 By Joseph A. Gaetan BGS
August 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The following is an excerpt from an information package prepared by the Landlord Tenant Board (LTB),
“Your landlord has applied for above guideline rent increase for one or more of the following reasons listed on page two of the attached application.
1 Extraordinary increase in municipal taxes.
There is no limit on the percentage rent increase above the guidelines allowed for an extraordinary increase in the cost for municipal taxes and charges”
 Municipal tax increases fall on renters as well as property owners. Landlords can apply for permission to increase rent that is Above the Guideline Increase amount.
The close to two hundred renters in this rental building could soon see their rent rise well beyond Ontario’s legislated 2.5% cap. Under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act, landlords can apply for an AGI (Above Guideline Increase) if their municipal taxes or charges increase by an “extraordinary” amount, defined as exceeding 1.5 times the annual rent increase guideline.The 2025 total residential property tax increase in Burlington including city, region, and education levies was 5.82%. Landlords of rental properties are eligible under Ontario law to recover such costs through rent increases that exceed the annual guideline.
Landlords Also Feel the Pressure of Tax Increases
While renters are understandably concerned about the possible rent hikes, many landlords argue they are facing a financial squeeze of their own. With operating costs rising, including maintenance, insurance, and utilities, the significant jump in property taxes has left many with no option but to apply for rent increases. Landlord advocacy groups have long argued that Ontario’s rent control system makes it difficult to keep rental housing financially viable, especially in cities like Burlington where municipal tax hikes have outpaced inflation for a number of years. This year, the rent guideline is 2.5%, meaning landlords can apply for an AGI if their municipal taxes rose more than 3.75%. Burlington’s increase of 5.82% surpasses that threshold, and rental property owners are already signaling that they will seek rent hikes to recover their rising costs.
If approved, AGIs can add 3% or more to the regular rent guideline, meaning some Burlington tenants could face rent increases of 5% or more in 2025—and potentially again in 2026, when a further 4.49% tax increase is forecast.
To impose a rent increase above the guideline, landlords must
– Give tenants at least 90 days’ written notice;
– Await approval at a hearing before collecting the higher rent.
 This now annual event is an opportunity for you to talk to your council member. Tenants do have a right to challenge AGI applications including
– Attending and speaking at the LTB hearing (in person or remotely);
– Arguing whether the tax increase truly meets the “extraordinary” threshold;
Time for Burlington to Tighten Its Belt
As Burlington continues to increase property taxes to maintain services and infrastructure, renters could become the unintended financial shock absorbers The ripple effect is especially concerning for seniors, students, and low-income households who already spend a disproportionate portion of their income on rent.
Some Burlington residents say the city must also be held accountable for the financial pressures cascading onto landlords and tenants alike. Local taxpayer advocates, including long-time resident Eric Stern, have been vocal about the need for Burlington to control its spending and reduce future tax increases, “You can’t keep taxing your way out of structural inefficiencies,” Stern said during a delegation to City Council. “It’s time Burlington starts budgeting like households do—based on what’s truly affordable.”
Following are the year-over-year Burlington tax increases:
Time Frame Increase
2022 – 2023 15.57%
2023 – 2024 10.21%
2024 – 2025 8.9%
2025-2026 ??
The Bottom Line for Renters:
Renters in Burlington should brace for potential 5% rent increases in 2025 and beyond particularly if they receive a formal notice from their landlord. Staying informed, engaged, and prepared to respond at a hearing may help protect household budgets from steep new housing costs tied to rising municipal taxes.
All Taxpayers and Renters
With residents on all sides of the rental equation feeling squeezed, calls need to made asking for the City to revisit its fiscal priorities before more people are priced out of their homes or the housing market altogether.
Renters, you may not have much of a voice at the L.T.B. but bear in mind you have the following options:
1 Delegate at a City Council Meeting as they are now looking at the next level of increases that will hit your pocketbook one way or the other.
