On March 4, the Bank of Canada lowered its target for the overnight rate to 1.25 per cent due to COVID-19’s adverse effect on both the Canadian and global economy. COVID-19 has halted business activity and disrupted the supply chain and as a result, pulled down commodity prices and the value of the Canadian dollar.

The Bank of Canada will continue to monitor the economic and financial conditions closely and will announce the next overnight rate targeted for April 15.

For more information, please click the button below for the Bank of Canada’s full press release:

On February 27, the City of Burlington released that the Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL – also known as the “Downtown Development Freeze”) will remain in effect and will not end on March 5, as was previous reported by the City of Burlington. This is due to appeals filed with the City Clerk.

The City of Burlington received 31 appeals for both Official Plan Amendment 119 and Zoning Bylaw Amendment 2020.418. To view the amendments provided on February 6, please click the buttons below:

The ICBL will remain in effect until the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) has issued a final decision on each appeal of Zoning By-law Amendment 2020.418.

The recommendations from the findings of the ICBL study include proposed amendments to Burlington’s current in-force-and-effect Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw. The staff recommendation report and proposed amendments can be viewed online at www.burlington.ca/icbl.

The City is also working closely with Halton Region to confirm with the Province the requirements and next steps for approval of changes to the Downtown Urban Growth Centre (UGC) and Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) designations. City Council has directed the Chief City Planner to report back in May 2020 with recommendations.

The City will share more information on the ICBL appeal process and timelines as they become available, as well as details about the nature of the appeals. Residents can stay up-to-date by visiting the City website at www.burlington.ca/en/services-for-you/interim-control-bylaw-icbl.asp.

On February 19, the Government of Ontario passed two amendments to Bill 145, the Trust in Real Estate Act (“TRESA”) at Committee that address two major concerns of REALTORS®: new regulations on advertising and reducing standard forms red tape.

New Regulations on Advertising, re: Salesperson and REALTOR®

First, OREA asked that the term “salesperson” in REBBA be replaced with the term that more accurately reflects the role that REALTORS® play when representing consumers during one of the most important financial decisions of their lives.

The Minister of Government and Consumer Services has committed to bringing forward a regulation to permit registrants to use the terms “REALTOR®” or “real estate agent” in their advertising to consumers. The Minister will amend this regulation to permit the use of REALTOR® or agent in addition to salesperson.

Reducing Standard Forms Red Tape

The second amendment clarifies that only specific forms enshrined in regulation may be approved by RECO. Every year, countless changes to Standard Forms are required to ensure that they accurately reflect the real estate landscape in the province. The Minister noted it is her preference that both OREA and RECO work together to strengthen buyer and seller representation agreements. This change will avoid additional red tape and ensure that necessary changes to OREA’s Standard Forms are made in a timely manner.

Please note that none of these changes have yet to be passed into law.

Next Steps:

The next steps for TRESA is a third reading back in the Legislature, final passage and proclamation. It is also important to note that most sections of the Act will require supporting regulations before they come into effect.

On January 30, RAHB attended and sponsored the Burlington Mayor’s State of the City Address, where RAHB President Kathy Della-Nebbia had the pleasure of introducing Mayor Meed Ward.

In Mayor Meed Ward’s address, she touched upon several topics: community pride, business activity, what has been done, and what is to come.

Business activity: Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force & Burlington One Brand Project

Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force

Mayor Meed Ward discussed how Burlington City Council has implemented the recommendations developed as part of the Mayor’s Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force initiatives. These were developed to help grow and retain business in Burlington, and attract new talent to the city. For more information on the Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force, please click the button below:

Burlington One Brand Project

Mayor Meed Ward also discussed that in the near future, Burlington City Council will be launching the Burlington One Brand Project that will help position Burlington to compete for investments, increase tourism and attract new businesses. For more information about the Burlington One Brand Project, please click the button below:

What has been done and what is to come?

Vision to Focus

Mayor Meed Ward discussed how Burlington City Council has broken down the 25-year Strategic Plan into key goals and strategic actions that can be accomplished within the council’s four-year term. For more information on Vision to Focus, please click the button below:

Interim Control Bylaw

Mayor Meed Ward discussed how Burlington wants to control pressures of over development in the downtown core, while remaining open for business. Mayor Meed Ward explained the focus of the Interim Control Bylaw (ICB)*, which froze development in around the major transit stations and Burlington GO Stations for one year. The ICB was focused on height and density. For more information on the ICB, please click the button below:

*To be lifted on March 5, 2020

Climate Action Plan

Mayor Meed Ward discussed how Burlington City Council declared a climate emergency, which has resulted in Burlington creating its first City of Burlington Climate Action Plan. The function of the action plan is to create a net-zero carbon emissions city. For more information about the City of Burlington Climate Action Plan, please click the button below:

2020 Budget

Mayor Meed Ward discussed the approval of the 2020 budget with a 3.99 per cent increase in the City’s portion of property taxes and an overall tax increase of 2.44 per cent – the lowest tax increase in years. For more information on the 2020 budget, please click the button below:

Q&A Session

To end the Burlington Mayor State of the City Address, Mayor Meed Ward answered questions from the crowd. Mayor Meed Ward was asked about housing affordability, and emphasized that it will be the next biggest issue on the horizon for Burlington City Council.

The City of Burlington is hosting a series of public information session to help residents and businesses learn about the newly adopted Private Tree Bylaw.

Registration for the information sessions is not required and will be held on:

• Tuesday, February 18, 2020
  Appleby Ice Centre, Community Room 1
  1 to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 19, 2020
  Central Arena, Auditorium
  1 to 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 19, 2020
  Burlington Seniors’ Centre, Freeman and Indian Point Rooms
  7 to 9 p.m.
• Thursday, February 20, 2020
  Aldershot Arena, Community Room
  7 to 9 p.m.

About the Private Tree Bylaw

As of January 27, 2020, anyone within Burlington’s urban boundary will need to apply for a permit and on-site consultation:

• To remove a tree greater than 20 cm in diameter measured at 1.4 m from the ground;
• To remove more than five trees between 10 and 20 cm in diameter at 1.4 m from the ground in a calendar year;
• To potentially remove heritage trees and endangered species; and
• To complete work on a tree that could potentially cause harm.

To apply for a permit or to read the full bylaw, please click the button below:

Recommendations from the findings of the ICBL Land Use Study approved by Council.

On January 30, 2020, Burlington City Council approved the revised recommendations from the findings of the Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL) Land Use Study, including the approval of the proposed Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments resulting from the ICBL Land Use Study.

If no appeals are received, the ICBL will end on March 5, 2020.

The purpose of the proposed Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments is to:

• Strengthen the integrations between land use and transit by introducing policies related to transit-supportive development;
• Introduce the concept of Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) and a policy framework – MTSAs include the Burlington and Aldershot GO Stations, as well as the John Street Bus Terminal;
• Introduce development criteria for development applications within the study area;
• Update or add definitions to the Official Plan to align with provincial policy documents and assist in the interpretation of Official Plan policies; and
• Introduce additional permitted use, height requirements and other policies on lands near the Burlington GO Station.

To review the timeline, actions and recommendations of the ICBL, as well as Council minutes and reports, please click the button below: