Question 1:
What role can transit play in reducing traffic congestion and mitigating increasing expenditures on road maintenance?
Transit is essential infrastructure that supports a growing city. While it won’t replace the need for roads or private vehicles, a reliable transit system gives residents more transportation choices, reduces pressure on our road network, improves access to employment, education and healthcare, and supports more complete communities. As Burlington grows, investing in transit is one of the ways we can help manage congestion while making our transportation network more efficient.
Question 2:
In your opinion, what can be done to improve specialized transit for disabled riders and would you be in favour of raising the budget for this increasingly important service?
Accessible transportation isn’t optional—it’s essential. I support continued investment in specialized transit and believe services should evolve alongside the needs of our community. Every resident deserves reliable access to healthcare, employment, recreation and community life. As demand grows, we should continue evaluating service levels to ensure specialized transit remains accessible, reliable and financially sustainable.
Question 3:
Burlington’s and Halton’s Official Plans call for transit’s share of all trips to rise to 20% (from the current figure of about 4%) by 2031. Do you support this objective?
I support Burlington’s goal of increasing transit use, but achieving that goal requires more than setting a target. Residents will choose transit when it’s reliable, convenient, frequent and connects them to the places they need to go. Building complete communities where transit, housing, employment and recreation are planned together will be just as important as investing in buses themselves
Question 4:
With record ridership and increasing demand, are you in favour of supporting continued expansion of Burlington’s transit system?
Yes. As our city grows, transit must grow with it. At the same time, expansion should be guided by evidence, ridership data and community need. My focus would be on improving reliability, frequency, accessibility and connections between neighbourhoods, GO stations and major destinations so that transit becomes a practical choice for more residents.
Question 5:
Have you ever used Burlington Transit? Would you be willing to give it a try?
I’ll be honest—I don’t regularly use Burlington Transit because my work and family commitments have generally required me to travel by car. However, I believe it’s important for elected officials to understand the services they’re responsible for. If elected, I intend to spend time riding Burlington Transit, speaking with riders and staff, and learning firsthand about both its strengths and opportunities for improvement.
While I may not be a regular rider myself, my children have been and continue to be Burlington Transit users, and their experiences have been very positive. Watching them use transit has reinforced for me the important role it plays in helping young people access school, work, recreation, shopping, and time with friends while building independence. Burlington Transit provides much more than transportation—it provides opportunity and independence for many of our younger residents.
Question 6:
The Ontario Legislature recently passed Bill 98, the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026, which gives the provincial Minister of Transportation the power to override municipal transit authorities and set routes and fares for municipal transit systems. We at BFAST have the following concerns about this legislation:
1) It could disrupt current arrangements between transit systems in Burlington, Oakville and Hamilton that provide connections between these cities.
2) The Minister could divert Burlington Transit resources — for example, to provide service along the planned bus rapid transit corridor on Highway 5 (Dundas St.), which was supposed to have been undertaken by GO Transit. This would, in effect, download more fiscal responsibility from the province to local governments.
3) Certain initiatives by Burlington Transit, such as free fares for seniors and students, could be eliminated.
Please comment on this legislation and what measures you would undertake or support to ensure transit service levels in Burlington would not be degraded.
Reliable public transit is essential to Burlington’s future, and I believe decisions about Burlington Transit should continue to be informed by the people who know the system best—our transit professionals, municipal staff, riders, and the residents who rely on it every day.
My concern with Bill 98 isn’t about resisting change. It’s about ensuring Burlington retains the ability to respond to the unique needs of our community. Decisions about routes, service levels, fares, and local priorities should be informed by local knowledge and meaningful community engagement.
As a councillor, I would advocate for preserving Burlington’s ability to shape its own transit system while continuing to collaborate with neighbouring municipalities and the Province to improve regional connectivity. I would also oppose any changes that reduce service levels, eliminate successful local programs, or shift additional financial responsibility onto municipal taxpayers without appropriate funding.
Ultimately, my priority is ensuring Burlington residents continue to receive reliable, accessible and affordable transit that reflects the needs of the people who use it every day.
Question 7:
Over the past months, a plan has been promoted wherein a private company would provide on-demand transit service to potentially replace certain routes operated by Burlington Transit. Among BFAST’s concerns with this plan are:
1) Over-reliance on one private company to provide a service that could not be easily replaced if the provider were to fail.
2) Cost escalation and more traffic on our roads as mini-buses replaced current vehicles and more drivers were needed to move the same number of passengers.
3) Diversion of already-constrained Burlington Transit budget to a private, for-profit company, resulting in lower levels of service.
We would appreciate your comments on on-demand transit in general and the idea of diverting public budgets to private corporations.
I support innovation when it is grounded in a clear understanding of the problem it is intended to solve.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked with organizations to improve performance, and one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that we shouldn’t begin with a preferred solution. We should begin by understanding the root cause of the challenge we’re trying to address.
In this case, I would want to better understand why some residents—including young people, seniors, commuters, and other non-riders—are choosing not to use Burlington Transit today. Is it frequency? Reliability? Coverage? Travel time? Convenience? Accessibility? Safety? Cost? Until we understand the underlying reasons, it’s difficult to determine whether on-demand transit is the most effective or fiscally responsible solution.
I also recognize that pilot projects require both public funding and significant staff time. Before proceeding with any pilot, I would want to see a comprehensive business case that clearly defines the problem, evaluates alternative solutions, identifies the financial and operational impacts, establishes measurable success criteria, and demonstrates why this initiative should be prioritized over other transit investments. Council has directed staff to return with that type of analysis before making an implementation decision.
I don’t believe the question should simply be whether transit is delivered by a public or private organization. The question is whether it delivers better outcomes for residents while maintaining accountability, transparency, accessibility, and good value for taxpayers. If public funds are invested in a private provider, the process must be transparent, competitive, and supported by clear performance measures and public oversight.
Innovation shouldn’t begin with a solution. It should begin with understanding the people we’re trying to serve. Once we understand the problem, we can evaluate the evidence, consider the options, and invest in the solution that delivers the best outcomes for residents
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