STEVE IN THE NEWS
Read my columns and articles about me.
NOTL Votes 2026: ‘Jill and Joe average’ focus drives Steve McGuinness into council race
Steve McGuinness says too much of Niagara-on-the-Lake politics revolves around developers, tourism and special interests. And not enough around the people paying the bills.
May 13, 2026NOTL Votes 2026: ‘Jill and Joe average’ focus drives Steve McGuinness into council race
Steve McGuinness says he’s running for Niagara-on-the-Lake council to stand up for “Jill and Joe average NOTLers” and push for what he calls better decision-making at town hall.
May 8, 2026
Winners and losers in the NOTL monopoly game
January 28, 2026We’ve all played the board game Monopoly. The goal is to buy properties, build up houses and hotels and then collect rents from competing players. A game can drag on for an interminable time but typically the rich get richer until the poor finally go bust, after mortgaging or selling their properties to pay off debts.
The Forum: Future councils will inherit a colossal financial mess
January 14, 2026In a local radio interview last week, Coun. Maria Mavridis recapped the year 2025 by reciting a list of council accomplishments. Holding the 2026 tax hike to 2.19 per cent “to keep affordability front of mind” was one.
The Forum: Can a voters’ revolt end developers’ rule in NOTL?
December 17, 2025While Ontario municipalities struggle to balance the property rights of landowners with broader community interests, Doug Ford continues to exert his full weight on one side of the property development scales.
Bottom Line: Is this town council’s ‘final answer’ on the 2026 budget?
November 12, 2025The town’s budget office recently unveiled its initial 2026 base budget proposal, which must be finalized by Dec. 3. Councillors have until Nov. 17 to propose amendments.
NOTLRA COMMENTARY ON TOWN OF NOTL 2026 Budget
October 29, 2025On October 29, 2025, the “Budget Office” released the first draft of the 2026 financial budget (referred to as “base budget” hereafter). The document will be finalized on December 3.
Bottom Line: Can taxpayers win when governments budget?
Paying taxes is an obligation of citizenship. Ontarians pay income, sales, payroll, excise and property taxes to four levels of government. At least two government budgets — federal and town — will be released soon. Let’s get a head start by previewing what to expect.
October 15, 2025
Bottom Line: How governments are harming the housing market
In my columns from June 12 and July 10, we reviewed overcoming the affordability challenges confronted by aspiring homeowners (“Bottom Line: Home prices dip, but ownership still elusive for many,” “Bottom Line: How first-time buyers can realize their home ownership dreams”).
August 27, 2025
Bottom Line: Bed, breakfast and tax
There is a growing consensus, both within our town and beyond, that using family homes as short-term rental accommodation is undesirable in the current housing crisis.
August 7, 2025