Affordability

The promise of Burlington should be within reach for everyone, not only those who can absorb another tax increase, win a bidding war, or pay privately when public services are not enough. Young adults should be able to begin their lives here. Families should be able to find a suitable home, reliable childcare, and accessible recreation. Seniors should be able to remain in the neighbourhoods they helped shape.

Rory's affordability plan starts by reducing the pressure City Hall places on household budgets. Anchoring the budget to inflation, reviewing recent spending, and protecting taxpayers from unnecessary development costs will make municipal finances more predictable. Property taxes are only one part of the cost-of-living crisis, but they are the part City Council directly controls. Rory will be a mayor who takes that responsibility seriously and will never tax more than necessary.

Housing supply must also increase. Rory recognizes that Burlington can't solve the housing crisis over the long term without building more homes and giving people more options. As Mayor, he will work to bring appropriate land forward, accelerate responsible approvals, reduce avoidable delays, and secure Burlington's fair share of provincial and federal housing support. As a councillor, Rory led the fight to stop a $41 million development charge giveaway that would have subsidized developers at taxpayers' expense. As Mayor, he will ensure development works for residents, not the other way around.

Affordability also depends on opportunity. Rory will make Burlington more open for business by speeding up permits, reducing unnecessary red tape, retaining the employers already here and attracting new investment. More good jobs in Burlington mean more residents can work closer to home, spend less time and money commuting, and build careers without leaving the community.

That's the Promise of Burlington. And that's what Rory is running to deliver.

For more information on Rory's full platform, click here.