Vote for local leadership on climate, nature, and a just, sustainable future, for this pivotal election.
We can’t afford delays – we need a Council of climate and environmental champions during a time when climate and environmental ACTION is critical.
To help inform your vote, we invited all Mayoral and Ward candidates to respond to our questionnaire comprised of 8 important questions. Candidates who did not respond to the survey invitation indicate “No Response” on the charts. You are encouraged to visit candidate websites to learn more about them and their views on various issues.
Responses are published as submitted. Note: Some responses were cut short to stay within the word count limit to ensure equity for all.
Be sure to click on “comments” to read the candidate responses.
Response Options:
YES
NO
Partially /Other
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Click HERE for election information including a find your ward map.
MAYORAL CANDIDATES | Keith Demoe | Lisa Kearns | Marianne Meed Ward | Rory Nisan | Yugalkeesor Ramdhonee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Flood Infrastructure & Stormwater: Burlington has faced repeated severe flooding, including the 2024 storm that impacted over 1,600 homes and businesses.
Will you support accelerating the City’s stormwater planning, flood-mapping and infrastructure investments needed to reduce the risk and impacts of future flooding? | No response | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | No response |
2. Transit Investment & Emission Reductions: With vehicle emissions generating over 40% of Burlington’s greenhouse gases, improving and expanding public transit is central to reaching the target to be a net carbon neutral community by 2050.
Will you commit to supporting increased funding investments and service enhancements – such as fleet electrification, increased frequency, route reliability, and network connectivity – to make transit a competitive alternative to driving? | No response | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | No response |
3. Climate Equity & Vulnerable Communities: While every resident in the city of Burlington will be impacted by climate change, not every resident will be impacted equally. The most vulnerable residents who are facing financial, social, mental and physical barriers will experience compounding effects and bear disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis. (Burlington Climate Plan 2026-2031)
Will you commit to supporting the budget investments required for the implementation of the City’s climate mitigation, adaptation, and emergency response plans to protect these disproportionately impacted communities, and all residents? | No response | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | No response |
4. Biodiversity Action Plan: Burlington currently has no municipal Action Plan to protect and care for local nature, and yet the implications of the biodiversity crisis (such as the acceleration of invasive species) continue to grow.
Will you commit to directing staff to develop a Biodiversity Action Plan by 2028 with associated budget investments required for its implementation? | No response | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | No response |
5. Aggregate Moratorium: To safeguard Burlington’s groundwater, air quality, and the Escarpment ecosystem, will you commit to support the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition’s call for a provincial moratorium (temporary pause) on new and expanding aggregate operations? (The purpose of a moratorium is to allow time to conduct a broad consultation process, with Indigenous Nations, affected communities, independent experts and scientists, to chart an improved path forward.) | No response | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | No response |
6. Green Building & Development Standards: Provincial legislation restricts municipalities’ authority to mandate green building performance beyond the Ontario Building Code. Consistent with the City’s Horizon 2050 net -zero commitments , will you proactively advocate for stronger energy-efficiency and sustainability standards in Burlington’s new developments, with associated incentives, planning processes, and legal tools available to the City? | No response | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | No response |
7. Accountable Reporting: To ensure all Council members receive staff reports that are consistently accountable to the City’s Horizon 2050 Vision and 25-year Strategic Plan guiding principles, will you direct staff to adopt an environmental, social, and economic lens to all reports, starting 2027? (example: UN Sustainable Development Goals Framework) | No response | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | No response |
8. Personal Commitment: What are some actions you personally take to minimize your environmental footprint? | No response | See response | See response | See response | No response |
WARD 1 CANDIDATES | Kelvin Galbraith | Cheryl Hurst | James Kerr | Robert Radway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Flood Infrastructure & Stormwater: Burlington has faced repeated severe flooding, including the 2024 storm that impacted over 1,600 homes and businesses.
Will you support accelerating the City’s stormwater planning, flood-mapping and infrastructure investments needed to reduce the risk and impacts of future flooding? | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
2. Transit Investment & Emission Reductions: With vehicle emissions generating over 40% of Burlington’s greenhouse gases, improving and expanding public transit is central to reaching the target to be a net carbon neutral community by 2050.
