By Gazette Staff
June 14th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Council approved the Advisory Committees of Council Governance Framework (LLS-08-26) and directed the City Clerk to conduct a review of the Advisory Committees of Council portfolio, applying the framework to make recommendations on whether to maintain, combine or wind down committees.
Former Toronto Mayor David Crombie speaks at a Waterfront Advisory meeting and tells them to “look for some oddballs to sit on your design committee”. Mayor Goldring says he doesn’t know any oddballs to put on the committee he has formed to Define the Dream.
Staff are to report back to Committee of the Whole within the first three months of 2027 to align with the new term of Council.
Council also directed the City Clerk to update terms of reference, the Public Appointment Policy and other related documents to support the revised committee portfolio and governance framework.
One would hope that the City Clerk would reach out to the public and listen to what people who choose to be involved what City Hall does have to say.
At the very least, he should ask for written suggestions.
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I look forward to an in-depth independent review of the “Mundialization“ committee.This free ticket for councillors and a few citizens to international travel will never be challenged by those who benefit and rationalize the so-called important work.
Editor’s note: What are the questions you would like put to the members of this important committee?
Be specific and be as long as you wish.
These committees are simply “lip service” in the name of Public Engagement.
I can only speak to the Senior Advisory Committee ( at the time it was called the Mayors Advisory Committee), as I sat on it many years ago. I left the committee after about 2 years. There were a few reasons.
At the time the committee decided that we should have a senior forum. We did go ahead with it and then were chastised because we had spent $500.00 and there was no financial budget for this committee. We were there to “advise” only.
After attending a few more meetings ( at the time they were monthly). I realized I could do more for the senior committee by leaving this committee by going out into the community at large and volunteer. Which I did.
The one thing they did accomplish many years ago was with regard to public transit. It took many years but they finally got some free public transit which morphed into free public transit for seniors.
Since then nothing has changed… When was the last time anyone heard from the Senior Advisory Committee or if they were asked for their input?
A recent decision was made that affected the Senior community. I asked the city staff person who I spoke to ( she was very nice and very helpful) if they had discussed this with the Senior Advisory Committee. The answer was NO.
As long as Council are given the names of those who have been vetted by city staff and vote to accept them it is truly not a transparent process.
Residents who challenge the city need not apply.
I have said for years that numbers should be assigned to those who volunteer to be on a committee. The only people to know the names would be the clerk who interviewed them. The council would then have to accept them on their merits.