2 Attend upcoming public town hall meetings, starting in September:
Sept 13- Budget Booth- Food for Feedback- Central Park
Sept 18- Ward 6- Haber Community Centre
Sept 22- Ward 1- Lasalle Park Pavilion
Sep 23- Ward 2- Burlington Senior Centre
Sept 24- Ward 3- Brant Hills Community Centre
Sept 29- Ward 4- Tansley Woods Community Centre
Oct- 2- Ward 5- Appleby Ice Centre
Nov- 5- Telephone Town Hall
For further details see link:
2026 Budget | Get Involved Burlington
On top of that, let your councilor and the mayor know what you think by sending them an email.
 Joseph A. Gaetan BGS is a Burlington resident who writes frequently on matters that concern the citizens of the city.
 By Pepper Parr
August 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Engagement can be a double-edged sword.
 It got to be a little too much for this delegation – she had to take her cane off the table and use to to lean on while she shifted herself from foot to foot. Delegations are made to stand before Council like surfs with their hats in their hands. We need to upgrade our manners. A relatively small group presses the city for better engagement; the city gets frustrated when there is a very small response to the surveys they put out.
There is a small group of people who want more in the way of engagement with the city; they want their concerns addressed.
The majority, however don’t really care. They will howl when something that has a direct impact on them goes kaflooey.
Burlington struggles to get a 30% turnout at elections.
There is a form of malaise in the air. There are a lot of people who aren’t sure of which ward they live in; what little they know about their ward councillor comes from the photo ops.
 A classic Kearns photo op. And in Burlington – photo ops are basically the prime political currency.
They are easy and they deliver the message: “I am out there representing you.”
That sort of works – but it isn’t healthy and sooner or later it comes back to bite you in the bum.
Council members aren’t really engaged – the public really doesn’t want to dance with them.
And so we trudge along.
We are going to follow up on this – look at what other communities do and why it can be made to work.
There was an occasion at the Performing Arts Centre where the Mayor of Burlington and the Mayor of Oakville debated (it was more of a discussion that was poorly facilitated)
What surprised many was hearing Mayor Burton tell the audience that Oakville had more than a dozen very active community organizations. That was eye popping.
 By Gazette Staff
August 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Discover the stories behind Burlington’s most unique spaces during Doors Open Burlington this Saturday from 10am to 2pm.
Visitors can go behind the scenes of local businesses and heritage sites, taking a look at the people and places that help shape our community.
All of the participating sites offer FREE admission and onsite activities. Plan your route using this Google Map.
 By Gazette Staff
August 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Colleen Mulholland announcing the new corporate name. The word community got dropped – that was in 2020 We didn’t think it was a very good idea at the time but the Burlington Community Foundation had convinced itself that it was a good idea so they went ahead and took the word community out of their title and produced some fancy new graphics.
 The new Burlington Community Foundation look. Earlier today, the Foundation sent us a new set of graphics. The image is basically the same – the word Community has been put back in.
 The word Community is getting the attention it needs.
We are expecting a report on the strategy Community Foundations will be using going forward. These are trying times and the list of needs isn’t getting any shorter
 By Pepper Parr
August 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
“History is best told as a story of organised crime,” said Luke Kemp, who studies at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk
Doomsday – the day the world was supposed to end, or more colloquially, the day something really big was going to happen.
 “We can’t put a date on Doomsday, but by looking at the 5,000 years of [civilisation], we can understand the trajectories we face today – and self-termination is most likely,” says Dr Luke Kemp at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge. “I’m pessimistic about the future,” he says. “But I’m optimistic about people.”
Kemp’s new book covers the rise and collapse of more than 400 societies over 5,000 years and took seven years to write. The lessons he has drawn are often striking: people are fundamentally egalitarian but are led to collapses by enriched, status-obsessed elites, while past collapses often improved the lives of ordinary citizens.
Today’s global civilisation, however, is deeply interconnected and unequal and could lead to the worst societal collapse yet, he says. The threat is from leaders who are “walking versions of the dark triad” – narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism – in a world menaced by the climate crisis, nuclear weapons, artificial intelligence and killer robots.
“It is one group creating a monopoly on resources through the use of violence over a certain territory and population.”
Kemp uses the word ‘Goliaths, instead of civilizations which he maintains contain the seeds of their own demise. “They are cursed, and this is because of inequality.” Inequality does not arise because all people are greedy. They are not, he says.
