Council members spent a three-day duration in Ottawa, assessing achievements made there.
In a recent gathering, the City of Burlington's delegation, led by Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, met with several provincial ministers to discuss and advocate for the city's top strategic priorities. The event, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) 2025 Annual General Meeting and Conference in Ottawa, attracted over 3,000 attendees for three days of education, delegation meetings, and networking opportunities.
The discussions covered a wide range of topics, including housing affordability, protecting local greenspaces, providing predictable infrastructure and transit funding to municipalities, local economic growth, and skills development. The ministers in attendance included the Honourable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Honourable Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation, and the Honourable Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources, among others.
One of the key outcomes from these meetings was the confirmation by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) that the review of City of Burlington's Official Plan Amendment No. 2 will soon be complete. This development will enable the advancement of several key housing development approval improvements, including the adoption of a Community Permitting and Planning System (CPPS).
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) team also engaged in a discussion with Burlington delegates to better understand local energy infrastructure challenges and its impacts on municipal housing starts. The ministry acknowledged the importance of addressing these issues to support sustainable housing development.
Another significant announcement was the province's decision to amend the eligibility criteria for the $1.2B Building Faster Fund (BFF) to better reflect current market conditions and the efforts of local municipalities to achieve provincially mandated housing starts.
The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) officials recognised the ongoing need for careful coordination with City of Burlington to communicate and ease local traffic impacts during Burlington Skyway Bridge lane closures. This collaboration is crucial to minimise disruptions for residents and commuters.
In terms of education, the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES) discussed the college's planned healthcare-focused campus expansion into Burlington with the city's delegation and Mohawk College President, Paul Armstrong. This expansion is expected to contribute significantly to the city's economic growth and skills development.
Strategic discussions also took place around advancing the options to protect areas around Mount Nemo and the Niagara Escarpment. Burlington requested that the province redesignate the lands at Mount Nemo as Escarpment Natural and Escarpment Protection to ensure the long-term viability of our local ecosystems.
The Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP) will invest an additional $1.6 billion to speed up construction on homes and critical infrastructure, nearly doubling the program to $4 billion. This investment is aimed at addressing the housing affordability issue across the province.
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) officials recognised the challenging impacts that current economic conditions are having on municipalities and provided assurances that municipalities will be eligible for future components of the province's $5B Building Ontario Fund. This commitment is intended to provide financial support to municipalities during these challenging times.
In conclusion, the Burlington delegation's meetings with government officials were productive, providing opportunities to discuss and advocate for the city's top priorities. The City of Burlington will continue to advocate to all levels of government to advance the strategic priorities of Council.
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