By Jack Brittle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Burlington mayoral candidate Rory Nisan held his campaign kickoff event at 400 Brant Kitchen and Bar on May 31, outlining a platform centred on fiscal responsibility, affordability, and quality of life ahead of the 2026 municipal election.
After mingling with guests, Nisan gave a speech to the crowd and began by talking about his record on council.
“I am the only candidate for mayor who voted against the last three budgets and a 24% budget increase,” Nisan said. “When a train was coming down the tracks to give up all of our development charges, I said no. I led the charge. We showed the public how wrong that idea was; they picked it up, and together we stopped an up to $41 million charge to the taxpayer.”
Nisan promised residents that, as mayor, they’ll be at the centre of his decision-making. The campaign’s three pillars were announced as fiscal responsibility, affordability, and quality of life.
Nisan argued that the first pillar is the most important because the other two rely on it.
“If you own a business, you know there are two ways to change your trajectory: more revenue or less expenses,” Nisan said. “The city, of course, has a third option, which is to raise your taxes. And I think council’s gone to that well too many times. My goal is to anchor the budget to inflation. We do that by reviewing the increases of recent years to find efficiencies and by increasing revenues by using municipal best practices from across the country.”
Nisan elaborated on what fiscal responsibility means to him.
“It’s not about making drastic cuts, just as much as it’s not about making drastic increases,” he said. “Which is something that we have been having in recent years.”
Nisan said he will bring about a process to evaluate and review recently created city positions to “ensure they are optimized.”
“We absolutely need to review that, and we need to go in with a fine-tooth comb, but not with a machete,” he said.
Nisan promised “an end to high tax increases” and to fund public services like the library, transit, and parks.
“I will make Burlington open for business in a way it hasn’t been in some time,” Nisan said. “Cutting red tape, speeding up permits, and making sure the businesses that are here want to stay here, and we will attract employers to invest in our city.”
Nisan said that he would not provide a “rubber stamp for developers” and outlined plans for Spencer Smith Park that include more casual food options, picnic space, and a beer garden.
Nisan’s other promises include “more ice for all ages and skill levels to play hockey, including an outdoor refrigerated rink. And last but not least, more daycares, after-school care, and camps in our community.”
Turning to housing, Nisan spoke about how he would address the crisis in the city.
“It can be very challenging because we don’t want people to be taxed out of their homes,” Nisan said. “But we also want to build homes for young people and for everybody, and to have that kind of fluidity in the market.”
Nisan said that he will work with the other levels of government to ensure that “Burlington gets its fair share.”
“Our door’s going to be open,” Nisan said.
Nisan suggested that increasing supply is the only way to solve the crisis.
“That’s the only way we’re going to get out of this in the long run,” Nisan said. “The key is to provide land and unleash the market.”
He also spoke about his opposition to the motion brought before council to eliminate development charges in the city: “I don’t think that current taxpayers should be subsidizing developers and development.”
He said that if Burlington misses out on money generated by development charges, the city will not be able to have amenities in the city like parks, arenas, and ice rinks.
Nisan has also been critical of Meed Ward’s use of the Strong Mayor Powers, and has promised to only use them to divest himself of the powers.
“I’ll also advocate for the province to dump these Strong Mayor Powers,” Nisan said.
Nisan is one of three candidates so far seeking Burlington’s top municipal office. Earlier this week, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward announced she would seek a third term as mayor in the 2026 municipal election.