Will you commit to supporting increased funding investments and service enhancements – such as fleet electrification, increased frequency, route reliability, and network connectivity – to make transit a competitive alternative to driving? | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
3. Climate Equity & Vulnerable Communities: While every resident in the city of Burlington will be impacted by climate change, not every resident will be impacted equally. The most vulnerable residents who are facing financial, social, mental and physical barriers will experience compounding effects and bear disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis. (Burlington Climate Plan 2026-2031)
Will you commit to supporting the budget investments required for the implementation of the City’s climate mitigation, adaptation, and emergency response plans to protect these disproportionately impacted communities, and all residents? | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
4. Biodiversity Action Plan: Burlington currently has no municipal Action Plan to protect and care for local nature, and yet the implications of the biodiversity crisis (such as the acceleration of invasive species) continue to grow.
Will you commit to directing staff to develop a Biodiversity Action Plan by 2028 with associated budget investments required for its implementation? | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
5. Aggregate Moratorium: To safeguard Burlington’s groundwater, air quality, and the Escarpment ecosystem, will you commit to support the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition’s call for a provincial moratorium (temporary pause) on new and expanding aggregate operations? (The purpose of a moratorium is to allow time to conduct a broad consultation process, with Indigenous Nations, affected communities, independent experts and scientists, to chart an improved path forward.) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) |
6. Green Building & Development Standards: Provincial legislation restricts municipalities’ authority to mandate green building performance beyond the Ontario Building Code. Consistent with the City’s Horizon 2050 net -zero commitments , will you proactively advocate for stronger energy-efficiency and sustainability standards in Burlington’s new developments, with associated incentives, planning processes, and legal tools available to the City? | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
7. Accountable Reporting: To ensure all Council members receive staff reports that are consistently accountable to the City’s Horizon 2050 Vision and 25-year Strategic Plan guiding principles, will you direct staff to adopt an environmental, social, and economic lens to all reports, starting 2027? (example: UN Sustainable Development Goals Framework) | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
8. Personal Commitment: What are some actions you personally take to minimize your environmental footprint? | See response | See response | See response | See response |
WARD 2 CANDIDATES | Masha Brar | Sean Campbell | Gary Carr | Jeremy Gaetan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Flood Infrastructure & Stormwater: Burlington has faced repeated severe flooding, including the 2024 storm that impacted over 1,600 homes and businesses.
Will you support accelerating the City’s stormwater planning, flood-mapping and infrastructure investments needed to reduce the risk and impacts of future flooding? | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (No comments) | YES (comments) |
2. Transit Investment & Emission Reductions: With vehicle emissions generating over 40% of Burlington’s greenhouse gases, improving and expanding public transit is central to reaching the target to be a net carbon neutral community by 2050.
Will you commit to supporting increased funding investments and service enhancements – such as fleet electrification, increased frequency, route reliability, and network connectivity – to make transit a competitive alternative to driving? | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
3. Climate Equity & Vulnerable Communities: While every resident in the city of Burlington will be impacted by climate change, not every resident will be impacted equally. The most vulnerable residents who are facing financial, social, mental and physical barriers will experience compounding effects and bear disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis. (Burlington Climate Plan 2026-2031)
Will you commit to supporting the budget investments required for the implementation of the City’s climate mitigation, adaptation, and emergency response plans to protect these disproportionately impacted communities, and all residents? | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
4. Biodiversity Action Plan: Burlington currently has no municipal Action Plan to protect and care for local nature, and yet the implications of the biodiversity crisis (such as the acceleration of invasive species) continue to grow.
