Burlington Life — Joan Little

Burlington politics

I'm a political junkie, especially for municipal politics, because council members aren't
fettered by dogma. They don't have to be trained seals, regurgitating a party line. We can actually
choose people we believe share our priorities, but it's not easy to differentiate.
In 2003 few candidates relied on web sites. Now web sites are the flavour de jour. Several
Burlington candidates already have them. Trouble is, a good public relations person can design a
great one; so you don't know if the site reflects the candidate or the candidate's PR person, and
that also holds true for campaign literature. Meeting candidates personally is ideal - even better at
a candidates' forum, where you can assess how they think on their feet. Do they know much
about Burlington and Halton, or are they out of their depth?
Having served on city and regional councils, and now observing regularly from the sidelines, I
understand the workload and complexity of the issues. Anyone who thinks he/she can do the job
in a few hours a week is dead wrong. Burlington's council is too small (only seven). Members are
stretched too thin, and they also serve on regional council. Each sits on three standing
committees at the city, and one at the region. Budget committees at both levels meet infrequently,
but for a couple of months at budget time the reading and workload are mind-numbing. The other
city and regional committees, and councils, meet every three weeks. City planning issues eat lots
of hours, and require extensive public consultation.
Halton region has 20 councillors plus a chair. Each sits on one regional standing committee.
But it's the extra ABC's (agencies, boards, and commissions) and ad hoc committees that devour
time at both levels. For instance, nine councillors sit on conservation authorities (which also have
standing committees), three on the Police Services Board (with its heavy workload) others are on
hospital boards, business liaison committees, agricultural and environmental bodies, social
service agencies, library boards, and other community organizations. Then, councillors handle
ward concerns and host ward meetings.
Today Burlington councillors are well paid - about $85 thousand plus benefits, and the mayor
about $143 thou. There are a some good candidates. Any suggestions how to separate the
outstanding from the mediocre?

Welcome to thespec.com's Burlington Life

I remember a sing-song I used to chant as a little kid about ten, growing up in Quebec: "I'm
glad I am who I am, where I am, when I am", and the same holds true today.
Smart people plan their lives - happy ones go along with the flow. Because my parents moved
17 times by the time I was 21, living then in Waterdown, I wanted a settled life.
Marriage brought me to Burlington. Two children later (who also live in Burlington) I became
active in the community. I attended my first Burlington council meeting when I read in the Spec
in 1972 that the Halton Wentworth Waterfront plan was to be discussed, and it might not be
passed.
As they say, the rest is history. Council was an eye-opener, providing the incentive for some
friends and me to work to elect a new ward candidate in 72. Flushed with our success, we sought
another candidate in 1973, when the advent of Regional Government changed the number of
Burlington wards, and moved to two councillors per ward. No-one we approached was available,
so I became the candidate by default, although that had never been in my plans (what plans?) I
won against a former councillor, who reminded voters I was a mere housewife, who had never
handled more than grocery money. That line didn't sell even then!
1973 to 1988 were fascinating years, with exposure to new ideals and problems first on
city council, and later on city and regional councils,.
A council benefit is the opportunity to sit on interesting committees, boards and commissions.
I was on several waterfront committees over the years. I loved my 19 years on the Halton Region
Conservation Authority (now called Conservation Halton) and my nine years on the Niagara
Escarpment Commission, to which I was re-appointed in 2004. The Joseph Brant hospital board
was fascinating - a whole new world.
How about the Halton Sewer rate committee, which I chaired - doesn't everyone at a
party want to talk about sewer rates? Countless hours, and uncountable dollars, were devoted to
finding a Halton landfill site, and plans for its sewage sludge disposal. Unlike Toronto, Halton
faced its responsibilities.
It was fun later, at the invitation of the Spec, to write a Burlington column. They told me they
were looking for someone familiar with the Burlington and Halton scene. I guess all that
knowledge about garbage and sewage impressed someone.
I'm looking forward to adding my two cents worth regularly on the Burlington Life blogs.

Joan Little

Readers are encouraged to comment on all Burlington Life blogs. Simply click on the "comments" link below.