Instead, it is the few people high in the dark triad who fall into races for resources, arms and status, he says. “Then as elites extract more wealth from the people and the land, they make societies more fragile, leading to infighting, corruption, immiseration of the masses, less healthy people, overexpansion, environmental degradation and poor decision making by a small oligarchy. The hollowed-out shell of a society is eventually cracked asunder by shocks such as disease, war or climate change.”
History shows that increasing wealth inequality consistently precedes collapse, says Kemp, who uses the Western Roman Empire as an example. He also points out that for the citizens of early rapacious regimes, collapse often improved their lives because they were freed from domination and taxation and returned to farming. “After the fall of Rome, people actually got taller and healthier,” he says.
Collapses in the past were at a regional level and often beneficial for most people, but collapse today would be global and disastrous for all. “Today, we don’t have regional empires so much as we have one single, interconnected global Goliath. All our societies act within one single global economic system – capitalism,” Kemp says.
He cites three reasons why the collapse of the global Goliath would be far worse than previous events. First is that collapses are accompanied by surges in violence as elites try to reassert their dominance. “In the past, those battles were waged with swords or muskets. Today we have nuclear weapons,” he says.
Second, people in the past were not heavily reliant on empires or states for services and, unlike today, could easily go back to farming or hunting and gathering. “Today, most of us are specialised, and we’re dependent upon global infrastructure. If that falls away, we too will fall,” he says.
“Last but not least is that, unfortunately, all the threats we face today are far worse than in the past,” he says. Past climatic changes that precipitated collapses, for example, usually involved a temperature change of 1C at a regional level. Today, we face 3C globally. There are also about 10,000 nuclear weapons, technologies such as artificial intelligence and killer robots and engineered pandemics, all sources of catastrophic global risk.
Kemp says his argument that Goliaths require rulers who are strong in the triad of dark traits is borne out today. “The three most powerful men in the world are a walking version of the dark triad: Trump is a textbook narcissist, Putin is a cold psychopath, and Xi Jinping came to rule [China] by being a master Machiavellian manipulator.”
“Our corporations and, increasingly, our algorithms, also resemble these kinds of people,” he says. “They’re basically amplifying the worst of us.”
Kemp points to these “agents of doom” as the source of the current trajectory towards societal collapse. “These are the large, psychopathic corporations and groups which produce global catastrophic risk,” he says. “Nuclear weapons, climate change, AI, are only produced by a very small number of secretive, highly wealthy, powerful groups, like the military-industrial complex, big tech and the fossil fuel industry.
“The key thing is this is not about all of humanity creating these threats. It is not about human nature. It is about small groups who bring out the worst in us, competing for profit and power and covering all [the risks] up.”
‘We need dramatic social and technological changes’: is societal collapse inevitable?
 The global Goliath is the endgame for humanity, Kemp says, like the final moves in a chess match that determine the result. He sees two outcomes: self-destruction or a fundamental transformation of society.
He believes the first outcome is the most likely, but says escaping global collapse could be achieved. “First and foremost, you need to create genuine democratic societies to level all the forms of power that lead to Goliaths,” he says. That means running societies through citizen assemblies and juries, aided by digital technologies to enable direct democracy at large scales. History shows that more democratic societies tend to be more resilient, he says.
“If you’d had a citizens’ jury sitting over the [fossil fuel companies] when they discovered how much damage and death their products would cause, do you think they would have said: ‘Yes, go ahead, bury the information and run disinformation campaigns’? Of course not,” Kemp says.
Escaping collapse also requires taxing wealth, he says, otherwise the rich find ways to rig the democratic system. “I’d cap wealth at $10 million. That’s far more than anyone needs. A famous oil tycoon once said money is just a way for the rich to keep score. Why should we allow these people to keep score at the risk of destroying the entire planet?”
If citizens’ juries and wealth caps seem wildly optimistic, Kemp says we have been long brainwashed by rulers justifying their dominance, from the self-declared god-pharaohs of Egypt and priests claiming to control the weather to autocrats claiming to defend people from foreign threats and tech titans selling us their techno-utopias. “It’s always been easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of Goliaths. That’s because these are stories that have been hammered into us over the space of 5,000 years,” he says.
