By Pepper Parr
October 21st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Early in October City Council held a workshop to review and discuss the data they had on how the city was expected to grow in terms of population.
Out of that workshop came insights and emerging themes that had to be aligned with the development of a long-term vision that would be turned into a development strategy for the next 25 years. Thus the name Horizon 2050
Curt Benson, Chief Administration Officer, a former planner with significant policy chops said: “Horizon 2050 is about looking ahead — making sure the choices we make today set Burlington up for long-term success.
Benson: “… an opportunity to hear from residents, businesses and staff about what matters most and how the City can continue to support a high quality of life as we grow and change.”
“It’s an opportunity to hear from residents, businesses and staff about what matters most and how the City can continue to support a high quality of life as we grow and change.
“The feedback we gather will help shape the next Strategic Plan and guide how we continue to plan, invest and work together in the years ahead. It’s about building on our strengths and continuing to evolve in ways that serve our community well.
“Your input will help support thoughtful, balanced decisions that reflect Burlington’s values and priorities — keeping our city connected, thriving, and ready for the future.”
Introducing the public to this exercise is taking place right in the middle of a budget preparation process that has significant public resistance. The 5.8% increase in taxes for 2026 over what taxes were in 2025 – and the fact that during the term of the current city council, taxes have increased bu something in the order of 45%. Not a sustainable figure.
The public engagement on Horizon 2050 has been disapointing limited. Three sessions took place – none of which were in the core of the city – the location of much of the kind of development the citizens didn’t want.
The public engagement events were certainly not robust occasions;
The first was on October 14, 2025
Community Public Engagement Session #1
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025 – 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Haber Recreation Centre, Room 1 , 3040 Tim Dobbie Dr., Burlington, Ont.
The second took place on October 15, 2025 at the Mountainside Recreation Centre, Room 2 , 2205 Mt Forest Dr., Burlington, Ont. Between 1:30 – 3 p.m.
The third Community Public Engagement Session #3 took place on the 15th at the Mountainside Recreation Centre, Room 2 , 2205 Mt Forest Dr., Burlington, Ont. Between 7 – 8:30 p.m.
The fourth Community Public Engagement Session will take place this evening, October 21st – it will be a Zoom event taking place between 7 – 8:30 p.m.
The Zoom link is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86937811056?pwd=RUPuGPZKdjLMreb4DFj7t5oWS
What does the city want to hear from its citizens:
Which area of focus in Burlington’s Horizon 2050 plan is most important to you?
Environmental and climate action
Growth, planning and housing
Transportation and digital infrastructure
Inclusion, equity and participation for all ages
Economic and cultural wellbeing
Health and wellbeing for all generations
Resilience and adaptability
The public gets to decide what the future of the city is going to be. The Council they elected should at least give them reasonable opportunities to speak.
For an event that is both vital and critical to the kind of City Burlington will be in 2050 – not much in the way of opportunity for the public to get their two cents on the table
Disappointing – would be a mild description.
Waste of time and resources especially since an election year is forthcoming
Finally Burlington can vote out most of these bobblehead councillors and out of touch virtue signalling Liberal Mayor