Frank Domenic came to prominence posting informative videos about provincial and federal politics on social media where he has close to 140,000 followers.
Since 2019, Domenic has been living in Burlington, ON where he teaches high school business and history courses while raising his two children with his wife.
Domenic is running in Burlington for the position of Ward 6 councillor in the upcoming municipal election.
His campaign centres on including expanded recreation opportunities with more offerings for North Burlington residents; expanded summer camps to provide relief to families while providing good jobs for youth; expanded safety through automated lighting at night in public spaces; as well recreational infrastructure and tax fairness. Frank wants to ensure that Ward 6 residents are no longer ignored and left behind by City Hall.
Ward 6 is located north of Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) and includes the neighbourhoods of Headon Forest, Millcroft, Alton Village and some rural residents to the north.
Domenic believes that Ward 6 residents have been left out of City Hall’s overarching vision. He told Small Change via zoom: “What I’ve noticed is that the more that I talk to families in Alton Village, Millcroft, and Headon Forest, the more that I’m seeing that the issues that I had, the passion projects that I have, are the exact same that families are facing across the ward. So, it’s not like I’m alone in my grievances or in my frustrations. It’s something that’s shared with a lot of people. So, I’m hoping that that message is resonating.”
Domenic points to the fact that as the city has expanded north of the QEW over the past 20 years, city council seemed to forget these new neighbourhoods needed essential infrastructure.
The last community center with a pool, Tansley Woods, was built in 1996 leaving the north underserviced when it comes to swimming pools, skating rinks, and recreation in general. According to Domenic, Ward 3 residents are going to Waterdown in Hamilton or the neighbouring town of Oakville to access recreation services because Burlington is underservicing residents.
On affordability
On the issue of affordability, Domenic maintains, “A lot of it does boil down to provincial and federal incentives and how they build. But within that, the city can still try to designate certain areas or try to work with different levels of government to build affordable housing.”
Domenic points to the practice of developments getting pushed through that aren’t affordable as well as developers backtracking on the types of units built, particularly promising family-friendly units that are replaced with shoebox condos no family can live in.
Domenic also points out the irony of the controversial Millcroft development, The Legacy Estates, which boasts approximately 42 detached homes on lots large enough for a pool.
“The city says, housing is housing. And, even though the residents aren’t a fan, at least we’re getting some housing built,” Domenic said.
“But the people who are going to move into those houses are going to be multimillionaires. And, that means that the houses that they’re moving from are still going to be million-dollar-plus homes, which means that the average person, the average young family does not have or is not capable of getting a mortgage for millions of dollars. So, increasing the housing stock of very expensive homes doesn’t increase the amount of affordable homes,” Domenic stated.
Acknowledging there’s unaffordable housing all over Canada, Domenic knows that without an emphasis and a focus on true affordability, there won’t be a concerted effort to build affordable housing.
As a parent of two young children, Domenic understands the need for $10-a-day childcare.
“This federal program is literally life-changing. The amount of money that my family has saved, the amount of benefit that is provided to families in Burlington has been literally incalculable. Having access to cheap and affordable daycare that is high quality is just a fundamental right for families in Canada. The problem is the Ford government has been shortchanging the programs,” he explained.
Domenic highlights the fact that thousands of spots are ready to be opened in Halton Region, but the funding isn’t there. Another essential part of the equation is the dearth of staff for these spots.
“And, that boils down to the fact that the provincial government has underfunded and underpaid ECEs [early childhood educators] and daycare workers.,” Domenic said.
Pushing back on Ford
The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) sides with developers and quarry owners despite evidence pointing out that it’s not in the best interest of residents or the environment based on scientific evidence. The province cuts off funding for essential services. The province then says, well, you’ve got to figure out how you’re going to fund these services. Then property taxes go up and that anger gets directed at city councils.
Domenic would like to see municipalities across Ontario start to push back against the Doug Ford provincial government. Otherwise, the Ford government will continue making life tougher for Ontarians.
In response to growing cost-of-living demands, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward presented a motion to support the concept of a Basic Income Program which was passed by regional Council in 2023. Currently, all Burlington city councillors also sit on Halton Regional Council.
When asked if he would support a Basic Income Program, Domenic said: “I don’t want to use the word inevitable because that doesn’t sound very positive, but a basic income project is the type of thing that we have been talking about for decades now, and we’re seeing it being played out in multiple different places, and we’re seeing that it is a success for people and families where it does roll out.”
Domenic notes the extremely successful Ontario Basic Income Pilot that the Ford government prematurely and illegally cancelled in 2018 after campaigning to keep the pilot in place.
AI data centres
When asked about the proposed artificial intelligence (AI) data centre planned for Ward 2, Domenic wants folks to remember that for the past 20 years data centers have been built in suburban and urban areas. The difference comes down to the fact that the scale and scope of modern AI data centers are so much larger.
“There are values for data centers beyond AI. So, for example, local Canadian businesses should not be relying on American data centers to store Canadian private data. The problem is that when we create these massive programs and we situate them in the middle of cities, they create issues when it comes to noise pollution, water, electrical demand, how taxes are being rolled out to support or not support these initiatives. It becomes its own heavy mess. So, to come out and to say, I’m against all data centers, that’s ignorant of the reality that technically data centers have always existed in cities and they will continue to need to exist. But to then flatly say, oh yeah, there’s nothing wrong with this project is also a bold lie,” stated Domenic.
Domenic believes it’s important to state that the city was asleep at the wheel on the proposed AI project that appears to have gone through multiple planning processes and many steps without the mayor or city council raising the alarms.
According to Domenic, “What’s happening is that this city planning department is pushing through a lot of projects and then council either just votes them through without paying attention to what’s happening or they don’t need the approval of council.”
Domenic points to the steel manufacturing plant built in Alton Village that was constructed without input from the neighbourhood. Domenic spoke with multiple city councillors and not one even knew it existed including his own Ward 6 councillor, Angelo Bentivegna. For Domenic that was concerning because the area is zoned commercial yet, somehow let this plant slipped through the planning process.
Ward 6 has seven people vying for a single Ward 6 council position – including the incumbent Angelo Bentivegna.
When asked why Ward 6 residents vote for him, Domenic responded, “I am doing this because I am passionate. I am doing this because I’m frustrated. If I wanted to just continue to do what I was doing, I love my (teaching) job. I love my current family situation. Doing this makes things more difficult for my family. I am not doing this for me or for anything else other than the fact that I am getting frustrated with my city and I want it to be better for my kids.”
In addition to Frank, Osob Adus, Bianca Bielski, Chris Bouchard, Rowan Fraser, Edmond Jodhi and incumbent Angelo Bentivegna are also running for Ward 6.
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