“Today, people find it easier to imagine that we can build intelligence on silicon than we can do democracy at scale, or that we can escape arms races. It’s complete bullshit. Of course we can do democracy at scale. We’re a naturally social, altruistic, democratic species and we all have an anti-dominance intuition. This is what we’re built for.”
“There is nothing inherently left-wing about democracy,” he says. “Nor does the left have a monopoly on fighting corruption, holding power accountable and making sure companies pay for the social and environmental damages they cause. That’s just making our economy more honest.”
He also has a message for individuals: “Collapse isn’t just caused by structures, but also people. If you want to save the world then the first step is to stop destroying it. In other words: don’t be a dick. Don’t work for big tech, arms manufacturers or the fossil fuel industry. Don’t accept relationships based on domination and share power whenever you can.”
Despite the possibility of avoiding collapse, Kemp remains pessimistic about our prospects. “I think it’s unlikely,” he says. “We’re dealing with a 5,000-year process that is going to be incredibly difficult to reverse, as we have increasing levels of inequality and of elite capture of our politics.
“But even if you don’t have hope, it doesn’t really matter. This is about defiance. It’s about doing the right thing, fighting for democracy and for people to not be exploited.
And even if we fail, at the very least, we didn’t contribute to the problem.”
By Gazette Staff
August 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
You know the joke – why did the chicken cross the road – to get to the other side.
People in Aldershot have a bit of a problem when they are on the south side of Plains at Francis Road and they want to cross to the north side to catch a bus going west.
There are no crosswalk markings.
One of our readers wonders why?
 Why no crosswalk marking to get from the south side of Plains Road to the north side?
 By Pepper Parr
August 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
In the past few weeks there has been comment on how available or unavailable Burlington MP Karina Gould has been.
There are changes taking place in the job she has had for almost ten years.
As a Cabinet Minister, Gould had to delegate most of the constituent communications. That wasn’t always well understood. Gould was quite good at getting out and meeting people ut there wasn’t much time to meet with people at her office in Burlington.
Now that she is no longer a Cabinet Minister, Gould is able to spend more time in the community and listen to what people want to talk about.
 Burlington MP Karina Gould meeting with a constituent – smiles everywhere. Some of that work, setting up a meeting, getting the details so that she can respond intelligently, takes time. Gould has always been responsible about the job she has. One doesn’t hear her talking about closing her constituency office for security reasons.
Serving as a politician is harder now than it ever was. The concerns people have are significant and serious: being able to handle the mortgage is a major concern for some, the idea of ever having a mortgage is a concern for others.
Trying to figure out what is going to happen to the economy of the country and how the Prime Minister is going to manage a president that is exceptionally hard to deal with keeps politicians awake at night..
The very foundation of the country is at risk.
These are troubling times for everyone.
Take a deep breath and believe that there will be changes, but in the fullness of time, things will work out. Canada has more going for it than the United States will ever have in the next decade. We just need to make sure that our boat doesn’t get sunk from the waves created by our neighbours to the south.
 By Pepper Parr
August 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
When Curt Benson woke up this morning, he was the city’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO); his predecessor was off to Queen’s Park.
The CAO is the only person hired by a City Council. His job is to be the administrator that includes the running of the city on a day to day basis. He is served by a number of Commissioners who are responsible for specific areas, legal, planning, finance, parks, recreation, city services and transit. There are others
The biggest part of the job is setting the tone, creating the kind of administration that the CAO believes will best serve the people who pay the taxes that fund the operation.
 Curt Benson was trained as a planner. Curt Benson was trained as a planner. The decisions planners make last for a long time. Once a new road is built, it can’t be taken away. Once a major development is approved, the buildings can’t be torn down because people don’t like it.
Administrators on the other hand can often change a decision they made six months ago, realizing it isn’t working.
Benson brings a planners perspective to the job he has at least until the election in 2026.
What can we expect of him? Other than his inner voice – who will he listen to?
What does he have in the way of values?
He served the Region of Halton very well when he worked there as the planning chief.
Burlington was lucky to get him when planning was devolved to the municipal level.
