Good news on RBG, not so good on taxes
Canada’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault’s gift of over $3.5 million to the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) last week is great news. It enables the RBG to protect against biodiversity loss and develop corridors among protected areas and parklands between Cootes Paradise and the Niagara Escarpment in Hamilton and Burlington.
Launched in 2022, this is the first funding from the Parks Canada National Program for Ecological Corridors.
This federal minister was an environmental activist before running for office and is now funding new initiatives. He has criticized Premier Doug Ford’s Greenbelt development plan. I had to look up who Ontario’s environment minister is — David Piccini. Ever heard of him? He’s missing in action on Ontario’s environmental misdeeds, like neutering of conservation authorities, opening wetlands, the Greenbelt, etc.
Guilbeault’s thrust is connecting strategic areas by corridors for uninhibited movement of species between conserved areas. It preserves habitat for wildlife and plants to thrive. A giant step in the realization of Cootes EcoPark system. Hallelujah!
Burlington council gets down to the nitty-gritty of detailed budget discussions next week. A budget town hall was held Jan 19. Unlike the COVID-19 meetings, it appeared very stage-managed. Participation was low. Unlike the COVID ones, no callers spoke. Their questions were vetted and posed by moderator Michelle Dwyer, and responded to by Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, deputy mayor for strategy and budgets Paul Sharman, or the appropriate staff member. (Each of the six council members has been named a deputy mayor of a particular service.) There was no criticism — just softball questions. A 7.08 per cent increase and no critics?
One question was about “nice to haves” vs. “have to have” projects, like Bateman High School and Skyway Arena upgrades.
Meed Ward noted the school board deemed Bateman surplus and boards must offer surplus schools to municipalities before listing them on the market. There is no undeveloped land left in the city, and 70,000 more people projected, so future needs will have to be met buying developed land. Council bought it, and she said, will buy more surplus schools in the future. (But there’s a limit to debt and taxpayers’ pockets.)
Skyway Arena had been decommissioned because of its age. Ice time is in demand, and there is no other in the area, so it is essential to renew it for current and increasing populations.
Salaries and the number of new staff were questioned. Many are needed to meet time limits in Bill 23 (More homes built faster), or developer fees must be rebated. More bylaw enforcement officers are needed, and Burlington must up salaries or continue to lose staff. It has just named Emilie Cote new director of recreation, community and culture, and Jacqueline Johnson new executive director of community relations and engagement.
One question related to the cost of growth. Meed Ward explained that new growth pays about 80 per cent of its way. Taxpayers pick up the other 20. That’s because of limits by the province. Chief financial officer Joan Ford noted Bill 23 will also reduce future amounts developers pay in development charges and park dedication. MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corp) which assesses homes, has deferred reassessments since 2016.
Cyclists asked why no new money was earmarked for the cycling master plan. Response was that a large investment has been made in the Plains Road corridor under construction, and funds will be allotted in future. Another question cited a request from the Sound of Music (SOM) group, for more funding, Meed Ward said her own children referred to Burlington as “Borington,” except for the SOM. It’s a good investment, she said, which attracts large numbers of tourists, who support local businesses.
That’s council’s take on the 2023 budget.