By Pepper Parr
February 25th, 2026
BURLINGTON,ON
OPINION
Moving into pontificating mode Councillor Paul Sharman said earlier today that “the the housing affordability crisis demands thoughtful debate and action.
Nothing but facts for me please.
“We need a fact-based discussion about the option to lift development charges paid for by homebuyers, while protecting tax payers and prompting other levels of government to honour their commitments to keep us whole.
“We do our best work when we have accurate information, hear each other out, and look for common ground.
“To that end we need to pause, get the facts, and take time to digest the new information we received from staff that we haven’t yet had a chance to discuss, as the matter was understandably referred to the March 2 council.
Pretty good spin for Sharman.
As a Council member, he has a responsibility to serve the people of Burlington and deferring isn’t serving interests other than his own.
The developers do have a problem and it is a serious one that needs to be seriously addressed. Setting up a situation that has the taxpayers taking the hit is not a reasonable or fair solution.
In a different article I want to take you through the timeline this mess has gone through.
Zero public notice, zero public engagement. A lobbyist for the development community gets 45 minutes at the podium to explain just how tough things are for the organization he represents.
And they are tough – no one disagrees with the developers on that.
Mike Collins-Williams delegating to City Council. Vince Molinaro sits in.
Perhaps developers could think in terms of creating reserve funds for their organization rather than have the city raid its reserve funds to bail out the developers.
The source of the help the developers need is at the provincial level.
At the close of the WestEnd Home Builders Association delegation, Mayor Meed Ward apologized to Mike Collins-Williams for not making a glass of water available to the speaker.
That might be as much as they are going to get from the city.
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Whoa!!
Our mayor, Meed Ward and 2 councilors, Paul Sharman (Ward 5) and Kelvin Galbraith (Ward1) are both supporting and defending the actions of Mayor Meed Ward to eliminate Development Charges for a 2 year period however they can manage it!
These 3 individuals were voted into office by their Burlington constituents to act responsibly, financially and in the best interests of their Burlington residents!!
None of these 3 individuals were voted into office in Burlington to represent the Developers or the developers’ best interests!!
I am so glad that there is a Municipal Election coming up in October 2026.
We can vote these 3 individuals out of office in October 2026 and vote 3 new members into office who will look after, respect and represent Burlington Residents first and foremost.
Time for a change!!
I had to leave the Council meeting at 12:00 to go feed the parking meter.
When I returned to the council chambers around 12:45, MMW was in serious conversation with Collins-Williams, Molinaro and someone I didn’t recognize.
Were they planning strategy?
Many of us were going to base our vote on this outcome. Sherman et al made the right decision. Better to have a level headed assessment than rushed with taxpayers on the hook.
Editor’s note: Sherman et al made the right decision- and what was that decision?
Back peddling at its best.
Let’s just hope that the residents of Burlington realize what this all about.
The Mayor, Paul Sharman and Kelvin Galbraith suddenly understanding that some residents are watching and listening and doing their utmost to inform those residents who do not have the time to watch council meetings.
Interesting that the latest statement included photos of the Mayor, Paul Sharman and Kelvin Galbraith.
What happened to Angelo Bentivegna?
Is he persona non grata now that he let the cat out of the bag about the other made in Burlington fiasco- offering $15,000,000.00 to purchase part of the Millcroft golf course so that some residents can keep the green space behind their homes.
Personally, I would have liked the Mayor to offer to purchase the area known as the “football” so that I can continue to have a view of the lake. This did not happen, nor did I expect it.
Does vote grab come to your mind????