Campaign Action

Municipal Election countdown ~ 3 months

Update on what’s happening in the

Lisa Kearns Mayoral Campaign

Dear neighbours and supporters,

Another week of this incredible campaign in the books, and we continue to knock on doors, and meet residents out and about enjoying all summer has to offer in this city. We had the opportunity to meet more of you this weekend, as we were busy attending events and gatherings all across the city. Here is what I am working on at the moment, this is a timely conversation for our community to have about a new land use in Burlington.

There’s proposed plans for a technology hub / AI Data Centre that is moving along, potentially unchecked, and I’m concerned. So I’m motioning to have this addressed, urgently.

Here’s what we know so far:

Burlington does not have any Zoning or Land Use provisions related to this type of use so any applications would be ‘allowed’ without any public / Council input or review. In the current framework, a data centre is a permitted use.

Proposed Address: 3110 South Service Rd

Size: two-storey data centre with basement, total of 5,163 square metres

Cooling: proposed to utilize air-cooling (not water-cooling)

Energy draw: estimated at 20MW electricity

Confirmed by: Planning Staff

Next Steps:

I will be motioning an urgent motion at the Tuesday July 21st City Council Meeting to either have Staff report back with options to manage and regulate impacts, options to use planning and non-planning tools to manage this new land use, or an interim control bylaw to allow time to conduct the studies required to control the use of Land, Buildings or Structures for the purpose of new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Centres on lands with Industiral Zoning (see Hamilton Draft).

This motion will be submitted to the Clerk for inclusion in the agenda by Wednesday July 15th at noon. I will circulate the motion on my platforms and link to City agenda asap.

For clarity: I learned about this file last week and have alerted staff about the need to ensure that we have a Municipal Framework on AI Data Centres or Direction to Report back on options to manage and regulate impacts. Given that this land use request was disclosed to Council members after the last Committee meeting and before Council, it should be treated as Urgent. Moreso, Council becomes lame duck after the upcoming July 21st Council Meeting due to the Municipal Election.

Please stay tuned, including near daily updates as more information becomes available.

Bottom line: I do not believe that residents would accept the current process that does not require notice, commenting, review, regulations, or impact assessments. I feel that we learned the hard way in Burlington what the impact of creating precedent does to future decisions and firmly believe that the community should have a say in this new land use.

BURLINGTON OVERVIEW VIDEO

MY DELEGATION IN HAMILTON – JUNE 4

 Campaign Recap

I started things off by attending the Breakfast at The Bistro at the Seniors’ Centre, where I spoke with many of Burlington’s older adults who enjoyed a breakfast served by our very own Burlington Lions Club. I also got to celebrate our amazing Filipino community at the Taste of Philippines event. Then off to the Ukrainian Hall downtown for their Garage Sale.  The power of community was in full display as I swung by Burlington Hyundai for their Stampede Community Friends & Family Event, where Hockey Canada and PWHL Toronto Sceptres star, Renata Fast, was doing a meet and greet in her hometown. I also visited residents at Christopher Terrace Retirement Living for their Social Hour where they asked great questions about my corporate background and family.

I also had the opportunity to attend the Love, Jayne Volunteer Appreciation event. Love, Jayne is a is a tribute to the remarkable spirit of Jayne Hounslow, a young girl whose heart overflowed with kindness and generosity. Her family and loved ones turned grief into a movement. At this event, we celebrated the incredible community that continues to turn kindness into lasting impact. Thanks to the dedication of volunteers, donors, and supporters, the foundation raised over $360,000, creating meaningful camp experiences and opportunities for children to learn, grow, and belong. Jayne’s legacy lives on in every moment of joy and connection made possible by this community.

All of this has made me so grateful to live, work, and raise a family in Burlington. It’s truly special to see the community come together in so many ways.

Housing & Responsible Growth

Housing choice and affordability are important issues for many residents, but we know that we have to do it in a way that will create complete communities, while respecting existing neighbourhoods and residents. Over the years, the narrative of over intensification has been at the forefront. My core beliefs are that for a development to gain my approval, it needs to serve the community as a whole. It isn’t just about welcoming in new residents, but creating meaningful spaces for existing residents and local businesses, in addition to making room for growth. We need to ensure that we have appropriate infrastructure, services, and public green spaces to justify the density. This means that we follow the City’s Official Plan, intensifying neighbourhoods where appropriate. More broadly, you will see my platform seek to refresh the Burlington Housing Strategy as a roadmap to achieve these goals.