He has been very good at ensuring the city got everything it could get in the way of housing development funding from the federal and provincial governments. He works well with developers but has never been described as a planner that works for developers. The two need each other and to date, at least in Burlington, there has never been any doubt as to where Curt Benson stands.
Benson doesn’t fudge his answers. Pretty straight.
As a planner, he knows that the work he does is being done to make lives better for the people who live in the housing developments his department approved and saw through to their completion.
Tough to say at this point how he will serve as an administrator. He will hire new people. Will he choose to find a way to send some of the people currently on staff to something more fitting to their skill set?
 Curt Benson: Photograph provided by the city along with the announcement of his appointment as CAO. Hard as well to say how tough he is.
How would he have handled the allocation of swimming pool space to the swimming clubs? As the CAO he would not have been at the table, but he would have signed off on whatever the negotiators came back with.
How close will he adhere to the principles of accountability and transparency?
Curt Benson has an opportunity to nudge staff into being more accountable and a lot more transparent. One of the departments that needs the most help is the communications and public engagement group currently under the direction of Jacqueline Johnson, Commissioner of Community Services, which includes the Community Relations and Engagement people who are responsible for the city brand d and reputation management. Their roles include:
Developing and implementing public engagement programs
Developing a variety of communications materials, including print, web, video and social media
Media relations
 City Solicitor Blake Hurley. The group struck out when it came to explaining to media and the public just what happened. Obfuscation and deflection were the rule of the game this time around. Reprehensible and just plan embarrassing; a failure at every level For the first time in my 12 years of covering city hall, I learn that people who are directly involved are told to refer people to city hall if they are asked any questions. The clubs should have told the city to stuff it. So much for brand reputation.
Benson is now in a position to tell staff that this is not the way he wants his staff to be doing business. That might mean reigning in the City Solicitor, who is believed to have led most of the negotiations with the swimming clubs. He would have certainly signed off on whatever was negotiated.
The city needs a CAO that has little time for lip service, genuinely wants an engaged community, is prepared to spend the time needed to educate the public and realizes that he needs media as much as they need him.
Let’s see how Curt Benson measures up. I think the guy has got it in him.
By Gazette Staff
August 3rd, 2025
Burlington, on
Some of the summer is gone, but there is a lot left and there are a lot of really good books to be read.
The Burlington Library has a Summer Reading Club. Easy to join.
Summer Reading Club is open to kids ages 0 to 17. It’s totally FREE—and you can earn prizes for reading! It’s as easy as 1-2-3:
Sign up online or at any BPL branch. On line:
Visit the library to pick up your SRC tracker (or print one at home), set a weekly reading goal, then keep reading all summer long.
Check in every week between Monday, June 30 and Sunday, August 24 and pick up your weekly reward!
Every check-in is another chance to win great prizes.
Register HERE
By Pepper Parr
August 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
With a gag order in place on the swimming pool allocation matter Mayor Meed Ward gets to occupy the speaking space.
The following was published by the Mayor earlier today.
The question we have is: How much space was given to the Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC) and how much space was given to the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD)?
The clubs aren’t saying – because they were told they couldn’t.
Once registration opens for the clubs (on Tuesday for BAD), we will have some idea of which pools they will be using.
 By Ray Rivers
August 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
“Time to grow up! Batten down the hatches and expand to new markets. Trade east west. Remove restrictions in our own country…Refine our own oil! Buy nothing from USA. Thank you Trump for a new tomorrow!” (Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish)
There are a number of Canadians still in denial, including Premiers Ford and Moe and federal Conservative leader Poilievre They think that Mr. Trump will relent and drop the tariffs he’s introduced, and we’ll get back to business as per 2024. They believe they can change Mr. Trump’s mind by bending a knee, like Mexico’s president has done, or playing hard ball with punitive counter-tariffs to hurt American consumers.
Mayor Parrish clearly doesn’t see it that way. Trump is not going to change. He’s been talking tariffs for decades and with a compliant Congress and subservient Supreme Court – he does whatever he wants. Besides, he’s convinced that America’s economy is booming thanks to those tariffs. So, unless we are prepared to accept the deal he dictates, confronting or appeasing him is pretty much a humiliating waste of breath.