Will you commit to directing staff to develop a Biodiversity Action Plan by 2028 with associated budget investments required for its implementation? | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (No comments) | YES (comments) |
5. Aggregate Moratorium: To safeguard Burlington’s groundwater, air quality, and the Escarpment ecosystem, will you commit to support the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition’s call for a provincial moratorium (temporary pause) on new and expanding aggregate operations? (The purpose of a moratorium is to allow time to conduct a broad consultation process, with Indigenous Nations, affected communities, independent experts and scientists, to chart an improved path forward.) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (No comments) | YES (comments) |
6. Green Building & Development Standards: Provincial legislation restricts municipalities’ authority to mandate green building performance beyond the Ontario Building Code. Consistent with the City’s Horizon 2050 net -zero commitments , will you proactively advocate for stronger energy-efficiency and sustainability standards in Burlington’s new developments, with associated incentives, planning processes, and legal tools available to the City? | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
7. Accountable Reporting: To ensure all Council members receive staff reports that are consistently accountable to the City’s Horizon 2050 Vision and 25-year Strategic Plan guiding principles, will you direct staff to adopt an environmental, social, and economic lens to all reports, starting 2027? (example: UN Sustainable Development Goals Framework) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
8. Personal Commitment: What are some actions you personally take to minimize your environmental footprint? | See response | See response | See response | See response |
WARD 3 CANDIDATES | Tony Brecknock | Mark Carr | Lisa Cooper | Kyle Hutton | Katy Moore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Flood Infrastructure & Stormwater: Burlington has faced repeated severe flooding, including the 2024 storm that impacted over 1,600 homes and businesses.
Will you support accelerating the City’s stormwater planning, flood-mapping and infrastructure investments needed to reduce the risk and impacts of future flooding? | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
2. Transit Investment & Emission Reductions: With vehicle emissions generating over 40% of Burlington’s greenhouse gases, improving and expanding public transit is central to reaching the target to be a net carbon neutral community by 2050.
Will you commit to supporting increased funding investments and service enhancements – such as fleet electrification, increased frequency, route reliability, and network connectivity – to make transit a competitive alternative to driving? | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
3. Climate Equity & Vulnerable Communities: While every resident in the city of Burlington will be impacted by climate change, not every resident will be impacted equally. The most vulnerable residents who are facing financial, social, mental and physical barriers will experience compounding effects and bear disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis. (Burlington Climate Plan 2026-2031)
Will you commit to supporting the budget investments required for the implementation of the City’s climate mitigation, adaptation, and emergency response plans to protect these disproportionately impacted communities, and all residents? | YES (No comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) |
4. Biodiversity Action Plan: Burlington currently has no municipal Action Plan to protect and care for local nature, and yet the implications of the biodiversity crisis (such as the acceleration of invasive species) continue to grow.
Will you commit to directing staff to develop a Biodiversity Action Plan by 2028 with associated budget investments required for its implementation? | YES (No comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) |
5. Aggregate Moratorium: To safeguard Burlington’s groundwater, air quality, and the Escarpment ecosystem, will you commit to support the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition’s call for a provincial moratorium (temporary pause) on new and expanding aggregate operations? (The purpose of a moratorium is to allow time to conduct a broad consultation process, with Indigenous Nations, affected communities, independent experts and scientists, to chart an improved path forward.) | YES (No comments) | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
6. Green Building & Development Standards: Provincial legislation restricts municipalities’ authority to mandate green building performance beyond the Ontario Building Code. Consistent with the City’s Horizon 2050 net -zero commitments , will you proactively advocate for stronger energy-efficiency and sustainability standards in Burlington’s new developments, with associated incentives, planning processes, and legal tools available to the City? | YES (No comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | Partially/Other ( comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
7. Accountable Reporting: To ensure all Council members receive staff reports that are consistently accountable to the City’s Horizon 2050 Vision and 25-year Strategic Plan guiding principles, will you direct staff to adopt an environmental, social, and economic lens to all reports, starting 2027? (example: UN Sustainable Development Goals Framework) | YES (No comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (No comments) |
8. Personal Commitment: What are some actions you personally take to minimize your environmental footprint? | See response | No response | See response | See response | See Response |
WARD 4 CANDIDATES | Chris Carter | Olivia Duke |
|---|---|---|
1. Flood Infrastructure & Stormwater: Burlington has faced repeated severe flooding, including the 2024 storm that impacted over 1,600 homes and businesses.
Will you support accelerating the City’s stormwater planning, flood-mapping and infrastructure investments needed to reduce the risk and impacts of future flooding? | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
2. Transit Investment & Emission Reductions: With vehicle emissions generating over 40% of Burlington’s greenhouse gases, improving and expanding public transit is central to reaching the target to be a net carbon neutral community by 2050.
