LPAT

Today’s episode goes to the heart of the planning and development debate in the 905.

The new council elected in Burlington in 2018 has undoubtedly achieved significant change to Burlington’s downtown planning framework, and extracted major concessions from the province–at least, it has on paper.

Not so fast …

Today we speak to Burlington’s Councillor for downtown Lisa Kearns, about the catch in the deal with the province, and the wider need for reform of how municipalities control planning.Read More …

Hamilton City Council

Hamilton councillors face the challenge of voting on a $3.1 billion gift from the federal and provincial governments and vote for sleepy nap-time instead. Will the horn on the Hamilton’s political clown car wake them? Parp! Plus we look at LPAT being LPAT and the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal’s intervention in the HCDSB Pride flag debate.Read More …

Joel and Roland talk share their admiration for the Community Climate Council’s webinar on Highway 413, get all misty eyed about the idea of after-work drinks in a pedestrian-friendly downtown, and then discuss a rare win for the City of Burlington at LPAT – why it was a win, and whether it will stay a win. Spoiler alert – probably not.Read More …

Joel and Roland discuss the connection between political donations and the policy priorities of the Ford government. If any single subject can be said to encapsulate the priorities of the provincial government since 2018, it must be the efforts to weaken the legislative checks and balances on what can be built where, and who gets to have a voice in shaping development proposals.Read More …

We are joined this week by Haassan Basit, CEO of Conservation Halton, and Janet Sumner, Executive Director of CPAWS Wildlands League, to talk about the province’s proposed major changes to the powers of Conservation Authorities in Ontario as part of the budget ‘omnibus’ Bill 229.Read More …