 We have already paid a high price for thinking we can trust America as a reliable economic partner. Mulroney’s experiment on North American economic integration is over. Canada’s future lies in our own hands, not across the border. We should never have let down our guard and trusted the elephant next door the way we did. We have already paid a high price for thinking we can trust America as a reliable economic partner.
A 2001 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge, Mass.,found that jobs fell by 15 percent, from 1989 to 1996, within Canadian industries affected by the biggest tariff cuts. And during that same time, imports from the United States of products previously blocked by high tariffs soared by 70 percent. The Americans were the real beneficiaries of Mulroney’s deal.
There is no question that there will be some dislocation in a higher tariff trading future, particularly for those engaged in lumbering, raw metals, autos and possibly agriculture. But Mayor Parrish insists that Trump has done us Canadians a favour in the long run by forcing us to look after ourselves.
If I read the mayor right, when CUSMA/USMCA expires next year we should just let it lapse. Trump is unlikely to renew it in any case, given his present state of mind. In the meantime, it has thankfully provided a cushion from the shock of the inevitable. But that agreement probably will be gone come mid 2026. So Canada’s future rests on using many of the tools of the past; for example, stricter Canadian broadcast content rules; greater control over foreign investment; and more of the kinds of moderate and reasonable protectionist tariffs Mr Carney has introduced for the steel sector.
 Donald Trump: A more global response might have tempered the power crazy old fellow. It is unfortunate that only Canada and China appear to have confronted the Donald with counter-tariffs, over his tariff escapade, while other nations have just put up their hands and capitulated. A more global response might have tempered the power crazy old fellow, particularly since some of these tariffs have little to do with trading per se.
Good examples of this include: Trump imposing a 50% blanket tariff on Brazil, a nation where America has a large and growing trade surplus, to punish them for prosecuting the insurrectionist former president for plotting a coup. Also, Trump levied a slightly lower fentanyl-related tariff on Mexico than Canada. Yet it is the Mexican border, not the Canadian one, where Americans get almost all of their fentanyl. But when did facts ever matter to this president?
 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:
Parrish – Mulroney – Canada’s Tariffs
By Pepper Parr
August 2nd,2025
BURLINGTON, ON
With a gag order in place, it’s difficult to get much in the way of information on just how much pool space the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) has and how much space the GHAC was given.
We do know this: The Devilrays will be opening their registration for the season on Tuesday. We should have a clear sense of what they are able to offer their members.
 The YMCA stepped up and is making space available to the Devilrays We have learned as well that the YMCA has stepped up and will be making space available to BAD.
There is some doubt that the city will ever tell the public how much pool time has been allocated to BAD and how much was allocated to GHAC – what is clear is that the city has given GHAC some space.
We will keep digging away on this.
 Cody Brandt, representing GHAC, sits directly behind Katie Lebel while she delegates for BAD We also learned more about the story put out by some people that BAD refused to meet with GHAC to talk about sharing space. Bad told GHAC that they didn’t have any space to share and that there was no point in meeting. It is more than evident that the two clubs are not able to get along. While they both are organized as not-for-profit organizations serving their communities, GHAC has been on an expansion spree for some time.
At some point, the city is going to have to find the courage to tell GHAC that Burlington City Council is in place to serve the residents of Burlington.
What we are hearing from people affiliated with the club is that BAD is just glad to be alive and that they will do what they can to serve swimmers in the city as best they can with what they have.
At some point, the gag order the city imposed has to come to an end – all we were told was that the city asked BAD not to make statements. A source close to the two people who took part in the meetings with the city (Kimberly Calderbank and Katie Lebel) were told that some of their comments were negative. Something the city did not appear to want.
 Kearns is in a position to bring a lot of the hidden information on the pool space allocation to the surface. In a week or so, we should be able to learn what GHAC is offering and which pools in Burlington they are going to be able to use.
An unfortunate mess – it didn’t have to work out this way. Will the city see this as a learning opportunity?
Will ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns follow through with her suggestion that there be an audit that will bring out all the facts? Hopefully, she will.
 By Gazette Staff
August 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Focus Burlington published an interesting piece today on rent and taxes. Eric Stern shows the tax history for specific addresses and asks some pretty direct questions. A point of view worth taking a look at.