There was a recent proposal that received my support at Committee and will go to City Council on July 21st, and that is 198/206 Plains Rd. East. Here is why.

Burlington is facing a significant housing shortage and affordability struggle, projects like this help address that challenge by both preserving rental stock and adding new homes in an existing urban area rather than expanding into greenfield land. In my review, and supported by staff, a seven-storey building with 66 places to call home and much needed ground-floor commercial space is an appropriate form of gentle intensification along Plains Road East, a corridor that is intended to accommodate growth. The proposal also includes bicycle parking, resident amenities, underground parking, and street-oriented commercial space, creating a more complete and walkable neighbourhood.

New housing benefits the entire community by increasing supply, giving more people, including young adults, seniors looking to downsize, and workers the opportunity to live in Burlington. While change can be challenging and traffic pressures require more solutions, the city cannot solve its housing affordability issues without allowing more homes in appropriate locations and this is a supported location and built form.

I support this application and continue advancing thoughtful, well-designed housing projects that help Burlington grow sustainably while strengthening existing neighbourhoods.

Engagement Matters

Residents enjoy the Community Updates I have hosted and that will now stretch out of my Councillor role and into a Candidate role in North Burlington. The format is a short presentation then Q&A. We will try this format in-person then expand to hybrid.

You’re Invited! Thursday, July 16 at 7 p.m. at Tansley Woods Community Centre, Room 1. Address: 1996 Itabashi Way. This Community Update will include a meet and greet, a platform presentation, and updates on construction projects, local events,  important news – including an update on Millcroft Greens.

Drop-in welcome, Registration preferred. To attend the event, please save your seat HERE.

Lisa Kearns’ Campaign Youth Council

Lisa Kearns’ Youth-led Council continues to accept new members ages 14 to 25.

Email them at lisacouncilyouth@gmail.com or reach out via Instagram @lisakearns4mayoryouth

This is an opportunity to inform my campaign about the real issues faced by our city’s youth. There is a place for everyone here in Burlington. I continue to be so impressed with how interested our youth community is with local politics – especially as the level of government that impacts resident’s lives so closely.

Share this with your kids, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbours & friends!

Volunteer Appreciation Event

To my amazing volunteers! You have been amazing, and I could not do this without you! From knocking on doors, to helping with events, to behind the scenes work that keeps this engine running smooth! We have been getting lots of steps in at the doors and have been meeting people where they are with community tables and visiting events. Thank you!

I invite you to join myself and our volunteers at Sunshine Doughnuts on July 28th between 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. to meet the team, connect with each other and to learn about what efforts are being made for a successful mayoral campaign. This is a fun event with no formal agenda.

439 Brock Avenue. Parking in AGB lot or walk, bike, transit.

Volunteer spotlight: Thank you to A & C who shared the campaign with visitors to the Garage Sale fundraiser for Tyrsa Ukrainian Dance School at the Ukrainian Hall – even with a basketball injury rolled ankle, A was still an enthusiastic help and earned community involvement hours! If canvassing isn’t for you, there are more table opportunities available!

Are You on the Voters’ List?

“Being registered on the Voters’ List makes in-person voting faster and ensures you receive a Voter Information Letter, needed if voting online. The letter also advises which candidates you can vote for and directs you to your in-person voting locations.

To confirm if you are on the Voters’ List and/or make changes to your information, please visit Register to Vote up to Aug. 12, 2026. After this date, you can be added to the Voters’ List by visiting the Service Burlington counter on the first floor of City Hall, 426 Brant St. during business hours (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) up to Oct. 23 at 4:30 p.m.

You can also add or change your information on the Voters’ List by visiting your voting location on Voting Day, Oct. 26, 2026.”— Burlington 2026 Vote

Here’s what I’m excited about:

• Campaign Pillars:

  • Responsible Growth, Integrated Mobility, Strengthen Local Economy, Real Value for your Taxes, Safe Neighbourhoods and Reset City Hall

• Setting up a brick & mortar campaign office – Location under review, how about Aldershot???

• More festivals and events across the city – here’s a link to the City Calendar of Events

• SIP Burlington will be activating Village Square July 18th with a portion of ticket sales to CoB United Way Fundraising

• At your doors from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. and over the weekends, let’s keep the momentum going!

• In person – how about your neighbourhood or building? I want to host!

• North Burlington Community Update – Tansley Woods on July 16 – Register Now

In gratitude, Lisa