By Gazette Staff
July 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
City Hall staff are reported to have not even opened the BAD application due to a missing document.
For news stories that are controversial and moving quickly it takes time for the whole story to bubble to the surface.
In a broadcast on the Cogeco Your TV channel, we learn that the people reviewing the RFP – Request for Proposal – from BAD did not even open the application that was sent in by the BAD – Burlington Aquatic Devilrays claiming it was incomplete.
In the four-minute video Mayor Meed Ward now says that she will discuss the matter when it comes up at council on Monday of next week. Up to this point, the Mayor has said Council members could be involved in RFP discussions.
Kimberly Calderbank, was front and center in the broadcast, suggesting that BAD may find itself looking for a new home.
BAD swimmers in a training session at a Burlington pool
The challenge for Councillors on Monday is going to be – how do they wiggle out of this mess? there are serious legal implications.
The City has told GHAC that the contract is there‘s all they have to do is show that 85% of their members live in Burlington.
The data from Swin Ontario says that 28% of the GHAC members live in Burlington.
In order to get to that 85% level, GHAC will have to poach members from BAD, which will mean putting as lot of pressure on the student swimmers..
If the city rescinds the contract (we don’t know if anything has been signed yet), that is to be awarded to GOAC – expect them to sue for breach of contract.
The YouTube video clip is HERE.
Stick around – this story is far from over.
Once Counsellor made the following comment to the Gazette:
“A bunch of years ago the City had a similar problem with allocating football fields and the use of an RFP system to solve allocation arguments. It was brought to Council, as I recall, and it was decided to not use the RFP system and just figure how to equitably share the capacity.”
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Actually under the terms issued in the inappropriately used RFP the City can walk away at any point, now, after formal contract award or lanyvtime later. Lawyers craft these documents to ensure this. One good example is “Termination for Convenience”. Council also has the ability to exit this contract. There are others. Will Council take responsibility for the regrettable situation or abdicate their responsibility. Remains to be seen.