Stern points out that: Ontario is capping rent increases to 2.1% for 2026, 2.1% plus 50% is 3.15%, in other words, any municipal property tax increase above 3.15% is classified as “extraordinary” by the Residential Tenancy Act.
Just how extraordinary is Burlington?
Focus Burlington can be reached at: www.Focusburlington.ca
By Pepper Parr
August 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
This doesn’t surprise us – the city has imposed a gag order on the swimming clubs.
We reached out to the swimming clubs and people aligned with them for comments.
At the risk of embarrassing someone, we are publishing just a portion of the comment sent back to us.
“At this stage, we ask that all questions be directed to the City, please.”
What happened to transparency and accountability?
 By Pepper Parr
August 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
City Hall announced minutes ago that a solution for competitive youth swimming has been reached between the City, the Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC) and the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD).
With the best interests of all youth swimmers and their families in mind, the City worked closely with both GHAC and BAD to determine each club’s pool needs. Both clubs recognized and agreed to streamline their contemplated offerings and seek programming in private pool facilities to ensure that both organizations can offer competitive youth swimming options for residents of Burlington within the number of hours in City pools that have been set aside for that purpose.
  The City recognizes the collaborative efforts of GHAC, the successful bidder in the RFP process, and BAD in reaching agreements with the City that balance their operational needs with the recognition that both clubs will provide valuable programming in City pools now and in the years to come.
Youth swimming plays a vital role in fostering healthy, active lifestyles and building strong community connections. Through swimming partners like GHAC and BAD, young people develop physical fitness, confidence, and discipline – skills that benefit them both in and out of the water. These programs also create inclusive spaces where youth can socialize, learn teamwork, and grow in a supportive environment. These are qualities that are important to the future of the City, and we are pleased to support them with partners like GHAC and BAD.
We are into a long weekend, most of the players in this game will be out of the city. We will do what we can to get some comment.
 By Pepper Parr
August 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Mayoral aspirant Lisa Kearns: Look closely at how tightly the fingers are held. Mayoral aspirant Lisa Kearns, currently the Councillor for ward 2, was first out of the gate with a skewed take on what the city is going to look to the public for in taxes to cover all the spending that is taking place.
Kearns published her August newsletter earlier today.
The City of Burlington collects the taxes for the Boards of Education and for the Regional government that includes the Police Services.
However, what the seven members of Council are responsible for is what they approve in the way of spending by the city.
The Boards of Education, the Region and the Police Services determine their own budgets; all Burlington does is collect the tax money on their behalf. Keep that fact in mind when you read material sent to you.
It is convenient for the city to publish the lowest number possible.
The projected total tax increase is currently 4.49%. As part of the budget process, Council endorsed a Mayoral Direction for City staff to prepare a proposed budget with a total tax increase in the order of 4.5 per cent. The total tax increase includes services delivered by Burlington, Halton Region (including Police Services), and the Boards of Education.
The tax increase, based on what is known at this point, is likely to be 5.8%
Pay attention to what the members of Council tell you; pay particular attention to how Kearns explains this budget.
What you see now in terms of behaviour is what you will get if you decide to elect her – that of course, is if Kearns decides to run for the office of Mayor.
 By Pepper Parr
August 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
August has always been a nice month for the Performing Arts Centre.
Their now decade-old event improves year over year.
The show goes on rain or shine – if it rains the event is moved inside
The cash bar was a nice addition.
A Friday performance has been added and xxx
The lineup for the three-day event:
 It gets a little tight in terms of space
By Pepper Parr
August 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Summer is a tough time to get anything done; the BBQ circuit is busy, but it’s mostly chit chat and getting caught up – maybe a little strategizing to see what might float.
Thus, the surprise when we are told about a new “Voice”: (Vocal Ontario Integrity Coalition for Electeds). The are Council Members Opposed to Strong Mayor Powers
They sent the following to:
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward – has Strong Mayor Powers that haven’t been used all that much; only when she has to, for the most part. To: All Ontario Municipal Council Members
Re: United Opposition to Strong Mayor Powers – A Call to Action
Dear Council Members,
We write to you as a coalition of municipal council members from across Ontario, united under the banner of V.O.I.C.E. Our group formed out of growing concern over the expanding use of Strong Mayor Powers in this province. These powers grant disproportionate authority to a single elected official, undermining the democratic role of councils and the principle of collaborative governance.
