By Pepper Parr
June 5th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
We at least know that Marianne Meed Ward is going to run for a third term For a short period of time there was considerable doubt that she would attempt to serve as Mayor for a Third time.
The reason for the decision will not be found in the remarks Meed Ward is reported to have made. She said:
“We need those steady hands in unsteady times to move us forward, and keep the momentum moving forward for what we have built here in Burlington,” she said this morning at Robert Bateman Community Centre, where she held a media conference. “You will hear a lot of promises in the months leading up to the campaign, but look at track records. The best predictor of what someone will do is what they have done.”
The track record is the issue. When two of your council colleges decide to run for your job – you could fairly conclude that there is trouble in paradise.
Many feel that Rory Nisan is in place in order to split the vote and defeat the Lisa Kearns campaign.
There are a number of people who have reached out to the Gazette asking that we investigate just why Nisan is running for Mayor. Our view is that there is zero chance that he can win – and if he did win he would be a terrible Mayor.
He has made a point of including just his supporters for his campaign events.
Meed Ward said that the “work that matters most at a municipal level cannot be done alone, and working with the provincial and federal governments, as well as businesses and organizations, is key to get results for the people of Burlington.
“I have built those partnerships over decades, and that will pay off as we move forward together,” Meed Ward said.
They may well be the key to getting results but to date one would be hard pressed to set out a list of the results that were obtained.
The Pride Crosswalks were an important issue. They were much more than a photo op.
Surely the Pride street crossings are not being defined as results.
Surely the strong support for the Indigenous community is not the reason for returning Meed Ward to office.
As important as those two events were – and they are very important, what is critically important is the financial side of what Meed Ward has failed to do.
A tax increase of more than 40% of an 8 year term is not sustainable. It is a heavy heavy burden for many
The tens of millions in the way of short fall for our infrastructure is crippling.
The consistent failure to come clean with the voters on exactly how much of the tax increase is a city responsibility. Mixing the school board levy and the Regional tax levy to make the city tax levy lower than it is -is financial malfeasance.
For those who struggle with the word take what the Cambridge Dictionary provides:
“Malfeasance is a legal and professional term for the intentional commission of a wrongful, illegal, or dishonest act. It is most frequently used to describe corrupt or unlawful behavior by individuals in positions of public authority, such as politicians, police officers, or corporate executives”
You just don’t consistently fail to tell the tax payers what you know to be less than the truth.
Meed Ward is reported to have said, “… after consulting with her family and the community, she decided to run for a third term as mayor.
Affordability, transit, and public safety were mentioned as priorities. The rest of her campaign is to follow.
The Gazette did not know the media event was taking place. We were not advised.
We believe this is the first media event the Mayor has held so far during her 8 years as Mayor.
Municipal elections in Ontario will take place October 26.
To date there are three candidates for the Office of Mayor: Lisa Kearns, Rory Nisan and Marianne Meed Ward.
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Folks, your taxes have gone up almost 50% in 4 years and the forecast looks to get much worse. Has your pay or pension gone up much in 4 years? You’d be 1 of the very few if it did. The city politicians and staff ( already paid more than most in similar jobs in the private sector ) gave themselves a nice out of step, out of touch increase with their hands in your pocket. Is this the treatment we want or deserve? Time to clean house? VOTE October 26 for the candidates with fiscal restraint as the top priority
Steady hands steadily in our pockets.
Bye bye Marianne
This press release by our current Mayor, Maraianne Meed Ward is a joke! When has she ever been fiscally resposible or worked to keep our property taxes low? Since 2022 our Burlington property taxes have gone up by 44.7%.
Bateman renovations came in at over $100 Million. The city was aware of the building being full of Asbestos; and once all was said and done, the majority of Bateman’s square footage is being used and occupied by both a Brock University Campus and the Halton District School board! Did we know we were building and paying for a Brock University Campus and a location for the Halton District School Board??
And Burlington Property Taxpayers have been forced to pay for all of this!
Then there is the next debacle, Skyway Arena in Ward 5 that came in well over budget at $40 Million plus and the promised grants from various government levels fell thru.
Multiple trips to Japan and the Netherlands with multiple peope attending at taxpayer expense. Civic Square Renewal plus City Hall Renewal etc. etc.
Too many other frivilous expense to mention here.
The City of Burlington Debt has risen from $74 Million in 2022 to someting around $145.3 Million in 2025
And after all of this Mayor Meed Ward has the gall to state in her Campaign announcement on Burlington Today:
“We need those steady hands in unsteady times to move us forward, and keep the momentum moving forward for what we have built here in Burlington,” she said this morning at Robert Bateman Community Centre, where she held a media conference. “You will hear a lot of promises in the months leading up to the campaign, but look at track records. The best predictor of what someone will do is what they have done.”
Note: “The best predictor of what someone will do is what they have done.” And,
“She said affordability, transit, and public safety remain top priorities for her moving forward”.
Who in their right mind can believe her??
How has affordability and property taxes worked out for everyone in Burlington since MMW was first elected as mayor in 2018???
Dont’t be fooled!!
I must admit that along with other residents I have spoken to the question seems to be WHY is Rory Nisan running for mayor?
Over the last 8 years as Ward 3 Councillor he has kept a very low profile. It seems he spent much more time on the board of FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities). While being on the board is a voluntary position there are paid staff member positions as well.
Months ago it was said that “he would not run for mayor if Marianne Meed Ward decided to run for a third term”. What changed? Will he decide to change his mind before August 22nd and run again for ward 3? Has he decided should he not win the mayoral race that he would leave Municipal politics? Only time will tell.
I found it interesting that his formal announcement was by invitation only, and no one seemed to know where it took place? Rumour has it that it took place at the 440 Brant Street Restaurant ( someone should check this out as I heard this 3rd hand).
The question being asked by many is the following. Is Councillor Nisan running to split the vote?
As a Burlington resident I would want the mayor of my city to concentrate on the needs of the community. Yes, the world is in a very uncertain time but it does not fall to the Municipal Governments to solve these problems.
I am more concerned about my property taxes that have risen substantially in the last few years. I was not pleased when our mayor felt that Development Charges should be eliminated. I am definitely dealing with the over intensification on Lakeshore and Old Lakeshore Road and the horrendous traffic that is a result of this.
Most importantly I am concerned about the way citizen engagement is handled and the lack of transparency when it comes to information that involves spending taxpayer dollars.
I have said many times politics is a bloodsport.
Marianne was a wonderful representative for Ward 2 in the past. Unfortunately, the skills she had employed did not continue. I will not support her quest to continue as Mayor.