Thursday, April 24, 2025

“Don’t run between parked cars”

On-street parking Remember the visits from the safety officer in grade school? Lesson one: Don’t run between parked cars. Burlington’s five-hour on-street parking limit has kept...

Please don’t turn our neighborhood streets into parking for congested and poorly planned developments.

Submission by Residents of Havendale Blvd., Belgrave Crt., and Winchester Blvd.toThe Committee of the WholeRegarding PWS-10-25 Citywide On-Street Residential Parking PermitsCity of BurlingtonDated February...

BRAG about Burlington Newsletter #4

We at BRAG have been a little slow in getting our first 2025 newsletter to you - we’ve decided to blame the snow, but...

Buying Canadian Should be more than Optics

Staying in your Lane Over the course of the last few years we’ve seen politicians of all political stripes, and at all levels, meddling in...

The City Knows Best

Introduction I recently had an opportunity to review the letter that my BRAG colleague, Blair Smith, sent to the City of Burlington’s Commissioner of Community...

Our Quest Will Continue – An Update

On February 25th BRAG sent the following email request to Ms. Jacqueline Johnson, Commissioner of the City of Burlington’s Community Services Division. Ms. Jacqueline Johnson Commissioner, Community...

Meanwhile, in Hamilton

The Bay Observer recently published two articles on the budget process in Hamilton: Five Hamilton Councillors in revolt over 2025 Budget Process Budget process in Hamilton...

Is Burlington’s Tax Bill Legal?

The most recent property tax bill, received by Burlington homeowners, businesses and landlords, has changed. The city combined the police levy and the regional levy...

Can We Talk?

Opinion February 4th, 2025. This post was updated with the verbatim responses that were received on Tuesday February 4th to the questions posed of Mayor Marianne...

TIME TO DEMAND BETTER

Introduction Another week, and another litany of stories from neighbours and friends who have been negatively impacted by auto theft.  In fact, there were three...

HOW BAD ARE BURLINGTON DRIVERS?  PRETTY BAD APPARENTLY!

While watching CHCH News recently a news report caught my attention. A study conducted by MyChoice, an insurance industry research intermediary, published a list...

Gaslighting is Alive and Well at City Hall

Introduction The consultations have ended, the delegations have finished, the decisions have been reached, and the verdict is: a 7.51% tax increase to existing Burlington...

BRAG about Burlington – Newsletter #3

Twas a month before Christmas, and all through city hallResidents asked for straight answers but there were curve balls for allThe budget was final,...

Why are property taxes in Burlington so complicated?

Let’s start with the bill from the city. The tax bill has four components, each managed by a separate level of government or board. Code...

The Bay Observer questions how council handled the Bateman community centre.

Here's a quick history of this project. 2017 - the Board of Education considers closing two high schools in Burlington. 2020 - June 30 -...

Tax Petition is presented to council “oh well”   

Good morning and thank you for your time today. The “Stop the 7​.​5% Burlington Property Tax Increase” petition has been presented to council. Twelve hundred...

Lynn Crosby Delegates on Civic Engagement.

November 18, 2024 - Budget Committee Meeting, Item 8.1 During the budget process and elsewhere, we keep hearing the word “engagement” from staff, the mayor...

Heat Pump Survey Results

Heat Pump Survey Results Heat pumps are a great way for homeowners to reduce their carbon footprint. The BRAG group believes that climate change is...

Is average income a justification for higher taxes?

Carefully explained services, efficiently delivered, services that people want and / or need are justifications for higher taxes. Is a higher average income a...

Survey: “Free” Transit

We’re interested in your opinion on this issue. Please complete our Google Forms survey. Transit fare revenue, for 2024, is expected to be over...

BUDGET CONSULTATION: LOTS OF QUESTIONS, BUT NOT MANY GOOD ANSWERS

For the first time in my years in Burlington, I participated in the city’s budget consultation process. Actually, it wasn’t just once, but four...

BRAG about Burlington – our first newsletter.

Welcome to our first Burlington Residents' Action Group (BRAG) newsletter! We at BRAG are grateful for everyone who has visited our website, signed up for...

Petition on tax increases.

The city is asking for resident input for the 2025 budget without presenting an actual budget for our review. If you go to the city...

2025 Budget Process: Burlington vs Oakville

Here are some of the key dates from the Burlington GetInvolved website (https://www.getinvolvedburlington.ca/2025budget) Mid-September - Draft budget summary will be presented by Sept 13. This document...

It’s Not All About the Numbers

Admittedly, math was never my best subject in high school.  Basic math I could comprehend, but when it came to trigonometry, calculus and geometry...

The Pain of Living Through Constant Construction

Much has and will be written on the many problems of too much development in areas without the infrastructure to support it, on the...

Burlington Flood Response – Procrastinate or Mitigate?

Burlington Flood Response – Procrastinate or Mitigate? Many people in Burlington (COB) remember the 2014 flood. It was a precipitation event that dropped 192 mm...

Traffic Flow

The 2024 budget did not contain any expenditures to address traffic flow in Burlington. In 2023 the city conducted an online survey. Question 8 asked: “As...