To date, over 130 municipalities, out of the 216 currently operating under Strong Mayor Powers have formally voiced their opposition. Momentum is building, but more voices are needed to safeguard local democracy. The time to act is now.
We are pursuing a two-pronged strategy:
Advocacy and Awareness at the 2025 AMO Conference
We’ve secured dedicated space during the AMO Conference in Ottawa, taking place August 17–20, to spotlight this issue. We warmly invite you to attend:
Monday, August 18th, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Joey Rideau – 50 Rideau Street, Ottawa
https://joeyrestaurants.com/location/joey-rideau
Our keynote speaker, Councillor Mark Hunter of Stratford, an experienced municipal council member and practising lawyer will speak on the legal and democratic implications of Strong Mayor Powers and how councils can respond. This is your opportunity to connect with peers, ask questions, and strengthen our collective voice. No RSVP required, just come ready to engage.
Municipal Resolutions and Coordinated Legal Action
We urge councils to:
- Pass a formal resolution opposing Strong Mayor Powers.
- Consider financial support, in any amount, toward a potential Charter challenge, if dialogue with the province fails.
- Forward any passed resolutions for financial support or opposition to Strong Mayor Powers to Councillor Paula Banks (contact below).
- Note that all contributions can be conditional on widespread municipal participation. A constitutional law expert will be retained to lead or support the case alongside participating municipal legal teams.
Why Collective Action Matters
This issue is too critical for any municipality to face alone. Acting together provides:
- Shared costs, reducing the burden on individual councils.
- A strong, united voice to clearly signal to the province that local democracy must not be eroded.
 Ward 3 Councillor, currently living in ward 2, is expected to be one of the Councillors that will support the VOICE position.  Lisa Kearns, Ward 2 Councillor, will almost certainly vote to support the VOICE position. She might well lead the effort to get everyone onside. Let’s see if the VOICE can gain any traction. Will such a resolution get passed by the Burlington City Council? Could happen – the votes are there – someone has to spearhead this – Nisan and Kearns are the obvious two – maybe they could work together on this. Kearns would love to see it happen. Might she suggest to the Mayor that she has a conflict?
Thank you for your continued dedication to your community and principled governance. We look forward to connecting with you in Ottawa.
By Gazette Staff
August 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington isn’t exactly jumping this long weekend.
However, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival will be taking place in Toronto, bringing with it an array of vibrant festivities located just steps away from the Exhibition GO Station.
On August 2, GO Transit is increasing train service along Lakeshore West to help you get to and from the Grand Parade.
Lakeshore West:
- NEW 10:32 a.m., 12:02 p.m., 12:32 p.m., 2:02 p.m., and 2:38 p.m. train trips departing Union Station to Exhibition GO.
- NEW train trip departing 5:28 p.m. from Exhibition GO to Union Station.
 The colour and the extravagance is stunning. You’ll never regret watching the event. While most of the parade is free to watch, you can save 20% off with PRESTO Perks on ALL Caribbean Carnival ticketed events.
Customers can also take advantage of our $10 weekend day online passes that allow you to GO wherever you want, plus kids 12 and under can ride the GO for free! Riders can also transfer for free with One Fare between GO Transit and TTC.
This year will mark the 58th anniversary of the Caribbean Carnival, an annual celebration of Caribbean culture and traditions, with more than one million participants expected to attend this year. Learn more about taking GO Transit to this year’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival HERE.
By Gazette Staff
July 31st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Skyway Bridge lane closures.
Thursday, July 31 at 11:00 PM to Friday, August 1 at 6:00 AM – Three right lanes (out of five) on the QEW Niagara Bound between Fairview Street and North Shore Boulevard will be closed for the installation of an overhead sign support structure.
Both on-ramps from Fairview Street to the QEW Niagara Bound will also be closed during this time.
Note: Due to the Civic Holiday long weekend, no lane closures will take place between noon Friday and midnight Monday.
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