percentages of what’s collected, what’s not, what’s in arrears, like, what, what other detail in terms of revenue collection?”
Doreen: “I don’t think we need a lot. I mean, if somebody really wants to know they’ll read your financial statements. I’m looking for timely information. It’s kind of like, where are we against plan so Budget Variance, right? If people aren’t paying their bills, that’s another opportunity to go back to the public. If you have some advocates to say, Hey, why aren’t you paying your bills? Do you need some help? Right? Like, I don’t know what your AR looks like, but if I know I have an AR problem, then I go figure it out, right? So I’m not suggesting that the public sector adopt everything that we do in the private sector, but some of the stuff makes sense, like they’re shareholders residents, right? I would suggest a balanced scorecard, so it’s not just about the money, but there has to be something there. There has to be something about community, and I’m sure there’s a lot of smart people in this room that we could figure out a balanced scorecard. Then there’s something for everybody, but not just the accountants.”
Galbraith: “I’m sure we can try and commit to getting some of the information that we do now and then we could have a further discussion, or at least, you can have the discussion with Angelo at his table next time you see him.
Doreen: “What I want to reiterate is, that my ask is to have the finance and a financial update of whatever it is or whatever it morphs into, on a monthly basis at Council and community like this council of whole as well, so that there’s a regular pulse, because that I did not see. And to Lydia’s point, you know, she has some good data there, right? And there’s some things that we can, all, you know, work together on, but she’s two months behind, which means we’re all behind now, right? So that’s part of the proactive part. If there’s an acting, if there’s an active agenda item, talked about money, I think people would get more engaged, but right now they can’t find it.”
Mayor Meed Ward: “Thank you so much for being here. Both you and the previous delegate have given us a lot to think about. So the good news is that we are where you are. We recognize that a 700 page book is tough to digest for anyone, including us. One of the things that is currently in discussion with our communications team, CAO, Staff, Council as well as the Deputy Mayor of budgets, Councillor Sharman, is to show each service by at minimum, revenue by source.
“It would show government fees, whether we’re pulling from reserves set aside for that purpose, rates and fees, the cost of the service, any risk areas and performance measurements really breaking that down into a two pages to present to the community, community. Would that be helpful? Would that be a helpful way to display our budget? And you can still have, we’ll still have all the numbers. That’s a legislated requirement, by the way, so we still have to give you those other pages. But would that be a start? And would that be a helpful way to display the information?”
Doreen: “I think it would be a starting point, for sure. I think you need to tell people that there is a one page or two page, and so, you know, half the battle is finding it right.
Mayor Meed Ward: “It would be in the front of the book, right up front.”
 Doreen Sebben: I found gaps in your agendas, right? I went back as 2023 and, like, it’s very heavy in the back end of the year, it’s very light in the front end of the year. Doreen: “But not to take away from the fact that that the financials should be on a regular agenda item here, because there’s so much that happens in between. And so that’s where I found gaps in your agendas, right? I went back as 2023 and, like, it’s very heavy in the back end of the year, it’s very light in the front end of the year. That’s when we should be talking. So instead of, you know, me looking for a sponsor and convincing Angelo that I want to delegate, like, that’s admin for me too, right?
“I’m now. I’m lobbying. I’m selling to him, I’m trying to get on the agenda, and then you say yes, and I have to wait till August. So to net it out, I’m glad I came today, because I figured out the delegation form online. I didn’t have to talk to you, Angelo, but I will again, for sure. I think we should work together on this. I haven’t answered all your specific questions because I think we would need to work on it, but I think we’re in agreement that it needs to be met, accessible, transparent and easy to understand on a regular basis.”
Mayor Meed Ward: “The good news is we’re also on that page. So one of the things that’s being discussed as well is we call it an ops review. Operations review, as Kelvin mentioned, we get the financial updates quarterly. So at least every three months there’s an opportunity, and sometimes more often than that, but looking at potential for monthly operations reviews that would have really the kind of scorecard that you are looking for. I was really pleased that you mentioned some of our pillars which come from our vision to focus 25 year strategic plan.
“I’m interested in your thoughts around some of the key performance measures that are in there. And you don’t have to give it to me all now, but I’m very interested in, you know, what you think about the performance measures that we’ve identified in that plan, which would be the basis for those monthly or quarterly or every month, every other month, operations reviews that we would get.”
Doreen: “I would love to help, because I think, like I said, it’s all of us. We’re all in it together, and it should be a positive partnership, like I’m done listening to people complaining. I want to do something, so that’s why I’m here.
Meed Ward: “Awesome. Thank you. Welcome. All right, not seeing any other questions. Thank you.
Council discussed this delegation at some length – we will report on that later in the week.
It was refreshing to hear and really solid back and forth between a delegator and members of Council.
Related news story:
Lydia Thomas delegation
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Korsiak Planning Consultants had people staged at each of the posters – in place to explain what was being proposed.