Will you commit to supporting increased funding investments and service enhancements – such as fleet electrification, increased frequency, route reliability, and network connectivity – to make transit a competitive alternative to driving? | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
3. Climate Equity & Vulnerable Communities: While every resident in the city of Burlington will be impacted by climate change, not every resident will be impacted equally. The most vulnerable residents who are facing financial, social, mental and physical barriers will experience compounding effects and bear disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis. (Burlington Climate Plan 2026-2031)
Will you commit to supporting the budget investments required for the implementation of the City’s climate mitigation, adaptation, and emergency response plans to protect these disproportionately impacted communities, and all residents? | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
4. Biodiversity Action Plan: Burlington currently has no municipal Action Plan to protect and care for local nature, and yet the implications of the biodiversity crisis (such as the acceleration of invasive species) continue to grow.
Will you commit to directing staff to develop a Biodiversity Action Plan by 2028 with associated budget investments required for its implementation? | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) |
5. Aggregate Moratorium: To safeguard Burlington’s groundwater, air quality, and the Escarpment ecosystem, will you commit to support the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition’s call for a provincial moratorium (temporary pause) on new and expanding aggregate operations? (The purpose of a moratorium is to allow time to conduct a broad consultation process, with Indigenous Nations, affected communities, independent experts and scientists, to chart an improved path forward.) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) |
6. Green Building & Development Standards: Provincial legislation restricts municipalities’ authority to mandate green building performance beyond the Ontario Building Code. Consistent with the City’s Horizon 2050 net -zero commitments , will you proactively advocate for stronger energy-efficiency and sustainability standards in Burlington’s new developments, with associated incentives, planning processes, and legal tools available to the City? | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
7. Accountable Reporting: To ensure all Council members receive staff reports that are consistently accountable to the City’s Horizon 2050 Vision and 25-year Strategic Plan guiding principles, will you direct staff to adopt an environmental, social, and economic lens to all reports, starting 2027? (example: UN Sustainable Development Goals Framework) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
8. Personal Commitment: What are some actions you personally take to minimize your environmental footprint? | See response | See response |
WARD 5 CANDIDATES | Kristy Dickinson | Alex Don | Brian Machan | Paul Sharman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Flood Infrastructure & Stormwater: Burlington has faced repeated severe flooding, including the 2024 storm that impacted over 1,600 homes and businesses.
Will you support accelerating the City’s stormwater planning, flood-mapping and infrastructure investments needed to reduce the risk and impacts of future flooding? | YES (comments) | YES (No comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
2. Transit Investment & Emission Reductions: With vehicle emissions generating over 40% of Burlington’s greenhouse gases, improving and expanding public transit is central to reaching the target to be a net carbon neutral community by 2050.
Will you commit to supporting increased funding investments and service enhancements – such as fleet electrification, increased frequency, route reliability, and network connectivity – to make transit a competitive alternative to driving? | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (No comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) |
3. Climate Equity & Vulnerable Communities: While every resident in the city of Burlington will be impacted by climate change, not every resident will be impacted equally. The most vulnerable residents who are facing financial, social, mental and physical barriers will experience compounding effects and bear disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis. (Burlington Climate Plan 2026-2031)
Will you commit to supporting the budget investments required for the implementation of the City’s climate mitigation, adaptation, and emergency response plans to protect these disproportionately impacted communities, and all residents? | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (No comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) |
4. Biodiversity Action Plan: Burlington currently has no municipal Action Plan to protect and care for local nature, and yet the implications of the biodiversity crisis (such as the acceleration of invasive species) continue to grow.
