Stringent deadlines and the snap provincial election are being cited as two key reasons the hold button is being pressed on a possible new McMaster University facility in Burlington.

Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward confirmed to the Post today the Hamilton-based institution has been quietly working with the City of Burlington since earlier this year on a potential proposal for a development, with downtown Burlington eyed as a possible site.

The interest follows a request made in late March 2014 by the Liberal government for proposals from post-secondary institutions and their municipal partners for new or expanded campuses to help meet growing student capacity pressures.

The issue and further details were to be made public at a city committee meeting tomorrow at McMaster’s Ron Joyce Centre.

City staff and McMaster University staff decided jointly this morning to call off the meeting.

“There were so many moving parts to this discussion because of the tight deadline of June 27 (for notice of intent) and now because of the election being called, so we don’t even know which government we’ll be talking to or whether that commitment will even be there,” Meed Ward said.

“…We felt we were rushing what is a potentially major commitment; we haven’t engaged the public yet because of the timelines, and I don’t think we want to make a decision on the fly. We felt the best thing we could do is stand down, let the election happen, let the dust settle, keep our lines of communication open with McMaster, send a very strong signal we are interested in talking to them and bringing them downtown.”

Mayor Rick Goldring said the timing of the proposal deadline was simply too tight to allow for proper public consultation and a solid business case.

He noted besides downtown Burlington, there were also other locations looked at for a potential proposal, such as the vacant site beside the DeGroote School of Business’ Ron Joyce Centre on South Service Road near Appleby Line.

"Discussions will continue between McMaster and the city," Goldring said. "We're always in discussions with McMaster."