Goldring wants Waterdown
 

Burlington mayor Rick Goldring floats a local doozie, apparently without his own council's discussion and a heads up to #HamOnt. He's been a fairly steady hand as mayor the last two terms, but definitely feeling some heat over development issues in the upcoming election.

A huge risk in putting this out there, and I'm not sure how it could happen in a balanced way and keep everybody happy... but in this political climate, the chances he'd get his wish may be well above zero.

For Waterdown folk, the grass may seem greener but in the longer run the lawn is likely to dry up as Burlington begins to face the same infrastructure and municipal tax challenges other places have.

Make Waterdown part of Burlington, mayor tells province (CBC)

Burlington asks to take over Waterdown (The Spec)

As long we can trade for Aldershot.

agreed, take Aldershot or all of Burlington, Oakville can fold into Mississauga :)

He can F right off... why don't we just take Burlington it wouldn't be that much of a stretch when you think of the benefits of our combined land, population and tax base!

But for them to just take Waterdown if we don't get something significant in return absolutely not!!!

If that mayor made that crack at me, I'd be at his front door with a foot to his testicles.

But that's just me dealing with conservative politicians like him, whom I view as social terrorists.

=P

So. Rick Goldring ran for the Green Party. He is the furthest thing from a conservative I can think of. Marianne Meed Ward is a liberal as well. Burlington's ultra conservative politics is led by left wing types.

The reason he brought this up is because Burlington is a suburb, which is 95% of it's land mass. As a result, since it has hit its built boundary, it will need to build up, and literally nobody in Burlington wants that apparently. This is his only option without blatantly lying. Marianne says she will stop the growth somehow, and Goldring understands that the tax base of suburban homes is weak.

Regardless, I am not a fan of Burlington politics.

Oh.

S**t.

Me stoopid.

@.@

Goldring should really keep his mouth closed. All this talk of annexation, and how long before someone at Queens Park realizes, "Hey, we amalgamated Toronto and Hamilton, but we never really got around to Halton or Peel in between?" Then the space for growth would be up in Milton and Halton Hills. If he's not careful, the mayor's posturing could lead to the end of an independent Burlington altogether.

Are the flood gates opening now? Cambridge wants Flamborough now?

CBC Link

SCREW THIS!!! Whoever our next city council is better act fast and decisively to get ahead of all of this to prevent any parts of Hamilton from being taken away!

Again if anything Burlington should become a part of Hamilton if you really wanna open this can of worms! Be careful what you wish for! As for Cambridge they too are on the verge of losing their independence along with Waterloo and should just get absorbed into the city of Kitchener.

The city has spent hundreds of millions on infrastructure improvements in Waterdown since amalgamation.

They want Waterdown? Ok cut us a $500M cheque or swap for aldershot.

His proposal is idiotic and short sighted.

Wait, don't you mean that Waterdown has been paying way more in property taxes despite getting zero services?!?

(Being sarcastic btw)

That's exactly what's being said.

Everyone must be thinking that Ford is going to open up the greenbelt quick.

I don't think Goldring would ask for Waterdown if that is the case. Burlington is almost 50% rural farmland area. If they are opening the Greenbelt then Burlington would be golden on continuing suburban sprawl for another decade.