I spent time with residents in our rural north this month, and I want to tell you what they are dealing with.
Families up there are trying to do something ordinary. They want a second home on their own property so that a parent or a grown child can live alongside them instead of moving away. For a lot of rural families, that is the only way to keep the property going at all.
The City and the Region did recently open the door to this. On paper, a second dwelling is allowed. But the residents I sat with told me that the conditions attached to it make it close to impossible. There are septic requirements, servicing conditions, and approvals stacked on top of approvals. The permission is there, and the path to using it is not. Any build up there also goes through the Niagara Escarpment Commission, which has the final say on rural permits across the escarpment.
I am not going to pretend that I have the fix worked out, because I have not read every condition and I will not promise you something I cannot deliver. What I will do is find out exactly what is blocking these families, bring it to the tables where these decisions get made, and keep raising it until somebody answers.
Something is happening on Headon Road
I've been spending a lot of time talking with residents in Headon Forest, and one message keeps coming through clearly:
Residents want to know what is happening in their neighbourhood.
At 2105 Headon Road, a development application for eight townhouses was approved by Burlington City Council in July, 2026. See the location
I've been speaking with neighbours who are concerned about what this change could mean for their street, the green space they see every day, traffic, trees and the character of their neighbourhood.
But what has struck me most is how many residents told me they simply want better communication and more opportunity to understand what is happening before decisions are made.
The City records a statutory public meeting for the application on July 7, 2026, followed by Council approval on July 21. Yet several residents I've spoken with told me they were not aware of the meeting. Notice of Statutory Public Meeting and Recommendation Report for 2105 Headon Rd, July 7, 2026
Residents have also been asking me about the development sign. They remember seeing it there, and now it is no longer there.
They are asking:
"What happened to the sign, and is there something we should know?"
I don't know the answer, and I'm not going to assume one.
But I do believe residents deserve a clear answer and meaningful communication about developments that affect their neighbourhood.
These are not just planning files on paper.
This is where people walk their dogs, where families walk, where children go to school and where neighbours have built their lives.
We need to review the communication modes within the planning process so residents can understand what is being proposed, know when important conversations are happening, ask questions and feel that their voices have been heard.
That is the kind of local government I want to work toward.
Come and have tea with me this Saturday
You are invited to afternoon tea in Ward 6. Come and sit down with me over tea and fresh English scones, and bring whatever has been on your mind lately. I would love to meet you and hear from you.
- Saturday, September 26, from 2:30 to 5:00 pm
- St. George's Anglican Church, 4691 Palladium Way
RSVP or drop in: osobward6.ca/events
Tell me what is happening on your street
Both of the stories above reached me because a resident took the time to tell me. If something is going on where you live and you think nobody is listening, tell me about it. I read every one.
We have one month left
There is a lot of ground to cover between now and October 26, and neighbours helping out is what makes it possible. If you can give a few hours, put a sign on your lawn, or chip in toward printing and postage, it makes a direct difference in the last stretch.
Volunteer or request a lawn sign: osobward6.ca/get-involved
Support the campaign: osobward6.ca/donate
How to vote
- Online voting: October 14 to 23
- Advance voting: October 17 and 20
- Voting day: Monday, October 26, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Find your voting place at myvote.burlington.ca
Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you on Saturday.
Osob Adus
Candidate for Burlington City Council, Ward 6