Will you commit to directing staff to develop a Biodiversity Action Plan by 2028 with associated budget investments required for its implementation? | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (No comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) |
5. Aggregate Moratorium: To safeguard Burlington’s groundwater, air quality, and the Escarpment ecosystem, will you commit to support the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition’s call for a provincial moratorium (temporary pause) on new and expanding aggregate operations? (The purpose of a moratorium is to allow time to conduct a broad consultation process, with Indigenous Nations, affected communities, independent experts and scientists, to chart an improved path forward.) | Partially/Other ( comments) | Partially/Other (No comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) |
6. Green Building & Development Standards: Provincial legislation restricts municipalities’ authority to mandate green building performance beyond the Ontario Building Code. Consistent with the City’s Horizon 2050 net -zero commitments , will you proactively advocate for stronger energy-efficiency and sustainability standards in Burlington’s new developments, with associated incentives, planning processes, and legal tools available to the City? | Partially/Other ( comments) | YES (No comments) | Partially/Other (No comments) | YES (comments) |
7. Accountable Reporting: To ensure all Council members receive staff reports that are consistently accountable to the City’s Horizon 2050 Vision and 25-year Strategic Plan guiding principles, will you direct staff to adopt an environmental, social, and economic lens to all reports, starting 2027? (example: UN Sustainable Development Goals Framework) | Partially/Other (comments) | Partially/Other (No comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) |
8. Personal Commitment: What are some actions you personally take to minimize your environmental footprint? | See response | No Comments | See response | See response |
WARD 6 CANDIDATES | Osob Adus | Angelo Bentivegna | Bianca Bielski | Chris Bouchard | Frank Domenic | Rowen Fraser | Edmond Jodhi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Flood Infrastructure & Stormwater: Burlington has faced repeated severe flooding, including the 2024 storm that impacted over 1,600 homes and businesses.
Will you support accelerating the City’s stormwater planning, flood-mapping and infrastructure investments needed to reduce the risk and impacts of future flooding? | No response | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | No response |
2. Transit Investment & Emission Reductions: With vehicle emissions generating over 40% of Burlington’s greenhouse gases, improving and expanding public transit is central to reaching the target to be a net carbon neutral community by 2050.
Will you commit to supporting increased funding investments and service enhancements – such as fleet electrification, increased frequency, route reliability, and network connectivity – to make transit a competitive alternative to driving? | No response | YES (No comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | No response |
3. Climate Equity & Vulnerable Communities: While every resident in the city of Burlington will be impacted by climate change, not every resident will be impacted equally. The most vulnerable residents who are facing financial, social, mental and physical barriers will experience compounding effects and bear disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis. (Burlington Climate Plan 2026-2031)
Will you commit to supporting the budget investments required for the implementation of the City’s climate mitigation, adaptation, and emergency response plans to protect these disproportionately impacted communities, and all residents? | No response | Partially/Other ( comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (No comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | No response |
4. Biodiversity Action Plan: Burlington currently has no municipal Action Plan to protect and care for local nature, and yet the implications of the biodiversity crisis (such as the acceleration of invasive species) continue to grow.
Will you commit to directing staff to develop a Biodiversity Action Plan by 2028 with associated budget investments required for its implementation? | No response | No Response | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | No response |
5. Aggregate Moratorium: To safeguard Burlington’s groundwater, air quality, and the Escarpment ecosystem, will you commit to support the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition’s call for a provincial moratorium (temporary pause) on new and expanding aggregate operations? (The purpose of a moratorium is to allow time to conduct a broad consultation process, with Indigenous Nations, affected communities, independent experts and scientists, to chart an improved path forward.) | No response | YES (No comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | Partially/Other & No (comments) | No response |
6. Green Building & Development Standards: Provincial legislation restricts municipalities’ authority to mandate green building performance beyond the Ontario Building Code. Consistent with the City’s Horizon 2050 net -zero commitments , will you proactively advocate for stronger energy-efficiency and sustainability standards in Burlington’s new developments, with associated incentives, planning processes, and legal tools available to the City? | No response | YES (No comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | YES (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | No response |
7. Accountable Reporting: To ensure all Council members receive staff reports that are consistently accountable to the City’s Horizon 2050 Vision and 25-year Strategic Plan guiding principles, will you direct staff to adopt an environmental, social, and economic lens to all reports, starting 2027? (example: UN Sustainable Development Goals Framework) | No response | YES (No comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | YES (No comments) | Partially/Other (comments) | No response |
8. Personal Commitment: What are some actions you personally take to minimize your environmental footprint? | No response | See response | See Response | See response | See response | See response | No response |
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