By Pepper Parr
June 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Is there a nice way to put this?
A community of people who want what they believe is best for the residents has been stiffed by the people they chose to elect.
Heavy equipment has taken out a number of trees.
None of the elected have done all that they could. And they certainly haven’t been upfront with the residents. They offered bromides at best; knowing (or should have known) that the opportunity for an MZO (Ministerial Zoning Order) disappeared years ago.
The community took their case to the OLT where they lost. There were strict provisions imposed on the developer – they are however very technical and both MAD and Millcroft Greenspace Alliance, the other community group, have been unable to iron out their differences.
It is a sad story – residents believed they had a voice and that they would be heard. They had a voice – but they weren’t heard.
“MAD reports that there were 414,000 views on both Facebook and Instagram in just the last day while heavy equipment is cutting down trees.
“MAD continues to work closely with our elected officials Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos, Councillor Angelo Bentivegna and Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. They are using every tool in their tool box to preserve our green space. MAD can assure you that the fight is still on!”
The fight is over – the opportunity to send a message existed when the provincial election took place. Triantafilopoulos was re-elected.
By the time the next provincial the houses will have been built and occupied.
MAD reports that Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Councillor Bentivegna have publicly stated their advocacy on CHCH, YourTV, CBC News and local newspapers.
“Our Oakville North Burlington MPP has asked us to release her statement which will also be circulated on news outlets. Here is what MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos had to say:
“There is an active City and an Environment Canada investigation. We do not know any details of the investigations.
A community built around a golf course – seen as a brilliant idea at the time. The owners of the golf course were presented with an opportunity to sell parts of the golf course, where 98 high-end homes were to be built. It was just too good to take a pass on.
“There has been success on social media, broadcast and the press. We had over 414,000 views on both Facebook and Instagram in just the last day. We have been interviewed and broadcast twice on CHCH news. Press publications, including the posting digitally and on their social media, to date are: CBC Hamilton, CBC Canada, Ontario Construction News, Yahoo Canada, Turf & Rec, the Hamilton Spectator, Inside Halton, INsauga, INhalton, Halton News, Burlington Today and the Burlington Post. We are working with other news outlets and hope to see further coverage shortly.”
The Burlington Gazette has reported on this story from its very beginning. MAD decided it didn’t like the news reporting the Gazette did. The community is represented by two different groups who were never able to get to the point where they could create a common front.
MAD closes with the following: “We encourage you to keep up the fight as well. Continue with your calls, emails, letters and comments on our public social media. We are not going down easily, and we are getting noticed! Well done folks!”
Related news stories: More than 25 articles were published, more than ll the others combined
Community holds a demonstration
Did the Mayor withhold information
Remember that scene from Monty Python? ‘Tis but a scratch.
If you’re not familiar with it do a quick search on YouTube.
That’s what this reminds me of.
isn’t this simply another chapter in this sad sad story ?
The Millcroft debacle will be forgotten as soon as local and provincial governments approve development in other green spaces in Burlington.
The most despicable part is the lack of support from Triantafilopoulos and Pierre whose only focus is attending cultural events and gaslighting Halton about their knowledge and interest in the real and serious issues here.
This is about real issues:
Loss of green space.
Increased flood risk.
Strain on existing infrastructure
But most importantly, the lack of genuine consultation.
Despite this opposition, the provincial government has been largely SILENT and the municipal process has been described as opaque, with concerns that public input is being ignored or sidelined.
With regard to Ford’s government, please note that over 100 MZOs have been issued to fast-track development, often overriding local planning rules and environmental assessments. That too is on Triantafilopoulos and Pierre.
There’s a constant theme and another lesson here …. if only citizens would pay attention.
The Millcroft situation isn’t just a local planning dispute — it’s part of a larger systemic betrayal by all levels of government. Doug Ford’s government continues its near-criminal devotion to developer interests, with backroom deals and scandals eroding public trust (note the current impasse with indigenous people over treaty lands rights).
Local MPPs like Triantafilopoulos and Pierre, elected to represent constituents, remain silent or complicit. Meanwhile, Burlington’s leadership presides over the steady erosion of the city’s character — from the downtown core to the once-protected green spaces. The people are speaking. Their government is not listening.
So not true! The fight is not over! There is a MZO at the highest level. The residents are being well represented by the City, Region and our MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos. Residents can help by following Millcroft Against Development’s Facebook and Instagram. Also, email the province on http://www.millcroftagainstbaddevelopment.ca
Anyone who remembers, the original plan had thousands of trees cut for the Millcroft development. This outrage is ridiculous.
To the residents of Millcroft—this was absolutely devastating to witness. Please know that we, the southern residents of Ward 5 near Bateman, felt that very same heartbreak when our own greenspace was bulldozed—our running track and sports field completely destroyed and paved over to make way for parking lots! We haven’t forgotten, and we’re not letting it go. We’re still fighting to get back what was ours.
We stand with you—this fight is all of ours.
If politicians and unelected bureaucrats keep paving over our paradise, they shouldn’t be surprised when voters start paving the road to change at the next election.
Was an Environmental Assessment done? It appears not?
And if so, why not?
This whole development project taking place on the Millcroft green space and flooding plain seems rather smelly?
Who is going to be held accountable for this? It’s a travesty!!
Once this space is built on, it’s gone forever!
A travesty – hardly. The state of the downtown is a travesty. The mayor’s concept of accountability is a travesty. The city’s engagement with its citizens is a travesty. The situation with Millcroft is merely disappointing and predictable.
Hi Mike,
I agree with you on all counts.
But, the situation in Millcroft is also not necessary (just like all of the massive condos and high rise buildings in our downtown) when there are other lands in Burlington which can be built on without taking over greenspace and removing wildlife.
Our waterfront is already ruined and won’t ever come back, just like Millcroft will be when they start building there.
Caren
A sad day for communities when builders continue to cut down 100s of mature trees in our subdivision to build multi million dollar homes while our local MPP remains silent. Whatever happened to green space and environmental protection for every residential area when there is lots of open fields to allow for future development? Why destroy a wonderful community and the nesting areas?