Here’s a quick history of this project.
2017 – the Board of Education considers closing two high schools in Burlington.
2020 – June 30 – Bateman High School closes.
2021 – June – The school board declared Bateman as surplus.
2021 – June 23 – Burlington issues a press release:
2021 – December 14 – Council approved $3 million for a preliminary design (report EICS 20-21).
There was no mention of a total project cost at that time. The 2021 Engagement Matters report stated: “Preliminary engagement has occurred with key stakeholders and partners. As part of the scope of work outlined in the RFP, a public engagement plan will be developed and delivered in the future as a fundamental component of the environmental, preliminary design, and architectural and engineering services.”
The city did not present a public engagement plan until after the contract for Phase One was issued.
2022 – April – Councilor Shawna Stolte is sanctioned for stating, in late 2021, “the reality is that the final cost will be well above $50M.” Councilor Stolte lost a week’s pay, she did break the rules, but she was also being honest with the public.
2022 – May – Burlington starts public engagement on the Bateman project without presenting costs or the need for additional parking. The video is available here: https://www.getinvolvedburlington.ca/bateman-highschool/widgets/149117/videos/10649
2022 – October 26th – Municipal elections are held across Ontario and our mayor and councilors are re-elected.
2022 – November 22 – The city announces a land swap, plus $7.9 million, with the Board of Education and Burlington acquires the Bateman property. https://www.burlington.ca/en/news/city-of-burlington-completes-deal-to-purchase-robert-bateman-high-school.aspx
2022 – November 25 – The city announces the cost is now over $72 million. https://www.burlington.ca/en/news/redesign-adaptive-re-use-and-costing-plan-proposed-for-former-robert-bateman-high-school-building.aspx
While there are many unusual aspects to the Bateman project one that stands out is that before the election there was no mention of the building containing asbestos, apparently, this was public knowledge. After the election information started to appear about the true cost of the renovation. The project is on track to cost over $100 million. Much of the renovated building will be leased by Brock University and The Haltech Regional Innovation Centre.
John Best states “I submit that the city engaged in deliberate obfuscation of the financial scope of the project, as they engaged in public consultation. Indeed, those members of the public who participated in surveys and town halls had no idea for what they were actually providing buy-in, making the public consultation piece a sham“.
The full Bay Observer article and the report from the Integrity Commissioner is here (December 4th, 2024).
Ombudsman unable to rule on council’s handling of Bateman